Lately I’ve been playing a lot of 60th Birthday Music for 60ths, 50ths and various events.
I recently played a great surprise 60th birthday party and a beautiful property in Kenthurst.

Wine and champagne was flowing freely with a compliment of wait staff to re fill guests glasses as needed.

Soft Acoustic Music

There was a beautiful dinner sitting under umbrellas on the lawn with catered Italian food.

The first course was an appetiser of Prosciutto e Melone and Caprese salad.

I was set up under my own umbrella playing 60th Birthday music – soft acoustic tunes to match the age group whilst they drank champagne and ate.

The entire event was catered for by an Italian Chef and his staff.
Wine and Champagne was fleeing freely…and shots.

For the event for 60th Birthday Music I played soft acoustic classics as background music while the guests were dining on the lawn then the main course came which was Mushroom Gnocchi and lobster Pasta followed by a delicious Tiramisu dessert.

I can set up remotely for these types of events – powered by a battery I have the powers my entire speaker system.

The type of background 60th Birthday music I play for this particular age group is typically ballads or unplugged soft and sweet renditions of – James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Bruce Springsteen, Elton John.
It’s always wise to ask the audience for any requests so I can play exactly what they like.

Pool Party Dance Music

Did I mention that wine and champagne was flowing freely?
The second half of the party was up on another lawn besides the pool where they had a special ice sculpture delivered and placed next to the pool.
This is where the guests all drank shots from a spout from the ice sculpture.

They poured Jagermeister, Tequila and other delights through a spout at one end and they drank shots from the other end mouth to spout style.

This got them in the mood for partying. They danced and frolicked by the pool. It was a great night.

I was cut a little short because it did start to rain but a good time was had by all.
I actually have my own elegant 4.5 x3m marquee for outdoor gig cover as well as a battery to power my gear so I can be fully remote and covered form the elements – rain or sun.

I love doing these private parties in beautiful locations.

Hit me up for any parties or events at your place.

See live clips here.

Tim

Muse Restaurant

Sat 30th Apr at Muse Restaurant was a special members wine tasting event for Audrey Wilkinson Wines.
I’ve done many functions for Audrey Wilkinson & Agnew Wines over the years.

Having played so many Hunter Valley venues over years and years of being a wedding and function singer, I’ve driven past Muse Restaurant probably 78 times as it’s on Broke Rd, one of the main roads into the Hunter Wine region.

Recently I’d driven past Muse Restaurant, one more time, and I glanced over and had a look, and thought you know I’d really love to play there. I really want to try the beautiful food and of course the famous muse coconut a special desert that they’re known for which is a handmade chocolate mousse coconut.

Audrey Wilkinson Annual Members Lunch

As luck would have it the next week, the artist I booked for a corporate event there pulled out with Covid on the day so (we needed an urgent fill in) and it was finally my turn to play the famous Muse.
What a great day. It was a little overcast and rainy but that didn’t stop the huge turn out of Audrey Wilkinson members  to celebrate an annual members lunch.

The place was fully packed and booked out by Audrey Wilkinson. All the members showed up from all over from Sydney, Newcastle and all over the place and they were treated to a delicious set menu with loads and loads of various wines.
I started playing nice background music, and then naturally as the lunch went on the wine and good times flowed more and more.

Background music only – or get them up to dance ?

Then I reached that point where you’re never sure as an artist whether to switch from background music into upbeat, dance music .
I mean what does the client want – just laid back grooves only?
Some clients DO NOT want people up dancing as it can get a bit wild and pub like.
So as a singer we all have to make this call – keep the client happy …..and keep the audience happy.

Of course my job is to deliver to the people what the people want to so if they want to dance then I switch to that vibe.
Sometimes in an elegant restaurant scene – I purposely keep it chilled so it doesn’t become a typical pub vibe – this is a skill learned over time to keep a controlled nice upmarket vibe going and to avoid a suburban pub vibe.

In this case a good trick is somewhere in between – instead of manic dance songs – I go for singalongs or reggae songs as a hybrid between low key background ballads and crazy dance songs.

so I got them all singing along to a few classic ballads like Hey Jude and Sweet Caroline.
A few got up to dance, it turned out to be a great day.

The famous Muse Restaurant Coconut.

I was watching the spectacular, artistic creation the famous Muse Restaurant Coconut go round the tables, everyone got a Muse Coconut dessert.
As the musician we typical get a ‘service meal’ not the same as the guests – usually a main – out was delicious. I din’t expect a coconut dessert of course as I was working there not a paid guest.

As luck would have it, as i was at the back of the room near a table of guests adjusting my camera, (you can see a video of highlights of the gig here…..https://youtu.be/ndIFlv8YUPM)
I was adjusting my camera, and I was able to see the Muse Coconuts up close on a table and I looked at them and I said to someone, my God don’t they look amazing.
This dessert is what Muso is famous for.
A lady looked at me and said do you want mine?
She said I hate coconut, I’ve hated it all my life, can’t stand it…..have it, it’s yours!
I thought wow my day is just got even better. Not only did I get to play at Muse I got to sample the famous Muse Restaurant Coconut.

I devoured that and finished my gig.
It was just a great day, great gig, and then I rushed off to another booking.
Another private booking that night back in Sydney , but I was so happy to finally play Muse and sample the fine cuisine.
I highly recommend it.
Thanks for reading this.
If you need a corporate function singer, you know who to call 🙂
Once again, here’s a link to the video of highlights of the day.
https://youtu.be/ndIFlv8YUPM

I sang and played my longest performance ever, for almost 12 hours straight.

Let me tell you the story of my longest singing and playing performance ever, in 22 years of playing.
I became ‘the 12 hour party singer’

I got a late notice call on a Sunday, late about 9pm, from my favourite client who books me for private parties for him and his mates from time to time.

“TIMMY……..mate, can you be at my joint asap for a party, got some friends coming over”.

I never say no to his parties because they’re always a really great gig and a really great night.

I drove the 30 mins across town. I arrived before any guests were there, his friend let me in and I set up.

The host arrived with a few friends around 11.30pm ish.
I started at around midnight doing my usual first set easy going tunes to get a feel for the night and see how they all responded.

More people arrived as they night got later and later, the dining area and lounge were slowly filling up.
Drinks were flowing. Some people began dancing.
More people arrived.

I was about to play my longest gig ever, 12 hours straight.

I’ll sleep when I’m dead theory

So I usually do private gigs in 3 hour blocks, that’s how I charge.
Many many times if the party is rocking and the client is a mad party hound who just wants to keep on going, they extend the time.

My previous record was an extension of hours by the hour until 6am.
That was another private house party that was about 9 hours long.

Some party people don’t consider sleep necessary. The live for the moment and subscribe to the “I’ll sleep when i’m dead” theory.

You are probably wondering about material and songs and are curious as to my stamina and even why I do this?

Yes after 22 years of playing – that’s approx 3900 gigs over 9 countries, I can play for 10-15 hours without repeating a song – I have a lot of songs.
Of course I have 20 min breaks. 40 mins on 20 mins off in public venues – but with parties I do something similar but more flexible as to what suits the vibe and mood.

Why do it do it – its my job and I like there money. Note – if they don’t accept my terms for extra time I don’t do it.
The key is – it has to be worth it for me.
Do I get tired playing for nearly 12 hours – sure – but it’s WORTH it!

Biggest performance fee ever in 22 years.

So at 3am I checked with the host – “ok what are we gonna do mate – shall I do a few more songs then pack up”?
The host looked at me blankly, leaned back and said….“are you very entrepreneurial”?
I said “huh”?
He calmly repeated his question. I said ….“um yeah sometimes, why”?
He asked how much to keep playing until 6am!
I simply doubled my initial fee and told him – he – instantly slapped his hands together and yelled – DONE!

So I’d just doubled my fee, I was pretty happy.
I was well on my to playing my longest gig ever, 12 hours straight.

Now the rest of the night was a combination of me playing live and the host and guests doing Karaoke. What I mean is, them singing with my mic over Spotify tunes.
If you’re a party host or live singer and are doing private parties you’ll know people LOVE doing this. I don’t promote it but if they ask I set it up and I then become the spotify operator and they love it.

Everyone has their favourite songs to sing and to impress your mates is the goal.
So many hours followed of Spotify Karaoke and me playing live, alternating until 6am rolled around.

We repeated the gig the following week, the 12 hour party singer was back.

Well it was about 5.45am, I re checked with the host as 6am was approaching.
I asked him mid dance floor as he was rocking out with his friends to while I was playing live, “ok so another 15mins then we’re done”?
Actually I announced over the mic , mid song the shatteringly disappointing news that we had 15 minutes then we’re done folks, let’s make the most of the last 15 minutes.

The host lurched towards me holding up a few fingers to indicate the figure he wanted to communicate to me.
He didn’t miss a beat on the dane floor and basically said “double it again…….play until midday”!

Another 6 hours now – just like that just got added.
I kind of resisted for a second – then said ok LETS GO!
I took a break then we repeated the live sets / Spotify Karaoke until it was 11.30am and there were about 4 people left.

Yes I was tired on the drive home, but also ecstatic at what I’d just achieved time and fee wise.

And the next week he called me up and we did it again till 6am, then again and again several more times till 3-6am.

And we continue to do it up to the present time.
1 of these 6-10 hour gigs pays 5 times what a hotel or club gig pays for only 2 times the playing.
This gig also pays double what a wedding gig pays in half the time spent.

I never intended to be playing my longest gig ever, 12 hours straight, it just happened.
I love my job.

Hit me up if you want to party for 12 hours, I’ll be there….I’m the 12 hour party singer.

Country Weddings!
This was a Monday night wedding gig way out North West of Newcastle NSW.
It had been postponed twice already due to covid and this time it was on a Monday night.
It was a 3 hour drive for me from home ( Hornsby in Sydney) to Scone Race Club…..and I had some car trouble, the first time ever on the way to a gig, a slow water leak that I wasn’t aware of became very obvious about 1 hour away from the gig.
I stopped on the roadside right near Huntlee to add some water. A cool local hipster guy called Bill Lind stopped to help me and he drove me to the servo where I bought a supply of water and was soon on my way.
How cool is old fashioned road side help from a local stranger!

Country Weddings

Country Weddings I often do in the Hunter Valley and the South Coast. Of Course they are favoured destinations for Sydney Siders and city folk in general. The vast expansive space is so calming and the scenery is georgeous.
I’m kind of spoilt from the years of driving up there to these amazing locations and performing at so many different venues, that I actually forget to appreciate it all. The country side is wondrous and simple and vast and calming.

Live acoustic & DJ

Tonights country wedding was a combination of live sets and and DJ sets.
I’m very used to the live sets and very experienced having done this for a long time now.
The DJ thing is relatively new to me and a service i offer which evidently saves the Bride & Groom $600-$1000 dollars if I do the DJ sets form my gear as opposes to them hiring in a seperate DJ.
By far the best approach so far i’ve found is to keep the DJ requests stacked up a few songs in advance. By Approaching the wildest most cheerful dancers…..saying “…..pssst, have you got a request for the DJ…” – I usually get the exact right tunes very specific to them and their friends. Tunes that they can specifically relate to that really bring back memories and make the night one big nostalgia fest.

Wedding MC

I always offer to MC weddings as to be honest now from the experience of multiple weddings over the years, I’ve learned a few hot MC tips.
Some from seeing others MC really well. Some from seeing drunk Uncles (Drunkles) MC really badly and some from googling great MC tips!

I can absolutely say with confidence i’m a better MC than the ‘average drunkle’
Also one great advantage in being the musician and the MC is that as the MC I get to ensure I get to deliver my product properly as a musician – ie. I get to play enough to impress guests and warrant a rebooking.

You see weddings very often run late and sometimes the amount of dance and party time at the end suffers – and can be really reduced down in time to say only 30 mins of dancing, due to all the formalities running super late.

As the MC I can hurry things along as I’m aware of the time traps that can happen at a wedding – like speakers waffling on too long and too many gaps between formalities that drag the night on.
Every wedding should have at least 2 hour party time at the back end before lights on and farewell circles.

Its not quite a home party with no time limits – there are strict venue room hire times to be aware of.

This was a fabulous night at the Scone Race Club for Hannah and Matthew Collier.
I feel blessed to be a wedding singer to get to enjoy so many beautiful functions in exquisite locations.
Country weddings really take the cake so far as location and scenery ……so long as the drive is not too far 🙂

Hornsby Inn is a local venue for me – 5 mins drive from my house.

It’s a pleasure to play the local pub. I always have a fun time here.
Last Fri night was no exception.
Local lads Jack, Kieran, Scott, Jack and the lovely lass Nicky and her friend who works at the Inn are in the pic above.

These local mad cats are always up for a great time.
Shots, beer and shenanigans are the name of the game, for them , not me, maybe the occasional shot if they offer me one!

Jack the guy doing the ‘peace sign’ is a local lad from Hornsby Heights who has an unusual addiction to buying my cds, I think he owns about 4 copies now, just so I can write a new custom whacky message on the cover each time.
He bought another one last Fri and an extra one for his mate also called Jack ( far right side in the pic ) He’s also a ranga so I wrote – “hey ‘ginger balls’ you’re the best , luv Tim” on his CD.

Hornsby Inn is well run by local licence Andrew, who books great regular live music. Some of Sydney top rock and blues bands play there, such as the Steve Edmonds band and Stormcellar as well as a host of top Solos and Duos.

The pub boasts on their website – they provide some of the best pub feeds, cold beer and hospitality in the area. I tend to agree.

Its’ a real locals bar with some enthusiastic music lovers always there every weekend. Mad Simon always requests Creedence and Pink Floyd.

They have as part of the hotel the amazing Absolute Thai Restaurant as well as regular Aussie pub feeds.

Its a well set up venue for live music with a stage if the act wants it and permanent lighting installed.
They even turn the footy screen off behind the band and draw curtains over the turned off screen – now that is supporting live music. Footy down the other end and music down this end.

The staff are nice, the punters are cool and the vibe is fine, see you soon!

Elements Bar & Grill is a spectacular venue in Darlinghurst.

I played here on New Years Eve 2020.
That was my first gig here – solo.

Of course being NYE it was a huge night.
Being an outdoor seating venue they had limited covid restrictions unlike most city venue in Dec 2020 when the person per square metre rules applied and were quite restrictive.

Valentines Day 2021 was a duo gig with the amazing Kelly Hope, who is a fantasist solo act in her own right.
Kelly & I teamed up for a duo gig which went really well.
I used my tiny BOSE S1 Pro speaker, which was powerful enough for the small space.

I’ve also acted as the booking agent ( my agency Crazy Horse Entertainment) for the music acts so far booked for Elements Bar & Grill.

So I supplied another awesome Male / female duo that played before us on Valentines day – The Paul Winn Duo with Natalie Carboni.

Two amazing solo acts in their own right. Both are well known Sydney acts.
Natalie is a Cruise Ship legend – tip piano bar girl having played don Cruise ship the world over. Crazy Horse got her into these gigs initially on the Carnival Cruise line a few years back.

The audience for Valentines day at Elements Bar and Grill

were a mix of inner city couples wanting an exclusive dining experience.
The venue offered special dining packages, several courses with a special heart shaped desert cake made for the occasion.

The venue really goes all out to create a total red carpet experience. The literally had a red carpet with the venue logo backdrop for couples to take great romantic pics to memorise the occasion.

I’d play here anytime as Navid and Kyle and all the staff are so polite, professional and pleasure to work for.

I’ll be back soon I’m sure.