That has got to hurt

I had an L1 compact get damaged by liquid (not sure if it was water or a beverage) and had to send it into Bose to get it fixed. Thankfully they were able to repair it so it cost me ~$300 rather than the $900 it would have cost to replace. Bose was good about it. But it sucks to have gear get wet like that.

Albatross said:

I had an L1 compact get damaged by liquid (not sure if it was water or a beverage) and had to send it into Bose to get it fixed. Thankfully they were able to repair it so it cost me ~$300 rather than the $900 it would have cost to replace. Bose was good about it. But it sucks to have gear get wet like that.

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This is why I still keep a passive rig around for outdoor shows

I filled in at a wedding for a local guy 3 years ago who called me in a panic as he was stuck 24 hours away and obviously not going to get here in time. It was pouring rain and this couple had this pitiful looking tent set up in their backyard with duct tape around the corners trying to hold it in place. I asked what her backup plan was if she couldn't have the wedding outside - she said the tent - I was like no what's your inside back up plan? They had none - they moved the ceremony inside this tent - 40-50 people inside a tent not meant to accommodate that many.
I brought my Everse 8 for the ceremony since it was more weather resistant. When I came back for the dance, they had one of those Costco bluetooth speakers setup with a garbage bag over it. The previous DJ had lowballed them and I was dragging any of my gear out in that. Never did him another favour as he still never paid me the deposit - and rarely accept any outside weddings now unless their is proper coverage.

rickryan.com said:

Ouch. That's a good one. One question, with that few folks, why not just use your Everse for the rest of the gig? I bet it sounded a lot better than the Costco speaker.

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I did use my Everse for the dance...lol...they had the bluetooth one setup outside for their BBQ/happy hour which I was not contracted to do..

tunes4046 said:

This is why I still keep a passive rig around for outdoor shows

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Yeah this was a tricky situation with a Barn wedding. They wanted me to park up the hill in their main parking lot which meant that carrying gear out after ceremony and cocktails was almost impossible on a hot day. So I staged it to the side of the building for load out later. I found the speaker at the end of the night soaked... I'm not sure if it was sitting under a drain from an AC hose or if a guests was a huge a-hole and spilled on it. But I don't park up there at that venue anymore. I explained the situation and they let me park close behind the main barn all night so I can load out gear as we go.

cyberphox said:

I filled in at a wedding for a local guy 3 years ago who called me in a panic as he was stuck 24 hours away and obviously not going to get here in time. It was pouring rain and this couple had this pitiful looking tent set up in their backyard with duct tape around the corners trying to hold it in place. I asked what her backup plan was if she couldn't have the wedding outside - she said the tent - I was like no what's your inside back up plan? They had none - they moved the ceremony inside this tent - 40-50 people inside a tent not meant to accommodate that many.
I brought my Everse 8 for the ceremony since it was more weather resistant. When I came back for the dance, they had one of those Costco bluetooth speakers setup with a garbage bag over it. The previous DJ had lowballed them and I was dragging any of my gear out in that. Never did him another favour as he still never paid me the deposit - and rarely accept any outside weddings now unless their is proper coverage.

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"Helping the DJ" is not the way to handle these kinds of things, because the reality of the situation is a "no show."'
Never present yourself as the "helper" because the truth is - it's a rescue, and the DJ is not the person being rescued - it's the customer who is actually in distress.

Deal directly with the customer and negotiate our own solution and independent fee. They pay us directly, and then it's THEY who chase the other guy for their refund.

If we don't draw clear lines between the help we are offering and the vendor who has failed them, we will be equally stained by the experience. No one confuses the Coast Guard as the distressed boater's "helper" - and we too, are best served when we are properly recognized for the rescue we are actually offering.

Proformance said:

"Helping the DJ" is not the way to handle these kinds of things, because the reality of the situation is a "no show."'
Never present yourself as the "helper" because the truth is - it's a rescue, and the DJ is not the person being rescued - it's the customer who is actually in distress.

Deal directly with the customer and negotiate our own solution and independent fee. They pay us directly, and then it's THEY who chase the other guy for their refund.

If we don't draw clear lines between the help we are offering and the vendor who has failed them, we will be equally stained by the experience. No one confuses the Coast Guard as the distressed boater's "helper" - and we too, are best served when we are properly recognized for the rescue we are actually offering.

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True..lesson learned..Haven't spoken to the guy since..and wouldn't do it that way again

rickryan.com said:

Of the times where I've stepped in and saved the day, I've not tried to renegotiate the fee. Also, it's usually a lower fee than I would normally charge. The situation last year was a prime example. I found out the DJ had double-booked himself and missed it until the evening before. I didn't have anything for the next day, so I agreed to do it for $500, the same price as the no-show guy was going to charge. Of situations like this that you guys have picked up, did you take the same money or change the price (presumably higher)? That's always felt like I was holding the client hostage to me.

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I only fill in for DJs that have had or I know they will have my back if I need them if for some unforeseen reason can’t perform an event, always for what they had charged or even for free in a couple of instances, life changing situations where I knew they would need the money more than I would

I have had working relationships with many DJs, and multi-ops. I was often the staging source that framed their gigs with lights, additional sound, or whole systems when they had more gigs than gear, or much too tight schedules. Service for regular customers would be obvious. This is customer support - not a rescue mission.

There were also many lone wolf newbies, amateurs, or DJs traveling to the area, who needed gear, didn't own enough gear of their own, or needed to rent an entire system. If they suddenly couldn't perform - these are the people I would want to delineate my business from because poor scheduling, last minute drama, or even abused equipment tends to be more common. Their customers are typically already apprehensive long before the date arrives, disappointed, etc. and if they are backing out of a gig for any reason - I don't want to be mistaken with, or associated with any of that. In this circumstance I take the customer in the entirety. It doesn't matter if I do it for the same previous rate - the new contract is my own. We start at the beginning and the prior DJ is someone they can deal with themselves. If they are a repeat client and return to that DJ for future gigs - fine. But, hiring me in this circumstance only happens directly.

The same holds true for clients - if it becomes clear that they are in some way abusive and unlikely to be pleased no matter what I do, I will tell them to hire a new DJ and I will send their deposit directly to the new vendor of their choice, at which point our contract is void.

Some people bring mud. I don't need to wear it.

rickryan.com said:

You're a standup guy.

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It’s called Karma, I’ve been in need of help a few time and guys have stepped up no questions asked, I had a friend get deployed to Desert Storm, I did 9 of his shows that year and gave the money directly to his wife who was obviously struggling and soldier pay is nowhere near what he was earning as a civilian.

rickryan.com said:

Of the times where I've stepped in and saved the day, I've not tried to renegotiate the fee. Also, it's usually a lower fee than I would normally charge. The situation last year was a prime example. I found out the DJ had double-booked himself and missed it until the evening before. I didn't have anything for the next day, so I agreed to do it for $500, the same price as the no-show guy was going to charge. Of situations like this that you guys have picked up, did you take the same money or change the price (presumably higher)? That's always felt like I was holding the client hostage to me.

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It's not necessary to renegotiate the price if I want the job. But I will not take on the added risk/responsibility of chasing the the now no-show DJ to pay my invoice. Recovering any money already paid is the customer's responsibility not mine.

The DJ is not my customer, even if it's the DJ that is the one calling around. Ultimately the standards I have to meet are being set by someone else - the same someone else this DJ is failing to follow through with. I should not expect my outcome with the DJ to be any different.

Even when I've offered a low price I add the contract stipulation that if for any reason I am unable to personally perform and a replacement is necessary, the final cost should the client accept that replacement may be adjusted to a maximum no more than $_______. The contract will be void should they decline. This means I can agree to do the job personally at a low pay rate, but will not absorb any cost beyond that should I not be able to perform. This is no different than simple contracts that become void and refund all money if the DJ cannot perform. Bands for example, are not interchangeable, and when the band can't perform the booking becomes void and money is returned. That same principle can be applied to DJ gigs, or gigs you have agreed to do below the nromal wages of people you hire when replacement is required.

tunes4046 said:

It’s called Karma, I’ve been in need of help a few time and guys have stepped up no questions asked, I had a friend get deployed to Desert Storm, I did 9 of his shows that year and gave the money directly to his wife who was obviously struggling and soldier pay is nowhere near what he was earning as a civilian.

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I commend you for your post. In your case you decided to help this DJ out because of his situation. In his case he was being deployed and my guess is that if he refused he would have gotten locked up.

Now it's a different situation when a DJ is a no show and doesn't have a legitimate reason for not showing up to do the event. Some will cancel on a client because they were contacted about doing an event paying more than the other event. That's what I call a hack DJ.

Now if a DJ for example has to be rushed to the hospital or is truly sick and can't make it that is another thing. The guy I mentioned in a thread that just died was truly sick. He had Cancer and he couldn't do any more DJ jobs. My friend JJ covered those jobs for him.

Now I say if you've been in business for a good amount of time you should have someone that's a DJ that you can contact them to see of in an emergency can cover an event for you. I have had times when I can't do an event because I already have an event to do for that day and I will give them another DJs information and let them contact them if they choose to.