Another 'would You Walk' Scenario

[Dave80s 0]

Following on from the 'Would You Walk' thread, here is an interesting scenario which happened to me recently. I won't tell you the outcome, I would like to know what you would have done first!

 

I am contracted to do a local nightclub. 12-3am, been doing it for a while no problems. More recently I have been filling in for someone 10-11pm in a different room of the club, so I twiddle my thumbs between 11-12am as the room I usually do only opens at 12.

 

There have been rumours of a change in management and sure enough a new guy comes in. I have never met him before and he comes up at about 10.15pm, shakes my hand, makes a bit of small talk and then asks me if I will start the other room at 11pm. Doesn't say any more than that, doesn't mention money or anything. His body language seems to be giving signals that he wants me to do it 'as a favour'.

 

What would you have replied?

[deejaymitch 0]

This throws up a lot of questions. I would ask the new manager:

 

Why he wants you to do it?

Is it a one-off or a regular thing?

 

And ask yourself:

 

How important is this residency?

Are you getting a fair wage for the night already?

[Slimboy Fat 0]

This throws up a lot of questions. I would ask the new manager:

 

Why he wants you to do it?

Is it a one-off or a regular thing?

 

And ask yourself:

 

How important is this residency?

Are you getting a fair wage for the night already?

 

On top of this I think I would do the extra hour for the first night just to help get on the right foot with the new manager. I would also make it clear that this time is out of pure courtesy and if it proves worthwhile I will be willing to negotiate improved terms within the coming week.

 

[supersound dj 0]

I would have made sure everything was in place befour the new manager was appionted and asked the previous one to explain.

[eazy 0]

this problem arises when you charge per hour !!!

 

i try and price myself per night which means it would'nt cause me much of a problem , if its a short 2 hours maybe after a band at a wedding or 4 hours in a pub/club or whatever i charge for the night

 

the 2 hours at the wedding still means i cant be anywhere else earning and as a full time buisness need to earn the same amount no matter the hours

[spinner 0]

I would mention that it was an hour before the usual time and ask if the earlier start would mean an earlier finish.

 

The conversation should then develop in a friendly fashion.

 

He may have thought that you were being paid for all time spent on the premises rather than per session, not realising that he was asking for more than usual.

Edited October 27, 2008 by spinner

[D.X 0]

You have to stand your ground IMO or you'll get walked all over. Taxi drivers don't give free rides, chip shops don't dole out free bags of chips etc so why should you play at his club for free. Depends on whether you think he may get rid of you if you say no and if he would, how much would that bother you.

 

Personally, I'm not into giving out freebies and would rather work for someone who values me and is willing to pay for that value. Though I might do it as a one off to help out someone who I thought was a good employer.

Edited October 27, 2008 by D.X

[Kingy 0]

Personally I would just talk to him about it. Then you make the decision. Some good points above.

[milhouse 0]

I agree with talking to him on a level. Its often a case of "if you don't ask you don't get".

 

Don't be scared of asking for more money. These managers are often quite normal reasonable people (I say often....) but he might not want to just offer the extra money if he thinks there is a chance you would do it as part of your current fee.

Edited October 27, 2008 by JonWhittaker

[Dave80s 0]

Just to clarify, this scenario happened a while ago - I just wrote it in the present tense - sorry!

 

I will reveal what I did then, and whether it was the right thing I will never know....

 

The guy was new and I didn't want to be his "bitch" so I thought I would stand my ground. I said I would do it for an extra hour's money. He seemed taken aback, offended even. At that precise moment I knew I would not be DJing there much longer. But he said OK and I stayed out of his way for the rest of the night.

 

The following Monday he emailed me and said he would pay me as agreed but I was totally out of order etc. I replied in a similar tone to what DX said above and he seemed to understand. Not long after I was told my services were no longer required. To be fair he explained the decision was financial and not because of the incident.

 

I know that he no longer works there either now.

 

I think I would have done things a bit differently in hindsight, I would have done the hour and asked for the extra money on the Monday.

Edited October 27, 2008 by Dave80s

[Dream Catchers 0]

I would say to him, as you are already there that night and have nothing else planned that I would do it.

I would then explain to him that you do not normally start until 12 but if the 11 start goes down then will he think about paying you to start at 11 on a regular basis.

I would expect that if you are worth your salt he will gladly pay extra for the extra hour rather than replace you, which is always a possibility if he cannot get anybody else to do 1 hour.

 

Jim

[D.X 0]

The following Monday he emailed me and said he would pay me as agreed but I was totally out of order etc.

 

The man sounds like an idiot. Asking people to work for free, now that is out of order. Asking to be paid for your services is pretty normal I would've thought lol.

 

I hope you went to the club after you got sacked and asked him for free beer all night :Thumbup:

 

You mentioned you were contracted to this place. Was that just figuratively speaking or was there an actual contract ?

[Dave80s 0]

Figuratively speaking. There was no formal contract - unfortunately!

 

There was a 3rd option which I nearly tried, claiming that I had to go and collect my girlfriend from work at 11.30pm, or some other excuse which meant I could not do the hour there and then.

 

I think the guy was geniunely shocked that I said no freebie, he alluded that it had never happened before in his old job....

[D.X 0]

I think the guy was geniunely shocked that I said no freebie, he alluded that it had never happened before in his old job....

 

Looks like the guy was used to people rolling over and doing what he said. Nice one for standing up to him.

[Kingy 0]

Looks like the guy was used to people rolling over and doing what he said. Nice one for standing up to him.

 

I agree...and He is no longer there either...!! The thing is, some DJs will play for nothing at clubs just for the experience and thrill, there is a difference between these guys and the ones doing it for money!!

Edited October 27, 2008 by Kingy

[deejaymitch 0]

Taxi drivers don't give free rides, chip shops don't dole out free bags of chips etc so why should you play at his club for free.

 

Erm, they do. In fact I can't think of a single business/trade that doesn't occasionally give freebies as a goodwill gesture/form of PR.

 

I would have done the extra hour as a one-off making it clear that it was a favour and that if he wanted it done regularly he'd need to agree a deal.

[D.X 0]

Erm, they do. In fact I can't think of a single business/trade that doesn't occasionally give freebies as a goodwill gesture/form of PR.

 

Walk into any chippie or taxi rank and ask for a freebie. I guarantee you they'll say no lol.

 

I agree, many businesses might occasionally give out freebies or cut price goods for various reasons but this situation was different as the manager was asking him to work for free. If someone wants to offer freebies then that's up to them. It's not right to demand it of someone then say they're out of order when they say no.

[flash911 0]

I occaisionaly do an extra 30-60 mins in the pub I work in.

Only because I know the landlord/lady very well and they do supply me with drinks all night(diet coke)

Any where else then I would say "extra time?, no probs that will be £-- THANK YOU"

[UKHero 0]

We seem very often to forget on here that we are in business to make money, well I am any ways as this is my job... I did a corporate job last week (not as DJ but as camera man) The other cameraman is also a VO artist, they asked him to do a VOG (Voice of god) it took him about 3 mins total charge £40 why because its his living... He was already there doing nothing at the time and drinking there coffee, but people understand that its how he earns a crust and if you want it you have to pay...

 

 

If you are a full time DJ then this is the same, We spin disc's vynal, plastic or virtual and talk for our living. If you want me to do that it costs...

 

Once (if ever) the industry as a whole realises this and then it filters down to the management it will then become the norm... They would not question it as with my above example, there was no hard feeling or any one saying tight git etc, in the corporate world it is excepted and understood, and untill all of you guys realise and act the same it wont get better in our industry...

 

Nik

[deejaymitch 0]

Sorry Nik,

 

I recognise that this is a job and I also charge for my services. But I have never been in a job where I haven't occasionally done a little more than I needed to or gone the extra mile for no extra wages. And I don't know of anyone, in any profession, who hasn't occasionally done something just to be helpful without charging (extra).

 

Contrary to popular opinion, money doesn't make the world go round. In fact at the minute it's ruining the world. It is a necessary evil that we have to put up with, but the world runs on favours. I'll never forget that. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

The new bloke is a business man also.. Surley he wouldn`t expect you to do extra for nothing? Have a chat with him then make your mind up....

Always remember though, `You`ll never walk alone`

[UKHero 0]

Sorry Nik,

 

I recognise that this is a job and I also charge for my services. But I have never been in a job where I haven't occasionally done a little more than I needed to or gone the extra mile for no extra wages. And I don't know of anyone, in any profession, who hasn't occasionally done something just to be helpful without charging (extra).

 

Contrary to popular opinion, money doesn't make the world go round. In fact at the minute it's ruining the world. It is a necessary evil that we have to put up with, but the world runs on favours. I'll never forget that. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

 

I do my share for charity and for individuals but if a company uses my services to make there company a profit then I should also recieve my fee.

 

If the venue had asked him to do the extra hour and all the sales of booz etc where being donated to charity then fair enough... But the club was making money during this hour the bar staff were being paid you can bet the manager was being paid so why should the DJ not be paid????

 

Nik

[D.X 0]

And I don't know of anyone, in any profession, who hasn't occasionally done something just to be helpful without charging (extra).

 

You do now, me. I am an engineer by trade and I can tell you straight, engineers don't work for free. So why should anyone else.

 

The last job I was in they only paid by the hour. They wouldn't pay by the quarter hour or even half hour. So if a job really needed to be out and one of the engineers had to work over 20 mins to get the job done he'd wait around for the other 40 mins then clock out to get the extra hour.

[supersound dj 0]

 

Always remember though, `You`ll never walk alone`

 

 

 

Never a truer quote Ste.....Cos the TAXMAN Is always right behind you.

 

Paul

[YourBigEvent 0]

Cos the TAXMAN Is always right behind you.

 

And MANCHESTER UNITED normally in front of you (and Chelsea and Arsenal)