How many of you would work w/o a Contract?

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DJMC

DJ
Oct 19, 2006
2,875
7
72
Northern California
This may become a problem for me, for the first time in TWENTY years.

A certain University's medical center group does not want to sign my one-page Service Agreement (the party is on 12-19), on the grounds that "we don't have the authority to sign this document"...."it takes 30 days to go thru the legal dept..."

Apparently, other vendors (in the past) including caterers and Karaoke Jocks (KJs) have taken their Invoices in lieu of a contract.

Am I being an @$$ by not accepting their Invoice and working without a Signed Contract?

I'm financially secure, don't need this party to make a substantial profit in December. Because it involves Karaoke I can't refer it to Ruben (not sure if he's as picky as me with Legal documentation).

What if someone drops my wireless microphone?
What if someone pours a drink into my new JBL sub?

I'm sorry but this is something I feel very strongly about (like Papa and his no Rap stance):

No contract, No DJ-MC!
 
I have had one for over 20 yrs and yet I must admit to having worked once or twice within the twenty without a contract. Those two and a couple charities which taxes werent going to be benefitted.
 
In the past the universities I work for wouldn't sign my contracts, they send me their twenty page contracts and riders which I would cut up and void out parts that do not pertain to me or put me in a detrimental situation in a liability sense then send it back and they let their law sudents rewrite, I go over it and make sure my changes haven't been gone around and then I would sign it. One day on a short notice gig I simply refused to sign their contract and said if they wanted me there on the date in question they needed to sign my contract unaltered and return by a given date which was only three days off. On the last day I received my contract unaltered and signed. Now all business is done with UVA with my contract!

I still work with Roanoke on their contract (simple two page product with no BS in it), with Washington and Lee (simple two pager no BS contract) and with VPI on my contract (unaltered)

As far as working without a contract goes, yes I have done so with some Private events, but I know them well and have worked for them for many years! Just not going to happen with College or high schools!
 
The last time I worked without a contract was in a small town near Walnut Creek in California

I have never (since being in the US worked without a contract) except for this one job

These people I thought were friends - I got attacked and bottled in the face - the dude who did it had the $hit kicked out of him by me and we both ended up in the ER

He ended up being sued ;)

There was a photo I posted on prodj but was kindly removed by the admins as I asked nicely on a lawyers advice.

I did very well out of it and hey what's a few more scars? BUT never without a contract again after all I am a bleeping Dalek
 
Not in today's world.
 
thanks everyone.....they are going to be getting back to me about this TOMORROW.

fact is-- they have had my Service Agreement since Nov. 12 (plenty of time to process thru Legal Dept).

I've worked with this UC before, and they always did what Steve described, they attach a 3 page Rider that spells out additional UC boilerplate contractual obligations: having $1,000,000 Liability, etc, having sufficient coverage on the Minivan, etc.

Problem is, these other Karaoke bozos don't use contracts, they probably think its another Bar Gig! They are so used to dealing with these lax individuals, they perceive my wanting a Signed Contract as being "difficult to work with."

I'm afraid that I just may have to PASS on this event.

My only other option would be to invite one of my Associate DJs to "Ride Shotgun" (he's a big dude at 6' 3" and 210 pounds). They would have to feed him and give him a couple of drinks. I'd pay him $50 cash (he'd probably offer to do it for free because he's my friend).

I would also DELETE the Sennheiser EW-135 wireless handheld mic, and switch to an inexpensive wired Shure mic. (2 corded mics total)
I'd have to strip down to 200 CDs, and the Sound Choice Foundations, leaving my Spotlight Discs at home (and all of my RPM's).

The next party, I'd charge $100 more and include the "bouncer" in the rate.
 
Just Answering The Question

I have done many events without a contract. I am pretty good in determining who I can trust or not. Still, to this day, the only time it backfired on me was when I DJed for another DJ company--stupid I: I thought that I could trust a DJ (but it was upon a recommendation through another DJ acquaintance who had given me another job--but eventually went out of business)! :p

And unless I get burned, nobody can tell me that I'm wrong. So there.

P.S.: I, in no way, am endorsing DJing without contracts; however, I am also in favour of allowing people to use their own discretions and not impose their practises on others.
 
Unless they are close family members, I must have a contract. No exceptions, no excuses.


Friday night's corp. event added a five page rider on to my contract (took nothing out of our contract). After we determined that there was nothing in there that was too out of line, we went ahead and signed it. That was the very first time anyone has even wanted an addition/alteration to our contract.
 
i used to do bars without a contract. no longer. years ago, i did a few private parties without a contract, but now i'm older wiser and better looking.
 
DJMC said:
Am I being an @$$ by not accepting their Invoice and working without a Signed Contract?
Click to expand...
Why would they want to give you an invoice? Wouldn't you be working for them? If an invoice is involved, then it would be you who present them with the invoice, and that's only after the event.

If, on the other hand, they want to give you a purchase order, then depending on the P.O. owrding, I'd do it. A P.O. IS a legal document...
 
I also have to Agree - No Contract no Play.... one way or another they would find a way of NOT paying so also getting paid in ADVANCE would also be the big deal too

but as for not playing with a contract... no thanks pass!!
 
Kinda sorta!

Last Friday I did a gig at the Hyatt Regency downtown without a contract of sorts. The contract was between myself, the Entertainment Agency and the Client. All went well. By the way, the portion of the money that was mine after the Agency took its cut was more than I would of charged for the same event. Sometimes its good to do gigs for the Entertainment Agency. I may even end up doing non-DJ business with the client early next year. Their company will need artwork for new office space and they are willing to let me be the vendor. One thing leads to another.
 
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