weekend 3\4 october

[Eskie 0]

I'm finding it very strange at how many seasoned DJ's on here have recently been recounting tales of gigs full of rude people and getting hassle, and it seems like this has been going on for a long time from some comments http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif

Any youngster reading over the last few weeks would probably have received the impression that the majority of mobile DJ's are cranky old gits who despise their punters!

Fair enough, there are some exceptions to this, and I for one have not found my gigs to be the same as many others are apparently experiencing, and if they ever did become so tedious and miserable, there's not a chance that I would continue.

No doubt that some people will interpret what I'm about to say in a negative sense; but for some of you maybe your own attitude is causing these recurring problems?

For example if you're on the defensive as soon as a punter approaches you then that could well come across quite quickly to the punter and affect the way they speak to you.

There'll always be the odd guest who has the hump for whatever reason, but don't let them drag you down to their level. If one guest is complaining and meanwhile 99 others are having a good time and dancing, then it's very clear that it's the one complaining who is out of touch. For chrissakes don't let an ar http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/censored.gif ole like that put you in a bad mood and cloud your recollection of the whole event!

Unless it's regularly more than 30% of guests that are complaining, then there's nothing to worry about. If it is, you're in the wrong job!

Chill out and enjoy your gigs more and realise how much joy you are bringing to the majority of the guests. Don't dwell on the 1 or 2 miserable barstewards who will complain their way through life no matter what.

[The Spindoctor 0]

Well at last i'm gonna disagree with Kazz and Paula. I think that how you dress 'should'nt' make a difference, but invariably can!

 

First impressions ALWAYS count if not immediately then sub-conciously especially with middle age - older generation. It was also interesting that the two people who said it don't matter a jot were ladies, and I don't mean that in a nasty way.

 

Ladies invariably wether dressing casual or not will always look smart, the same cannot be said for the male of the species who may think trousers and t shirt is smart when a proper shirt may be more appropriate.

 

Don't get me wrong here, I too behind the decks will lose the jacket, roll the sleeves up, even lose the tie/dicky bow (I defy anybody to keep that lot on all evening) but for meeting the client, opening the show etc I think we should look smart.

 

Not only that when going to see clients / landlords / or even pre wedding meetings I always wear a suit and tie and use a briefcase too. Not only does it look good, if you feel good about yourself you will come across as confident, businesslike, and professional! (A bit like your disco/roadshow really)

 

Who are you going to book? The guy with messy hair chewing gum in jeans and t shirt, or the guy in a suit with briefcase, resume, photos etc who is interested in making your event special??

 

Just my 4d worth

 

Spin

[Eskie 0]

I agree with Spin, unfortunately it is important for a bloke, how's he's dressed at a gig. I don't agree that the DJ should blend in with the crowd. A DJ is an entertainer and not just a member of the crowd.

At a 5-star hotel type venue, most of the time the DJ should be in a DJ http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif

and it's worth spending a few bob on a decent tux, dress shirt & trousers etc as if you do a lot of these type of gigs, you'll be wearing them a lot, and the cheap dress shirt that you buy in Asda won't cut it http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

And at a club type gig the DJ should be just a little more stylish than the punters (note stylish, this doesn't necessarily mean smart/suit etc), although at a pub; yeah fair enough, anything other than casual looks silly.

We all differ on this though, and I personally wouldn't be seen dead wearing a tie at ANY gig http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/scared.gif . A tie to me conjurs up an image of some boring pleb working in the city juggling numbers around and being paid obscene amounts for having no personality http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sleep1.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

A bow-tie, yeah OK, but never a regular tie.

But as Kazz states, the most important thing is what you play and how you perform.

[Dj_Kray 0]

I know what your getting at eskie and maybe a few times im already a bit het up half expecting the punter to be rude but this is not common as i do really love speaking and interacting with the crowd. and i do feel im a very polite person. maybe you are just lucky or maybe you are such a great dj nobody ever feel the need to complain but i do assure you its not just in my head and as for quiting dj'ing coz of this i have considered it but when i look at what i could do to earn the same money for the same hours options are very few.

 

As i said in my post i wish i did not take the 1 or 2 idiots to heart but im just not that cool!

 

Sorry also if we do talk about it a lot and it may make us seem like cranky old gits who despise their punters! but it does do me a lot of good getting it off my chest and hearing of others comfort's me to the fact that its not just me.

Edited October 8, 2003 by Dj_Kray

[The Spindoctor 0]

QUOTE

A tie to me conjurs up an image of some boring pleb working in the city juggling numbers around and being paid obscene amounts for having no personality

 

http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/014.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/014.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/014.gif

 

but............but............but I does have a personality........ honestly Tone!

 

Spin

[Eskie 0]

QUOTE

maybe you are just lucky or maybe you are such a great dj nobody ever feel the need to complain

I can assure you that just about every dj on the planet get's an ignorant/rude punter every now and then. You may have misunderstood what I was trying to put across. I get idiots talkin crap to me the same as anyone else, but I choose not to let 1 person bring me down, and that's the crux of the whole issue; it is your choice as to how you respond. You can choose to get upset/frustrated/miserable etc or you can choose to ignore them, stay upbeat and carry on giving everyone a good time.

You can list as many reasons as you like, but it simply comes down to how you CHOOSE to respond. For example; One cold morning you're walking down the road, it's raining, you've forgotten your umbrella or any waterproofs and you're getting drenched. A car then drives through a puddle and splashes water over you. A negative person will respond by getting upset, convincing themselves that the driver did it on purpose and will stay in a foul mood for the next few hours if not the rest of the day, and every tiny little thing will then upset them even further.

A positive person will just shrug it off, get to where they're going, dry themselves off, carry on as if it never happened, and probably laugh about it later.

Getting upset about it and dwelling on whether the driver did it deliberately aren't gonna change a thing, so what's the point?

Some people will now slaughter me and find excuses to explain why they choose their own misery (which is a complete waste of time, cos it won't bother me in the slightest http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif ), while others will agree or understand what I'm trying to say.

 

The above wasn't directed directly at you Kray, but...

QUOTE

and as for quiting dj'ing coz of this i have considered it but when i look at what i could do to earn the same money for the same hours options are very few.

This is hardly a great reason for carrying on? Be more positive about yourself. From some of the posts you've had on here, it seems pretty obvious that you're doing a great job. You're regularly entertaining audiences of 2,000+. If you've got that many punters in a club, you are BOUND to get a few ignorant people. DON'T let them pass their misery onto you. No club owner would regularly let you in front of audiences that size if they didn't have confidence in you being a great dj. Think about that the next time some plonker tells you you're crap!

[Ian Stewart 0]

QUOTE

I suppose what I'm saying is that now, if I want to be treated with disrespect - I'd jump of the ladder of progress and start at the bottom again You know, people can be very nasty as well as disrespectful. From personal experience, I had less abuse, if any, from my Club days to that of Pub Gigs. So, by 'returning' to my 'Spit & Sawdust Pub' entertainment, for me, would be a very, very very big step backwards from MY progress.

 

Dan,

 

after spending years gigging on the corporate market, look at my web site to see who & where I've worked.

 

I have made a decission to work in a pub on a saturday night, does that mean that I have gone back to the bottom

 

[paula 0]

All these comments.....and so early in the day! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wacko.gif

 

How about seperating yourelf! As in standing back from the issue and dealing with it like it wasnt being directed at you!

You'll see it totally different like someone is complaing to you about a member of your staff you'll soon see its totally irelevant.

 

[Ian Stewart 0]

QUOTE

and it's worth spending a few bob on a decent tux, dress shirt & trousers

 

I agree, but when I dress this way I end up looking like a doorman

 

 

QUOTE

And at a club type gig the DJ should be just a little more stylish than the punters (note stylish, this doesn't necessarily mean smart/suit etc),

 

will my Chaka Khan T Shirt Be OK

 

[Eskie 0]

QUOTE

QUOTE  QUOTE and it's worth spending a few bob on a decent tux, dress shirt & trousers   I agree, but when I dress this way I end up looking like a doorman   Yeah, but doormen ALWAYS wear a black tux, there's no law saying that you can't wear a white/cream tux, or burgundy, navy blue etc... I wear a cream tux but then I'm a former professional poser http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif   QUOTE QUOTE  QUOTE And at a club type gig the DJ should be just a little more stylish than the punters (note stylish, this doesn't necessarily mean smart/suit etc),   will my Chaka Khan T Shirt Be OK Very true, how could I forget. I guess it's ok to wear that at least until she asks for it back! Forget what I said above, cos soul gigs you can wear virtually anything http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[paula 0]

I wont comment on the above white tux thingymeo even though I'd like too http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

But Guys remember to polish your shoes http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif

[Dukesy 0]

I did not say that DJ'ing in a Pub was the bottom of the ladder for all DJ's.

 

Without trying to sound like a stuck record - what comments I made from my 'Soap Box' post is from my point of view, my experience, my personal experience, my progress - not everyone elses!!!

 

I was very lucky when I started off DJ'ing, doing family parties and friends social events, then progressed to 3 nights a week in Clubs.

You could say that was the 'bottom' or 'first step' for my career in entertainment.

 

I then went 'mobile' and did the pub circuit for many years.

I had good and bad nights, like everyone else, but became very popular.

I moved on.

That's it. Nothing else.

Personal progress, being positive and bettering myself is what drives me.

 

To imply that I stated that all Pub work for all DJ's is the bottom of the ladder for gigging is not only unfair - is taken out of context and, I feel, getting quite boring. I didn't start DJ'ing in Pubs.

I shouldn't have to keep going over an argument that I've already answered.

 

I did say:

I suppose what I'm saying is that now, if I want to be treated with disrespect - I'd jump of the ladder of progress and start at the bottom again, and take on the chin what one would expect from a very public venue, for peanuts. Fact of life, but in a pub - you're on a level field.

 

But because I now work directly for a 'Private' paying customer - I don't expect abuse, childish remarks or ignorance from the clients guests!!!!!

 

When I was 'employed' by a Pub Manager - "the people I had to please were the 'punters' - to keep them happy."

So, in effect - my 'job' was secured by many 'unknown' individuals. The pubs I generally did were 'tasty' and frequently troublesome. The turnover of DJ's were high, which made it a challenge to try and settle in to a new venue.

But the whole experience (for me) was an eye-opener then.

The punters arguments and fights, the 'insisted late lock-ins', vehicle vandalism, the blatent drug selling and taking, the Police raids, the 'protection' threats, the damage to equipment, and the pay.

I wasn't in a DJ booth or on a stage - most of the time I was set-up amongst the drinkers and part of the 'crowd', in the middle of it.

I'd also lost so many records and discs over that time frame to light fingured customers, choosing not to return to those particular venues is my decision.

I would say that I appreciate that times have changed - most of the venues I did then, have closed down or are re-vamped or changed completely.

Perhaps my opinion would be different if I'd worked in one of those venues now!

 

When I work for a private customer - I have to please the clients guests, but I answer to my paying client. If I need recourse - it's through the private client.

For me, it's less hassel, more challenging and enjoyable to work for 1 private client than 150+!

 

My earnings are higher now than when I first started - most of the Public Venues I worked for imposed the 'rate' of pay. I didn't get a say in how much I could charge then - it was take it or leave it. £20 - £45 for a nights work. I thought I was rich then.

I think that because I was young - I had more 'grief' from the 'punters'. I was no different to them, but I was viewed as some 'kid' that 'plate spun' and played requests.

So to me, the whole experience was a very level 'playing field'. And I took the 'knocks' on the chin from the disrespectful customers.

Not all customers were doom and gloom. Like I said before - I received private bookings and was encouraged to give up the day job and go full -time.

 

Perhaps, like Eskie said in his recent posts - it was misunderstood - what I was saying about my experience.

 

 

 

 

[kazzachi 0]

Calm Down Dan! You seem to have bought this topic back to the fore again.... when it had just about been forgotten!!

Listen... a venue is a venue is a venue..... pub, club, hotel, cricket club whatever.... dont measure your success by where you work! I still work in pubs but get paid £200 for a 3 hour set - nice - especially as my normal fee is £250 but that could be for 4 - 41/2 hours! We cant measure success by how much we charge or where we work... lets face it, some people can only charge 130 per night but then again we have to consider location etc - doesnt make them any further down the ladder. I would say an good inidcation is how often you work - and how you get your work - which could also kick off another "disagreement" - if you advertise does that make you lower down the ladder than those of us who dont....... Come on for gods sake...... we all have our own opinions and we wont all agree with each other all the time.... but I do think its time to put this one to bed! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif

[Dukesy 0]

Yep - you're right.

Voice of wisdom.

[ChrisPointon 0]

*Takes a deep breath and counts to five before posting*

 

 

Agreed,

 

Dan I thought you were trying to work FOR us and NOT against us?.

 

Don't you have some community building to be getting on with.

 

This thread is doing nothing but opening old wounds and going around in circles!. besides we are halfway through the week. Let's hope next weekend can be more positive.

 

Time to close this now.