MOB needs to come up with retainer! How would you word it?

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Jas

Jas

Mac Daddy DJ
May 22, 2013
1,617
1,932
A MOB contacted me and I agreed to meet her (maybe without completely qualifying her first). By the end of the meeting she was ready to book so I filled out a couple of contracts by hand. I require the down payment (retainer) when the contract is signed, but she said she would send a check out Saturday or Monday.

You guessed it. It's now been 3 weeks since we met and still no check. I sent her this email July 10 and 5 days later there's no response from her.

I just wanted to let you know that your booking isn't 100% confirmed until I get the down payment. I'm looking forward to a fun reception with you and your family.

A little back story: When she first contacted me she said her DJ canceled because of health issues. I tried to pry more info out of her at the meeting but she simply repeated, "due to health issues". Maybe, maybe not!

Anyway, the contract has been signed and I'm gonna have to confront her soon (probably on the phone) and find a tactful way to let her know she needs to make the down payment. The wedding date is August 29.
 
Jas said:
I just wanted to let you know that your booking isn't 100% confirmed until I get the down payment. I'm looking forward to a fun reception with you and your family.
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Nice!!
Makes you wonder if the other DJ didn't get the deposit & moved on? This happens ,People are slow to respond when first DJ conceals.
Contract reads:
To confirm this Agreement, return one signed and complete copy along with deposit of $ ( 10 days)
or the total fee BEFORE THE ABOVE RESPONSE DATE. Agreements received after the RESPONSEDATE is subject to availability. If sending a deposit, the balance is due no later than two weeks before the event. .
More than likely time to move on Jas?!
 
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I wouldn't confront her on the phone. The wording on your reminder was not strong enough. You basically said, "I'll be there" even though she has not executed the contract with you. Here's a suggestion for the next email.

"Ms. MOB, I wanted to reach out to you regarding your daughter's wedding on 8/29/15. At this point in time, I have your signed contract but no deposit. Your date is not locked in until your deposit has been received. Please be aware that all bookings are on a strict, first-come-first-served basis. If you've made other arrangements, the kindness of your reply is requested. If you wish to lock-in your date now, please click here. Thank you and have a wonderful day."

Sometimes, you have to be direct. Good luck with it.
 
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sonic-vision said:
Makes you wonder if the other DJ didn't get the deposit & moved on?
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Or if the other DJ even had a contract…

rickryan.com said:
"Ms. MOB, I wanted to reach out to you regarding your daughter's wedding on 8/29/15. At this point in time, I have your signed contract but no deposit. Your date is not locked in until your deposit has been received. Please be aware that all bookings are on a strict, first-come-first-served basis. If you've made other arrangements, the kindness of your reply is requested. If you wish to lock-in your date now, please click here. Thank you and have a wonderful day."
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I like this, but I was also thinking if I could take a credit card payment she would pay. She asked about cc before and I offered her paypal which she refused.
 
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jokerswild said:
If you have a business paypal account you could use the paypal Here app and swipe her card like a regular merchant if she's apossed to using paypal.
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The MOB has already said "no paypal" so I'd leave it at that. I've also run into customers who have an aversion to PP, so trying to find a creative way to force her into using it is a losing proposition. Go to walgreens and pickup a Square reader. It takes minutes to set it up and it just works, not to mention you can send an invoice electronically. I've had several refuse paypal but none who refused square.
 
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I've found that some people just don't have a paypal account and don't wanna go thru the hassle of signing up. Maybe they don't do Ebay and don't see a need for it.

I don't have a smart phone or android device either. I guess I should get on board with a device that can be used to swipe credit cards.
 
rickryan.com said:
Not if the client has a mental block against using Paypal. Feel free to keep beating your head against a wall if you wish however.
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Rick the difference is there is no requirement from the buyer to sign up or log into paypal... It operates no differently than the Square Up device... The buyer isn't using paypal... You are... To process payment... Just like any merchant would be it be via a Merchant processor like that found at the local grocery store...

I believe the opposition to using paypal online is just as I stated above... This particular buyer may not like the online version but, may not be apossed to a shipper...

I'm not sure what bug has crawled up your neither regions... (Your ass). It was a suggestion for future reference as I have found those that apposse paypal usually don't have a problem with swiping.
 
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Jas said:
I've found that some people just don't have a paypal account and don't wanna go thru the hassle of signing up. Maybe they don't do Ebay and don't see a need for it.

I don't have a smart phone or android device either. I guess I should get on board with a device that can be used to swipe credit cards.
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Exactly my point... Thank you

The PayPal Here swipper doesn't require this of the buyer.
 
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I like Rick's 2nd email. After sending I would actively start marketing that date. The 3rd email would simply let her know it is booked. This is one reason why I insist the contract be signed by Bride and/or Groom. Even if MOB is paying; the Bride can pull more muscle on the MOB than I could. Surely you have contact information at least for the Bride or Groom, right?
 
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I keep it simple. The agreement I send out specifies the date that the Non Refundable Deposit is due. They get 10 days to pay the deposit which is plenty of time. There is also a Contract Expiration date set for 2 days after the deposit due date. If the deposit is not paid by the expiration date, the agreement is null and void.

After wasting time, and waiting and waiting for too many deposits, agreements to come back to me back in 2010 and 2011 from wishy washy and/or budget clients, I decided to put an expiration date on my agreements.

I send out an email the date that a deposit is due if I have not received it yet letting them know the agreement is void if I don't receive it by the expiration date. If they say they need more time, I make a new agreement, but the second agreement only gives them 6 more days to get the deposit to me (That is if I really don't have any other strong candidates who want to book me for the date).

If a client can't pay a deposit in 10 days, I really don't want to work with them unless they were up front from the start explaining they can't book me just yet due to finances...then I just let them know to contact me when they are ready, and I keep my eyes open for other prospects who might want me on that date.
 
On another topic...the Talent Agency has screwed me over on some Key Saturday dates from time to time. They call me up telling me I am booked on on a wedding for a couple I just talked to a few days earlier. I believe they signed an agreement and paid the deposit if I am booked. Then 3, 4, 6, even TEN WEEKS have gone by, and I get a call from one of the agents saying sorry I am not booked on that particular wedding...they never received the deposit/agreement from the couple.

I am thinking "WTF??? Why the hell would you tell me I am BOOKED, and come to find out they NEVER even paid a deposit, and now it's been 2 - 3 months, and all this time I had that date blocked out thinking I am booked, and turned other clients away!

I have had that conversation with the agency in the past, and all they say is "Sorry, we will work on getting you booked on that date" ...A bunch of BS!
 
Dear ,

The required return due date of July 16, 2015 for your contract signing payment has come and gone. Your tentative exclusive hold on this date and time reservation for my services has been removed and the tentative agreement is now void.

If there have been problems with accounting, communications, oversight, or other happenstances that have created a delay in meeting the original due date deadline, please, contact me immediately.

Thank you for your consideration and best wishes in making all your special event choices.
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has served me well for many many (many) years.

I'm in charge of and control my business schedule, no one else.

One thing I did not see in this thread. You didn't already sign the agreement did you? Please say, "NO" ! If you already have signed it, get legal help NOW and get it put to bed legally. I can tell you about the sneaky underhanded folks that made a lot of money duping DJs in exactly the manner this episode is evolving.
 
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Hey Jas,

I have an old-fashioned, mechanical cc swiper that I got through CDBaby that I keep around for just such an occasion. I think they're still running the program; if interested, you could review it and sign-up an artist account at CDBaby.com .

GJ
 
jokerswild said:
Rick the difference is there is no requirement from the buyer to sign up or log into paypal... It operates no differently than the Square Up device... The buyer isn't using paypal... You are... To process payment... Just like any merchant would be it be via a Merchant processor like that found at the local grocery store...

I believe the opposition to using paypal online is just as I stated above... This particular buyer may not like the online version but, may not be apossed to a shipper...

I'm not sure what bug has crawled up your neither regions... (Your ass). It was a suggestion for future reference as I have found those that apposse paypal usually don't have a problem with swiping.
Click to expand...

I don't have a bug up anywhere but you're failing to realize that some people, for whatever reason, have a rub against paypal. I've heard it, directly from several clients this past year and it's my impression that, had I pushed PP, it could have cost me a deal. BTW, again my opinion, the PP swiper is a piece of shit. I've had it fail on me on multiple occasions. The app is buggy and they sometimes decline cards that are valid. I still use it, but only for paying my subs.
 
I like Cap's approach.
No PLEASE.
No MAYBE.
No IF's, AND's or BUT's...
You lost the date because you did not pay. If you still want it, do something about it. (his message said it much better)
And I also agree that you should NOT have signed the contract without the payment.
 
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Cap Capello said:
One thing I did not see in this thread. You didn't already sign the agreement did you?
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Jas said:
Anyway, the contract has been signed and I'm gonna have to confront her soon (probably on the phone) and find a tactful way to let her know she needs to make the down payment. The wedding date is August 29.
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Yes, that's the problem Cap, the contract was signed by both parties and we both have a copy. She said she would send the check within 3 days and I trusted her to do that. Since I've never had this happen my contract does not state that the deal will be void unless the down payment is made.

I will have to either find a way to get out of this or find a way to get her to come up with the down payment. I'd rather do the latter.
 
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