What's your next move when this happens!!:

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Feb 15, 2012
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You rocking the place and all of the sudden, a fight breaks out, do you: A) keep the music going. B) stop the music C) talk on the mic and try to calm the situation. D) try to move your equipment out the way. E) other (if so. Explain )
 
I have had this happen a couple times, stopping the music can put the focus on what is happening which I wouldn't want to do. if it seems to be a small confrontaion I continue to play the current song and possible move to a slow set. I have been known to assist in this situation as well.

If the fight is extreme, I can and will stop the music and would not start back up until the bodies have been removed from the premisis and I feel that my safety and the safety of my equiptment are no longer in jepordy.
 
What i try to do is to not take gigs that i feel might be a problem. I like to watch out for where a client wants to have an event and if i feel it will not be safe i'll pass on the gig. Nothing wrong to me on passing up a gig. Sometimes making money isn't worth the headache. I try to stay away from tack head parties where all they want all night long nothing but today's hip hop and rap. Only time i will do a gig like that is if it's in a place say like the Galloping Hill where you got to spend a lot of money to have your event there and there is no need for an armed guard at the door checking everybody that's coming in.
 
If it is a full fight (as stated in the original thread) changing to a slow will have no affect. Stop all music stand in front of equipment to hopefully be able to nudge any bodies out of the way, get on the mic and call for security. While in some cases you pass a gig based on location, I have seen a fight break out and one of the nicest reception places in town. The post is what to do when a fight starts, not "Would you pass up a gig based on location?".
 
Well, when I was working for someone else - way back in the 80's, and with their gear - a HUGE fight broke out at a wedding. They needed a school bus to take away all the people they arrested.... I kept playing... and we never actually had a real reception. But that was then, and that was not my gear.... now, and with my own gear, I likley would have to see how bad it really is... I might shut down, and I might not.
 
I would turn up the volume on my Mic and point it to my speaker, the feedback squeal will be so unbearable everyone will back away from my gear and exit the premises! LOL :cool:
 
Being in all kinds of strange situations, I have had this happen more times than I care to admit. Stop the music, in a stern (not Howard) voice tell them to take it else where that the police have been called and are enroute. If they contiue you have to break it up, most times you lead someone will follow and help you out. That is just my experience with "this".

Paul
 
Shutdown, pack up and leave immediately. Period.
You may not want to do this, because if the fight quickly wraps up & everything is focused on getting the party rolling again & you are not playing & packing up, everyone will quickly turn on YOU. This happened to a fellow DJ friend of mine, he was quickly focused as the bad guy (party pooper) & was lucky they didn't kill him.
 
IF it was bad enough, I'd shut down temporarily. I would never pack up either. If my gear gets damaged well...I'll turn it into insurance after the fact but packing up won't solve anything and it certainly won't help. When the show is done its done and usually I think it would be done if the brawl was bad enough. Fortunately this has never happened to me close to my gear.
 
I would turn up the volume on my Mic and point it to my speaker, the feedback squeal will be so unbearable everyone will back away from my gear and exit the premises! LOL :cool:


I did that at a bar I worked at doing karaoke 6 nights a week. One Friday night the people just would not make thier way to the door. When I did that they all left quick!!!
 
In the Bar/Nightclub events i lower the music but keep playing. In 25 yrs i have never had a fight at a mobile event or wedding. Maybe it's my nightclub experiences..... i'm pro-active and can generally see where tension is building.....or maybe i've been lucky!?
 
I would definitely wait it out.
whether I stopped music would depend on the seriousness of the fight.
I would NOT say ANYTHING on the mic,
it's too easy to add fuel to the fire.

I actually had a fight at my FIRST wedding.
the bride's ex-boy friend tried to crash the reception.
so the groom took him out back and beat the crap outta him.
(and 90% of the guests followed)
5 minutes later, we were dancing again
 
I'm sorta guessing, based on the responses, that many of you have never worked sleazy bars before...

Normal to have a couple fights per night, and bar stools flying around the room.

You need to think on your feet fast, identify a huge guy, and get them out of there in a hurry. Yell to the huge dude, that one of the fight dudes wants to meet him outside and kick his ass, because his Mom is a slut.

Watch how fast that moves outdoors... ;)
 
I'm sorta guessing, based on the responses, that many of you have never worked sleazy bars before...

Normal to have a couple fights per night, and bar stools flying around the room.

You need to think on your feet fast, identify a huge guy, and get them out of there in a hurry. Yell to the huge dude, that one of the fight dudes wants to meet him outside and kick his ass, because his Mom is a slut.

Watch how fast that moves outdoors... ;)
Here in Texas you would get shot for delivering that kind of message. After that, then the big dude will go outside and tell the other Dude what you said! If you are not dead when he come in you will be!:sqlaugh:
 
Stop the music immediately.
Have the staff deal with the issue. That's their job. You need to stay out of it.
If the situation isn't under control within 15 minutes we can pack up and go home, per our contract.
 
If the situation isn't under control within 15 minutes we can pack up and go home, per our contract.


Why leave? You can grab a beer, and go outside and watch the fight, and still get paid xf:D
 
Seen plenty of fights in my bar days. Nothing new there, so I'd rather go home and still get paid. ;) Never had to completely leave a gig of any kind. The staff at venues usually can put a stop to them pretty quickly if they know what they're doing. And I second the notion of letting the bouncers/security take them outside for a little attitude adjustment. ;)
 
Stop the music immediately.
Have the staff deal with the issue. That's their job. You need to stay out of it.
If the situation isn't under control within 15 minutes we can pack up and go home, per our contract.
Agreed,same clause in my contract.