Mobile Dj Accreditation

[UKHero 0]

I have seen a site that offers Mobile DJ accreditation.

 

What is it all about how can some one who does not know me or what I do offer me accreditation?

 

Nik

[deejaymitch 0]

how can some one who does not know me or what I do offer me accreditation?

 

In some cases the fact they don't know you might be a bonus!

 

Only kidding, I see what you mean though. Why don't we just invent our own accreditation and charge DJs for it? It'll mean nothing to anyone but might earn us a few quid. We can call it the Pro Dub Accreditation Service or anytihng.

[vokf 0]

I have seen a site that offers Mobile DJ accreditation.

 

What is it all about how can some one who does not know me or what I do offer me accreditation?

 

Nik

 

I've seen these type of sites for a while.

I know one is really asking questions like;

PLI

PAT

Produd (if required)

Written Contract

Land Line contact details

etc

 

So, not really passing opinion on the DJ's performance, just basic business stuff.

As there is no easy way to produce a star rating against the entire DJ performance (ie ebay-like feedback), these things are mainly just fluff that looks good to the casual visitor.

 

A bronze or platinum DJ may both provide a great night, but a few tick boxes is allowing them to be ranked differently.

 

Some Dj's love all this stuff, so cover their site with "Member of xxx Association", and various badges.

I'm not sure if clients are impressed?

I guess it could be seen to weight to the DJ's professionalism- but I'd suspect a gallery of happy dancers would do much more!!

 

[spinner 0]

Why don't we just invent our own accreditation and charge DJs for it? It'll mean nothing to anyone but might earn us a few quid. We can call it the Pro Dub Accreditation Service or anytihng.

 

 

You may as well. There's no official basis for any other so-called accreditation scheme.

[Dukesy 0]

I've seen these type of sites for a while.

I know one is really asking questions like;

PLI

PAT

Produd (if required)

Written Contract

Land Line contact details

etc

 

Thats all well and good, if the logos offered are displaying this factually as some form of validator, ie Pli checked - ProDub Checked etc, but lets be honest here, the potential for this type of thing to be misused, skewed or misrepresented is huge and i'd say that a large percentage of DJ's are actively using it and buying into it, purely in the desperate hope that the public will think that its some kind of approval scheme or guarantee of quality, which, for some reason, will make them choose their business over the other 1000's on Google or on the same directory who don't have that logo :wall: . Suffice to say it didn't work with the Pro-Dub logos and I seriously doubt you'll find salvation here either.

 

Even the wording used within some of these logos or put on the website next to the logo, is highly suggestive of some kind of 'approved' or accredited scheme because of the way it is worded and even those particular words are actually used on the logo, it doesn't even leave any margin to debate, and if all that these entities represent is a paperwork check then it would be unethical to make it out to be more than it is.

 

 

rec·om·mend

   

–verb (used with object)

1.to present as worthy of confidence, acceptance, use, etc.; commend; mention favorably: to recommend an applicant for a job; to recommend a book.

2. to represent or urge as advisable or expedient: to recommend caution.

3. to advise, as an alternative; suggest (a choice, course of action, etc.) as appropriate, beneficial, or the like: He recommended the blue-plate special. The doctor recommended special exercises for her.

4. to make desirable or attractive: a plan that has very little to recommend it.

 

 

ac·cred·it

 

–verb (used with object)

1. to ascribe or attribute to (usually fol. by with ): He was accredited with having said it.

2. to attribute or ascribe; consider as belonging: an invention accredited to Edison.

3. to provide or send with credentials; designate officially: to accredit an envoy.

4. to certify (a school, college, or the like) as meeting all formal official requirements of academic excellence, curriculum, facilities, etc.

5. to make authoritative, creditable, or reputable; sanction.

6. to regard as true; believe

 

 

I would imagine that the two descriptions out of each of the above definitions, that closely match the reason why most DJ's are using these logos for is:-

 

5. to make authoritative, creditable, or reputable; sanction.

4. to make desirable or attractive: a plan that has very little to recommend it.

Whoever wrote those definitions has got some of our lot summed up haven't they :pro:

 

Of course there always exists the potential that some clients may take these things exactly at their face value, and think that these entities are some kind of entertainment industry version of 'Gas Safe' or 'ABTA' and perhaps may think that compensation or a powerful means of complaint / protection exists via these schemes if it all goes wrong. Of course, if a DJ who is a member of one of these schemes fails to turn up, or is unsatisfactory, and then stops answering his PAYG mobile phone and cancels his Hotmail address when the clients start complaining, then it wouldn't be unreasonable for the client to think that they could persue the claim through, what, to all intents and purposes, looks to be an official body, who is actively recommending that business through their OWN logo.

 

In addition it would only take one client to go onto a wedding forum, or write to a Wedding magazine with a letter heavily criticising a poor or non attending DJ and mentioning their digust that this particular DJ was recommended by 'xxxxxxx' for all of the other DJ's using the same logo to be tarred with the same brush.

 

I believe that most professional entities such as the Musicians Union, Equity, FSB etc have very strict guidelines in the manner to which their logos and name can be used or displayed on marketing media by their members, and this is heavily policed and enforced. Stating that you are a member of them is, in the main, prefectly acceptable, as is displaying any given membership number. However to infer that the organisation was in some way recommending you, is seriously frowned upon and will probably result in termination of your membership.

 

I wonder why ALL of these highly respected and long standing bodies have identified and protected themselves against the risk of their name and membership being misused in a manner which may be used to actively mislead the general public or infer some kind of personal / trade recommendation, and yet some DJ based entities are actively encouraging it, by issuing logos which carry words like 'Recommended'.

 

Of course, all of these organisations (and their highly paid and highly qualified legal teams) are all completely wrong with their approach aren't they?, and once again the bunch of DJ's are spot on :wall:

 

Personally, I think that there should be more checking of business documentation, and things like pli and pat and they should be all within the joining criteria of the remaining DJ associations. However they shouldn't be used to achieve or convey a hint of something which they aren't and that is a personal or trade recommendation and a guarantee of quality. If its good enough for the MU, FSB, Gas Safe etc then surely it should be our template also?.

 

But why just concentrate on the Soft options that everybody else has done to death?. If you truely have a desire to police and get some kind of DJ approved industry together then I would also like to see other aspects of business documentation included in these checks. This includes a blank copy of their client contact and terms of doing business supplied by all potential members, and also motor insurance certificate copy containing the correct business description and cover. Operating without pli is not a criminal offence, neither is not having PAT checked equipment. Not being insured, or driving without correct cover IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE, which in my book, is far more serious and carries far more implications to both the operator and also the general public than simply being, what many term "a Cowboy".

 

Of course, I would think that very few, if any association or entity would be making such demands from their members, because it would be highly unfavourable and unattractive for them to ask for such documentation and for some reason :ads: would probably lose them a lot of members!. So, in this sense, are these entities which, at face value, are supposed to represent, protect and inspire public and industry confidence leaning more towards appleasing the DJ rather than actually representing the true interests of the clients?. Think about that.

 

Then again, do clients really book any business based on their logos and whom they are a member of?. After all, dodgy gas engineers exist in such large numbers, as do non qualified foreign electricians purely because there is such a great public demand for them. In fact some trades would possibly agree that the underground market is more successful and recession proof than the 'legit' market. In some cases, clients may think 'official' looking logos infer excessively high prices and may not even bother to send an enquiry or pick up the phone.

[PWES 0]

I may be the ideal person to help clear up the above questions and comments, as although it was not my original idea, I have now adopted the site and concept.

 

The main aim is to give DJs a little more obvious credibility and give clients a little more confidence in a DJ

 

It can never replace a client seeing a DJ several times in different scenarios and having long conversations with him and checking his documents

 

What it aims to do, is offer the customer an overview of the DJs business professionalism via a three tier accreditation system. It clearly states to the client that it's not an assesment of the DJs skill level, but is a quick way to assure the customer that all the DJ has the various documents and practices in place that would be expected of someone running a professional business. It also mentions that of a DJ bothers to run his business in a professional manner, there's a good chance that he won't let you down, will treat you with respect and is more likely to be a good DJ

 

I would have though we all agreed on that point... Why bother getting all your business practices in order if you can't/ won't actually do a good job on the night !

 

The way it's done is open and honest, with a published system, not a secret panel of judges. It offer lots of hints and tips when applying, and you can easily get the next level up by editing your application as your practices improve.

 

I would welcome any comments and improvements, and happy to look any anything suggested with a very open mind. I do not claim to be the perfect DJ myself and do not look down on others, I am simply trying to help other DJs get more business, and do bear in mind - ITS FREE !

 

[side note - before you go there and pick holes in it chaps, I know it needs tidying and some bits are out of date, but I have another project I'm working on, it will be sorted within the next month as part of a larger project]

[UKHero 0]

So what tiers do they have such as bronze Silver Gold Platinum etc.

 

And if as a DJ you were to apply and got anything less than a gold would you really put this on your site. I think it might make a customer (if they really even take any notice of such a thing) go look for a gold DJ.

 

How do you check the paperwork is legit?

 

and what credibility can this truly have?

 

And can you answer the points Dan makes above?

 

Nik

Edited August 15, 2010 by UKHero

[PWES 0]

So what tiers do they have such as bronze Silver Gold Platinum etc.

 

And if as a DJ you were to apply and got anything less than a gold would you really put this on your site. I think it might make a customer (if they really even take any notice of such a thing) go look for a gold DJ.

 

How do you check the paperwork is legit?

 

and what credibility can this truly have?

 

And can you answer the points Dan makes above?

 

Nik

 

It's Silver, Gold and Platinum Nik. If browsing the site, a client would of course see some DJs with silver and others with gold, and could therefore compare them. If however that symbol is displayed on a DJs site, the client is far less likely to go and investigate why silver and not gold, they are more likely to take it on board as something to add weight to a DJs credibility, perhaps much like having a NADJ logo, although of course most clients wouldn't know what NADJ was from their logo. [bTW - I am NOT knocking NADJ in any respect, only used as an example]

 

I personally check the documents, and having seen some very iffy looking PLI docs, I had an idea [more news another time]. I check as much as is reasonable, and clients are made aware of our 'reasonable efforts'.

 

It's as credible as people want it to be. If DJs get behind it and help drive it forward, then it becomes a standard that can be promoted to clients and venues, and everybody benefits. If nobody gets behind it, then it fails, and everyone has to deal with their credibility on an individual level and $%£ the rest of the industry !

 

It seemed to me to be a good idea, which is why I took it on board. As I said before, I am always open to suggestions as to how it could be improved. There is so much talent within our industry, and on forums, but sometimes it very difficult to bring everyone together as a team...

 

Some of Dans points -

 

represent is a paperwork check then it would be unethical to make it out to be more than it is.

 

It's only made out to show business professionalism and hopefully clearly states that

 

all of the other DJ's using the same logo to be tarred with the same brush

 

So on that basis none of us should ever join any recognised organisation ?

 

Not being insured, or driving without correct cover IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE

 

Good point, I'd be happy to include that and hear other's thoughts regarding whether that would put them off getting accredited

 

lose them a lot of members!

 

As there is no financial incentive for me to run it, there is nothing lose apart from my time developing it. Initially it gained around 200 applications, it was then left for about 18months or so, and I've now taken it on, so much is out of date. I will be promoting it, it may work, it may not, but wouldn't it be fantastic for all of us if there was a UK wide industry standard we could all adhere to, and be respected for ? A dream perhaps, but it's the people that get involved who can make it actually happen...

 

clients may think 'official' looking logos infer excessively high prices

 

VERY TRUE ! Personally I'm not interested in price hunters, so I don't think that would affect my business negatively

 

Do have a look at the site for yourself, lots more is explained there, but always happy to answer questions. Any suggestions are welcome, including don't bother ;-) perhaps a poll is need here....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[UKHero 0]

Pete thanks for all the replies to my questions I give you cudos for that :Thumbup: and I agree with much of what you say and have enjoyed reading your answers.

 

Sadly I think your on a hiding to nothing and I feel that in a few years time you might just fell like Dan seems to feel now.

 

But I hope I am wrong. :dukesy:

 

Nik

[PWES 0]

Pete thanks for all the replies to my questions I give you cudos for that :Thumbup: and I agree with much of what you say and have enjoyed reading your answers.

 

Sadly I think your on a hiding to nothing and I feel that in a few years time you might just fell like Dan seems to feel now.

 

But I hope I am wrong. :dukesy:

 

Nik

 

Thanks Nik, I hope you're wrong of course, but you could well be right, we can only try...

 

My ethos will always be 'open & honest', it sometimes backfires on me, but I hope that long term it pleases people...

 

[Dukesy 0]

When DJ@ was initially launched way back in 2005, one of the ideas being bantered around was to introduce member benefits, one of which later became PLI "Validator+". This ‘benefit’ did not reflect in any way on the integrity of the association, as it merely displayed the Public Liability Insurance details of the individual who utilised a business website. Around the same time, many suggestions to form of ‘DJ accreditation’ system similar to the CORGI scheme were discussed, but the logistics in actually assessing registered individuals and the membership end-cost would have been quite astronomical.

 

It also opens up the whole debate as to against whose 'standards' any accreditation was going to be issued, and who would be policing and training those issuing the accreditation schemes. There also has to exist the means for everybody to obtain those standards, and fair 'equal opportunity' has to be given to everybody, even '£60 Sid'. So some kind of UK wide training and assessment would have to be provided. After all, if you fail your driving test, the means exists to obtain further training and re-apply, not have the door slammed in your face to the jeers of colleagues on certain forums, as has occured occasionally with certain other Elitest Associations, trying to be head and shoulders and judge and jury over businesses whose services they have never personally employed and which are run by people they probably haven't met and never will.

 

We already know and appreciate that all clients are different, and some may be perfectly happy with one DJ, whilst their friend or neighbour finds them unsatisfactory purely because entertainment is so personal.

Thats why we don't all watch the same TV programs, support the same Football team and like the same music. This would also apply equally to any DJ based board effectively standing in judgement over their colleagues - what they may 'like' or accept as a Good DJ may not tally with what a client, ANY client may like, so whether they meet the approval of other DJ's or DJ is absolutely meaningless to the point of being negligible.

 

 

At the end of the day we are all running services which are not aimed at other DJs but at the general public, therefore like it or not, we are not pitching to gain the approval of our colleagues or win their business, so it really doesn't matter one little bit what another DJ (or witch-hunting pack of DJ's) thinks of another DJ no matter how much importance he / she / they put upon their own personal judgement nor what powers they, laughingly, think that they wield over the rest.

I would think that any DJ who had survived for several years and was still around after a severe recession and was still trading would be enough 'proof' that they were doing something right in the eyes of clients, regardless of whether they were running their business to 'our' model or to 'our' satisfaction, and whether or not they had paperwork gained for 'our' approval.

 

I'm not singling out any one entity here, but unfortunately, I believe that there are far too many people dabbling in nothing more than personal fiefdoms and who think nothing of trampling others underfoot at any cost in order for them to obtain some personal accolaide or gain some kind of control over the industry, which is fine...until that desire starts encroaching on the freedoms, rights and financies of others.

 

I don't have any issue or problem with Associations, Directories etc asking for paperwork that proves that they take their business seriously. After all, there can be valid reason for asking for such documented proof as PLI cover, for example, if that entity was obtaining business from venues which ALL required a DJ to have PLI routinely - therefore it would be pointless signing up DJ's without it! So that is a valid request.

 

However, I do take exception to words which infer a kind of recommendation, and I don't see how a statement such as 'recommended by' can be used to convey that it actually only means 'Paperwork checked by'.

 

In fact even the heading on some of these accreditation sites is extremely ambiguous, for example:

 

"The sign of a quality mobile disco"

 

I'm not sure how any DJ could be described or presented to the general public as being 'Quality', purely because it had purchased a few certificates which require no more skill to obtain than the making of a few payments. Am I suddenly considered a highly skilled and much safer driver just because I have a certain insurance, provided by an insurance company who promotes itself as being the no 1 choice of all of the nations' safest drivers?

 

After all, when you ask on a forum for a 'recommendation' for a set of speakers, or for LED Par Cans, are you actually asking for people to come forward with suggestions based on their own personal experience of something which they actually own, and to list the pros and cons and suggest makes and models suitable for your criteria and in order to help you make an informed choice, or are you just asking for others to check the paperwork of a product and to come back to you with its RoHs status, CE Approval, Certificate of conformity and to attach the PDF manual to their post???

 

In a similar vein, I can't see how a client would automatically know that the bold statement 'recommended by' on a logo would assume that it only meant PLI Checked, Pro-Dub License holder etc unless that is actually stated. I seriously doubt that the average client, (making just 1 or 2 bookings in their lifetime) would have even heard of the above. There is also nothing obvious on the logo which suggests that the Tiers are only limited to the level of Business investment rather than satisfaction of performance or their ability to do their job.

 

To all intents and purposes, by using the word 'recommended' it suggests that the entity issuing the logo is offering some kind of a personal recommendation of the business, which that business is now proudly displaying (A bit like when your Mum framed your Swimming certificate and put it on the wall when you were a kid).

I've said it before, that just the skill of writing a cheque and paying as little as £30 for PLI is no guarantee of a quality or a good DJ. I write a cheque to EON every quarter, but it doesn't make me an Electrician!

 

I'm sure that non of these entities are actively encouraging DJ's to use these logos in a manner which may confuse or mislead a client into believing that they are in some way better at their job than the next DJ, and I'm sure that they don't want the client to believe that these logos are issued as a result of some kind of approved vetting scheme. However, we have all witnessed the lengths which some DJ's go to in order to obtain work by dirty or unethical practices, and i'm sure we all heard about certain DJ's in the past who wrongly informed Venues by letter and email in their areas that ALL DJ's required a Pro-Dub license to legally operate, with the sole aim to win business away from DJ's legitimately and legally operating without a Pro-Dub. :yes:

Therefore its obvious that there are less than honest, even bordering on unscrupulous operators within this industry, so surely we should be making it harder for them to mis-use anything like this 'accreditation' system, rather than giving them an easy ride of it?

What is even worse, is that some of those who resorted to engaging in such practices have many years experience and do have all of the relevant paperwork and should know better, but sadly non of these certificates are a test of personal and ethical integrity any more than they can warrant 'quality'.

 

In fact this statement, taken from the front page one of these sites, is almost chillingly like the Pro-Dub mis-representation malarky:

 

We would strongly suggest that when hiring a DJ for an important event that you choose one with a current xxxxxx award!

 

Why? They have chosen to make a sweeping statement which might actually lose a non member business, so in order to reach this conclusion, did the owner take the time and effort to personally engage the services of ALL of the DJ's who aren't a member of this scheme and established beyond all possibility and reasonable doubt that they are not offering a 'quality' service?. This comment is almost scaremongering DJ's into joining purely under threat that their client may not book them if they believe them to be less quality than somebody with a logo on their website, purely from the risk of a client reading this statement and taking it at face value. People should join an association or entity because they want to, not because they are FORCED to. I also don't think that making people feel inferior just because they are not a member of a certain scheme or infer to the public that they are any less of a quality service provider just because they haven't paid a certain membership fee, or have chosen not be to a part of something, is a good way to actually endear them to you or win support. I am sure that there are plenty of DJ's at large (and here) who are not a member of such a scheme and probably will never be, yet nobody has the right to hint that they are any less of a quality service nor try and deny a client from using them, purely on the basis of gaining a new 'accreditation' site member. That isn't "assisting the general public", that is personal gain.

 

Secondly where would a DJ who had all of the paperwork which effectively would make them a 'Gold' member, but had chosen NOT to join this scheme fit into this 'quality' equation? Suddenly are they not considered a Quality outfit just because they had chosen not to join a particular outfit, even though technically they outranked (paperwork wise) a Bronze member, who, themselves are effectively admitting that they don't hold a full suite of paperwork.

Do Bronze member DJ's really want to admit publicly that they havent actually bothered to invest in ALL of the paperwork that their colleagues / competitors may have invested in? It seems that way.

 

Is there any independantly documented proof on file that members of this scheme are better at business and entertaining than non members of this entity (even those holding equal levels of paperwork)? If not, then its a misleading and infactual statement.

You don't see the MU stating on their website that their members are better than anybody else do you? So why is there a glut of DJ related schemes which do seem to be under this rather cheap illusion that their members are more likely to bring a greater level of customer satisifaction, members who they probably haven't even met, let alone observed in providing their services?!.

 

Without the scope to ‘assess’ any registered individual in person, proposed ideas for DJ@ to introduce an ‘accreditation’ or ‘recommendation’ for a ‘registered member’ still placed the onus on the association, i.e. that in the event of a dispute, the association would carry the can if an ‘accredited’ DJ found did not meet the standards ‘promoted’ to the client. Naturally, no accreditation system was employed and of course, hindsight has certainly indicated that even with the good intentions of a panel registration system, the process can be as flawed as stating to be able to provide consistent lead enquiries from a directory service – there’s no guarantees (a subject already covered many times!)

 

Nonetheless, whilst there may be many DJs who will happily accept / choose to place a Bronze badge status promoted on their website, without any form of regulation system in place, the increasingly consumer savvy client would undoubtedly treat an unregulated group of DJs with as much scepticism as the ‘web content’ testimonial of Mr and Mrs Smith from Peterborough, to the door to door salesperson.

 

Sure, there is nothing wrong if a DJ wants to win the hearts and minds of his or hers potential clients. All they have to do is work hard and extend every courtesy to their client and follow accepted practices of business (and that’s a whole new thread subject in itself…). By far the best recommendation a DJ service can receive is from their actual clients who have physically attended and witnessed the DJ service first hand. An honest quality testimony is priceless. Even consumer aware / watchdog type programmes on the BBC suggest clients check out actual testimonials of the businesses who are apparently “regulated”…. Yeah I’ll say it, go figure. smile icon

[PWES 0]

 

Dan raises some very valid points above, perhaps to summarise - before any system is perfected, a lot of discussion needs to happen, and a large proportion of the industry needs to get behind it !

 

Apathy reigns in the DJ world - sad fact but true. IF however enough forums/ respected industry figures and long term, maybe even government got behind it, there's no reason why it couldn't be thrashed out and instigated

 

I'm not talking about the just the one I'm involved with, ANY of them could work if there's enough expertise around and enthusiasm to get behind one and make it happen...

 

If another was more popular, I would quite happily join forces or just drop mine

 

 

 

 

 

 

[vokf 0]

Dan,

I guess DJ's are mainly looking for something to make them more official?

I'm now a SEDA member- but this is not mention on my homepage, its tucked away in the "about us" bit that not many people will read

 

In an industry rife with bad practices - no shows, piracy and poor service, trying to persuade visitors that at least some of the basics are covered could be seen as a good thing.

 

Consider;

-PLI,PAT, ProDub

-Legally insured for the vehicle

-Contracts issues

-Land-line

-Face to Face meetings

 

These can be covered by an accreditation, or simply a list (like the above) on the website.

The accreditation sites need to be clear on their method of rating, and how are they checked- but we know that clients won't bother to read that!

 

 

This still leaves the DJ open to being a bad DJ who turns up late, drink drives, nips out for the odd fag (lol), and plays their own taste in music (and not the clients).

 

 

When I took my van for repair, I assumed the company was legal and all above board. I didn't ask to check for their insurance policy in case they really mess up the repair and I crash due to any negligence on their part..

They had an excellent local reputation, and also Ray (milkybar) recommended them, so a small bit of research helped me pick the local experts.

In this case, testimonials and simply a good reputation won me. They don't even appear to have a website!

However, they are accedited (by Bosch), sadly, this will either be earned though their experience, or paid for in the way of training courses - something DJ's struggle to appreciate.

 

 

I'm a little disapointed that SEDA also follow the "approved" route;

SEDA can offer you confidence that when you book a SEDA approved DJ, you are getting a quality professional with high standards. ...

 

As with most of these things- a short form and a chequebook is enough to become "approved".

Some DJ's make big this claim of being SEDA approved..

 

So, as a SEDA member, I meet their requirements - but there are no checks on my performance (as we know this would be expensive and difficult to judge)

Edited August 16, 2010 by vokf

[Dukesy 0]

I guess DJ's are mainly looking for something to make them more official?

 

Perhaps, but If a DJ truely wants to become accredited to some kind of 'trusted trader' scheme, there are plenty around which IMO carry far more weight and require a far more 'professional' business criteria being met than a few pieces of paper and largely unenforced codes of conduct. Often they carry a higher membership fee, but that is all commensurate with the weight which they carry.

 

Membership of the FSB is of course, one which is highly beneficial to ANY business and carries a lot more benefits than just a website logo. Its a good thing to be part of, even complimenting membership of a DJ based association as the benefits are different.

 

http://www.fsb.org.uk/

 

The other one, is a new scheme which is being rolled out by The Trading Standards, called "Buy With Confidence"

 

http://www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/

 

This isn't available in all areas yet, but is slowly being rolled out. If it isn't available in your area currently, then it might be an idea to email somebody and add your business to the list of interested parties, if enough business in the area show interest it will probably come around much faster.

 

Yes, they do have quite a strict code of conduct and criteria of membership, but that is entirely the point is it not?, Professional Membership SHOULD be more work and entail more professionalism than just emailing off a bunch of certificates. They also insist on the usual proof of insurance(s), but also expect all members to abide by and practice within general consumer law as well as that relevant to their service.

 

http://www.everythingregulation.org.uk/

 

It is also interesting that out of the list of services on the Consumer Site that there is nothing under the label 'Mobile Disco' nor anything remotely related to Entertainment, and so I find it a pipe dream that any Government will take an interest in an industry that is already so often overlooked by Career Sites and also entities like this one!, so lets get some DJ's in there and lets get it changed.

 

http://www.everythingregulation.org.uk/advice/businesstypes (Can you spot DJ anywhere here??)

 

Of course many Dj's would probably fail at this first hurdle as many don't bother to even publish their name and address on their websites and literature or even a landline number, which I believe is a requirement of all business regardless of this scheme, i'm sure that there are many other aspects of membership here that would easily seperate the hobbyists from the professional business owner. Example:-

 

Where appropriate, you will provide, in advance of the contract clear and accurate information on key terms and conditions. Consumer contracts must comply with the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contract Regulations 1999 and any relevant guidance issued by the Office of Fair Trading.

 

Where appropriate, given the size and nature of the business, we may require full written information concerning the contract to be provided on request. (This does not affect any legal obligation upon a business to provide written contractual information).

 

You must give clear and accurate information on any cancellation rights which exist in relation to a contract, whether these are statutory or additional rights.

 

Your business will ensure all staff are competent for the work they carry out, have knowledge of relevant civil and criminal law, and that they are fully aware of the commitments made by the business relating to this scheme.

 

Lots of DJ's will be glassy eyed by this point and possibly changing channels to something 'off topic' or the LED Par can thread and again all of this is great, as it stops those who do go to and put in the effort from being diluted by the 'I can't be bothered to issue contracts' brigade.

 

They also, not surprisingly, have a (very) strict guidance to how their logos can be used and how the membership and name is represented. No 'Recommended by' here. I wonder why this isn't catching on eh, it only seems to be the damn DJ based entities who keep on using it.

 

If the logo you are supplied with includes one of the statements listed in 3.1, the wording and logo should not be altered in any way as to be misleading or give undue emphasis to any aspect (e.g. Trading Standards approved).

 

And possible Criminal penalties for those who don't....

 

Unauthorised use of the Buy With Confidence logo may be a criminal offence and may also result in your expulsion from the Scheme.

 

In short its got BALLS and I doubt you'll find many Dj's urinating down their backs, I'd seriously doubt that any DJ Association or entity would start publicy attacking them in the same way as they currently attack their other DJ based rivels. Its all getting rather petty out there, which is why I'll be instrumental in the fact that I wont be joining any of the DJ based ones.

 

During the entire life cycle of DJ@ I personally avoided joining the various forums in order to promote (spam) DJ@ everywhere, or getting involved in the usual tit for tat exchanges, and neither did I join other forums to slag off DJ@'s rivels. Unfortunately there is currently no DJ Association which doesn't seem to promote the same Ethos, which is the second reason why I won't be subscribing.

 

So, these independant schemes offer everything a DJ based entity is currently lacking (apart from the usual pettiness and childishness), namely true committment to customer service, customer feedback, and a complaints procedure rather than just the *yawn* easily obtainable PLI, PAT etc, and they don't need to belittle others in order to appear superior.

 

How many associations are standing back, whilst their members make a complete Ar*e of themselves, their chosen association(s) and the industry on public forums in relation to their attitudes towards each other and their clients, anybody been booted out for poor conduct lately?.

 

This still leaves the DJ open to being a bad DJ who turns up late, drink drives, nips out for the odd fag (lol), and plays their own taste in music (and not the clients).

 

Sure, although DJ's may think twice about it, if, in order to comply with the above scheme, they have a feedback form on their websites which allows (and encourages) clients to send feedback directly back to the operators of the Trading Standards scheme!, in other words constant vetting by somebody with greater powers than a bunch of DJ's wanting an industry run to their ideals and their standards.

 

The other advantage of membership to the Trading Standards based site, is the fact that you can obtain a CRB Check (Cost Circa £23) from them as part of membership application, and this may assist anybody wanting a CRB check but who can't get one purely through being a sole trader, rather than an employee or volunteer of an establishment outside of their DJ'ing activities.

 

Personally, i'd put membership to a body who is more widely 'known' in the public eye than a niche DJ based one to be of greater importance as far as public confidence was concerned. I would also join them out of respect, on the basis that they don't have to resort to belittling businesses who have chosen not to be a member of them, by making out that they are, in some way, far less superior or less of a quality service on the front page of their website in order to fill a quota.

[PWES 0]

 

Once again Dan, some very valid points (no I'm not sucking up !!)

 

HOWEVER... taking your two points below..

 

During the entire life cycle of DJ@ I personally avoided joining the various forums in order to promote (spam) DJ@ everywhere...

 

You are not alone, there are a lot of DJs with similar thoughts, I would have thought that these are the guys that should be backing some kind of well run organisation. Whether that involves setting up something new and therefore getting the support of 'everythingregulation' or similar

 

... or getting involved in the usual tit for tat exchanges, and neither did I join other forums to slag off DJ@'s rivels. Unfortunately there is currently no DJ Association which doesn't seem to promote the same Ethos, which is the second reason why I won't be subscribing.

 

er, unless I missed something, I think you're wrong... the DJ accreditation facility is not an association (which is perhaps why you said association), and to my knowledge it does not in any way slag off any competition. So on that basis, could you be persuaded to get behind it ?

 

If I'm wrong I will eat pie of the humble variety

[Dukesy 0]

er, unless I missed something, I think you're wrong... the DJ accreditation facility is not an association (which is perhaps why you said association), and to my knowledge it does not in any way slag off any competition. So on that basis, could you be persuaded to get behind it ?

 

I chose my words carefully, and you are correct. I was aiming this comment towards the majority of associations. I don't read other forums and I'm not a member of any of them, but members of DJ@ have been / are and of course feedback has got back to me regarding the regular tit-for-tat point scoring which appears to be a daily occurance. I find that this is situation is laughable when these associations promote and boast professionalism, yet their constant griping and sniping at each other only serves to do the complete opposite, and its not like its done behind closed doors, its always in the public domain. I suppose leading by example is just something other industry Associations do.

 

Mutual Professional respect is the first rule of any business, even towards competitors. Of course you don't have to indulge them, but that doesn't mean dropping to gutter level either and it seems that the majority of Associations are seriously struggling to get over themselves and learn this vital, basic rule.

 

No, I don't believe that you fall into this category. You clearly run a tight ship business wise and your reputation is well founded. I'm not sucking up to you either, or turning it into some kind of wooden topped double act. I'm just demonstrating the professional respect that others lack. I must admit I don't agree with a lot of what is centered around this general Accreditation concept and how i've seen it open to being misused and abused by some entities, and for that reason I won't get involved. I must admit that I find myself agreeing with a lot of the earlier general comments and of course, have various reservations of my own.

 

Then again, everything in this industry comes in kit form and without any instructions, and so you have to work hard in order to piece it together. Besides, I honestly don't have the time, which was the main reason why I couldn't continue DJ@.

 

It doesn't mean that I don't wish you every success with the venture.

[PWES 0]

 

Cheers Dan, your comments are very welcome !

 

 

 

Word of the day ladies and gentlemen...-

 

Sycophantic

 

:mcps:

 

 

 

 

 

[vokf 0]

Word of the day ladies and gentlemen...-

 

Sycophantic

 

 

Hey! Enough of the big words! Anything over 2 syllables gives me a headache! :scared:

 

[gadget 0]

Hey! Enough of the big words! Anything over 2 syllables gives me a headache! :scared:

 

I had to look it up, which I don't have to do very often with words! :lol2:

 

[PWES 0]

I had to look it up, which I don't have to do very often with words! :lol2:

... and they call him HONEST DAVE ! :-)

 

[vokf 0]

I had to look it up, which I don't have to do very often with words! :lol2:

 

(so did I...shhh, sadly I need to look up most long works...)

GCSE F in English here!

[PWES 0]

(so did I...shhh, sadly I need to look up most long works...)

GCSE F in English here!

 

:-) but at least you understand Hyroglyphics Jas !