I just received this "Entertainer Contract". Do you see anything wrong?

DJ SVO said:

The setting up part in the tux seems awkward and the damages also seem to fall into something Raskykat addressed on his thread but if you have insurance covering any damage to a facility you should be fine.

Load in place is mentioned I don't see the need to ask again where to load in

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I had to sign one of these for an event I'm doing in July. The big thing is when they mean professional attire they are meaning well dressed not in a tux. I'm quite sure slacks and a nice dress shirt would be fine just not shorts and T's etc etc. The biggest reason some of these places in Cali do this is to keep out your uncle George from DJing someones wedding. Its not an overly friendly way of doing things.

I'm also quite sure they have specific people they recommend and this just makes it a little harder to use someone else. Also on mine they wanted to charge the bride and groom 75 dollars for a table for me. I told them to tell them to go to hell I brind my own professional gear and table. And that my setup will probably be one of the more professional systems and setups they have had there. The funny part is I have worked at much nicer and more professional looking places than the place I will be. The Rivermill: http://www.therivermill.com

Now I have worked at a place that was very similar to this place and they where very strict. But I just remembered that as others have said I'm in there house and I'm working under there rules. Hey they even made me wear a walkie talkie with an ear piece until open dance started. But when all was said and done it was one of the nicest weddings we did that year. And the planner was a huge help. She would get all the folks for special dances for me. And just all around made the night for our bride and groom and for me. At the end of the night she came up to us and said she wished they we where doing the wedding they had the next day. The DJ was a friend of the family. That place was "The Reata": http://www.thereataoakdale.com/

Ruben Mora said:

I normally show up in a t-shirt and jeans. I will call her and ask her to define "professional attire".

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If I were you I'd rephrase that to: "You would not mind if I came casual just for load in and setup as long as I change before the event, would you?"
Always phrase questions to get answers you want.

Asking her to define professional attire may mean getting an answer you do not want or one that will cause you to have to buy wardrobe just for their satisfaction.

Fred Wright said:

To address the original question, no. I don't see anything inherently wrong with it. A bit demanding when compared to your VFW or firehouse venue... but not unreasonably so.

Jeff made the point quite well, I think. Can you imagine what this venue management has seen to cause them to institute rules like this? The rules were likely born of necessity. They've likely been burned by slob DJs. I'm surprised there isn't a volume level clause in there.

I have heard of an upscale venue in NJ that requires all vendors to load in wearing a tux. If you're not in the tux they won't let you in. So vendors have two tuxes ~ one to load with and the other to wear during the show.

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That can be challenged in a Court of Law. You are not their employee and therefore they cannot tell you how to dress. Do they also have a dress code for the Guests at the event? Do they have a dress code for the Florists and all her helpers? This document is a Policy Agreement not a Contract. I would not put my signature to it. Again like Ducky stated earlier, who is YOUR client? Requirements should come from YOUR client to you AT THE TIME YOU SIGN THE MUSIC AGREEMENT!

I myself see nothing wrong with this contract. They wish to convey a professional appearance for any guests that might be previewing their establishment along with anyone else there. I always wear jeans however and a company polo shirt or button down shirt on set up, and then change after setup. That would be the only thing I would clarify, edit in the contract.

Whee...yet another one where there's just so much to talk about. I'm going to focus on the OP.

First off, who hired you the B&G or the venue. If it's the B&G then the venue can just kiss your @$$.

Next up, attire. If I feel that it's in my best interests to setup and teardown in jeans or shorts, that's what I wear. The kahkis I wear to gigs are dockers so they're not cheap and if I think I may risk tearing them, I don't wear them. And how about this one for the venue? If they have something hanging off a door and it rips your nice new dockers, are they going to pay you for it, since after all it was a physical obstruction owned by the venue that caused the rip.

You can tell that the venue didn't think this through and are just being @$$holes because they can be..."Breakdown must be completed within 45 minutes of event conclusion" Okay, I can be broken down in 45 minutes, but load out is a completely different story. I'm sure we can all agree that a tear down and load out are two different parts.


I'm just glad we don't have @$$holes for venues around here.

I, too, see nothing wrong with it. I think the fact that there is such a difference of opinion on this board about what professional attire really means shows why they feel the need to let the reader know WHAT THEY MEAN. I've seen people setting up in tank tops before. When an event coordinator is showing potential clients the room and talking about how classy the place is, they probably don't want to have to explain the the DJ setting up in the torn jean shorts over thereisn't an employee so try to get that image out of your head when you are picturing your event. Yes, someone can wear nice jeans, the problem is some wont. It's the same thinking behind speed limits. Some people are safer drivers at 75 miles an hour than some are at 55, but you have to set the standard somewhere. Some people probably look more professional in jeans than others do in Khaki's, but again, it makes sense to have some standards. When I set up in shorts, it's still with a polo shirt. If the halls requests that I not wear shorts as a vendor in their building, I have no problem with that.

few other points:
cords...makes sense.....if trip hazard, gaffers tape will be used...not a loud colored cord.

Drinks:
I have no problem with this. I don't typically drink at weddings. In the very few times I have had a drink due the bride and groom asking, or some unique situation, it wouldn't be obvious. In this situation, if the bride and groom asked me to join them, I would probably say, I would love to but the venue doesn't allow it. Probably.

Every event I do, I try to work with the hall to make their life easier so the bride and groom have the event they want. Staying out of their way is a simple part of it.

I also don't have a problem with the breakdown within 45 minutes. I honestly don't believe that they would be going ballistic if it took 47 minutes. However, they should not have to pay someone overtime to stay to lock up the building because the DJ is not effecient at tearing down his own equipment. If it really takes more than 45 minutes to tear down, you probably should have a roadie. BTW, I'm talking about a typical wedding set up, not huge elaborate set ups.

Even when I bring a lot of stuff, I can get it all packed up and on a cart within 45 minutes, and then pack it up in my car without them having to be there. I have watched some people be extremely inefficient in tearing down....taking one piece....walking it out the car.....putting it away...then walking back. At one venue, the security guy told me as I was walking out with my gear that the room next to me ended almost an hour before mine and the DJ was still not done packing up and getting out of there...and my event was considerbly larger than that one. So the security guard and the manager had to sit there and wait for this guy to get done.

Again, I don't think they will sit there with a stop watch, they just don't wan't someone taking their good old time. Makes sense to me.

Ruben,

I have done several events at this facility - Its nice. That's Judy and Georgia the gals over there right? Both sweethearts whenever Ive been there. I havent signed this form or even heard about it ONCE... so unless they just instituted it in the last 8mos or so, I don't know what's up.

I have set up both in the spot they're talking about, and smack-dab in the middle of the front of the stage on the ground-level. My setup has always been dictated by the layout of the room, and when I was pushed off to that "side-pocket" they're requiring there, it was because the head table was centered in front of the stage - not because of some kind of weird policy or agreement.

Unless they just have new peeps over there running things, I wouldn't get too alarmed.

And I showed up to setup and loaded in through the front (at first) and then the side of that room itself (after they told me where to pull up and get in) wearing a polo/button-down collared shirt, khaki cargo shorts, and sandals. And when she saw me coming in through the front with my stuff dressed in "caj" she didn't freak out and direct me to the other entrance out of any kind of snobbery or appearances concern - she just felt bad for me trying to go the long way.

Maybe they have new policies and/or peeps.

Let me know how it goes. I might take any recent changes into consideration for future events there.

That's true. It's almost like they should include copies of these forms in a folder or packet they give clients when booking there initially.

Jon Tuck said:

and the forms must be signed and completed prior to securing the venue booking.

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Well I don't know about that.... 10 out of 10 brides I work with have the venue booked before they even start thinking about CALLING dj's...

How would that be possible in "the real world?"

Unless you just mean the BRIDE would have the acknowledge those requirements ahead of time... But there's no way the dj could have his agreement in at that time.

Jon Tuck said:

yes the bride or venue rentor must sign a responsibility form. Then use it in the vendor selection process.

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Got it. Thats what I thought you meant after I slowed down to think - hey - it's FRIDAY!:sqerr:

Jon Tuck said:

my only problem with this whole situation isnt the guidelines but the timing as it is now presented to you after signing a contract with your client. This is where the process is flawed. The venue should have made it known that if a chosen vendor not on their list is picked they must first sign and comply with the venue house rules. As previously stated I would have no issues working under the present guidelines.

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Jon,
This reply is not an attack on you or directed to what you would do, ok.

Are you saying because of someone else's bad timing that the DJ should now cave in and be complicit? Blahhhhhh.........thats BS.... not even the birds should eat that crap. But hey, again to each is own, here is another DJ jumping when someone who is not their client says "Jump". Its a good thing that the likes of those who cower to all are not in the military. They would be taking orders even from a Private. I am so freaking disappointed by some of these answers. I thought these chaps were running their own businesses, I did not know that they were employees without benefits!
Time is running out eh? Here is how I would fix the freaking problem. If my client has already signed an agreement with me then thats tough shyt! ITS A DONE DEAL. I would tell them what I want to wear, I would drink what I bloody well feel like drinking, I'll bring my own damn meal unless they are willing to let me have a break so I can go outside and get something to eat and drink. Somebody needs to tell them morons where they can shove the friggin piece of BS paper. Sheesh!

Sounds To Go said:

Well I don't know about that.... 10 out of 10 brides I work with have the venue booked before they even start thinking about CALLING dj's...

How would that be possible in "the real world?"

Unless you just mean the BRIDE would have the acknowledge those requirements ahead of time... But there's no way the dj could have his agreement in at that time.

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It would be the venue's responsibility to articulate all policies to their client the Bride so that she in turn can discuss it with the DJ. You snooze you loose!

Jon Tuck said:

Perhaps we should investigate this possibility when discussing business with potentials. However what is now already signed allows for one to go with the flow or cancel the booking. Unfortunately unless you have this worked into your contract you have already signed you are expected to honor what you signed. If it means bylaws of the venue are required either you comply or be prepared for legal action against you possibly from the client you have agreed to take care of. Its such a minor thing Canute we can hold our ground and look like a real jerk or turn the other cheek until we have set policy to disallow such bylaws from our vendors.

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We are speculating here! Do we even know what is in his original contract? If his original contract with his client does not make mention of any of this, he is off the hook. If he has agreed to or has already signed the BS document then his butt is sealed tighter than a frog's azz.

I've been thinking about buying a couple of dark T-Shirts with a logo. These could be called "Professional Attire" when I'm setting up. Get them all sweaty, and then change into the proper attire for the event. Closed Toe Shoe should always be worn when you're carrying/setting up equipment.