My double life...

Hi Guys, confession time! I have more than one job. My first job is as managing director of Nightair Disco's Ltd which I have done for thirty years this year. My second job is impersonating Simon Cowell.... no really, it is. It started over eight years ago when my brother Geoff suggested that I had similar features to the Pop Idol judge and why not send some pics to a lookalike agency? I had a haircut, hitched up my trousers, arranged for a photographer to take some pictures and the work started rolling in. I started judging karaoke competitions and making appearances as 'Simon' and before long found myself on The Richard and Judy Show with Simon Cowell who was promoting his book 'I Don't mean to Be Rude' Si thought I was a great lookalike of himself and even presented me with a badge '100% approved by Simon Cowell'. I had a chat with him after the show and he encouraged me to keep going as 'Simon' This clip is still on You Tube and also my website Simoncowelllookalike.com.

The amazing range of events and shows I am invited to be involved with is always a suprise and a pleasure. I have become good friends with many other people who impersonate famous characters, through being on Facebook and personal contacts and other jobs I am called to work at. One of my favourite and more unusual jobs was to help judge the smells of car interiors over a five day period around the UK assisted by a smells expert, for a company marketing air freshner products, This promotion was called ' The Stinx Factor' !

I have appeared as 'Simon' in two books by Alison Jackson, an artist who uses lookalikes in her work to blur the boundries of reality and fiction to comedic effect.

One of my contacts Andy Harmer, as 'David Beckham' invited me to join a lookalike group called The Chippendoubles with the specific mission of appearing on Britain's Got Talent 2010. This was the first act ever to feature a group of top lookalikes. The line up as well as Beckham and Cowell included Ramsay, Will Smith, Mr T, David Brent and James Bond. I accepted the challenge and after several months of rehearsals and trips up and down the M1 and help from legendary mastemix DJ John Faulkner we had our act ready for the auditions. The act went down so well at The London Apollo auditions that we had a five minute standing ovation from the crowd which was absolutely incredible. The judges loved it and Simon said it was one of his favourite acts.

This act continues to delight audiences around the world, so I am part of a great team of guys all with many years experience in entertainment. It's great socially too when  the seven of us get together as we all get on really well, and to see the looks on people's faces when we all walk into a building together is priceless.

Last week The Sunday Mirror set up a photoshoot with 'Simon' and Roger, a David Walliams lookalike to show the depth of 'Bromance' between the two of them. On checking the date, readers may have spotted that it came out on April 1st !

The fun continues but I get to go out as a wedding DJ too on my regular gigs at some of Nottingham's most beautiful locations with Nightair Discos. I get some interesting reactions when "Simon Cowell" turns up to DJ a wedding!

Conference for Fatface Clothing.

A big thanks to the team at Fatface clothing for bringing us in on there 2 day conference and summer festival at Sherwood Pines a couple of weeks back. It took a lot of work to organise but it was worth it in the end.

We were recommended by Maverick Events who we work with on a regular basis at Norwood Park.

After attending a site visit and an organisational meeting on the 22nd of February by one of our events team we knew that there was going to be a lot of work involved, especially if the weather worked against us. The venue was only just opening so the grass had not had chance to grow properly and if it rained heavily it was going to be a big problem for vehicle access. Nightair as a company has been doing these sort of events for 30 years so it's not something that phased us in the slightest. When these sort of events are planned correctly they always go fantastically, however weather is one of the few things that cannot be influenced. More on the weather in a moment!

The first step was for our tech team to co-ordinate with the marquee company to get the measurements of the marquee to design a bespoke set to fit in the space available and also fit the size of the stage. Without the exact measurements it can cause issues when it comes to putting everything together on site. After designing the set we ordered in some more stage weights and some stage braces which will come in handy for events like this in future.

Monday morning came and the lads loaded the van. I however got a phone call from them at 9am to say the weights and braces had not arrived. That was my cue to phone the supplier to find out what was going on. It turned out the courier had been unable to find us to deliver them and they had then done nothing more with them when they arrived back at the depot. Thanks City Link...really helpful!

Anyway, I did the running around and headed over to site to meet the delivery driver who was dropping off the big daddy projector we had hired in.

On arriving on site at the prearranged time of 1230 It turned out that the heavy rain the day before had really hampered the progress of the marquee company and they were about 4 hours behind! My first thought was "this is going to be a late one". I rang the lads to let them know that there was little point in them being there before 3pm so no rush to get over to site. Due to very little 3g signal replying to emails wasn't an option so it was a case of "hurry up and wait!"

Finally at about 4pm the marquee was at a stage where we could start bringing kit in. In 2 teams we got it all in within half an hour. One team inside with shoes off to keep the carpet clean and one team outside to pass it in the equipment. After 1 Sprinter van and 1 Vito van full, it was all in. The rigging could finally begin. I won't bore you with the details except for the fact that many cables were plugged in, many speakers were stacked and many lights were hung!

We finally finished setting up at 1am! A long day indeed!

The best part was seeing the accommodation. On the way back we could hear a party going off in one of the cabin's, a shame we were too shattered to join in! The cabins were absolutely 1st rate. Great décor, a log burner, very spacious and even a hot tub! It certainly beats a travel lodge!

Watched TV to wind down, a quick shower and then straight to bed for a 7.30 start.

The conference itself went very well and until the evening the hard work for us was done.

The next step was to change the stage around for the band that evening. All hands to the pump. After about an hour or so it was all set up. The band were fantastic although right know I can't remember what they were called.

The party finished in the marquee at 11pm due to noise restrictions. So for us it was pack away the band kit and migrate to the hot tub.

WOW! I really didn't want to get out! As a trainee "lampy" I couldn't resist playing with the LED lights in the tub!

Next day wasn't as long and the delegates from Fatface split into groups for most of the day. and it was finished by 3pm. Next was the "get out" and it took us around 4 hours to de-rig and load up. We were back at the office by about 7pm and away by 8pm.

A long but worthwhile 3 days. It's great to do an event like this where the crew is looked after and not forgotton when it comes to food and drink.

A big thanks to Ian, Jen, Sophie and all the Fatface team for looking after us so well. Hopefully we will work with you again for your next event. You did a fantastic job. If your looking for a different line of work outside of Clothing then Events Management is definitely your forte!

Now is the time to book for 2012.

So, Christmas is over, New Year is here and all you love birds have hopefully been busy proposing!


Now is the time of year when we are busiest with taking bookings for 2012 and even 2013 in some cases. This time of year is peak season for booking wedding suppliers so its always good to get in there early before availability becomes scarce.


If you want your perfect venue on your ideal date in 2012 then NOW is the time to act!


You will also find that the registrar's are getting booked up pretty quick as well, in fact more or less all the wedding vendors will be. One thing that I can't stress enough is that once you have your venue, don't leave booking your entertainment until last once you've allocated most of your budget.


As I've mentioned before, it's the party that people remember and the reception is where the atmosphere should really get going. Let's face it, you will probably spend in the region of at least £800 on the photographer and anywhere between £200 to £500 on the cake and dress?  Actually ladies, lets not mention that to the other half! He might be straight down to your local friendly divorce solicitor after the wedding if he finds out how much the dress cost! So why do so many people want to pay no more than £150 for the main aspect of the evening?


Don't skimp on the entertainment. Whether it be a DJ, a band or a solo artist. To get an experienced DJ and compere for your wedding, who is used to dealing with all the pomp and ceremony like the first dance and cake cutting, expect to pay £300+ depending on what sort of set up you are having. With a band, you will be looking at a lot more. If it's a 4 piece then I would expect you to be quoted in the region of £1000-£1500. A good way of spotting the cowboys or as we in the industry call them "80 quid sids" is by asking for a copy of there public liability insurance and PAT testing certificates. If they are making a living from it on a regular basis then chances are they will have these. If not, well I would advise that you steer clear!


Normally the venue will have a list of preferred suppliers. Take note of these as they are preferred suppliers for a reason. Hopefully because they do a good job!


Well that's all for now and I hope you've found this useful. 


Please do have a look at our website at www.nightairdiscos.co.uk

Planning the perfect wedding!

Hello!

I'm Jen from Chapter16 weddings and events, I've been asked by the guys at Nightair to write a blog on planning the perfect party! I love to plan weddings and events and it's my pleasure to share some expert advice and planning tips with you all. Here goes...

1) Have a planner! Ok, ok, so I'm biased! But really, having an expert by your side means that you get access to the best suppliers around, tried and tested. I don't push my ideas on anyone, it's your day and I only seek to help you pull together all your ideas as cost effectively as possible. Weddings can be expensive and they really don't need to be. as a good wedding planner saves you money! By using recommended suppliers I always pass on discounts to my clients and never take kick backs.

2) Create a mood board and do the details! The best weddings are personal to the Bride and Groom, full of little details and personal touches that make the day memorable for you and your family and friends. Create a mood board of the colours and detail that you want to have on your day and don't be afraid of a) being different, or b) what other people think! Don't let tradition dictate what you should or should not have. If you want to have Paris Hilton 'Stars are Blind' played at your wedding, you have it! (Just check the DJ has got it first!) Colour schemes, food and entertainment really set the mood to your day. Wedding blogs like www.stylemepretty.com are a great place to start for inspiration.

3) Keep your budget in check! If you want to have lots of wonderful and exciting things at your event you've got to make sure you control that budget. Make a list of everything that you want to have, prioritising your 'must haves'. Careful control of your budget, using the right suppliers (and having a planner!!) will help you to keep the purse strings in check. I love helping clients 'massage' their budget so they can afford things they thought were out the question!

I hope you've enjoyed reading this. I've had the pleasure of working with Nightair at many an event and they really know how to fill a dance floor and have no hesitation in recommending them!

Please do check out my website www.chapter16.co.uk if there is anything I can help you out with!

Jen xx

The extras are what make it a day to remember!

OK so you've booked your DJ and he's bringing disco lights and a sound system. That's everything sorted then right?

Well, maybe, that depends on your budget. In my experience, the extras at a party are what makes it memorable for years to come. Many people won't even consider what effect lighting has on a room, well believe me, it has a huge effect on the atmosphere of the party!! Despite what most think, darker is not always better. Most of the time its what colour the light is as important as how bright it is. For example, white light would be a lot more harsh than if we dimmed it down with a red or gold gel. These give a much more atmospheric feeling and help give even the most bland room more colour.

Another of our add on's available are giant games. We have Jenga, Snakes and Ladders, Connect 4 and Twister. These are a really great ice breaker for friends and family that don't know each other. Jenga is also a good laugh after a few beers!

Don't panic if not everybody dances straight away!

OK so you've decided to have a party. It’s probably a Wedding, a birthday, a retirement party or just any other excuse to have a good time and have a few drinks with friends and family! Why not? You shouldn’t need an excuse!

It’s the day of the party, the foods sorted, your friends are there and the venue is fantastic. But hang on...its 8pm, the dance floor is empty and everybody is either at the bar or sat down talking. What the....

Hang on, take a breath and chill out. You've got friends and family from all over the place that haven't seen each other for ages and they want to catch up. Apart from anything else...they want to get a few drinks down them first and get into the party mood! If it's your wedding and are having a first dance then the chances are all of your guests will come in for that, they will dance for about 3 or 4 tracks and then sit down at the bar again. As Corporal Jones says...Don't panic Mr Mannering, Don't Panic! This is quite normal and as a DJ I see this at nearly every party I do. They won't come back up to dance properly until suitably fed and watered! They will all start to filter through between 9pm and 10pm. If the floor is still empty after 1030pm then you could perhaps approach the DJ and give him a few requests but remember that at some party’s people will just want to talk. It's nothing you or the DJ are doing; they will probably still be enjoying the music but just want to chat.

Remember...the family that aren't local only see each other at weddings, birthdays and funerals!

Music at your party

We understand that if you pay for a disco at your party whether it be a wedding, birthday or any other occasion that the music is one of the most important elements of the night. Many of our clients send us a request list to give to the DJ to use as a guide for there taste in music. We welcome this but any DJ worth his salt will tell you that this should only be used as a guide. The DJ should always be given the freedom to judge the crowd at your party. You wouldn't tell a  barman how to pull your pint!!! As a company we only employ experienced and proven DJ's. We have a good reputation with our past, present and ongoing clients that we of course we want to maintain. If you want to send us a request list then it's no problem. However, please keep it to a maximum of 20 to 30 tracks.

If you average most tracks at 3 mins then 35 tracks is 105 mins of music. In reality by the time people arrive, have a couple of drinks, chat to their family and friends, have something to eat and start to dance it is normally about 9pm before the party really gets going. Taking into consideration other requests that the DJ will have coming from your guests on top of your request lists the DJ will have about 3 hours of requests to work through. This is a big ask! There will be other tracks that he will need to play to keep people dancing as well as the ones the get requested, for this reason, it's best to keep the list short and sweet and give the DJ the freedom to work.

If there are any songs that you don't want to be played then they are the ones to tell us about. For example, if you prefer to stick away from the cheesy music like YMCA, Macarena, Oops upside you head etc then let your DJ know beforehand. What NOT to play is probably important than telling him what TO play. The DJ will judge the crowd when he arrives and providing the company you book is experienced 9/10 times will know what to play straight away.