For the first time, someone questioned my policy

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DJ Joe said:
You don't pay the airline 50% first and 50% when you land.
You don't pay for a concert ticket 50% up front and 50% after the band has played.
That's my thoughts...
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I like this second one the best because of the objection of "what if the DJ sucks...?"

My answer what if the freakin' singer walks off stage cause he's pissed at the sound guy....? Or what if the music for the singer to lip sync to goes off whacky and she actually has to sing for a change.... :sqeek:
 
DJ Joe said:
You don't pay the airline 50% first and 50% when you land.
You don't pay for a concert ticket 50% up front and 50% after the band has played.

That's my thoughts...
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Apples and oranges.

Do you pay the guy who is remodeling your house up front?

Mike
 
Esoteric said:
Apples and oranges.

Do you pay the guy who is remodeling your house up front?

Mike
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Apples and oranges again.

For someone to refuse to pay a DJ because no one danced or he didn't get all requests in or mispronounced a name is diffenent then a contractor who put in pine cabinets when you wanted oak. Or the floor they put in is off square.

Subjective is different than physical things like a house remodel.
 
The fact that the client waited 'til this late to question the advance payment requirement causes me to question their reasoning.

People always do things for a reason. I am wondering if the client is suddenly facing a dilemma over which expense to pay this week. Perhaps they were hoping Karl would let them slide on the payment by date.
 
Good possibility. I know things are tight for everyone.

I know I would not want to be paying for a wedding right now.
 
I'd ask (albeit sarcastically)

"Just how many pockets does that bridal gown have?"
:sqwink::sqlaugh:

Same here - Balance due for weddings is now 90 days. It used to be 30, but a wise ol' soul whose name sounds like a "Cap".... convinced me otherwise.


Cheers,

Joe
 
Karl Langford said:
Apples and oranges again.

For someone to refuse to pay a DJ because no one danced or he didn't get all requests in or mispronounced a name is diffenent then a contractor who put in pine cabinets when you wanted oak. Or the floor they put in is off square.

Subjective is different than physical things like a house remodel.
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Which is also different than objective things like a concert ticket.

Mike
 
Esoteric said:
Which is also different than objective things like a concert ticket.

Mike
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Exactly my point. If you go to a concert and the band sucks, do you get a refund? No. But you have already paid in advance. You think they sucked but someone else loved them.

You pay to have the band come in to play. In advance. Just like a DJ.
 
PS How many DJs would actually honor a request for a refund made after the wedding? And yes I have heard some BAD DJs at weddings that should have given their clients refunds.
 
Karl Langford said:
Exactly my point. If you go to a concert and the band sucks, do you get a refund? No. But you have already paid in advance. You think they sucked but someone else loved them.

You pay to have the band come in to play. In advance. Just like a DJ.
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But you aren't paying for the band to play well.

You are paying for admission into the venue.

Now if your contract was only that the DJ needs to show up, then you would have an argument.

Also I am not paying to watch the DJ play (which is very egocentric, which I notice a lot among some DJs), but to provide a service and atmosphere (like an interior designer or contractor).

Mike
 
Esoteric said:
PS How many DJs would actually honor a request for a refund made after the wedding? And yes I have heard some BAD DJs at weddings that should have given their clients refunds.
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What do you think constitutes a refund?

No one dancing?

Forgetting 1, 2 or 3 requests?

Not having a certain song for one of the wedding party?

Wrong song for 1st dance, maybe. Does that constitute 100% refund or partial?

If someone asked me for a refund and I believed I screwed up that badly where I ruined the entire reception, I would give a refund. Maybe not 100% but I would figure out what was screwed up and what that did to the entire night. Then figure out a percentage to refund.

I screwed up 1 time and it bothers me to this day. I played the wrong song for the father daughter dance. Song was same title as one requested and I knew it just had a brain fart and played the wrong one.

I apologized and if she would have asked for a refund, I would have used that scenerio to decide how much. She loved everything else about the night and gave me an Satisfied on my survey.

But we are talking payment in advance not refunds. So I think we are getting off track.

If I don't show up, I would expect to get sued.
 
Karl Langford said:
What do you think constitutes a refund?

No one dancing?

Forgetting 1, 2 or 3 requests?

Not having a certain song for one of the wedding party?

Wrong song for 1st dance, maybe. Does that constitute 100% refund or partial?

But we are talking payment in advance not refunds. So I think we are getting off track.

If I don't show up, I would expect to get sued.
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I don't think so. Part of payment up front is it puts pressure on the person requesting a refund to contact you, make their case, etc and it puts all the pressure on them. They have no leverage. But if they have paid half they have some leverage in the talks.

No one dancing is not grounds I would say, forgetting multiple requests might be, if the song was requested before hand then yes, I would expect some sort of compensation, wrong song for the first dance for sure.

The fact that you would expect to be sued rather than simply giving your clients a (large) settlement says volumes about why most people want to be paid in advance. The chances are a lot less that someone will say anything if they have already paid you (much less file suit and go to court), than if they have only paid a deposit.

Mike
 
I was talking being sued if I don't show up, not if I screwed up.

I said if I screwed up and ruined the reception, if they asked for a refund, I would give something. TO screw up the whole thing would be pretty tough to do.
 
Karl Langford said:
I was talking being sued if I don't show up, not if I screwed up.

I said if I screwed up and ruined the reception, if they asked for a refund, I would give something. TO screw up the whole thing would be pretty tough to do.
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But if you didn't show up, why would they have to sue you? Why couldn't they just call and agree on a settlement (I would ask for three times the total fee if that happened to me). Or better yet, why wouldn't you call them, apologize abundantly and offer a settlement? By them paying you, I would put the onus on you to contact them.

Mike
 
Esoteric said:
But if you didn't show up, why would they have to sue you? Why couldn't they just call and agree on a settlement (I would ask for three times the total fee if that happened to me). Or better yet, why wouldn't you call them, apologize abundantly and offer a settlement? By them paying you, I would put the onus on you to contact them.

Mike
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Ok, misunderstood. Yes, I would give them the total amount of the contract. My contract states:

Section 10. Disputes and Settlements ______ ______

1.If there are any situations that will require mediation or smalls claims court, all proceedings will be in the jurisdiction of the contracted party.
2.The amount of any judgment or settlement will not exceed the total amount of contract no matter who the winning party is.
3.Any disputes or claims must be submitted to the appropriate authorities with 5 calender days after the event or termination of the contract.
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Oh! Thank you for posting that. I never thought to look for that in a DJs contract. I would never sign a contract with that stipulation. If my DJ didn't show up, I am not only getting a refund, but at least twice if not three times the contract amount.

Mike
 
A couple of thoughts on the examples given here:

If you deal with a contractor, the contractor typically will have a lien against your house (if he files the proper paperwork). When you have work done on your car, in many states that bill you signed is a promissory note. They own your car if you don't pay up and they can sell it to recoup those costs. I can certainly understand why some here have a "hard ass" approach. It is really just covering your nether regions. This business isn't provided the protections others are.

In California getting a personal check is almost as good as the cash, you may have to chase them and the possibility exists you may not get the money but you are given costs and (3 times) the amount of the bad check as a penalty up to $1500. Ouch, for them!
 
Esoteric said:
Oh! Thank you for posting that. I never thought to look for that in a DJs contract. I would never sign a contract with that stipulation. If my DJ didn't show up, I am not only getting a refund, but at least twice if not three times the contract amount.

Mike
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Then you would not hire me. Every client has the choice to sign or not sign. This couple signed and should live by the contract.

If I don't agree to something, I don't sign it. Do you?
 
Karl Langford said:
Then you would not hire me. Every client has the choice to sign or not sign. This couple signed and should live by the contract.

If I don't agree to something, I don't sign it. Do you?
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Nope, but I never thought of something that sneaky either.

I wonder if that clause would actually hold up in court. Any lawyers on the board care to weigh in?

Mike
 
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