OK KARAOKE

I have had two contracts go missing a couple of weeks ago. Both posted at the same time in the same post box and neither client received them. One was sorted after I phoned but I could never get an answer at the other so I sent a Recorded Delivery letter stating that if they didn`t contact me within the next 7 days the gig was off. They phoned and were pretty caustic about it - said as they hadn`t received my paperwork they assumed I didn`t want the gig and had hired someone else. In the end we had a laugh about it.

I`ve got a small case in which I keep only ballroom and strict tempo tracks. I bought around 30 CDs from local charity shops and now there`s enough for me to do a whole ST/Ballroom night if need be http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I agree that there is a lot of questionable content on some of todays so-called "music" which I don`t like. But I don`t think it should be censored by Governmental bodies who use it as an excuse to impose curfews and brain-washing.

Under normal circumstances I won`t swear on a mic, but have done so at a couple of rough pubs where it was the norm. If the "official" speech-maker wants to swear that`s between him, his conscience and the host - nowt to do with me, unless he got totally out of hand (personal insults etc). The average Jo taking the mic for a "quick word" or to sing karaoke are an extension of my "act" and as such have to toe the line or lose the right to use the mic.

Right, that`s it - my price has just gone up to £250 per hour!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif

Maybe it will help if I show him how badly I was hooked. I lost count of the times I "gave up", then dashed to the shops to buy a packet of fags, lit one and took a few drags, then threw away the packet in disgust at myself, only to go and buy another packet later on. Yes, at times it was a lot cheaper for me to stay hooked than try to give up. I can remember sneaking down the garden for a sly drag when I was supposed to have packed in. After weeks of this my missus one night said; "look, I know you`re smoking out there, why don`t you come clean about it?" I did, but made the concession

QUOTE (High Fidelity @ Nov 2 2004, 09:29 PM)

My earliest so far is December 17, but I got a call the other night from a TA barracks wanting me to do a Xmas party night on the 10th. They wanted 7pm to 2 am and when I quoted £200 they said "half it and you get the job". I replied "Fall out, soldier!" http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/nono.gif

Been at a low ebb recently. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif Had some health problems (tests still pending), had a couple of gigs cancelled and never got an ad in the Yellow Pages cos I dithered too long and then forgot. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/014.gif Today I got two phone calls, both for gigs, and both from people who saw me at a "last minute" gig I did a few weeks ago when a punter got let down. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/cool.gif They both said they were very impressed with my performance and that they definitely want me to do their (res

Check out all the number ones from the Sixties and that will give you nearly 200 to pick from http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

QUOTE (tonyj @ Oct 18 2004, 03:52 PM) 22,000 units... the smallest sales of any number 1 http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/tongue.gif See - size doesn`t matter http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I would be interested in quality downloads at a reasonable price.

Haha, love it!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif It`s a bit Asimov in as much as "what is fiction today is often the fact of tomorrow". Good article, humorous and definitely food for thought. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

QUOTE (Eskie @ Oct 18 2004, 10:51 PM) What's it got to do with you? do you work for the BPI? I find your attitude to this quite patronising, trying to come across as though your whiter than white! What format any DJ chooses to use is entirely their prerogative, and besides if the law is as clear-cut as you seem to believe, then why are there so many thousands of DJ's across the globe using mp3's? What`s it got to do with him? Maybe he begrudges the fact that he has spent thousands of pounds on CDs only to be out-priced by someone who has downloaded a hard-drive full of tracks at virtua

Get some didgeridoo sounds as well. You can drop them in here and there for a laugh http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

Cover your back for EVERY booking. I make out a receipt/invoice for every gig and if the customer doesn`t want their copy it goes in my accounts envelope anyway. I won`t sign an "official" club/pub receipt unless there is a carbon copy. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/nono.gif If not they get one of mine, whether they like it or not. I`ve been doing this over 20 years, as a club/pub singer/guitarist and the last 5 years as a DJ. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/headphone.gif Maybe I`m a bit too careful, but one day it might save me bacon. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/

If anyone asks me to beat a price quote I just tell them I can`t as I have a living to make, then I wish them well and tell them I hope they have a great night. That approach has earned me a few return phone calls later in the day and the client has agreed to my price without further question. In my book a "cowboy DJ" is one that is unrelieable, gives a lousy service, has lousy gear and lousy music. Whether they choose to declare all to the Inland revenue is up to them, and sod all to do with quality. If they want to take the chance, let them. A lot of them get caught anyway. I also find

The limiter in Wallasey Cons Club shuts off and doesn`t come back until a member of staff turns up with a key. Never happened to me yet, but another DJ tripped the unit and the key was in the pocket of an employee who was away on holiday. End of night. He was offered the opportunity to plug in behind the bar on an extension lead but he decided to have an early night on full pay instead. He successfully argued the legality of over-riding the H&S enforcement which had been placed on the venue. Am not sure what I would have done - probably plugged in behind the bar for the sake of the pu

Ta Chris.. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thanks.gif I now own four domain names (didn`t wanna be greedy;) ). Now I just need to know what to do with them http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/stupid.gif Gotta do some homework ;)

Never noticed the bass............... Never noticed the tune The video is great!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/boff.gif

Hz Speakers... 1994 McGreggor 2+2 amp ... 1992 Roland JC-120 (guitar amp) 1984 Fender Stratocaster... June 1969 (not for sale).

QUOTE (Gary @ Sep 22 2004, 11:53 PM) Did John Denver have enough tunes to compile into a box set? He had plenty of hits in the USA, and also wrote hits for others.

If they`re around the same price as last time (or less?? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif ), then I`ll take 1,000 again. Ian

QUOTE (Dj_Kray @ Sep 22 2004, 03:20 PM) has anybody tryed selling them in clubs yet At this price I don`t bother selling them, I give them away. I`m happy to give out 50 or more in one night. It`s less than 2% of my fee and only what i`d spend on a pint if I didn`t take a flask http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif

QUOTE (Kingy @ Sep 20 2004, 09:36 PM) I am tempted to say "C", but am too soft and would go with " B", explaining my reasons to the client. You are not being "too soft" by charging your normal fee - you are acting professionally. If the client calls you after a certain time of day/night you can explain that because of the short notice you won`t be able to bring as a many lights, or your fog/bubbles/snow or whatever. Tell them there`s no time to set them up, or you`ve already hired them out, or whatever. But DON`T rip them off for the sake of it. If you normally charge £150, then keep i