Collections

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
jokerswild said:
I've been at it since 2004 in this fashion and so far no one has baulked at it.

I look at it this way... I'm one less person they have to have an envelope of money for and worry about showing. I'm paid and contracted to be there.
Click to expand...

The reason why I say this is because you always hear news stories about guys that collected everything upfront & then split without finishing the job (home repair, Etc.) and the consumer is stuck chasing the guy or finds out he filed for bankruptcy after he collected. They always say NEVER pay the balance until the job is completed.

I had a tile guy try that (wanted to be paid in full beforehand) We told him to take a hike & hired someone else.
 
Bill Kexel said:
The reason why I say this is because you always hear news stories about guys that collected everything upfront & then split without finishing the job (home repair, Etc.) and the consumer is stuck chasing the guy or finds out he filed for bankruptcy after he collected. They always say NEVER pay the balance until the job is completed.

I had a tile guy try that (wanted to be paid in full beforehand) We told him to take a hike & hired someone else.
Click to expand...

I certainly understand that mentality for the Trades type of services. To me however, a DJ service is not a Trade where the end result is something that you can see, touch, feel or much less keep. If everything is spelled out clearly in your contract as to the rights of each party then most don't seem to have a problem with the terms.

I honestly have not had one person say to me that they are not comfortable with the terms. If and when that happens I may choose to alter the terms on a case by case basis, but until then it's simple: 25% Non-Refundable Retainer Fee then balance due 30 days prior to the event date.
 
The way I look at it is if they can trust you show up after paying in full up front you can trust them to pay when the job is complete.

My method is a retainer up front with the contract signing and full payment before setup on the day of the event.

Beerman, are you Peter Merry's first cousin?
 
Thunder said:
The way I look at it is if they can trust you show up after paying in full up front you can trust them to pay when the job is complete.

My method is a retainer up front with the contract signing and full payment before setup on the day of the event.

Beerman, are you Peter Merry's first cousin?
Click to expand...

That is the part I do not understand. Many times when I did weddings, there was no one there when I was setting up except for the venue manager and caterer (or other service professionals).

I think it would be very hard for the person paying to be there as you were setting up.
 
We ask for payment 2 weeks in advance. Anytime someone asks if they can pay the day of, I say no problem. It's about one out of 20. We have had one check bounce in 15 years and they paid for it. Today, if they want to pay the day of, we ask if can have a credit or debit card and charge that rather than having to bother them that day.

Yes, over the years, there has been a few instances where someone forgot the check. We still did the show. Never have been stiffed yet.

But overall, we are flexible and will work with people. Our policies are not set in stone and I can understand if someone doesn't want to pay the balance before. I'll take the chance of getting stiffed before turning away business. If my DJ needs to collect money, he doesn't get paid until we do. That is a big incentive for him to ensure he collects the money before the show starts.

Based on my experience, I would say that if getting stiffed is a problem, it may be because of the clientele you are working with or you aren't showing significant value for what you are charging.
 
I've been doing a 50% retainer/deposit up front with 50% due at the event (no stipulations as to WHEN on the day) since I started with no problems.

Some have chosen to pay the balance at their final meeting beforehand (maybe 5% or so), which is fine, but I don't solicit or require it.

For payments, I have a charge in the contract for returned checks (currently $35) and a clause sating that they are responsible for the cost of collections plus the balance if I have to go that route or take them to court.
 
Patrick,

Most choose to mail the check early but many times someone from the Bride or grooms family will just show up with the check or cash when I am there to setup. Those that don't I go ahead and setup anyway and they pay me when they arrive like otheres have said I have yet to be stiffed on a wedding!
 
You know I think the biggest problem I have with waiting. And this is for (ME) is that I tell brides and grooms when we meet and talk about the contract and payment. That the only thing I want to think about on there special day is doing an excellent job. So for (ME) not thinking about or worrying about payment is a huge thing off my mind.
 
I know, I'm the nut job here, but I LIKE getting a payment on the day I do the event. I would much rather this than go home feeling like I haven't earned anything that day.

Plus, since I won't pay anybody in full up front, how can I expect them to?
 
Thunder said:
Patrick,

Most choose to mail the check early but many times someone from the Bride or grooms family will just show up with the check or cash when I am there to setup. Those that don't I go ahead and setup anyway and they pay me when they arrive like otheres have said I have yet to be stiffed on a wedding!
Click to expand...

That's great that they can inconvience themselves on such a momentous day and pay.
 
I've had a few customers over the years not pay the balance (usually weddings and usually becuase they were drunk and forgot). Until about 3 years ago, we never required the balance paid in advance.

I did send a wedding venue, that we did house DJ work for, to Collections after they owed us more than $2,000 and would not return my calls and were never there when we stopped by. I used Dunn and Bradstreet and it worked very well! D&B charged $25 and the venue paid them. They issued me a money order a few days later.

Had a private party not pay a balance and would not call me, so after a month, I had my Attorney send a "soft" collection letter asking them to pay me directly and they did.

No problems since I switched to pay in full prior to the event. We still let schools and regular customer pay on the day of.

Collection agencies charge a percentage of the amount to be collected and usually not more than $50, so they are a great resource if you have exhausted all other options.

It will end your relationship with that customer, so keep that in mind.
 
jokerswild said:
That's great that they can inconvience themselves on such a momentous day and pay.
Click to expand...

Where is the inconvience, someone from the family or the coordinator is going to be there when the venue is getting setup anyway! At least in 95% of the weddings I have done! I would say in 75% the bride or groom were there checking on things ahead of time! You have to remember i don't show up 30 minutes before time to start, I try to get there at least 2 hours in advance, so the wedding ceremony hasn't even come close to starting when I arrive!

The last 6 weddings I have done the Bride and her mother have been at the venue when I arrived making sure everything was in order!
 
I did have a corporate Client not have my Check last weekend at their holiday party. Spent the last two days stalking them with emails and late fees until they paid. Thinking of making the punishment more severe.. Wanted to see what others do.. so far some great info.

Thanks!
 
BeermanMC said:
I did have a corporate Client not have my Check last weekend at their holiday party. Spent the last two days stalking them with emails and late fees until they paid. Thinking of making the punishment more severe.. Wanted to see what others do.. so far some great info.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Stalking a client for 2 days after with emails and late fees until they paid is something I would not do. Late fees for 2 days....seriously?

You could have done an excellent job DJing only to ruin it by sending a very negative and unprofessional message for 2 days. At lease give them a chance to mail it before you go into stalker mode or punishment mode.

If someone forgot the check. I would simply email them an invoice. A week later, I would call to make sure they got the invoice and offer to send it again.

How would you feel if you promised to get someone a check and they emailed you and stalked you the next 2 days and talked about late fees? Would you look forward to doing business with that company again?

I'd think that this company automatically assumes I am not going to do as I promised. They have no faith in people. They assume everyone is trying to get over on them. Which usually means that is how they treat people.

Professionalism should not end once the show does.
 
Maybe someone should make a video on running a BETTER DJ BUSINESS instead of just being a better DJ.:sqwink:
 
I'll let you know in January :sqwink:

I'm still waiting for payment on two events one Nov 28 and one Dec 4. The Dec 4 one was for the department of national defence and I knew ahead of time they pay on a 30 day plan. i waived the stipulation in my contract for this one

The other one was supposed to be night of but they didn't have the cheque now they are giving me the runaround about needing to get me a purchase order and billing thier head office in Texas

They have until Jan 1 and I launch suit
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back