"This is so not about current and modern preparedness. There's no possible way you could have anything (online or not) that a person could possibly want. This is not realistic and setting your couples up to expect otherwise is on you."
Excuses, excuses. This thread is about putting into your contract statements about what you can't, won't, or don't know how to do. As far as I know nothing of such negative sorts has ever been shown to inspire confidence from your customers. (Might as well be the soup Nazi or Scotch Tape Store of DJs.)
I totally agree with keeping this out of the contract. However, I see no excuses. Realistically, you CANNOT possibly have (or get) everything a person could want. I see a setting of real expectations. I'm not telling you what I can't play. I'm telling you if it's an important enough song to play, then identify it so I DO have it otherwise, if you ask for it and I do not have it, I'm not going online to get it. Plain and simple. I can fix your car with the tools I have - not I 'might' be able to fix your car. I'm setting real world expectations.
When did we reach the height of "anything someone could possibly want" versus the very reasonable ability to retrieve a song we don't already have from an online source?
The topic that came up was not the reasonable ability to get a song. Some statements could be interpreted to say that this means the ability to play anything, anytime, anywhere which is not in line with the reasonable ability to retrieve a song. Without identifying some media up front, your setting yourself up to have the expectation of anything, anytime, anywhere. Your next statement also defies this logic of reasonable ability.
If you are not capable of downloading a song while at a venue you are in fact woefully behind the times in this field. [/COLOR]There's really no excuse left.
I am plenty capable and have the tools to do it if necessary (and if they're working). If you choose to use a venue's service, this too can often be spotty. Why should I risk your show on 'integrating new technology'. If it fails, then I fail. No thanks. The risk outweighs the benefits. My customers are too important to me - and because they're important to me, I want to know what they want to hear. In the words of a wise one here, a failure to plan is a plan to fail.
We have at least five ways to get our hands on a song today: 1. we already own it 2. the client already owns it 3. we can buy it at retail/wholesale 4. We can purhase/download it online 5. we can ask the artist directly
At one time or another I have successfully used all five methods.
Notice all are legal methods and some of those may require identifying songs before you get to the show.
"The bride and groom could care less if your business is technologically relevant. They really don't care how you get the music, they just want it. It's up to you to enforce and follow the proper and legal avenues to fulfill such a requirement. When I get my car fixed, I don't care if you use normal wrenches or pneumatic ones. Just get it done. Same, same."
You wish! How do you suppose people will react to the stubborn old DJ of yesterday who insists: "I need 10 days advance notice to play requests" and even goes so far as to put it in the contract? MOst clients today will say: "N-E-X-T !!"
I do wish, but this is not one of my wishes. In 2+ decades of service, I have never lost a show over this - nor has anyone I know. I think this invalidates your 'most clients'. I'd like to know what your clients think when there is a must have song that you don't have and can't get all because you didn't prepare. Prior notice of certain items are a MUST. Other items are NOT a must.
The reaction in this day and age is absolutely that you'll be seen as out of touch - no less the reaction than George Busch Sr got when he marveled at the "miracle" of supermarket checkout scanners.
I've never been seen this way or been labeled as 'out of touch'. If anything, I am state of the art. Not downloading media 'on the run' does not make me out of touch. I pretty much guarantee that nothing online can interfere with the performance. Something you cannot guarantee if you are.
BTW: I do in fact care what wrench the mechanic uses. The wrong wrench produces the wrong torque and can ruin parts, modules, and entire systems in modern automibiles. I don;t just want my car fixed - I want a mechanic who understands and is prepared to deal with today's technology.
I'm fairly certain that you previously advise the mechanic of what symptoms the vehicle has and that you do not advise him or her what tools to use for the job.
"Plugging in your web enabled phone does not allow you to legally play said media."
Ah... Yes, it does. Weddings (like most mobile parties) are private events and without any such restirction. Performed content at weddings is explicitly beyond the reach of U.S. Title 17.
No it doesn't. You must be using media you are legally authorized to use if you are. Private parties DJ's are not required to pay royalties. That's about it. If you play copyrighted material that you do not have the right to play, you are not performing in a legal manner.
Let's not use ignorant falsehoods about copyright law to boost our ego or imply that there is something "special" about wedding DJs.
Ignorant falshoods? Please elaborate. I never implied that there was something special about wedding DJ's. What I did imply was that you are a business and as such, you are to follow some rules and should set some real expectations.
Anything a bride can do at her private wedding you can do for her - for hire - and nothing about the law is changed by you being a "DJ."
The bride is NOT a business and thus she may be able to do things you cannot do.
"There are legal reasons to not play a given song anymore."
Really? Please name just one.
The right to play it.
I know of not a single legal reason that would barr me from playing a given song. I can think of reasons of taste, propriety, agreement, convenience, and/or priority - but not a single legal prohibition on the playing of any given song post release. In fact, once the song is published I can even re-record and distribute it under a compulsary license - so, from where in your hat are you pulling these laws about what can or can't be played at a wedding?
Key word - license. You must have the right either by license or other similar manner.
I'll keep my arguments, thank you. It's not me anyway - it's the customers who will ultimately pass judgement on this "I can't be bothered integrating new technology" approach to service. If it doesn't matter or it's so impossible - then why are so many people asking the pertinent questions about online access to an expanded music source?
I have never met a customer that has passed judgement or drops me because I refuse to have an Internet connection at their show. Nor has any of the other DJ's I know. I have also not had 'so many people' ask about online access to an expanded music source. They ask if you have current songs or songs in particular. I have never had someone ask 'hey, do you have online access to ...' anything. What they want to know is can you perform my show. Can I, yes - and here is what I CAN do for you.
Other than the must have's, requests are just that - requests. They are at my sole discretion. Once again, I have never had a request make or break a show. A must have may make or break a show.
Do you really think Brides who can instantly download to thier own iPod or tablet; and who probably see four bars on thier own cell phone are likely to buy into phony "legal" arguments and claims that you can't get a signal? If you're going to put people off at least do it with a plausible excuse.
Considering I may not be using the same service you are, this could be an accurate statement and is a reality - to think otherwise would make you 'out of touch'. It has also been seen that you could have great signal and poor service on your phone.
I also know of not one person that owns an iPod, tablet, iPad or other that can guarantee me instant download (legal or other) from anywhere, constantly. There are lots of places where you CANNOT get service to do anything online. How are you going to satisfy your client then? Shall I assume that you're 'out of touch'?
I'm surprised how many times customers so clearly verbalize their concerns only to have them discounted and ignored by DJs who claim to be sales professionals dedicated to quality service.
My clients know that their concerns, requests and other are taken very seriously. I apply realistic definitions to them. I'm surprised that others are not.
