When do you get paid

[DJ Spinko 0]

With regards to the original thread, most of my gigs are at the golf clubwhere I get paid at the end of the evening by the golf club if the client hasn't paid me. They put it on their bill.

Most of the rest of the gigs, I get deposits, we all do this now don't we ... and I try to encourage them, especially when i speak to them before the event to confirm all of the details, to pay me at the beginnning of the event.

 

The offshoot that is being talked about, if there was a serious failure with my equipment, I would certainly be pro-active, this form of approach will always work and need not be used in just panic/breakdown cases. But it is a classic case for those of us on the forum to remember to have our equipment serviced, maintained and carry suitable spares or have access to them.

[paula 0]

QUOTE

I did notice though that they had 2 smallish speakers not on stands & 2 light screens  and that was about it, talk about the bare necessities! They were up on a stage so have no idea what type of CD players, mixer etc they had. I noticed they had 1 moonflower type effect perched on top of one of the light screens, it looked really impressive

 

 

It certainly does seem like the bare necessities, But saying that I've seen a dj with far less who done an amazing job, this one in paticular that I see and was talking too, apparently had a failure at the beginning of the night but his back up consited of to my surprise....eeeee maybe will not write afterall, think argos think acoustic solutions! But I'd never of known until I went up there.

 

 

QUOTE

still put their speakers on the floor

Your right, some still do!

The usual reason not to is because your in a small enviroment and the risk to other people etc but if these guys had a stage then it shouldnt of been a problem.

I had a small venue where I could not possibly of put the speakers up on stands but I never had little piddlie things on the floor...

 

Speaking of speakers, a lot of gear has now gone over this weekend,and I seem to have lost a speaker http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/533.gif how I do not know, it amazes me!!!

Edited November 3, 2003 by paula

[Dj_Kray 0]

I would offer the punter a discount.

[Tonsk 0]

QUOTE

One thing Eskie has bought up, which I find unbelievable, is that some djs still put their speakers on the floor.... not up on stands! Why oh why oh why! (not talking stacks here - but usual wedding type speakers)

 

Actually I am glad this was raised...

 

I do a lot of work for a golf club and for a local bar in their marquee.. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

Both have had real problems with noise polution and as a result only use me so I make sure there isnt a lot of it... Main problem? As always is Bass... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/sad.gif

 

I usually place the speakers on speaker stands up high, just below the mike's on the lighting so I dont have to DMX em... http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif

 

Sound checks are a joke as I have to have the bass turned down on the mixer from the beginning (what they dont have in the first place they hopefully won't miss!!)

 

I have though put the speakers on the floor and the bass disappears even more!!

 

Anyone have any helpful hints that would take out the bass as much as speakers on the floor? And am I the only one that does this? http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/scared.gif

 

[kazzachi 0]

I know i am tempting fate here... but after 13 years, I have never had my speakers knocked over... and I couldnt tell you how many 000s of discos I have done !

[ChrisPointon 0]

Kaz, You must have the D.J version of a guardian angel watching over you http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/095.gif . I actively persuade newbies from buying speaker stands even if it means losing the sale of an additional item http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/scared.gif since I agree with part of what McCardle has posted.

 

I must admit that it has only happened once, quite a while ago whilst doing a Disco at a Rugby Club (Go Figure http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif ) where something like this happened, and I actually had to claim over £1000 from my Equipment insurers for damage when a crowd of drunken revellers fell backwards into my gear during Madness "Baggy Trousers" (Although I don't hold Madness personally responsible!). Yes, for me the night ended there, there was not reimbursement for the damage, and there was no warning or any way it could have been avoided. Rowdy crowds occur from time to time especially over the silly season, office parties, copious drinks and a few days holiday etc and I'm very thankful that my speakers were not on stands that night, otherwise the outcome may have been very different - or at least certainly more expensive.

 

Many D.J's choose a goalpost stand for the same reason - namely they don't want their expensive lighting effects balanced on top of a single tripod - yet they run the gauntlet with their speakers at every gig. Obviously the consequences of some Kid colliding with your stand whilst playing "Slide along the floor" at a Wedding, or that drunken conga which got out of control is enough to cause the stand to overbalance, and no matter how good the stand, it's still top heavy and the law of gravity will prevail......

[Dj SBD 0]

QUOTE

Hi im just doing this poll because of a couple of gigs latally mucking me arount with payment,

 

I always ask for a deposit at least 2 weeks before the gig is booked, within the 2 weeks before the gig, the deposit cannot be refunded. In regards of getting paid I ask for the money at the end of the night, although sometimes I am paid before I even set up! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wub.gif

 

QUOTE

also have any of you had no payers and what have you done about it

 

I've never had a "non payer" but some have come close to it! you could always say you know a Kray!

 

QUOTE

My mates wife Sam came upto me (at around 8.30) and asked for my opinion of whether she should should pay the DJ the full amount. She told me he was charging £45 per hour which totalled £225 for the 5 hours he was booked. She reasoned that he should receive full pay for the first 2 hours as he was playing normally then, but for the remaining hours she thought he should get about half the fee, meaning paying him around £150

 

If I was in that situation I would have certainly agrred with sam's offer. As in my eyes your not getting the "full treatment"

 

I would seriously consider an agreeable discount if this were to happen.

 

On the subject of back-up's, I have always got a spare twin cd player, a portable cd player, and my laptop ready to plug into my mixer with seleted "essentials"

[Derekpen 0]

Our contract states payment after equipment is set-up and satisfactory sound check.

 

My Gold and Silver wedding packages are paid two weeks before the event.

 

We have recently added the option of payment by credit card / switch and many clients offer to pay in full at the time of booking.

 

As for speakers on poles, with or without bass bins...........I have the option to go with any combination depending on the venue.One good piece of kit to enhance bass from a single speaker on a pole is a sonic maximiser such as those made by BBE. A 1 U unit that produces an amazing sound improvement.

 

When it comes to working in a tent I opt for my favorite Peavey DJ4s cbs. Two 15" and a horn in a cab 48" tall. Sits on the ground yet still has enough "Lift" to sound good with a full dance floor. I can also set up my lighting poles behind them which protects them from the maddening crowd http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Ian Stewart 0]

I would have give a sizable discount, even just charged expenses & probably sent the client some flowers the next day as an apology.

 

problems do happen it's how you deal with them that matters.

[joe 0]

Hiya, I've just got back from a local school gig! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/dj.gif

 

They've asked me to be 'resident dj'! so i get a regular gig there (about 1ce a month)! yay! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif

 

They've decided to kinda split the school in half and do 1 disco for the tinyz and 1 4 the older 1z thus extending my work time from 2 hrs to 3 hrs!. so im earning a definite 90 squid every month from there!!! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/thumbup.gif

 

Not bad for me (15 yr old)

 

WKD Im on a high at the mo!!!

 

L8erz

 

Joe

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

[joe 0]

4got 2 add that i got paid after the gig. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/smile.gif lol

 

Which is fine with the kids 1z cos' ur not gonna get people getting P****d http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/censored.gif http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/oops.gif and spending all their dosh at the bar and not being able to pay you. http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/wallbash.gif

 

Whenever I work for another disco they always ask me to collect the money before i start. jst theyre policy.

i havnt really got a fixed thing it duznt rly matter to me and it the moment I'm not going to get any problems with being paid with my current target audience (school discos, kids parties, public events. etc)

 

Au revoir! http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/042.gif

 

L8erz

 

Joe

[mikeee 0]

Umm, only £225 for 5 hours, I would have only turned up with one turn table for that price, whats the problem?????????????????

 

You get what you pay for...........

 

The plumber turning up and saying that he didn't have the right tool for that particular job, not coming back for over a week and charging for it. The current market place is going mad, and thats accross the board, regardless of industry.

Charging a lower price to get the job because they are scared of not working, then only doing a half hearted job on the day, because the money isn't really enough. Not what I would consider to be professional.

 

Are we missing the warning signs............Go figure

[Dukesy 0]

I'm catching up with old posts- about 800 to go!!!!!!

 

I get paid the balance at the beginning of the evening, after I set up the gear.

 

Reason being, I refuse to chase after people who are saying goodbye to friends and relatives, and, I feel awful having to interupt to ask for my service money.

 

Any miss-understandings can be sorted out at the beginning of the night - like the agreed cash payment, not a cheque, or, it happens, the money left at home by mistake, or, the father has the money in an envelope, but he's gone home - can you come back tomorrow?

 

I've only collected 'on night' payments at the beginning of a gig for the last 7 years, but when I first started work in the clubs, I was paid at the end of the night, the same for Mobile and public venue gigs.

 

I don't think there is a right or correct way of payment times- just what one feels is most comfortable for them, and of course, causes the least hassel and embarresment.

 

 

[Cheezy 0]

Some good threads here!!! Two at the last count!

 

For regular gigs, pubs etc I get paid at the end of the night, it helps them bank less cash!

 

For private clients, a small non refundable deposit a few weeks in advance and full payment in cash before the gig.

 

I used to take payment after, but had an occasion when the client in a beered up way "sorry mate, hic, i've haven't enough cash! cheque ok" Well I should have used it to wipe my http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/html/emoticons/363.gif Took me a few weeks to get my money!

 

Touch wood 've never had a CD breakdown, I have a spare portable + laptop just in case. I've had a failure with a speaker, it was a small pair for a childs birthday just got them (worked when I tested them????) and one would not work. A few minutes work with a soldering iron and the broken Xover was sorted.

 

Had an amp failure, had my ugly "Realistic"a spare one with me, no-one noticed.

 

I would certainly talk to the client if I had a serious problem with my gear that affected my performance and discuss a refund to them if required.

[wolfmann 0]

one of my first bookings paid by cheque and it bounced(yes i was a bit nieve then lol)

with the exeption of three or four regulars who pay after i wont even start to set up until the cash is in my hot sweaty hands.i do exept cheques but they must clear before the event.all explained in my t&c and they sign at the bottom.

[Cheezy 0]

Just needed to add an experience here. For weddings payment will be require in full BEFORE the gig. Too much hassle chasing people for money only to find they have drunk it!

 

Cheezy

Nightsounds

[DJ SPARKO 0]

well as most of my work is at my residency i either get paid when the clients book the room, or on the night depending on there preference as i think this is good customer service giving them there choice when cash is more covienient to them being flush!

 

although at my residency we always keep a phone number and address of the client so if we come across a chancer client we can always claim a payment if they fancy a boycot.

 

p.s. in the time i have dj,ed in my life i have only come across a single clint who tried bunking of the booking of payment for me

[Award Entertainment 0]

I take a deposit of nearly 30% at the time I take the booking (no function is confirmed with me until I have a signed entertainment agreement and deposit) and the balance is due either in cash on the night, or by 1 week before the event by cheque or credit card.

 

Some of my clients (around 10%) prefer to pay 100% up front. I'm fine with that too.

[YourBigEvent 0]

14 days before the event, cash or cheque

 

Trust nobody

 

Only exections are the hotel, who I invoice.

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

At the end. Or the begining.

 

Ste

[DJ Marky Marc 0]

I always have my money before I start, it saves on the problems when drunk people forget to pay you and go home or spend the cash on beer...

 

if paying by cheque its two weeks in advance....

[Cheezy 0]

To be fair with weddings, remembering to pay the DJ on the day is one less thing the couple can do without.

 

Also I don't like chasing, repeadily asking for money.

 

With weddings many couples have a dedicated wedding bank account, so payment up front is not a problem.

 

Cheezy

Nightsounds

[DJF 0]

use to get paid at the end but had a few probs like the person who booked you has gone or s:cense:t i thought i'd paid you i've spent the money and so on.

 

so now i get set up put on a mix to start and then find out who and how i'm getting paid and then ask for payment.

 

i have arrived, set up gear and playing so i have honoured my obligation by turning up and playing.

 

on a few occaisions not been paid at start and there had been a fight or power failure or no one turned up so very nearly got refused payment so NO MORE!!!

[Dream Catchers 0]

I know it's an old thread that has had a few more votes recently so I have added mine.

Other.

I take 25% to confirm the booking and the remainder either 14 days in advance for a cheque or before I start on the day.

Never had any problems getting paid.

 

Jim

[Norfolk DJ 0]

 

14 days in advance or cash on arrival. You don't want bounced cheques or problems at the end of the night finding people