Birthdays...
Although less formal birthdays are just as important as a big wedding. All your friends and family are there and you want it to be just perfect.
The birthday party may be yours or someone else's, if it is someone else's it might be a surprise birthday party. If it is a surprise, punctuality and discretion are the two watchwords here. As with all my bookings I am always in close contact with the client, so any last minute changes to your plans can easily be taken into consideration and adjusted for at my end. I would be at the venue and set-up a good three quarters of an hour to an hour before the person who's birthday it is is due to arrive. During this time I can be playing background music and organising the gathered throng of people ready to surprise and greet the honored guest. I normally suggest that everyone gathers around the entrance of the function room with all the lights off ready for the birthday boy or girls to walk through the door. At which point I will have prompted everyone to cheer as I turn the lights back on and play the music for "Happy Birthday to you..." for everyone to join in with. I would then normally play some party background music for a while as the person in question gets over their shock and surprise.
Later in the evening maybe just before or just after the buffet I would ask the birthday boy or girl to say a few words to you all on the microphone and cut their cake if there is one. Then on with the show as they say... Check Availability?