Ethical Question

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jokerswild

jokerswild

Chief Bottle Washer
Feb 11, 2007
18,776
1,288
Elkhart, IN
www.totalimpactdjs.com
Ok, here's the situation...

I'm in a unique situation where brides to be contact the hotel I work for to book blocks of rooms... what is unique is I also DJ as you all know. However, I've always kept my DJ business separate from my hotel job.

In my mind it would be a breach of ethics if I took the info that was given to the hotel, especially considering the info is not openly available for me to find outside of the hotel job, to make contact with the bride to offer DJ services... (this is probably the answer in a nut shell) but what would you guys do in my situation?
 
But, have you considered asking the management at the hotel. Maybe you can work a deal.
 
I would probably speak to the catering sales manager ask him/her if they would mind giving out your cards to potential clients.
 
Good points both of you...

I figured the answer would be it is un-ethical... but it seems like a good topic to discuss who knows there may be other DJ's on this board in the same situation as I am....

I did search as well as I could to see if there was any public information but all I could find was their web page on The Knott which only gave Time and Location of the Wedding/Reception no contact info except for Hotel, Church and the Reception Venue... It's possible I could back into it thru one of the vendors but again that's splitting hairs if you ask me.
 
Carolyn said:
I would probably speak to the catering sales manager ask him/her if they would mind giving out your cards to potential clients.
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True I could talk with the Venue and allow them to recomend me or not without actually specifing this one particular event. A good way to get in the door with the venue at least.
 
Rob theres no foul in educating those you work with. They might be dying for someone to help them in the legitimacy dept. PResent YOU and let the chips fall where they may.
 
One day you might get a call for your very own venue and then what will you say to the staff Oh yeah they found me in the phone book. Open the door and let it happen.
 
I would do as it has been suggested. After all it's privileged information and if you don't ask they could fire you. Talk with the higher ups, maybe show them a video of one of your events and then see if you can use the information you obtain. Just ask and there's a 50/50 chance it could be a yes or a no.
 
Actually we only have one hotel that has any sort of banquet facility and it is very rarely used for wedding receptions... we are situated in a primarily business neighborhood so it's mostly corporate....

I think I might be the only one to ever DJ there actually...

I'm not actually worried about them contacting me the owner knows I DJ and knows the company name in fact he has loaned me his camcorder to see how I do my DJ'n. Which is rather interesting because I figure'd he'd be against me DJ'n even tho it's on my own time.

He was very impressed with my website and my setup. Maybe I'll get some hindi weddings... who knows.

My concern is that by using information that was given to the hotel for the purpose of booking rooms and may not have been intended to be shared outside of that which is the ethical issue I have in using this information....

I could send and email from my business in generic form basically fishing to see if anyone is looking for a DJ... If I out right say... "Hey, I work for the hotel you just booked and I also DJ, so.... How, 'Bout it, do you need a DJ?"

So not only do I think it might be a breach of ethics with the company I work for but also it may appear so to the client as well.
 
Ok, I used to work at the Valley Forge Sheraton and Convention Center. The sales team used to refer me. All I had to do was ask them to, and they did. Nohing wrong with that.

They knew me because I was the manager of the on site Audio Visual company for the convention center.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Ok, I used to work at the Valley Forge Sheraton and Convention Center. The sales team used to refer me. All I had to do was ask them to, and they did. Nohing wrong with that.

They new me because I was the manager of the on site Audio Visual company for the convention center.
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That may be possible in my situation too.... but we don't really do a lot with receptions since we don't have in-house catering just the meeting space... which when open can hold up to 150ppl....

I am trying to get him to do some sort of NYE package... since that will draw the locals it would be a great way to market myself.... I've talked with him already and he seems receptive to the idea but he is slow to action especially if there is a potential cost to him.
 
My concern is that by using information that was given to the hotel for the purpose of booking rooms and may not have been intended to be shared outside of that which is the ethical issue I have in using this information....
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It may be more than unethical - it may also pose a legal liability.

Today, much information that people submit to companies is subject to publicly issued statements of "privacy."

If you use the information for any purpose other than what was intended you may not only violate the confidentiality agreement your employer made with the customer, you may be violating your own employment terms. You could be creating a liability for both yourself and the hotel.

Do as others have suggested and ask the catering people to refer or recommenmd you directly to inquiring customers without the unauthorized use of any personal information.
 
I'd be more worried about having access to the bridesmaids' rooms.:sqlaugh:




BTW: Isn't this question a no-brainer? Nobody here would expect or encourage you to do such a thing.
 
One other point to consider.

If you have never done this before with your employer, and now after all this time, you bring it up, please consider the doubts it places in their minds about you "maybe" have been doing this all along and it's your first time asking.

To me, it would raise many more political and employment issues than an improbable "Thanks for asking, you're a really swell up-and-up ermployee."
 
Most hotel sales offices have a pre-made kit they give out to all prospective brides, which has cards/brochures/one-sheets on all wedding related vendors the hotel does work with (limo companies, florists, dj companies). Simply ask if your cards/brochures could be included in this pack. This way, the bride has no idea you work at the hotel, and you are not gaining any advantage over all the other companies in the packet.
 
I only posted this question because it might help noobs... I already knew the answer and some of the stuff you guys have posted I hadn't thought of so thanks.

I know that the information supplied for booking rooms is private company information and because I'm operating outside of the company as a separate entity my business is not in a position to recieve this information and use it... not ethically anyway.

If the owners of the hotel(s) were interested in doing more weddings having them add a brochure or at min. a business card they probably would.

On a side note they have showed some interest in my DJ business asking me to shoot video that they can share with friends. At least that shows that they are open to it and not trying to stop me from operating an outside business. Some bosses would frown on their full time employee's that are salaried managers from taking on a job that might take their attention from their full time job like DJ'n can and does. I have told them that my passion doesn't lay with the Hotel but until such time as the DJ business allows me or demands my full attention, meaning I take it to full time status, I would give more to the hotel until such time. Believe it or not they are ok with that.

Back to topic... so yeah I know that taking information that is privileged to the hotel and using it for personal business gain is ethically wrong.
 
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