Going overtime

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Last night's wedding was supposed to get over at midnight. They did ask ahead of time if the party was still hopping if they could go later. I gave them my price and said let me know.

I always check with the manager as to what their end time is and if it is the same as what we have scheduled. He said that he thought it was midnight and I said that was the scheduled time but they were not buying booze and didn't want to have to pay his employees to be there if they weren't making any money.

What would you tell the couple if they came up and asked for overtime? Would you tell them that you couldn't because the manager said so or would you give another excuse to keep the manager out of it?

Even though they were not buying booze, it was a great reception for me because they danced to everything.
 
If the manager made the decision, then yes I would tell them that it was his decision. Let him take the heat, that's his job.

Just my opinion.
 
Exactly......same thing happened to me last night (except I was going to give 30 minutes for FREE).....the facility would not allow me to play one minute over!
 
But would keeping in the good grace of the manager be better for you in the long run?

Odds are any excuse you come up with would be sufficient for the couple.
 
DJMC said:
Exactly......same thing happened to me last night (except I was going to give 30 minutes for FREE).....the facility would not allow me to play one minute over!
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I agree. let the manager be on the hook...

BTW, I was a guest at a wedding once where all booze was included in the price - a REALLY NICE VENUE in Annapolis, MD. What the managers did not know is that my wife's family can drink UNBELIEVEABLE amounts of booze and beer. They tried to stop the crowd from drinking by closing down 2 of the 3 bars about 90 minutes before the wedding ended.

Well, the bride and groom complained, and there was an argument.... anyway, I don't know exactly what happened, but at the EXACT MINUTE the wedding was supposed to end, the manager actually pulled the plug on the DJ in the MIDDLE OF A SONG. :sqeek::sqerr:
 
I'd rather go with the truth and if the manager gets mad at me for telling them what he said, then I'm not sure I'd want to work there anyway.

I would explain to the B&G that although I would love to go into OT, management has the final say since it's their venue.
 
Karl Langford said:
Last night's wedding was supposed to get over at midnight. They did ask ahead of time if the party was still hopping if they could go later. I gave them my price and said let me know.

I always check with the manager as to what their end time is and if it is the same as what we have scheduled. He said that he thought it was midnight and I said that was the scheduled time but they were not buying booze and didn't want to have to pay his employees to be there if they weren't making any money.

What would you tell the couple if they came up and asked for overtime? Would you tell them that you couldn't because the manager said so or would you give another excuse to keep the manager out of it?

Even though they were not buying booze, it was a great reception for me because they danced to everything.
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OK who hired who? Lets not forget that your responsibilities are to those that hired you. If it was the bride and groom then they should take that matter up with the venue. It should not be your place to discuss anything with the venue. I wouldn't!
When I go to a venue to play I consider myself to be an extension of the people giving the function so therefore I don't allow any venue managers to push me around or tell me what to do. That does not mean that I will act uppity or disrespectful with the venue Manager or staff. I make sure that I get the same respect from them as they will give to the person(s) that booked the place.
That is why I make sure that all details with a venue that may affect my performance, is handled by the Bride & Groom or person who hired me.
 
I would have just said, "Hey, I'll play until 2am if you want me to." Then the manager will shut it down and he'll look like a chump and I'll look like a hero. Oh, wait, I AM a hero!

:sqlaugh:
 
Mr. K said:
I would have just said, "Hey, I'll play until 2am if you want me to." Then the manager will shut it down and he'll look like a chump and I'll look like a hero. Oh, wait, I AM a hero!

:sqlaugh:
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LOL! :sqlaugh::rofl:
 
Papa Deuce said:
I agree. let the manager be on the hook...

BTW, I was a guest at a wedding once where all booze was included in the price - a REALLY NICE VENUE in Annapolis, MD. What the managers did not know is that my wife's family can drink UNBELIEVEABLE amounts of booze and beer. They tried to stop the crowd from drinking by closing down 2 of the 3 bars about 90 minutes before the wedding ended.

Well, the bride and groom complained, and there was an argument.... anyway, I don't know exactly what happened, but at the EXACT MINUTE the wedding was supposed to end, the manager actually pulled the plug on the DJ in the MIDDLE OF A SONG. :sqeek::sqerr:
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What venue in Annapolis? Annapolis was part of our Service Area when I ran creative djs
 
Follow the chain of command...it is good to stay in the graces of the facility, but at the end of the day, we work for the client. I preemptively determine upon my arrival the latest the client has the room to, vs how long I am contracted...then I know going into the gig whether or not I am available.

In the event I am available, and the client is allowed to be in the venue, I defer to my client. If they want me another hour, and the venue says no, the venue needs to consult my client...I do not get in the middle of that. If the client is paid to midnight, and the banquet captain wants them out at 11, I will not be the one to kill the party if the client still wants to pay me 11-12.

Determine the variables and the chain of command prior to any gig and you will never have a question at the end of the day as to what to do.
 
When asked about O/T, I always provide my price or specify how much O/T is available at no charge.

But I also defer to the venue management, saying that it has to be approved by the venue. I never ask the manager myself.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone.

One my contract I have a start time and I allow up to 6 hours from that time. If they want me for 4 it is still the same price. If a venue has set stop times, it is not my fault. I always find out what time I have to stop. I always tell them when I am supposed to quit but if they allow, the couple can request overtime.

One venue I have worked at 3 times this month and again this Friday, they have a quit time of midnight. They give the family an hour to get things out and the clean up and turn around crew comes in at 1 am. Nothing I can do if it has not been 6 hours.

As to what I did Saturday night, nothing. They didn't request overtime.

I was just curious as to how others would have handled it.
 
Papa Deuce said:
at the EXACT MINUTE the wedding was supposed to end, the manager actually pulled the plug on the DJ in the MIDDLE OF A SONG. :sqeek::sqerr:
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I would FREAK if someone did that to me. It happened once and I went as far as having the manager fired. Come talk to me I am reasonable but don't pull the plug on a wound out amp there's so much damage that can cause
 
BTW I would also leave the blame on the manager
 
Papa Deuce said:
Well, the bride and groom complained, and there was an argument.... anyway, I don't know exactly what happened, but at the EXACT MINUTE the wedding was supposed to end, the manager actually pulled the plug on the DJ in the MIDDLE OF A SONG. :sqeek::sqerr:
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Had that manager done that to my gear he would have been wearing a Chafing Dish for a Hat! :sqmad:
 
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