Does anyone use Entertainment Agencies & Wedding/Event Planners to get new business? What have your experiences been (Good & Bad) with that kind of arrangement?
Entertainment Agencies, Wedding & Event Planners.
- Thread starter ahoustondj
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Maybe it's just this area of the country, but every time I've worked with a "planner" of some sort, they really have NO CLUE as to what they are doing, and as the old saying goes - "He/She could _uck up a wet dream"....
They have.....every last one of them.
This is why I don't work with anyone but the Bride & Groom when it comes to Weddings.
I absolutely refuse to work with a third party because of this very reason. I'm not going to take the chance on someone screwing up my clients special day because they think something should be done "their way".
Of course, that goes just for wedding related events. For corporate events, I've never run into the problem, but that's not to say that it won't.
***I think there's a thread somewhere in the Archives about this very subject that isn't very old****
Just my two cents.....
They have.....every last one of them.
This is why I don't work with anyone but the Bride & Groom when it comes to Weddings.
I absolutely refuse to work with a third party because of this very reason. I'm not going to take the chance on someone screwing up my clients special day because they think something should be done "their way".
Of course, that goes just for wedding related events. For corporate events, I've never run into the problem, but that's not to say that it won't.
***I think there's a thread somewhere in the Archives about this very subject that isn't very old****
Just my two cents.....
You couldn't have said it better. We've had our share of issues in the past where the "event planner" tries to coordinate and falls flat. I even like the brides who hire friends and family to coordinate and they end up dropping the ball into my wife's lap who is in fact a true event planner. We had this happen in April.
I think that's a different story and a different set of planners. My complaint is with some wedding event planners.
I can see your point about the Wedding Planners. However the Entertainment Agencies find you the gigs for a fee.
We've never paid anyone to find us gigs. We have excellent relationships with 3 of our venues that keep us extremely busy. That and referrals from previous events.
Good for you. Then you no longer need to advertise? Right? You can stop passing out business cards, since you are so busy.
We really don't advertise so our overhead stays low. Our business is mostly word of mouth. If we're playing an event and someone asks for a card, of course we hand them out.
There are good planners & bad ones. The good ones leave once the DJ takes over.
Don't get me started on "Agencies".
Don't get me started on "Agencies".
In my opinion, doing this will only damage us as an independent industry. The same goes with banquet halls offering only signed DJs. What are these front people doing to find jobs that you can't? We are not actors or artists trying to appeal to the masses. We are just trying to get enough local attention to support ourselves. So, why do we need an agent? Conduct yourself as if people need you more than you need them. The planners will be ringing your phone.
Get out there and rub some elbows.
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I've never paid any sort of finders fee to any agency for events. This is why I don't advertise with sites like GigMasters. True, I may not stay as busy as some of my competitors, but I'm pretty happy with business as is.
I don't see how it can damage us an an Independent Industry. Let me give you a case in point. Here in Houston, there are some Corporations, Museums, Zoos, and other Venues that use Entertainment Agencies Exclusively for their Bands, Acts, DJs etc. It is almost impossible to get in those accounts in question without the help of that Entertainment Agency.
I think some of you see paying an Agency, Wedding Planner etc as a bad thing (That they are taking money from you). Why just rely on yourself when you can achieve same results in multiple? Remember, when you are doing someone else's gig, not only are you exposed in an area where you might not have been were it not for them but you can get new business all for yourself.
Think of it as your Sales/Advertising Department. In a lot of cases you can set rates high enough to offset any payments you may have to make to these outfits.
Another thing that may be of a benefit to you (This is debatable, I am not a lawyer so I may be wrong); when using an Agency, the contract is between the client and the agency. They become the main responsible party. If something was to go wrong, its not your name or image on the line. The only issue will be with you and the Agency if it was your fault.
If you stick with the real professional Agencies and Planners then everything should work out well. They are working for you thats all.
You will still have a contract with the agency, I bet.
I use one agency here in the area, only because he is realistic and takes good care of my financially. I always make money on his bookings. Other than that I only did it with a few in order to get business when I moved to the area.
I like wedding planners. I had a very busy one who referred me for a long time, until she retired. Some are not for me, but I can endure one event with most drunks, so why not a lady who acts like she is?
My wife is a wedding and event coordinator. I made her do it, because she was doing it for my jobs anyway, and I saw a sad lack of good ones in the area. It's all who you ally yourself with.
You want those jobs at those facilities? Go join the agency.
I use one agency here in the area, only because he is realistic and takes good care of my financially. I always make money on his bookings. Other than that I only did it with a few in order to get business when I moved to the area.
I like wedding planners. I had a very busy one who referred me for a long time, until she retired. Some are not for me, but I can endure one event with most drunks, so why not a lady who acts like she is?
My wife is a wedding and event coordinator. I made her do it, because she was doing it for my jobs anyway, and I saw a sad lack of good ones in the area. It's all who you ally yourself with.
You want those jobs at those facilities? Go join the agency.
There you go. Essentially, you'll become "their" employee. Only, instead of the employer paying you, you'll be paying them.
Personally, I won't be feeding off somebody that fenced in some of the area's hot spots for themselves. It's just a business scheme to make a profit from the real people that perform the jobs. I'm my own spokesperson. If those venues choose to commercialize themselves, that's their right.
You will definitely make some money and get a mention in the local column. Frankly, my gratification lies within other aspects of the job and there's plenty of work on this side of "their" fence.
It's just the way I view it. That doesn't mean it's wrong for anyone else. Just me.
Thats incorrect! You will not be an employee, you will still be an independent contractor. You have the right to refuse a gig when called since its based on availabilty. I know of no Entertainment Agency that hires DJs as employees. If that was the case they would have to pay the DJ even when they do not have a gig for him/her.
They are somewhat akin to Employment Agencies who send out personnel on short term contracts. Those personnel are not employees either.
An upside to a corporation or venue using an Entertainment Agency is that the Entertainment Agency usually screens their Bands, DJs etc. In other words they send out Professional DJs to do the gigs not the fly by nighters or bottom feeders. Entertainment Agencies do not send out the hobbyists who call themselves DJs.
This is no different to a Multi Op who gets the gigs and has other DJs to go out and do those gigs. Be careful who you call your employee as it may come back to haunt you. You cannot call someone your employee unless you are paying workmen's comp, witholding Social Security, maybe Insurance etc.Again, if in doubt, check with your attorney.