Weddings Weddings and "Recommended Vendors" fees?

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Papa Deuce

DJ Extraordinaire
Aug 8, 2006
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Valley Forge Area
I have two venues that recommend me, as well as other DJ's. They don't ask me for a dime. Yet I just had a friend of mine tell me that his daughter was charged $300 to use a non recommended vendor ( the DJ ) at her wedding.

So, how does this work? The place books the DJ and takes a cut?

Back in the day when I did a whole lot more weddings, I was recommended by maybe 5 - 10 places. I don't ever remember hearing of any bride being charged to use a non preferred vendor.

That seems like a nasty price gouging, money whore move by venues, if you ask me.
 
There have been a few in my travels and I simply attempt to negate it by going to the venue to ask them what they are charging the extra for. If its liability I pull out my Insurance, If that doesnt work I mention to the client that the venue is charging them a fee not necessary. On two occassions the venues had to back down from the fee. So far I have not played one gig with this condition.
 
Jon Tuck said:
There have been a few in my travels and I simply attempt to negate it by going to the venue to ask them what they are charging the extra for. If its liability I pull out my Insurance, If that doesnt work I mention to the client that the venue is charging them a fee not necessary. On two occassions the venues had to back down from the fee. So far I have not played one gig with this condition.
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I think if I was a client and they tried to pull this on me, I would walk out.
 
I think their "preferred" list has nothing to do with the quality of the DJ.
it probably has more to do with a list of DJ's who don't make their lives difficult,
so they charge extra for having to "deal with" DJ's who don't wanna do things THEIR way.
and the worst part is, the DJ knows nothing about it!
nice little scam, if you ask me.
wonder what a lawyer would say about it.
 
they tried that here years ago and they didnt have any bookings for over 7x months
all they did was just the normal resturant at the time

they couldnt do weddings or parties or any other for they wouldnt back down on the fee

so when they found out the hard way well they learnt the hard way 4x weeks after the 7x months was over - they went out of business

each to his own I say lol
 
I am trying to get on some preferred vendors lists at the moment actually. All the places I have talked to, there are no kick backs. It is about the level of production and the appearances of the workers. They don't want someone with a couple of speakers on sticks and a little bounce light there. There are long lists of rules that you have to follow about load in/load out, where things can be placed, how they can be rigged, what cables you can use, how you dress the cable, etc. All very reasonable (and things I would do anyway), but just enough to keep riff-raff out.

Mike
 
Papa Deuce said:
... So, how does this work? The place books the DJ and takes a cut?
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Yep, that's pretty much the case. It could indeed be a kickback scheme ~ the "house DJ" works dirt-cheap and the venue laughs all the way to the bank.

Upon hearing of this practice I would strongly suggest that the bride take her business elsewhere. Not all rental houses do this.
 
We also manage a venue and have an "approved" vendors list. It has nothing to do with kickbacks, or any "preferred" status. It simply means that we require all vendors to have a business license and liability insurance. No food vendors can be approved without a health department license for food service. It is simply for the safety of our clients and liability issues.

There are a few places in our region that want kickbacks to list you. I don't pay nor ask for kickbacks for referrals. I only refer companies that wont make me look bad.
 
Esoteric said:
I am trying to get on some preferred vendors lists at the moment actually. All the places I have talked to, there are no kick backs. It is about the level of production and the appearances of the workers. They don't want someone with a couple of speakers on sticks and a little bounce light there. There are long lists of rules that you have to follow about load in/load out, where things can be placed, how they can be rigged, what cables you can use, how you dress the cable, etc. All very reasonable (and things I would do anyway), but just enough to keep riff-raff out.

Mike
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Do you want to rephrase that a bit?
 
From the site:

Notes regarding vendors:

* Vendors shown on this page are noted because of the quality of their work, their professionalism, overall attention to detail, and overall customer satisfaction. In short, it was an absolute pleasure working with each one of them, and we would wholeheartedly encourage you to consider any of them to provide services for your event.
* Various styles, degrees of experience, and price ranges are represented, and all are excellent. It is not our intent or goal to promote or recommend any one vendor over the other(s), but rather to provide you with as much information as we can to help you in your planning process, and to help you find the vendors that are right for YOU!!!

Notes regarding venues:

* Names of venues shown are included for informational purposes only, and are not necessarily intended to be indicative of, nor imply, any type of relationship or affiliation between said venues and Sounds To Go.

Notes regarding references from other vendors or from venue staff:

* Sounds To Go has never offered, and will never offer, referral fees or incentives of any kind in exchange for favorable references from other industry professionals, including staff members of any venue. This being the case, please realize that if you heard about us from another industry professional, it is because they have worked with us in the past, and have found our services to be worthy of favorable mention and recommendation. Our thanks to the industry professionals, venues, and services that refer us on a regular basis.
 
that's a great "disclaimer" and completely sensible...

too bad the Vendor doesn't stick to those standards!
 
I've been finagling with referral fees over the past month. It has increased the amount of qualified leads. What is your average advertising expense per client for 2009? I would look at this number and it will give you a ceiling of what the top referral fee you can pay.

So let's say the kickback you give is $50, when it costs you $127 worth of total advertising to book a client. I would say the vendor referral is a more cost effective method of advertising.

The way you figure out your average advertising expense is by adding up all the costs associated with advertising for the year. Then divide that magic number by the total amount of events booked. If you want to get crazy with it, then group your average advertising expense by event type as well (ex: wedding receptions, schools, bar mitzvah's).

I hope that helps!
 
Esoteric said:
There are tons of places here in Dallas that will not allow you to use any vendors not on their approved or preferred vendor list.

Mike
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If the place is available for public rent, meaning anyone from the public can rent the venue to do a Wedding etc, then that policy can be challenged in court. The policy then becomes exclusionary. They cannot legally dictate what a vendor can or cannot do because the vendor is not in their employ and also the vendor is NOT their Client.
The more and longer this crap goes unchallenged, the more it becomes prevalent.
 
ahoustondj said:
If the place is available for public rent, meaning anyone from the public can rent the venue to do a Wedding etc, then that policy can be challenged in court. The policy then becomes exclusionary. They cannot legally dictate what a vendor can or cannot do because the vendor is not in their employ and also the vendor is NOT their Client.
The more and longer this crap goes unchallenged, the more it becomes prevalent.
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Many have tried and failed (I know of two last year). They claim safety and licensing. Also they will decline business to the client before allowing them to use an approved vendors. Used approved vendors or go get another venue.

Mike
 
Esoteric said:
Many have tried and failed (I know of two last year). They claim safety and licensing. Also they will decline business to the client before allowing them to use an approved vendors. Used approved vendors or go get another venue.

Mike
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Was this in a court of law? I would like to read the transcripts. They are trying to create a monopoly with a conflict of interest is what they are doing.
 
ahoustondj said:
If the place is available for public rent, meaning anyone from the public can rent the venue to do a Wedding etc, then that policy can be challenged in court. The policy then becomes exclusionary. They cannot legally dictate what a vendor can or cannot do because the vendor is not in their employ and also the vendor is NOT their Client.
The more and longer this crap goes unchallenged, the more it becomes prevalent.
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It happens here in Phx. There are places where I can not play because I am not on their "preferred vendor list".

I have lost several events because of this. I had one bride that wanted to hire me, She even called them & had me call them & ask about getting "approved".

The venue told me that I would have to wait, they only allow 5 DJs to be on their list, they review it once a year (I think they wanted a kickback) I said screw it & moved on. I don't play that game.
 
Bill Kexel said:
It happens here in Phx. There are places where I can not play because I am not on their "preferred vendor list".

I have lost several events because of this. I had one bride that wanted to hire me, She even called them & had me call them & ask about getting "approved".

The venue told me that I would have to wait, they only allow 5 DJs to be on their list, they review it once a year (I think they wanted a kickback) I said screw it & moved on. I don't play that game.
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The following is NOT not an attack on you Bill. You did nothing wrong!

I am amazed by some of the stuff y'all encounter. I thank the Living Lord that I do not run into these situations.
If I did, they would soon find out that I am not into the "Roll over and play dead" kind of guy.
Next you know they will have a preferred vendors list for Providers of Cakes, Florists etc. If the Clients are stupid enough to buy into that nonsense it will continue to prevail.
I am just wondering if she found out about their "Preferred vendors" before or after she signed a rental contract. It will make a huge difference. Are they also supplying all types of entertainment such as a pianist, harpist, three piece classical trio or quartet? What if the Client was not happy with the performance, would she get a partial refund?
This reminds me of the "Sign Here" mentality. Most people sign without first looking or reading.
 
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