It’s because you don’t do any planning, you just deal with whatever info you get to don’t make any effort to get the answers you really need, then blame everyone else for the issues when the real problem is your lack of effort
Price increase
- Thread starter rickryan.com
- Start date
When you got there is the day of is it not.
What happened to the venue telling the person?? Don’t you mean What happened to YOU asking or telling the client what your needs are?
Let me be honest. I'm not used to deal with such an issue. I don't remember the last time this happened. That's because it's been so long ago I can't remember it happening. So I didn't think to check to see if there was going to be another event before the one we were doing in the room.
What I'm saying is it's not something that we come across quite a bit. The last time something like this happening to us is way too many years that I can't remember the last time this happened.
What I'm saying is it's not something that we come across quite a bit. The last time something like this happening to us is way too many years that I can't remember the last time this happened.
Well thats the honest answer... you just never dealt with that. From what I gather, You don't seem to work at actual banquet halls. When you do you need to be aware of how early you can setup (especially if there's a day time event), the amount of load out time given, as well as the document requirements such as liability insurance (virtually all legitimate venues now ask) as well as many venues now asking for workmans comp coverage.
I decided to wait till someone made a post before asking this question. Who on here has had the same situation I mentioned here happen to them?
Load in/out time restrictions and insurance requirements are pretty standard at local venues here. They also specify where you can park and load in from (i.e. not the main entrance). Some places such as churches, some community centers and VFW halls often don't care about this stuff. These places aren't run as professional event centers and the "staff" are frequently part-timers or volunteers.
UPDATE:
The couple just called me today to provide some insight as to how the concerns were addressed. Figured I'd share the update on how they were handled.
- On the time given for breakdown: The venue responded to the couple with surprise saying that they've never had a dj, let alone a couple questioning it, w an issue with getting out in 30 min and thought that was fair. Couple said for what they're doing and for the type of presentation they're investing in, that I need closer to an hour. The venue asked what were they planning on doing... The couple then shared pictures of my setup as well as my website. The venue (according to the couple) while scrolling through my socials said "wow, we've never had a dj that nice here... I can see why he needs more time". So with that, they said the couple can have an hour but that's it before it costs them.
- On the sound system, once the venue understood the caliber of what we do and the types of weddings we perform, they simply said, plug into their system and if there is an issue w/ quality, they'll allow me to use mine.
Overall... the venue wants the couple to be happy and get the quality of wedding they want. They admitted the type of dj's they normally see have subpar sound, especially for such a large room (holds 300+), which is why they opted to install one so dj's don't complain that it's hard to make the sound be good in there. They were even surprised to see all the lighting I offered, the glam style photo booth which they've only seen couples get a handful of times ever, etc. Usually couples hire dj's who don't offer anything like that and if they want anything elevated in terms of quality, they have to outsource it. Most dj's just have like a gigbar style light, at best have a spandex type facade, and as such never get any pushback on their requirements.
The couple just called me today to provide some insight as to how the concerns were addressed. Figured I'd share the update on how they were handled.
- On the time given for breakdown: The venue responded to the couple with surprise saying that they've never had a dj, let alone a couple questioning it, w an issue with getting out in 30 min and thought that was fair. Couple said for what they're doing and for the type of presentation they're investing in, that I need closer to an hour. The venue asked what were they planning on doing... The couple then shared pictures of my setup as well as my website. The venue (according to the couple) while scrolling through my socials said "wow, we've never had a dj that nice here... I can see why he needs more time". So with that, they said the couple can have an hour but that's it before it costs them.
- On the sound system, once the venue understood the caliber of what we do and the types of weddings we perform, they simply said, plug into their system and if there is an issue w/ quality, they'll allow me to use mine.
Overall... the venue wants the couple to be happy and get the quality of wedding they want. They admitted the type of dj's they normally see have subpar sound, especially for such a large room (holds 300+), which is why they opted to install one so dj's don't complain that it's hard to make the sound be good in there. They were even surprised to see all the lighting I offered, the glam style photo booth which they've only seen couples get a handful of times ever, etc. Usually couples hire dj's who don't offer anything like that and if they want anything elevated in terms of quality, they have to outsource it. Most dj's just have like a gigbar style light, at best have a spandex type facade, and as such never get any pushback on their requirements.
It happens.
What matters is how well prepared are you to deal with it?
Events are a deadline directed and often high stress circumstance to work in. People who truly know their stuff and manage logistics well are better suited to cope with issues like you describe. The same is true of all issues that might arise.
A producer once told me: "Nothing shakes you. All hell can break loose and you don't even flinch."
The thing is, that in every instance there are only 3 possible outcomes:
- I fix it.
- I change it.
- I scrap it.
- Knowledge
- Resources
- Decisiveness
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It doesn't sound like the venue is the real problem.
If you're not routinely in the same venues then you should probably stop referring to yourself as a "DJ" and use terms that are more consistent with what you are trying to do. It may be time to retire "DJ Taso" and identify as "TASO Productions" , "TASO Entertainment" or something that requires more investigation and less assumption.
Instead of threatening venues with negative feedback - make it clear what the difference is. I would also not toss this back on the client. Call the venue directly, explain what you need/want and why.
You've moved beyond the bounds of what we can expect a client to fully manage for us. Clients don't fully understand the event & entertainment business. We often have to be willing to do more surrounding our staging needs. Even touring professionals can make bad assumptions about a gig,. When one of my clients engages a touring act - I contact that person's agent or talk to the artist directly. It's the only way to avoid disaster because the artist typically believes all the backline is covered, as do many agents, while the customer doesn't even know what the backline is, and why (like a wedding band) they don't just show up fully equipped.
You may actually be a "DJ" but you are essentially touring with a backline that needs to be accounted for.
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To be clear, I never threatened anyone with anything. As I said, that was the approach the couple was willing to go to get what they wanted.
As mentioned earlier as well, it is common that when a DJ approaches the venue with a need they are very reluctant to accommodate it or care, especially bc the person you’re speaking to is in sales and has nothing to do with the event itself. In addition, the rule is if I need more time, the client gets charged. I have to make the client aware that they may be responsible for additional fees… and not just with me but with any vendor that goes beyond that time. They haven’t hired anyone else, in particular decor yet, so they wanted to get ahead of it. As noted, when the client did reach out, the venue was shocked a DJ could need more time but did understand why when the client shared my content. Just a different standard is all… nothing nefarious happened and in my opinion rather cordial from my understanding… the venue just was trying to grasp why the need as this was the first time someone requested more time. This was also the first time it seems like that a couple chose a DJ that is of a higher caliber than they’re used to.
Idk what you mean by regional, but 80% of what I do is NJ/Philly based (and the suburbs of Philly). There are too many Wedding specific venues to list around here and am lucky if I go to the same venue twice in a year. So I believe im more well versed with “standards and procedures” in this area than most. Although this venue is in PA I wouldn’t count it as a Philly based venue and so I know they typically see a different type of DJ, but still wouldn’t have expected a 30min breakdown under any circumstance.
With that said, my business tag line in my logo and marketing material for the most part includes “wedding DJ and production”. DJ Taso is my name, and it’s trademarked, so naturally people would say I hired DJ Taso… but my website and all relevant marketing material do indicate production based services. It still wouldn’t have changed anything, as again, all vendors have 30 minutes so it is just how they operate. Still something worth thinking about long term in terms of the business name.
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Taso said it for me. If an issue like this comes up let the client deal with the venue to see how to resolve the issue.
Me as the DJ more than likely if I approach the venue they may look at me and decide who do I think I am telling them what to do with their venue. You're just the DJ. Now you might get the venue to listen to you if you're a regular working at said venue. The big thing is they will need to believe you know your stuff before they will want to listen to you.
Me as the DJ more than likely if I approach the venue they may look at me and decide who do I think I am telling them what to do with their venue. You're just the DJ. Now you might get the venue to listen to you if you're a regular working at said venue. The big thing is they will need to believe you know your stuff before they will want to listen to you.
Hard disagree. While what you said is more common for me, it's absolutely not uncommon to steer venue choice.
Your reply is confusing to me. You say you "hard disagree" then you said it's common for you. I know there are what I'd consider "higher end" DJs, where they are higher in the pecking order and perhaps do get the bride's ear before the venue is selected, but I do believe that's not the norm in our industry. I guess I'm more in the "average DJ" category. Yes, there have been a few occasions where I was first in the door, and had a voice in steering the bride towards a venue, but that's rare. I stand by my statement that we DJs are typically called in long after the venue is booked, which excludes us from having any influence over where the wedding will happen. I know it chaps my fellow DJs when I say this but, generally speaking, we are low on the totem pole and quite often we're an after thought in the bride's mind. I think brides, quite often, do not give us the importance towards their event that I feel we deserve but that's just reality.