So, who are the "old guys" in the forum?

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If what a DJ does posed a potential danger to the public (electrical shock, impact, etc.) then yes, they should be licensed, as we do with those things that are potential safety issues .. but all we've got is maybe an unedited song version slipping out.
 
What is so wrong with Government regulation? Do you think the Auto Manufacturers would really care if autos were knowingly sold with defects were it not for Government regulations and hefty fines. The Milk you drink, the medicines we buy etc. We always call for it after the fact. Engineers have to be licensed, riggers have to be licensed, so why not DJs.

All of the examples given are items that threaten the safety of a person. How is a bad dj going to cause me physical harm like tainted milk or bad medications or sloppy rigging?
Should the government stop by my house every week to make sure my milk isn't expired too?
 
And what standards are to be used? Do you need to prove a level of beatmixing skills (how to you quantify that?)...do you need to prove you can lift a sizeable rig...do you need to prove you can teach someone to line dance...or dougie....or program dmx lighting....all of these are optional dj skills depending on your market.
 
And what standards are to be used? Do you need to prove a level of beatmixing skills (how to you quantify that?)...do you need to prove you can lift a sizeable rig...do you need to prove you can teach someone to line dance...or dougie....or program dmx lighting....all of these are optional dj skills depending on your market.
Will answer later. I am off to an appointment now. ;)
 
And what standards are to be used? Do you need to prove a level of beatmixing skills (how to you quantify that?)...do you need to prove you can lift a sizeable rig...do you need to prove you can teach someone to line dance...or dougie....or program dmx lighting....all of these are optional dj skills depending on your market.

OK I could not edit and add to my first reply to this post.

The standards can start by having all working DJs who say they operate as a business get a Business License from their City/County/State. Insurance should be mandatory. That will immediately eliminate a lot of those who have Bootleg hard Drives etc. In addition to this maybe there should be some kind of Basic course in Electronics/Electricity that one should have to take.

What DJs do in the execution of their duties can be of hazard and detriment to others. Placing speakers on poles over peoples heads. Electrical cords that can possibly be overloaded with Gear and Lighting equipment, safety practices at the Gig etc.

In the Entertainment business in Houston, strives have been made by other professionals in this direction. For instance, you have to have a license to be a Event/Wedding Planner if you are offering your services to the public. Same for a Caterer, you have to have a business license and a Current Health Certificate from the Department of Health.

These laws were created because there were so many people calling themselves Event Planners and Caterers who did not know what they were doing. This caused confusion among the unwittingly public. All it would take is enough DJs banding together and having enough signatures to petition for a Bill. The problem with that is, there are a lot of DJs who do not declare their DJ incomes so they won't care.
 
These laws were created because there were so many people calling themselves Event Planners and Caterers who did not know what they were doing. This caused confusion among the unwittingly public. All it would take is enough DJs banding together and having enough signatures to petition for a Bill. The problem with that is, there are a lot of DJs who do not declare their DJ incomes so they won't care.


So, basically what yer saying, is we need more laws...? Just what we need :rolleyes:

Have you ever done a gig that you didn't declare to the "tax authorities". If so, I suspect you are attempting to BS a BS artist.

BTW, what is "This caused confusion among the unwittingly public" -- is that in the Texas dictionary?

Wake up dude ;)
 
I agree - just what we need - MORE LAWS! Ugh!

They regulate too much already.
The world is changing. There are new products, services practices being developed everyday, so yes, there is a need for new Laws. We seem to only want the ones that directly affect us and don't care about the rest.
Would you put your baby is a seat in your car without knowing it was fully tested and meets the safety standards? Laws made that happen.
Would you get in your car and depend on the brakes if you knew that car maker did not test them? Laws made that happen.
Would you buy food at the supermarket and take home for your family to eat knowing it was not up to the Health standards? Laws made that happen.

So we all seem to choose only the ones WE want, claim those as good and discard the rest. At the same time we say we don't need more. Would you like them to stop testing the new electronic products coming out and take the risk that while your children may be using one that the device may blow up in their face?
Regulation is good!
 
The world is changing. There are new products, services practices being developed everyday, so yes, there is a need for new Laws. We seem to only want the ones that directly affect us and don't care about the rest.
Would you put your baby is a seat in your car without knowing it was fully tested and meets the safety standards? Laws made that happen.
Would you get in your car and depend on the brakes if you knew that car maker did not test them? Laws made that happen.
Would you buy food at the supermarket and take home for your family to eat knowing it was not up to the Health standards? Laws made that happen.

So we all seem to choose only the ones WE want, claim those as good and discard the rest. At the same time we say we don't need more. Would you like them to stop testing the new electronic products coming out and take the risk that while your children may be using one that the device may blow up in their face?
Regulation is good!

Canute - a changing world does not define a need or requirement for more laws. Are you one of those that believe red light and speed cameras are all about safety? If so, I get it.

Alot of current laws are regulations made to put penalties in place. They are not there for mine, nor your, protections nor safety. They are money makers. The biggest culprit of these laws are generally the very people that enact or support them. Congress (and others) are for some reason 'above the law'. Laws should be applied equally amongst all members of a society and there should NOT be a law 'just to have a law'.

You know, if they did stop alot of the bogus crap organizations do, some of the prices could probably come down. Do you honestly believe it takes billions of dollars and decades to do a study on the benefits of people wearing cologne / perfume? Or that 50% of marriages end in divorce?

Edit: What about the laws we NEED to be supporting - like illegal immigration. Solve the issues with the laws you have before you make new ones. In some cases, there are laws that dispute other laws. They made a law to fight the law they already had. WTF? In other cases, you don't need the law. Law writing is some legal wrangling of a scenario - it has NOT EVER been about supporting a business.
 
I still say....enforce the laws already in place (businesses are already required to be registered in South Dakota and most states). We don't need a new law that only reiterates a current law...and why would a new one be enforced? Again, you are citing examples of personal safety. I still fail to see how there is truly a comparison. A tripod falling on a persons head...c'mon man, you know that's stretching it when your comparisons are SAFETY INSPECTIONS. That tripod already met the safety standards of the government. The regulations are designed to start at the mass end...at production...not at a single dj and how he uses the gear. If you don't buckle that child seat into the car, is it still safe? The government said it's safe...it has a sticker! Maybe the government should install them too just to make sure we're doing it right?!

Businesses already have to have insurance. Who is checking? In thousands of events, I think I have provided a proof of insurance 6 or 7 times. Regulation is not the answer.

I agree with ittigger....current laws need to be upheld. BEfore new legislation goes into place, some consideration should be given to how it will/can be enforced before it goes into place.
 
I still say....enforce the laws already in place (businesses are already required to be registered in South Dakota and most states). We don't need a new law that only reiterates a current law...and why would a new one be enforced? Again, you are citing examples of personal safety. I still fail to see how there is truly a comparison. A tripod falling on a persons head...c'mon man, you know that's stretching it when your comparisons are SAFETY INSPECTIONS. That tripod already met the safety standards of the government. The regulations are designed to start at the mass end...at production...not at a single dj and how he uses the gear. If you don't buckle that child seat into the car, is it still safe? The government said it's safe...it has a sticker! Maybe the government should install them too just to make sure we're doing it right?!

Businesses already have to have insurance. Who is checking? In thousands of events, I think I have provided a proof of insurance 6 or 7 times. Regulation is not the answer.

I agree with ittigger....current laws need to be upheld. BEfore new legislation goes into place, some consideration should be given to how it will/can be enforced before it goes into place.
I beg to differ, an Event Planner is not an example of personal safety. You are speaking for your State and I for mine. Texas does not require a business license for anyone to be in business. I bet that if South Dakota dropped that requirement a lot of businesses would be very unhappy.
 
I beg to differ, an Event Planner is not an example of personal safety. You are speaking for your State and I for mine. Texas does not require a business license for anyone to be in business. I bet that if South Dakota dropped that requirement a lot of businesses would be very unhappy.

Depending on the 'job', this could apply to anything. I'm SURE Texas has businesses that MUST be licensed.

Think about this Canute - do you really believe an event planner 'needs' to be licensed? Is this licensing a bunch of paperwork and money for the politicians or is it a true license?

I know lots of 'event planners' that are not licensed - we'll call them 'Bride and Grooms'.
 
Depending on the 'job', this could apply to anything. I'm SURE Texas has businesses that MUST be licensed.

Think about this Canute - do you really believe an event planner 'needs' to be licensed? Is this licensing a bunch of paperwork and money for the politicians or is it a true license?

I know lots of 'event planners' that are not licensed - we'll call them 'Bride and Grooms'.
You may not think so but apparently they do and lobbied for that Bills passage. How would you like it if you had a Wedding and hired someone who called themselves a Wedding/Event Planner and because of negligence cause the Wedding Party to be a disaster? What recourse would you have? This is why they are registered, insured and bonded. You are paying for a professional.
 
You may not think so but apparently they do and lobbied for that Bills passage.

Show me WHO lobbied for that bill (and as it was passed) and I'll almost guarantee you that it WAS NOT a professional.

How would you like it if you had a Wedding and hired someone who called themselves a Wedding/Event Planner and because of negligence cause the Wedding Party to be a disaster?

I've had many successful events without a 'licensed' event planner and I've had a some bad ones with a 'licensed' event planner.

What recourse would you have?

What recourse do you have in either case (licensed or unlicensed)? Is the couple going to have another wedding to do it over again? Oh right, we get to sue the vendor. Penalty.

This is why they are registered, insured and bonded. You are paying for a professional.

That means what to the client? Insured and bonded covers penalties and / or physical damage. Does this directly translate to some level of experience / knowledge?

Your statement of someone who is registered, insured and bonded falls in line with your legal requirements of what defines a professional. What about the True Professional.

Would you prefer taking your computer to Best Buy to get fixed by a 'certified and licensed' person or would you prefer taking it to someone you know is a 'professional'?
 
Show me WHO lobbied for that bill and as it was passed and I'll almost guarantee you that it WAS NOT a professional.
Come on Mike, this conversation is getting ridiculous and going nowhere.
 
Why do you think that is? Canute's side of things isn't the only side. There are other sides - like a country that probably would benefit and prosper from less laws.
 
Why do you think that is? Canute's side of things isn't the only side. There are other sides - like a country that probably would benefit and prosper from less laws.
Mike, you have been listening to others too long. Who ever said it was "MY Side"? I chose to end the discussion because I saw it going nowhere. You believe what you want and so will I! I never said you are wrong or right! I never accused things of being your way, did I? We see things differently and that is ok. It was only a discussion/debate not a proof of right or wrong! ;)