2nd weekend in August

Wesley · August 11, 2003

I know BigE, i had guests dancing all over the place at the back of the room on the carpet next to the dance http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

Hugmaster · August 12, 2003

Hi

Looks like the heat really took it's toll on everyone.

Saturday morning, Darren my new DJ set up, no worries.

Mid afternoon air con packed up, played in 90 degrees all night, absolutely horrendous.

Gig started off great, got loads of folkd on the floor, then groom wants half an hour of beatles, decided to compromise as I doubted most of the folks would enjoy half an hour. Played a good oldies set, then groom, pished out of his head came on the stage ranting, effing and blidning bla bla bla, you know the kind of thing.

Spokke to the bride who told us to just carry on what we were doing and to ignore the groom. In the end had to play the half hour of beatles as worried for my safety and the gear.

had threats for the rest of the night from groom and his budies, usually stuff, we're gonna do ya over and trash ya car etc.

Then get this, end of the night duty manager of the hotel come and start effing and verbally abusing us saying if he's paying for the do, he gets exactly what we want. Plitely informed that we dont play to individuals, we are entertainers and do whatever keep everyone happy.

Absolutely disgusted with the duty manger for using that kind of awful language in front of his staff and several guests. I'll be writing to them to complain.

Never had a night as bad as that, and hope it dont hapen again in a hurry.

Darren

YourBigEvent · August 12, 2003

QUOTE

Great night and looking forward to next saturdays wedding on the wirral.

Where to ?. I used to live in Birkenhead for my sins, only lasted about 6 years though http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/laugh.gif

Ian Stewart · August 12, 2003

QUOTE (Hugmaster @ Aug 12 2003, 10:07 AM)

had threats for the rest of the night from groom and his budies, usually stuff, we're gonna do ya over and trash ya car etc.

At this point i would have packed up and gone home

ChrisPointon · August 12, 2003

QUOTE

Then get this, end of the night duty manager of the hotel come and start effing and verbally abusing us

Yes, I get this a lot...seems to be that the posher the hotel, the more arrogant and patronising the management. I console myself with the fact that I am booked by the client and not the venue, so in the rare instance that it may reach flash point then I have nothing to gain by being continuing to be polite to him / her http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/221.gif

Gary · August 12, 2003

Well, it had to happen sooner or later (although its taken almost 2 decades to happen to me)...

Last Friday was a small family get-together of about 70 people of various ages, with (of course) various tastes in music, a common fact, backed up by the request slips we were getting ~ Ranging from Eminem to The Birdie Song,

Im sure we've all had the punter coming up,asking for more of "their" sort of music, and less of "this stuff", even when "this stuff" is filling the floor.

So, it was a long overdue laugh when one girl came up during the 3rd sixties tune of a 60s set, asking for less "old crap" at the same time as one of the older people from the dancefloor came up and told me to play much more of the "old favourites" and less of the modern rubbish.

The two just looked at each other, weirdly! I just suggested "more requests from everybody here tonight then"

It was too darn hot anyway...I ended up blackmailing the audience by offering to angle my electric fan toward the dancefloor as long as the dancefloor stayed more than half full...my bowtie looked like a drowned butterfly by the end of the night..

Dj_Kray · August 12, 2003

QUOTE (Ian Stewart @ Aug 12 2003, 10:24 AM)

QUOTE (Hugmaster @ Aug 12 2003, 10:07 AM)

had threats for the rest of the night from groom and his budies, usually stuff, we're gonna do ya over and trash ya car etc.

At this point i would have packed up and gone home

I ve come close to packing up eairly but how could you finish eairly with out getting a kicking.

kazzachi · August 12, 2003

God Im glad I didnt work after hearing about the gigs from hell!! Here is a bit of advice that I usually do when working a new venue... I always seek out the duty manager and introduce myself, asking if there is anything I should know about alarms, last orders etc etc... generally "smarm" your way in with them - you will know if you have succeeded because they bring you drinks all night. Also, make a point of telling the DM that you NEVER run over time - unless they specifically ask you in person! Beleive me, as soon as the DM is on your side you are ok - . The DM suffered by Darren (I think it was) should get complained about - and I reckon we should know where the venue is so we could black list it! Oh well, another weekend, another crowd! Thank god they are few and far between. After I had a bridezilla the other week insisting that I only play her choices - I now make a point when taking the booking of saying that whilst I am happy to play as many of their particular requests, I must have the ok from them to go down my own route should it not be filling the dance floor..... telling them that I play for the majority crowd... if they are happy I take the booking...if they say no then I politely tell them that I am not the right DJ for their function and perhaps they should consider a juke box. At the end of the day when you have your arms tied by a client the only person who it reflects on is YOU... the crowd always blame the dj.... is it worth taking the booking? I say NO!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/1106.gif

YourBigEvent · August 12, 2003

Wise words from a wise old bird there pop pickers

Get the DM on your side and you're onto a winner all the time, especially the 'I don't play past the finish time' bit, they love that, means they get home quicker.

Wesley · August 12, 2003

QUOTE (Hugmaster @ Aug 12 2003, 10:07 AM)

Spoke to the bride who told us to just carry on what we were doing and to ignore the groom. In the end had to play the half hour of beatles as worried for my safety and the gear.

had threats for the rest of the night from groom and his budies, usually stuff, we're gonna do ya over and trash ya car etc.

Then get this, end of the night duty manager of the hotel come and start effing and verbally abusing us saying if he's paying for the do, he gets exactly what we want. Plitely informed that we dont play to individuals, we are entertainers and do whatever keep everyone happy.

Absolutely disgusted with the duty manger for using that kind of awful language in front of his staff and several guests. I'll be writing to them to complain.

Never had a night as bad as that, and hope it dont hapen again in a hurry.

Darren

I have had one experience of people threating me on a simpliar note the guy who booked me for his daughters 18th Birthday asked me to play some beatles and tam motown but then his daughter came up and ask me not to play anything that her dad asked so whats a dj to do so anyways i didnt play what her dad wanted because 90% of the guests were between 16 - 25 and didnt think it would go down to luch so throughout the night i had her dad coming up fing and blinding at me threating not to pay me so went to his daughter ask for my money and could not get it so had about 2.5 hours left and so i decided to pack all my gear away but lucky enough i was working for an agency so got on the phone for help.

So the help turns up and we pack the gear away with alot of swearing and shouting things being through at use.

I dont know whether i would of packed up if i was on my own because i would prob get a kicking and my gear damaged etc.

Sorry to hear about your weekend Darren but the bad comes with the good and every weekend is different as you will know

Ian Stewart · August 12, 2003

QUOTE (Dj_Kray @ Aug 12 2003, 01:40 PM)

QUOTE (Ian Stewart @ Aug 12 2003, 10:24 AM)

QUOTE (Hugmaster @ Aug 12 2003, 10:07 AM)

had threats for the rest of the night from groom and his budies, usually stuff, we're gonna do ya over and trash ya car etc.

At this point i would have packed up and gone home

I ve come close to packing up eairly but how could you finish eairly with out getting a kicking.

I have packed up early once, at a wedding I was DJ'ing my mobile phone went missing. I did the usual asked if anyone had seen it etc no joy, then my wife who was with me got a very abusive message from my phone.

I spoke to the bride & groom & said I think one of your guests has my phone, the groom then got extremly abusive & almost violent, but i'm 6ft tall & 16st, so not many argue.

as this was happening my phone rane (someone else in my address book had received an abusive message) the phone was in the hand bag of the grooms 13 year old daughter, she was the light fingered one.

the bride was very apologetic, but the groom was still rude & abusive so I packed away and went home.

Dukesy · August 12, 2003

Yes - went home, more than once and grief.....but sometimes you have to. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/014.gif

You'll get abuse and then some - but you can't be made to work - even if you have contracts coming out your ears.

But remember to have deep pockets if you are in breach!!!!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

ChrisPointon · August 12, 2003

There are certain Standards that are to be expected - even basic common courtesy seems to go out of the window where attitudes to D.J's are concerned. If you were employed and a member of the public or your boss spoke to you like that then you would verbally defend yourself. I don't see why we should forfeit these basic rights just because we are D.J's and self employed?.

Being polite and tolerant to drunken, loudmouths who are old enough to know better is one thing, as is being pleasant to and humouring difficult customers these problems are all part of the Job!, however I draw the line at threats, and I agree with Ian, I would certainly consider packing up and leaving if things got out of hand.

Hugmaster · August 13, 2003

Hi again folks

Thanks for the encouraging replies.

had it been my own booking I'd have certainly packed up, however I was working for another DJ who's contract it is with this particular establishment so I was working under his contract not my own.

Whenever I'm booked and I send out confirmation letters, I also send out a terms of service document. Part of that document states that if any representitive of big Mix receives verbal or physical abuse, we reserve the right to pack up and leave, with no refund to the customer.

Since my last post, i've heard from the DJ whom I was working for that night and the hotel are refusing to pay him and asking for compensation. He seems to be on my side and called me to get my side of the story and seemed grateful that I could shed light on certain things. The happy couple conveniently forgot to mention that the groom and his mates had threatened to trash us and our gear, also they forgot about the bride telling us to just carry on as we were and ignore the groom.

No need to black list the venue as they only use this other DJ and have done for years, god bloody luck to him.

Had the guy just been drunk and come up to the stage and said oy mate you said you were gonna play a load of Beatles, I'd have probably been a little more complient, however his attitude and threats made me uncompromising, until my health came into question.

It'll be a good one to tell the grand kids.

Darren

kazzachi · August 13, 2003

Thank goodness these type of incidents are very few and far between.... The only time I would pack up if I was personally threatened or my gear was... then I think we have every right to say adios! There is no breach of contract when your clients or their guests have put either you or your gear under threat of violence.... let them try taking you to court - I KNOW who the judge would side with!

Cheezy · August 13, 2003

It is a good idea to add Terms of Service to confirmation letters. What makes up good terms? Has anyone got experience with these or examples I could use????

Touch wood I've never been in the situation to pack up and go, although I've had to rapidly go to some slow tunes in the middle of lads drunken dance floor antics. Also I faked a tripped breaker in the hall to diffuse the situation, putting on all those strip lights tends to wake people up! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/fear.gif

Wesley · August 13, 2003

I would be greatful for some samples of terms of service to send with my confirmations

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/notworthy.gif

kazzachi · August 13, 2003

Hi ya wesley ... you can basically write your own terms of service... just sit down and have a think about what situations are unnacceptable for you to work in and make sure that your clients knows that if there is a breach then you are at liberty to pack up and go... some suggestions (im sure others will add)

In the event of abusive or threatening behaviour by either clients or guests, the DJ has the right to cease performance and the contract will be deemed null and void. No refund shall be made in such instances.

The Dj/mobile disco is bound by the rules and regulations of the venue and will adhere to any venue management requests.

Any damage willfully caused to any equipment/transportation by the client or his/her guests, the client will be held responsible for any damage caused and agrees to recompense for any such damage.#

the list could go on - just make sure you and your gear is covered

Paul Smith · August 13, 2003

I took my terms & conditions from a successful band & reworded them for DJ use. You can see mine by clicking here and click on 'to book'

PaulS

Gary · August 14, 2003

QUOTE

I have had one experience of people threating me on a simpliar note the guy who booked me for his daughters 18th Birthday asked me to play some beatles and tam motown but then his daughter came up and ask me not to play anything that her dad asked so whats a dj to do

At this point I would have waited just a few minutes for "the right moment" and announced it TACTFULLY on the Mic... something like...

"we've obviously got a few different age groups here tonight... We've got [birthday girls name] and all of her mates over here, here, and here...who have been asking for all sorts of great tunes like [name the last couple of tunes that went down really well], and (not BUT) we've also got [birthday girls Dads name] and HE wants to hear some Beatles, and Tamala Motown...[pause for the BOO's and "Oh what" coming from the teenages]...."

"However....[birthday girl] has just told me to NOT to play ANYTHING that her Dad asks for..."

(pause for the Cheer from the teenagers...) "so now, heres ...[current teenage request]"

If nessecary...go for a show of hands "what do you think?....should we play a couple of tunes for -DAD- which will take about 10 minutes, and then resume playing what all of YOU have asked for?... or not? Hands up for a couple of Dads tunes? Hands up for NO Dad tunes...?

Count it fairly, and act accordingly...Who knows, all of the older folk, might have been in some other room, or (in this weather) sitting outsidem, waiting to storm the dancefloor at the first sign of "Do wa Diddy" or "Lets Twist again"....

This "problem shared" appoach works in virtually ANY dilema...where two (or more) significant peoples viewpoints are differing.... "keeping the audience informed" is going to ease almost any situation. Keeping the audience informed will normally keep them on your "side" too, come the end of the night.

Ian Stewart · August 15, 2003

QUOTE (Gary @ Aug 14 2003, 04:22 PM)