Bridezillas: At what point do you give up, ...

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refund their money, and cut your losses?

Fortunately this has not happened yet but I've been close.

But, let's say you run into a bride or groom that is so difficult to deal with that you just see no way to please them and want out.

I know some of you will say that this should be uncovered in the interview but some just throw you a curve. They're all nice and eager in the interview but when the rubber meets the road the turn into the bride of Frankenstein.

The one I was close on had no concept of what a wedding was all about. She had never been to one. And then she and her husband-to-be couldn't agree on anything. He'd e-mail with one thing and then she'd e-mail with something 180 degrees from what I got from him. The only thing that kept me from bailing was the fact that he was being deployed a few days from the wedding. Fortunately it all worked out but I was pulling what little hair I have left out.

She also treated all her vendors poorly. She really is a spoiled little brat.
 
I have a gift for reading them unless Im the one getting sucked into the deal as the Groom my self LOL. I am better at DJing at a wedding than the do overs I have been through myself. Ive been with four Bridezillas I can smell em a mile away.
 
Tom - I was very close to dumping a client over the summer. I can';t really say that she was a "bridezilla," it was just the constant litany of changes and updates and hand-holding. And yes, at the interview they seemed to be two of the most laid-back people you'd ever want to meet...

But I muddled through and got the job done. I think when push comes to shove my interest in income overrides my interest in maintaining my blood-pressure...
 
I guess I've been lucky, only one that was close, well the venue manager actually called her that during the reception, not to her, but to me.

The other closest that I came in contact with was really a MOBridezilla, she was a big time control freak. She was even insisting that I tell her when and where the next wedding reception I was dj'ing was so she could come she my setup and my performance. I explained that just couldn't happen, and ask her how she would like if it I brought a client to "her" reception. During a meeting at the venue she got up from the table to go chase down the venue staff to ask them a few things. The bride even mentioned her mother was a control freak. The B&G seems very nice. I adjusted my quote for pain and suffering, never heard back from them.
 
Tom,

Maybe it's us... but we've never turned away from a contracted client, no matter how difficult he or she may have seemed.

If they change things around to the point where a new contract is called for and we're not comfy with the new requirements, that's different.

Otherwise, we're in it for the duration. We're under contract. We've got a show to do so let's do the show. If they got a problem, sorry 'bout your luck. You've had more time to prepare for this gig than we have. Saving people from their own damned incompetence isn't in my contract.

We got our act together here tonight like we said we would. What's wrong with you all? We've kept our end of the bargain. It's all right here on paper. If you screw up, that's on you.

Bridezilla, bah. That's kid stuff. Wolfie's from the old school... they ain't seen nuttin' yet. Give me any chit and I'll lay it out for ya. :)
 
DJ Cam said:
Never had one, what is this Bridezilla everyone speaks about?

I think it has to do with me being a laid back kinda guy, the crazy brides don't book me cause we don't match.

All my brides are fun.
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Exact same way.

I never really had one either.

I did have a bride/groom try to pull that crap that Tom described on me once, but I put a stop to it really quick.

I simply told them both that I would only deal with one of them and only through email. That put an end to it real quick, because when the groom would try to email me changes, I simply would email him back explaining that the only changes I would recognize had to come from the bride's email.
 
Good thread, Tom!!!

This happened to me last summer.......when the Bridezilla insisted on having me play a bunch of Backstreet Boys & boy band songs for the Wedding Party intros.

I could see the look on people's faces: this was in SF where cheese isn't appreciated, even in jest.

People hate Boy Band songs.....they aren't even tongue-in-cheek funny any more!

When I received the CDR in the mail, with the intro tracks...I was seriously considering to BAIL on them (not really.....I was going to trade with my other DJ, basically swapping gigs).

Decided to stick with the couple.....even though my instincts told me otherwise.
The bride was a classic Bridezilla....spoiled rotten.

I had only dealt with the groom prior to the wedding day. So this was basically a case of my going in blind (except for the Backstreet Boys clue).

To avoid such occurences in the future......my "NO CHEESE" page has the Backstreet Boys on the list of cheesy songs. We'll still play them if requested, but can substitute one of my other DJs if I find out ahead of time.
 
I've only had one client I fired - about 12 years ago. They were not a bridezilla - it was just an unfortunate circumstance which became a permanent obstacle to any successful outcome.

The Bride & Groom scheduled their planning meeting - and insisted on driving out to meet me at my home on a Sunday. As a rule, I don't scheudle Sunday meetings of any kind. If I don't have an event I want the day free and clear because I know my mind will not be on office duty.

I told them I would come to them on any given day or evening, but they insisted on Sunday and coming to me - so I relented.

Well, of course after a busy weekend Sunday rolls around and I take my daughter out for a walk to Grandma's house - forgetting about the meeting. :(

About an hour later I remembered and called them to apologize and let them know I would meet them anytime anywhere at their convenience.

By the third telephone conversation with the groom it was clear that they were never going to get past this and I would be foolish to go forward given their disposition.

I suggested he would be better served to hire another DJ and I would forward his deposit to whomever he hired. I sent him a release and when they returned it with the name of the new vendor I did just that.

The irony is that of all the DJs in the area they could have hired - the company they chose was a no show at a wedding in Boston's Back Bay about 10 weeks earlier. (They're generally very good, it just so happened that particular DJ screwed up.) Funny how life works out.
 
Once contracted I would never back out on anyone regardless of how much a "Bridezilla" they became I would work with it and around it but in this case

Proformance said:
I told them I would come to them on any given day or evening, but they insisted on Sunday and coming to me - so I relented.
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Thats where the contact would have ended. I don't run from a challenge but I also dont let the customer dictate how and when I will run my business or private life
 
Either Im just too much in control from first meeting or pure luck has been on my side the past 20 yrs. I can count on one hand the least bit difficult Brides, Grooms or Moms I have had to deal with.
 
They have been few & far between....maybe a total of 10 out of 1000 events total.

When you consider the sheer percentage of weddings, maybe its 1% or 2% that really bite.

Once you've been in the business for long enough....its easier to snuff them out before you get stuck with a MOB-zilla or Bride-zilla. You can recognize behavior patterns that are replicated time & time again.

For example:

1) I remember, many years ago......a bride who insisted on playing Rush for her 1st dance, and really loud too. Its like she wanted everyone to leave or something! I was a rookie....eager to please. (Funny how yesterday's "heavy metal" is tomorrow's classic rock).

2) Another couple, from my early days, insisted on lots of west coast rap (they provided) , MC Hammer ("Let's Get It Started") & Rob Base tunes ("Joy & Pain," "It Takes Two").....for their dance tunes. They were ahead of their time, this being in 1988, before "U Can't Touch This" made MC Hammer acceptable at weddings.

Naturally, the only people who danced at this reception were B/G and the wedding party.

Subsequently, I adopted a "NO HARD RAP or HEAVY METAL" clause into my contract--- which effectively prevented either of these two extremes to occur again.

Similarly, having the "NO CHEESE" policy.....ensures that my future prospects are discriminating brides who want a cookie-cutter free wedding! Naturally, some of these folks are going to be "picky" with their DNP and request list.....some are anal control freaks with Excel spreadsheets for their timeline & requests.....this can be expected 2x per wedding season.
 
Can Anyone Top This????

Irish (groom)-Italian/Silician (bride) Wedding about 3 years ago. I only met with her, at the time he was untril the last week. Nice people...BUT, she having to meet with me 7 TIMES!! YES, 7 TIMES!!! The last 3 were at 6:45 am!!! (I'm an early bird, but....wtf!!??)

Yes, it was all about her!

Reception went well depsite the fact the power (not mine!) went out 2-3 times! I was *allowed* one 3 prong outlet, now it's changed to 2- 3 prongs...

She ripped me at first, the second time, I pulled her aside and said *Listen please, this is not my doing! **She finally believed me...

I never heard from her again...I called and email her for best wishes, etc..

Nothing!
 
AlbanyAMS said:
Irish (groom)-Italian/Silician (bride) Wedding about 3 years ago. I only met with her, at the time he was untril the last week. Nice people...BUT, she having to meet with me 7 TIMES!! YES, 7 TIMES!!! The last 3 were at 6:45 am!!! (I'm an early bird, but....wtf!!??)

Yes, it was all about her!

Reception went well depsite the fact the power (not mine!) went out 2-3 times! I was *allowed* one 3 prong outlet, now it's changed to 2- 3 prongs...

She ripped me at first, the second time, I pulled her aside and said *Listen please, this is not my doing! **She finally believed me...

I never heard from her again...I called and email her for best wishes, etc..

Nothing!
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LOL... I am SO NOT willing to do that. :sqerr:
 
This is a great site. So much information. I'm about to venture into the dj business. I would like to start off by doing weddings/small parties. I will be using cd's only. I don't have much capiltol to start off with. I was on the internet and found a dj system by American Audio for $1200.00. It included two 15" speakers, dual cd player, a mixer, mic and two speaker stands. Would this be ok for starters? Can I trust American Audio's system to work for me from gig to gig? Is $1200.00 to low to start with. Please help.
I know this is the wrong thread for this question, I could not find the correct one. New at this.

Thanks,
Scat
 
dj scat said:
This is a great site. So much information. I'm about to venture into the dj business. I would like to start off by doing weddings/small parties. I will be using cd's only. I don't have much capiltol to start off with. I was on the internet and found a dj system by American Audio for $1200.00. It included two 15" speakers, dual cd player, a mixer, mic and two speaker stands. Would this be ok for starters? Can I trust American Audio's system to work for me from gig to gig? Is $1200.00 to low to start with. Please help.
I know this is the wrong thread for this question, I could not find the correct one. New at this.

Thanks,
Scat
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You will get mixed answers about the purchase, I will lett others chime in first.. But you must ask yourself what if the amp or cd play dies while your at a gig, it's known to be the 2 biggest failures.

Other than that are you really calling yourself DJ Scat SCat is a slang word for Poop or Feces..

Welcome to the board.
 
DJ Cam said:
You will get mixed answers about the purchase, I will lett others chime in first.. But you must ask yourself what if the amp or cd play dies while your at a gig, it's known to be the 2 biggest failures.

Other than that are you really calling yourself DJ Scat SCat is a slang word for Poop or Feces..
Welcome to the board.
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But also a term for an old time jazz style...
 
I have bailed out on Potential Clients but it was before Contract Signing...They would call or E-Mail about this detail and that detail and I just kindly asked that they find someone else..But Once Contract is signed and returned,I would never back out.
 
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