Weddings Contracts

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Mike my friend, it seems people do things differently in different areas. I have a case in point right now. About a month ago, my Agency called me and ask me to hold Friday 2nd for a Client who is going to do a Birthday party at a Country Club. Last week Friday I called them and ask them if it was still on and he told me that he did not hear back from the Client. Saturday I got a signed contract in the mail from the Agency. I called to confirm it was still on because he had told me otherwise the day before. Apparently he was mixing up two clients. The client had paid in full by Credit Card and that was good enough for the Client I guess. I signed and mailed it back to the Agency yesterday. The point is that once the money was received, the Contract went into force, at least the part where I had to appear to perform.

BTW I have played at this Country Club numerous times, they have a Bar area like a small Club where I usually play. Nevertheless, I do not take anything for granted so I called the Venue yesterday to confirm, only to find out that the function will be held in the main ballroom upstairs. I then set up an appointment for later this morning to check out the room and determine my setup area, speaker placement etc. I called the Client to advise and she said, .....you will love this...."If they give you a hard time for what you want let me know and I'll take care of it"...LOL. I love clients like this.
 
Houston, I think we are talking about two different things. When money is exchanged, yes I agree the contract goes in force.

This is a debate about the viability of sending over a signed pdf contract to a client. I don't see how your example illustrates why it shouldn't be done. I think in most states if you take the money it's decided the contract goes in force. Again not a lawyer BUT many companies including mine use pdf's as legal documents when conducting business.
 
mikemerlin said:
Houston, I think we are talking about two different things. When money is exchanged, yes I agree a contract goes in force.

This is a debate about the viability of sending over a signed pdf contract to a client. I don't see how your example illustrates why it shouldn't be done. I think in most states if you take the money it's decided a contract goes in force. Again not a lawyer BUT many companies including mine use pdf's as legal documents when conducting business.
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I made some corrections in red. I never said it should not be done!
 
Mike there are many software out there that can Change, Alter a PDF and if you want to make it as a DOC file

so what you think is safe isnt! nothing is
 
Mike there are many software out there that can Change, Alter a PDF and if you want to make it as a DOC file

so what you think is safe isnt! nothing is
 
I never pre-sign them. It can come back to bite you in the butt later. Especially if you are a single Op. I will sign & send it back to them.

The first client that provides me with a signed contract & retainer is mine. I don't care to have contracts out there floating around with my signature.

Several years ago, I had a prospect change their mind & decide they wanted me after they told me that they decided on another DJ. I went ahead & booked with someone else. They claimed that they had a signed contract with me which was dated before the other couple (make me look like I bailed on them)

I wound up helping them find another DJ & decided to NEVER pre-sign contracts again.
 
Bill, don't you have an expiration date on your contracts? Our contract expires after 5 days so there is no chance someone could come back and say they have a signed contract 2 weeks or 2 years later. Likewise, I never do anything via telephone. All changes must be in writing as they could also say "we never cancelled-here is our signed contract". There is absolutely no wrong reason to have a signed contract prior to your client signing it as long as you have an expiration date on it.
 
All good points in this thread aside, let's get real here .. how many people have actually been bitten by proper contracts that have been altered, signed first, signed last, whatever. Being pragmatic, if you've done your homework and written the contract properly, it really doesn't matter .. any of this ... just put down in writing what you will do, when you'll do it, for what amount, and the terms over which the contract is valid and you're good to go. The paper is simply a formality, or it should be. There shouldn't be anything in there that hasn't been agreed to prior .. that's when you get into trouble. If someone wants to stir the pot, it really doesn't matter what's in the contract anyway .. you're still going to have to handle it.
 
blacktiedjs said:
Bill, don't you have an expiration date on your contracts? Our contract expires after 5 days so there is no chance someone could come back and say they have a signed contract 2 weeks or 2 years later. Likewise, I never do anything via telephone. All changes must be in writing as they could also say "we never cancelled-here is our signed contract". There is absolutely no wrong reason to have a signed contract prior to your client signing it as long as you have an expiration date on it.
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Yes, it's 10 days. But I had already signed & dated it agreeing to DJ. They come back months later & have this in their hand, it can cause problems. It's just not worth the hassle. I have never had a problem since. I NEVER pre-sign contracts anymore.
 
If you don't have their signature back in ten days, then it's not valid, unless the language doesn't say that.
 
sparkieg said:
send the contract to them and let them sign first, then they send it back - you sign it, scan it or fax a copy to them and you keep the original. If the client doesn't like the verbage in your contract, they are either going to not sign it, or call and ask you to clarify before they do.
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I always encourage my potential clients to call me for any clarifications or questions they may have concerning the contract.
 
So I am going to send it to them and then have them sign it...but wait, I can't send it as a word doc because they might change it...so I scan it and save as pdf...then send it...they sign it and send back...now I have sign and scan and save as a pdf again....no thanks. I'm lazy, I'll just sign scan save as pdf and have them send me it back with the money. I save time and get money win win
 
You guys are making this too difficult. I've never had an issue with potential/new clients trying to change my contracts. They either want to hire you, sign and date the contract and send the retainer when it's due, or they don't. Page three of my contract (the only page they sign), has a clause at the very top of the page that says, Sign and date, make copies for your records and return by the due date shown.
 
sparkieg said:
You guys are making this too difficult. I've never had an issue with potential/new clients trying to change my contracts. They either want to hire you, sign and date the contract and send the retainer when it's due, or they don't. Page three of my contract (the only page they sign), has a clause at the very top of the page that says, Sign and date, make copies for your records and return by the due date shown.
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Page Three you say!!!!!!! :eek: What in thy Kingdom Come are yer selling...Funerals?????:rolleyes:
 
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