And So, The $1,000,000 Question

[supersound dj 0]

I bet it was that blind barmaid again. tongue out icon

[Welsh Audio Man 21 0]

i didnt work NYE, turned out to be quite nice in the end, spent it with the Missus

Edited January 5, 2009 by welshyDJ18

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

what was the "Minor" incident?

 

Perhaps this is why i dont drink in venues i work in!

[deejaymitch 0]

what was the "Minor" incident?

 

Perhaps this is why i dont drink in venues i work in!

 

 

A couple of the lads who work behind the bar have long hair. One of them was fairly new. The other one had a clump of his hair cut out shortly after he started as a "rite of passage" so someone decided to do the same to the new guy, although they hardly cut any at all. But he flipped out, got his parents involved, they threatened to get the police involved, and I got the blame.

[Kingy 0]

A couple of the lads who work behind the bar have long hair. One of them was fairly new. The other one had a clump of his hair cut out shortly after he started as a "rite of passage" so someone decided to do the same to the new guy, although they hardly cut any at all. But he flipped out, got his parents involved, they threatened to get the police involved, and I got the blame.

 

Lucky the Police wern't involved then, this is classed as an assault. Shows how easily some tomfoolery could end up with a conviction and therefore no more clean CRB check.

 

Mad world.......

[deejaymitch 0]

For the record though, it wasn't me who cut his har. I just got blamed for it.

[deejaymitch 0]

A bit of an update on the situation I talked about in this thread* - the venue that sacked me from the residency have been struggling ever since and their current resident is not particularly in tune with their target audience. The have contacted me and enquired if I would be interested in going back.

 

What would you do?

 

*The short version for anyone who can't be bothered scrolling back up through 6 or 7 posts to read what I'm talking about. I had a residency for years until they sacked me unjustly last Halloween for no reason, with no warning, and barred me from their premises.

[supersound dj 0]

If they barred you Mitch,that means they really wanted you to leave.No Ifs no butts say no way.The dammage has been done and you will not have the same rappour with the management.

 

Paul

[Dukesy 0]

A bit of an update on the situation I talked about in this thread* - the venue that sacked me from the residency have been struggling ever since and their current resident is not particularly in tune with their target audience. The have contacted me and enquired if I would be interested in going back.

 

What would you do?

 

*The short version for anyone who can't be bothered scrolling back up through 6 or 7 posts to read what I'm talking about. I had a residency for years until they sacked me unjustly last Halloween for no reason, with no warning, and barred me from their premises.

 

I was the 'top' DJ of a venue in SE London for many years but fell out with one of the management. I was sacked and replaced with a lad who had only helped on a couple of gigs with me - the son of the guy I fell out with! Go figure that one!

Three weeks later, I was asked back.

I declined.

My circumstances - I worked during the day and had already been snapped up elsewhere not to far from where previously worked. I was young, cocky, and then some.

The venue struggled but lived on, and had many other DJs.

 

Sure, you could have a crack and accept the offer on one of a few conditions.... that they gave you a printed humble apology in the local press - not an advert, an editorial! LOL!

It may also generate extra curiosity for a 'return night!'

 

Imagine the story headline "PUB PLEADS FOR DJ TO RETURN!" LOL!

 

No news is bad news at the end of the day mate, and I'd get some business cards printed for the opportunity too, should you choose....it's just an idea!

 

After all, some things in life are sad, they can really make you mad. Other things just make you swear and curse... :ads:

[UKHero 0]

Sure I would go back... Hey they have had to eat humble pie and been honest enough to admit a mistake.

 

Take the gig up your fee a little and move on.

 

 

Nik

[McCardle 1]

Go back whilst you have the opportunity. After all, a lot of Dj's seem to be going through a quiet spell and if you refuse to do it then there will probably be no shortage of others who will jump at the chance. Although we all like to personally think that we are the best around, sometimes in reality there are others out there who are just as good and its better not to encourage the venues / clients to keep scoping the market until they find them .

 

The only exception(s) to this advice, would be if you were already now firmly planted in another residency which was the same / better or paid much more. But if this was the case here then you probably wouldn't even be considering their offer of a return, let alone discussing it as an actual possibility smile icon . Sometimes you have to do what would be best for you, especially in a volatile and uncertain economy any feelings of pride shouldn't really be a factor in the decision making process as they never appear in any business plan purely on the basis that it doesn't make money nor pay bills. Besides the venue have been big enough to apologise, how many deejays would do the same in a situation where they were at fault?.

 

The other reason for not going back would be if things were said in the heat of the moment which meant that relationships between you and the venue management had erroded to the point where working for them again was no longer tenable.

 

But if you think that you and the other party can put the past behind you and both make it work then go for it, no sense in punishing yourself if deep inside you really would like to go back and give it another go. As UK Hero has said, they've come to you, and so you are in a good bargaining position - new year, new contract and new FEE's. I would also discuss a minimum period of engagement too, just in case they want to 'use' you on a temporary basis just to get them over a difficult period whilst they secretly keep looking for somebody else - it does happen.

 

At the end of the day its entirely your decision and there are pros and cons to either choice. :shrug:

Edited March 19, 2009 by McCardle

[TonyB 0]

If I wasn't busy and could fit it in, then yes I would go back. They have realised what difference a descent DJ makes to their income so this would obviously be reflected in my new fee for working there.

 

Never bare a grudge! Especially when it works to your advantage

[Kingy 0]

Go back, especially after your "recent price rise"!!

 

Managers come and go.

 

Don't take any brown sticky stuff off them either, it looks like they need you more than you need them.

 

And close the bloody salon! :karen:

[deejaymitch 0]

I had already made the decision before I posted on here, but I'm glad to see that most of you are of the same mind as me. I'm going back. My first night will be Easter Saturday (nightmare because it's an early finish). And I'm finding it very difficult not to play up the Easter comparison with me being the saviour of the bar (again) and this being the second coming of Mitch.

 

I sat and had a good conversation with the owner, who is now taking a much more hands-on role in the bar after years of delegation and complacency. I've never had a problem with him and he made all the right noises during our discussion. The "manager" who sacked me no longer wields the same power she did back then, and I get the impression they are going to give me their full backing.

 

I'm not naive enough to think that there won't be some friction and there is always the possibility that it will end in tears. But the harsh fact is that this venue opens up more avenues for additional work than the one I currently have a residency in. And yes, I know I've been bleating on for months about wanting to cut down my workload, but this return to my spiritual home, and the fresh challenge it creates, has totally re-invigorated me. It's early days but I think I'm starting to get my passion for DJ-ing back.

 

The venue I am leaving have been incredibly understanding about the whole thing. They always knew I would be moving on to somewhere bigger and I'm glad to be parting on excellent terms, with some bookings already in the diary for special events later this year and into next year.

 

I'm still not sure that I've made the right decision but I know I would have regretted not taking this chance, and I now have a new project to throw myself into. And yes Kingy, the barber shop is closed.

Edited March 20, 2009 by deejaymitch