Weddings are fun. Or are they?

[gtc]

My story relates not to organ and wedding, but sound system and wedding reception, 1970s.

Following the friends' church wedding we adjourned to the convention room of a local club for the reception party. The place was packed and while waiting for the bride and groom to arrive following photos, etc, the duly assembled was plied with liberal quantities of alcohol by waiters.

By now the hired disco system should have been up and running but it wasn't, and it was perceived by a middle-aged relative of the bride that the natives were growing rowdy, if not restless. So, she decided that what was needed was for her to perform a cappella some numbers from old musicals in her somewhat shaky soprano.

The groom's father made a bee line to my table asking "Can you take a look at this disco thing and get it working before there's a riot?"

So, with more than few beers under my belt, I found myself at the rear of a 19 inch rack cabinet trying to sort out the confusion of cables and connections while said father provided illumination via a Bic lighter.

Eventually I managed to get things connected properly and there was music.

[myorgan]

The worst wedding gig–playing for a musician! ;-)

Michael

[you795a]

I agree with Silken Path. To me they are of little help. Ebay still owes me $200.00 for items that I sold and being that I refused to give my banking information to them they closed my account. I filed a complaint with the BBB and after three responses they said they couldn't help me.

[andyg]

Thankfully, I've managed to somehow avoid the kind of misadventures some of you have had. I have had fun at weddings!

One bride arrived very late and I had time to work as many highly disguised pop songs into my loooong initial stint. I do remember also putting 'Adeste Fideles' into the mix - in the UK we sing the words 'Why are we waiting?' to that melody and that did raise a few chortles.

But when my daughter's best friend got married (the first time!), I visited the church for rehearsals to find a 1970s Viscount. Just a thinly disguised home organ, it did have a Leslie speaker and the bride's request for 'Amazing Grace' was delivered by yours truly and a very enthusiastic choir in Gospel style on the day! I was offered 'the regular gig' as the Vicar put it, but politely declined!

But at my own wedding, I asked for 'Prelude in Classic Style' rather than the traditional Wedding March. I gave the organist the music well in advance and even obtained a fiery trumpet voice card for the church's Allen. What could possibly go wrong? I have no idea why, but she played it around half speed rather than at the marked tempo. She wasn't a poor player, the hymns had been fine. Perhaps she was a little out of her comfort zone.

[Silken Path]

Years ago you could call a city's BBB and ask if there were any complaints against a company. Also, if you had a problem with a company and were not getting any satisfaction, the local BBB could often "grease the skids" and get things moving. Now they are just another cog in the grand scheme of commerce. They are not on the consumer's side or in any fashion beneficial for the consumer.

[myorgan]

After looking past the dreaded "MY SISTER SINGS", I recall a weeding where the bride was a very, er , very,very ...very large woman in both directions.

Pat,

You reminded me of our wedding video set up at the end of the aisle where the mother of the bride (my mother-in-law, also quite large in two dimensions–neither vertical) wore a dress with fairly large roses on it. As she walked slowly down the aisle, the predominant view was a rather large rose on each cheek sashaying down the aisle! That was almost 3 decades ago.

Michael

[RogerM]

Ah yes, we have similar organisations over here but I think the trader has to belong before he can be rated. Thanks, Michael.

[myorgan]

Better Business Bureau. People leave reviews of businesses, and the BBB rates them on a grading scale from A-F(I believe).

Michael

[RogerM]

From across the Pond, what's the BBB?

[gtc]

That lousy mob should be reported to the BBB and given rotten reviews online wherever applicable to hopefully save others from a similar bad experience.

[myorgan]

Yesterday, my wife experienced another low in weddings. Evidently, a "company," "agent," or "person" from NYC has taken it upon themselves to corner the market in our State. They promise a couple their services, hire local musicians (like my wife), charge exorbitant prices, then keep over half the profits. My wife normally refuses their requests, but due to Covid, she needed the money.

In yesterday's case, the bride chose several modern pieces the string quartet had never played. So, before the "prelude" the aunt of the bride came over and asked why they were ignoring her. She asked if they had a piece, which had specifically been requested for them to play with the aunt to sing and play the guitar during the ceremony. No music had been provided to the quartet, and all she had was a lead sheet. The music had never been provided to the quartet or listed on the pieces to play. My wife showed the aunt the e-mailed list of pieces, then gave it to her to facilitate the conversation with the "contractor." Wouldn't I love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation!

After a swift scurry (fortunately a computer was available), the quartet obtained the music, and they were able to play it during the wedding.

When the wedding was over, the quartet was asked about the music for the cocktail reception–they never were asked to play for the reception–there was a DJ who had the music.

Talk about a wedding from h-e-double hockeysticks!

Michael

[Admin]

myorgan You should be fine as long as those butts aren't lit.

[aeolian pat]

After looking past the dreaded "MY SISTER SINGS", I recall a weeding where the bride was a very, er , very,very ...very large woman in both directions. In the rear balcony I could lean over the rail and see the entrance while I played, in came the bride in a hooped dress. She walked to the pews and her dress was wider than the aisle, she merely grabbed the side of the dress and held it at an angle til she met her husband up front , all five foot and 100 lbs of him.

[myorgan]

Nope, I don't listen to buts–just sit on them!

Michael

[davidecasteel]

When my best friend was married in the early 1980s (his first of several) he asked me to sing at the wedding. At that time I was fairly able as a soloist, so I agreed. He and his bride-to-be had agreed on "The Lily of the Valley", a Hymn I was not particularly familiar with, but I learned it and the service went well. (He and all the Groomsmen were police officers, so the Pastor and I were the only men in the service who were not wearing guns!)

I related the above to my original Choir Director here in my church, who had begun his career as a preaching minister. I said I thought it was an odd choice. He told me: "I can do better than that. I was once asked to perform a wedding between 2 members of my choir. The bride was one of the soloists and decided to sing at her own wedding. She rehearsed separately with the Organist and did not sing at the formal rehearsal. During the wedding, at the designated time she faced the Groom and sand "I'd Rather Have Jesus"!"

David