A Day of Reckoning

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!

ahoustondj

DJ Extraordinaire
Aug 13, 2007
20,235
3,464
Texas
Well I did a Site Visit a few months ago for a Wedding I will be DJing on 12/26/2014. The Client, future Bride and Groom and Venue Manager were all there. We agreed where I was going to setup . A long wall that has Jacks for Video as well as Audio Feed if needed. I was wary at the time because I felt for sure that they would want to use it as the Head Table area. With that confirmation, I saw no need to draw any more alternatives.
Today I received a new diagram, the Venue Manager has completely redone the room and you guessed it, DJ is off to the side. The Head Table faces the people as it should. The DJ is to be in an area to the left of the head table. The Dance Floor is off centered and closer to the DJ area. The speakers will be facing across the room instead of towards the audience.

I sent off an e-mail to the Client and Venue expressing my concerns, then a Phone Call to the Client who is out of town. She told me to call the Venue and set up an appointment and to tell him what I want. I can take the side wall instead of the first choice but they will need to reposition the Dance floor and allow me a greater spread with no tables Close to to the speakers.

At the time of the Site Visit not only was the Venue Manager late getting to the meeting but acted nonchalant. It was not a good sign, I have played that Venue before but in another room downstairs. Funny thing is that I have two more Weddings to do there next year. LOL Contracts are already signed. Attached are some Pics I took at the Site visit earlier this year before I accepted the Gig.


This is the wall where it was agreed I would be. It faces the Main Entrance
20140425_105353.jpg 20140425_105359.jpg

This is the View from the Balcony Wall: The Main wall is on left and Main Entrance on Right
20140425_105406.jpg
Main Entry on Right
20140425_105415.jpg
View from Stage /Main Wall lopoking towards the Entrance where I can have a Perfect View of the Wedding Party coming up the stairs and then in.
20140425_105436.jpg
Balcony Wall which is OK for me too if they can center the Dance Floor Better. Personally I think its a better backdrop for a Head Table.
20140425_105442.jpg

They said they may need Video and this Panel is set on the Main wall so I will be far from it if I have to setup elsewhere. If I am far then they get no Video. There are installed Wide Screen TVs in the room.
20140425_105458.jpg

Even with all this space, there are chaps who come in and still setup their area with a six foot table and speakers on each end like headphones. Its no wonder that the Venue Managers don't allow much space for DJ Setup. Can't say I blame them. I just have to educate them. I have an appointment with the Manager tomorrow morning. Lets see what happens.
Site Visits my friends are important.
 
Canute - good, smart, educational and informative post - up until ...
Even with all this space, there are chaps who come in and still setup their area with a six foot table and speakers on each end like headphones. Its no wonder that the Venue Managers don't allow much space for DJ Setup. Can't say I blame them. I just have to educate them.

You could have left this part out and the message would have gotten across much better.

Try to put your message out and leave it - without being inflammatory or accusatory. That would help your message be received much better and in a positive manner.

Based on my own personal events, if a new diagram was done, it was usually because the B/G/POC has added / removed / modified something that caused the room to change. Other than that, there is no reason to change what everyone has already agreed on. Another option may be that there was no 'original' diagram of how things would be laid out - and because the VM does not recall the agreed upon layout, was doing this layout based on other events.
 
Last edited:
I would discuss with the Bride and/or groom instead of the venue manager. If they know it was changed, they probably changed it, if they don;t know I am sure they would be interested. Discuss your concerns with them and get their buy in, then let them contact the venue and work it out.
 
I would discuss with the Bride and/or groom instead of the venue manager. If they know it was changed, they probably changed it, if they don;t know I am sure they would be interested. Discuss your concerns with them and get their buy in, then let them contact the venue and work it out.
2nd paragraph. I spoke with the Client, she told me to go and tell them what I want. She is aware. It was the Venue Manager who changed things.
 
Well I just got back. Everything is settled. Refer to first Photo. My speakers will be on the outside end of the Head Tables. 44ft span. Head tables will be 3 x 8' =24 ft centered. Dance floor is larger 15x21ft. Placed in front Head Table. It was 6x12 ft originally. My speakers will be in front of each door a bit forward of the head table. (Enough space to open the door and get into that back room if necessary.) My DJ Booth will be where the Plant is on the left forward of that speaker. Subs will be under the Tops to block the legs. Total expected 150 people.
Only Glitch is that they now want the Ceremony to be on the outside Balcony which has Exterior Installed Speakers. That was not part of my original Agreement but I can handle that without too much trouble. If it gets too cold or a possibility of rain, ceremony will be inside.
 
Last edited: