05-20-2008, 03:38 PM
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#16 | |
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Oh Boy! I'm a WDW sailor!
Had a Thriller of a time on the Wonder 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 2,329
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soapbox As a mobile DJ, I do weddings nearly every weekend and it will be every weekend for the next 3 months solid as we are approaching the heavy wedding season. We do all the planning for setting up events and song requests. This is where I'm going to define what I am. I am not a DJ. A DJ sits behind a box and plays music with little to no microphone work or involvement with anybody except people asking for requests. I am an entertainer. As an entertainer, I get involved with the crowd. I organize the grand march, first dance, parents dance, garter removal(he dances for it to "I'm too sexy for my shirt") and toss, the boquet toss, and the dollar dance. I also do games like Find the bride, find the groom, and anything else asked of me. I invite people to the dance floor by playing a slow song, making them continue dancing, and then tricking them into beer barrel polka(It's WI, don't kill me) At pretty much every show, I put on a full MJ thriller costume with wig and glove and do the entire Thriller. I'm working on learning how to teach it to a few participants. I also have silver metalic pants and a spandex shirt which work oh so perfectly with the YMCA. I lead the YMCA dance and guess where I got the dance from? Disney Cruise Line of course! It's my own personal homage to Disney at every show. Sound like fun? I sure hope so! But there is one problem - when I first started a year ago, we would ask the bride ahead of time if "interactive" songs are ok. Interactive songs being the Chicken dance, hokey pokey, Cha Cha, Electric slide, and you guessed it, the YMCA. We also had a section to indicate what you wanted from us. A jukebox, a moderate entertainer, or an outgoing one. People would circle outgoing, yet say no interactive songs. I'm an entertainer, not a stand up comedian. I need a little help, and people would alienate the crowd's ability to have fun by cutting out either one or a selection of interactive songs. An entertainer uses these songs as a tool. No, you might not enjoy them, but grandma Betty might love them. We give everyone the opportunity to dance. I came into the office one day complaining that the contract stated outgoing entertainer but no interactive songs(specifically no YMCA) I took the boring YMCA, pretty much copied Disney, threw on some outrageous clothes, and made my own "magical moment" for every crowd I interact with, yet this bride didn't even want the POSSIBILITY of such a thing happening. As a result of my reasoning in the office, we no longer ask people if they want interactive songs. It's up to the entertainer to read the crowd and determine if it's a good idea or not. So what is my point? My point is that by specifically saying "no chicken dance" you are alienating a portion of your crowd who might not dance the entire night, but would love to do the chicken dance. In a year I have easily done 50-75 weddings and I can tell you the most successful and fun receptions are the ones with the least amount of restrictions. At the very least, I urge you to consider telling the DJ/entertainer "I'd prefer not to do the chicken dance unless someone asks for it" At least that way you are leaving open the possibility. Also keep in mind it's Disney. If I took the way they do the YMCA on the cruise ship and twisted it, imagine what your DJ might have done with the chicken dance! Again, this is not meant to be disrespectful. It's your reception, but I speak based on experience and a desire for the two of you and your crowd to have the best time possible. /soapbox
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05-20-2008, 03:51 PM
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#17 | |
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Love My Stella-rella!
Crocs are Crack for Feet! On ‘the list’ so treading carefully 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Posts: 10,427
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mother in-law of the bride over-the-top Loehmann's kaftan thing with a matching turbin - I was going to wear to this little hullabaloo - but No chicken dance! Can we do the Electric Slide? The YMCA dance? 
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05-20-2008, 06:50 PM
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#18 |
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Age. Fac ut gaudeam
I'm back to wearin' my babushka, and takin' the slow boat to Elbonia 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: AZ (in the mountains)
Posts: 2,579
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Officially cracking the seal on the Cherry Garcia here and getting teary-eyed. i
 luv the chicken dance and the YMCA dance and so on and so on.  My daughter has flat told me that she is NOT getting married. EVER. (she's a Rocker Grrrl and that's just the way it is.) So no fun wedding/reception stuff for me.I am SO happy for you RPMDFW and more than a little jealous of your mom. It all looks wonderful, beautiful, and fabulous!!!! You are going to have an awesome wedding!!!!
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05-20-2008, 06:58 PM
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#19 |
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all I can say is beer hurts when it comes out of your nose!
I don't think we hijacked Halloween, we just do a better job at it! Mr. Mike, plain ole head 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,730
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As a server/bartender....I LOVE THE CHICKEN DANCE!
That's when we take our break! Guaranteed a good 20 minutes before anyone wants another drink! 
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05-20-2008, 08:09 PM
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#20 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Buffalo, NY
Posts: 1,568
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Thanks for posting all the details and especially the pictures. I always wondered what was involved in the planning. Everything sounds amazing!
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05-20-2008, 09:33 PM
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#21 |
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tap, tap, tap, is this thing on?
Oh My Stars and Garters 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: New Orleans
Posts: 104
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Thank you so much for posting this thread!
Very interesting and the food porn was, well, wonderful.... Down here it's not so much the chicken dance but doing "the stroke".... shameful, but fun...
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Alive and well in Tammieland Fading cheerleaders make the best Torch singers...<sigh>  |
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05-20-2008, 10:27 PM
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#22 |
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Mouseketeer
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 329
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This is an excellent thread! My DP and I are planning on having a commitment ceremony in Disney once we both finish grad school and actually start making some money!
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   November '11 - 4 nights at RPR! January '11 - 2 nights at HRH, 7 nights at Pop! August '09 - 7 nights at ASMo!  |
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05-20-2008, 10:46 PM
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#23 |
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Dogs Like Teacups Too
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 630
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Yummmm.... This thread makes me want to get a divorce!
We eloped in FL. My husband was in the AF and at Biloxi. Pensacola was the first place that didn't require waiting period and/or bloodwork.. So we took a long weekend and did the deed. The nice lady with the big hair and scary blue eye shadow made it short and sweet. We flew kites and rode go-karts and he was back at tech school in 3 days. I don't regret no wedding. Someone is always whining, I could never please everyone, blah. Too bad we can't just go eat all that food and say we ummm "renewed our vows"? LOL I know lame excuse to get that yummy looking food! I guess the *perfect* wedding to me would be the $67 ring, scary blue eyeshadow and that FOOD! YUM! Oh and the icing on the cake was listening to him call his momma and tell her what we had done. Oops, no warning.  Tks for the awsome post!
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~Beth Mom to 2 great kiddos [img]http://www.********************/timers/tickers/3va2aelrpr540k7t.png[/img] |
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05-21-2008, 08:19 AM
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I feel similarly about the cha-cha, electric slide, and mambo #5
Bridezilla, Groomzilla and Gayzilla all rolled into one 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ocoee, FL
Posts: 7,041
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zulemara, thank you for posting this and giving me a different perspective on "interactive dances". And we WILL now consider changing the "NO, NOT ANY OF THEM" stance. That said, the chicken dance is not something we did in my family. The first I ever even heard of it was when I saw it in a movie when I was in college. We have no tradition or memories associated with it and Scott and I both DETEST it. I feel similarly about the cha-cha, electric slide, and mambo #5. I could probably deal with the Hustle, the Macarena (Scott would kill me, though, he hates it) or the even YMCA; though I have to say that I've always thought that a song about gay men cruising at a bathhouse was an inappropriate and odd choice to be played at a wedding and I always crack up when I see all the str8 people rushing out to the dance floor because it's playing. My thought is that there are plenty of really fun songs that will get us up and dancing without resorting to the "gimmick" dances. I've got "The Twist" on the "must play" list because it never fails to get my entire family on the floor, and at 65 my dad will be the best twister out there. He always was, and it fascinated us as kids. But, you're right, we do want it to be fun for our guests, and maybe we'll change our minds. Or maybe we'll decide to have Mickey Mouse show up at our reception to dance and see if that takes the places of the gimmicky stuff. (And yes, I realize that Mickey in and of himself is a gimmick at the reception, but it's a gimmick that you ONLY get at Disney, so why the heck not.) We're also asking them not to play any of the "Gay Anthems" at the reception. So no "I Will Survive" (the song that brings out the inner drag queen in EVERYONE), no "It's Raining Men", no "I'm Coming Out" etc. This may disappoint some people; but to us it seemed like "too much", for the same reason we didn't even consider doing our reception at "The Great Movie Ride" (which is an option Disney offers, by the way.) We thought that cutting the wedding cake at a gay wedding in the Wizard of Oz scene with the Wicked Witch there to say "and your little dog, too" was just TOO MUCH. Too cliche, too tacky. Okay, I'll end my rant now. But truly, thank you for your thoughts, and Scott and I will discuss these things again looking at it from the perspective you've provided.
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Last edited by rpmdfw; 05-21-2008 at 10:53 AM. |
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05-21-2008, 08:34 AM
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I feel similarly about the cha-cha, electric slide, and mambo #5
Bridezilla, Groomzilla and Gayzilla all rolled into one
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ocoee, FL
Posts: 7,041
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 And if you think the food porn looked good, you should have tasted it. I'm craving more of that chicken right now! (Scott's telling people we're having the "Chipper Chicken" at the wedding. )Quote:
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And we're not worried about pleasing everyone. We're really just doing what we like and hoping everyone else climbs on board the band wagon!
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05-21-2008, 09:00 AM
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all I can say is beer hurts when it comes out of your nose!
I don't think we hijacked Halloween, we just do a better job at it! Mr. Mike, plain ole head
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,730
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Makes me laugh every time! "Hello! Are you listening to the words???"
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05-21-2008, 09:06 AM
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#27 | |
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I feel similarly about the cha-cha, electric slide, and mambo #5
Bridezilla, Groomzilla and Gayzilla all rolled into one
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ocoee, FL
Posts: 7,041
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05-21-2008, 09:08 AM
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#28 |
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all I can say is beer hurts when it comes out of your nose!
I don't think we hijacked Halloween, we just do a better job at it! Mr. Mike, plain ole head
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,730
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I saw the "Ladies of Lake Eola" with Wanzie and Doug.....hysterical!
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05-21-2008, 09:12 AM
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#29 | |
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I feel similarly about the cha-cha, electric slide, and mambo #5
Bridezilla, Groomzilla and Gayzilla all rolled into one
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Ocoee, FL
Posts: 7,041
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We enjoyed Bathhouse the Musical more. Boys in towels. Need I say more?
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05-21-2008, 09:25 AM
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#30 |
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DIS Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,898
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I am loving this!! I have never known anyone to get maried at Disney, so youare giving great insight! It might be the spot for my sister!
Now on a serious note....i vote no on the chicken dance as well  (of course this might not have been open to debate!!) |
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