I have to pay to play! Have you all done this?

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lol I have to laugh at you guys

here anyone caught doing this can get into big trouble with the Industrial relations mob of the State Government

a few have tried , been reported and no longer been in business

one even try to fight it and said "its done like that in the USA" - judge said "ok then move there" (case dropped)

so sorry never will go on standover tactics
you dont want top see me in a dark alley any time soon!
.
 
There was one venue here that tried that a few years ago. I came across it once. I sent it back saying that you'd need to charge the client for any of this. Never hear any more about it. Don't really know if the bride took care of it or not. I didn't ask. As far as I can tell, they stopped asking.

Frankly, I wished more venues would ask for a copy of the liabilty insurance to cover themselves. I'm all for them protecting their interests. Them having my credit card info on file(highly protected, i'm sure) with a signed agreement that says they can charge for things is not going to happen.
 
Scott Hanna said:
Frankly, I wished more venues would ask for a copy of the liability insurance to cover themselves. I'm all for them protecting their interests. Them having my credit card info on file(highly protected, i'm sure) with a signed agreement that says they can charge for things is not going to happen.
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There is only one here that does that, one other I talked to said they are going to start this year. Others that I ask about it looked at me like I was crazy for asking if they required proof of insurance.
 
Here's the fallout...

I called the venue lady and got her VM. Didn't hear back from her. But I got an email just now from the General Manager. Here it is, bad grammar and all:

"Shannon forwarded me your email regarding our vendor security deposit. We are in the process of establishing our preferred list of vendors, but until we have that list in place, we are asking the vendors currently working at here to provide a credit card number to hold on file which would only be charged in the event of gross infractions to our house rules. Based on your email, we will inform the client that you have signed a contract passing the responsibility on to them for any damages or misconduct by your company."

So I'll ask the client if they contacted her about it. Seems to me, they would have had a clause in their contract w/ the client saying the client is responsible for any damages by the vendors they hire. Look, the best way to prevent "damages or misconduct" is to ensure the client has responsible, business-minded vendors, and one way of assuring that is by requiring insurance. I"m all for that, b/c it will eliminate over half of my competition, I'm sure.

I'll re-post if something else comes about from this. But in my book, this case is closed.

Thank you all again for your suggestions. That's why I tune in here!

--Will
 
DjDennis said:
lol I have to laugh at you guys

here anyone caught doing this can get into big trouble with the Industrial relations mob of the State Government

a few have tried , been reported and no longer been in business

one even try to fight it and said "its done like that in the USA" - judge said "ok them move there" (case dropped)

so sorry never will go on standover tactics
you dont want top see me in a dark alley any time soon!
.
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May I move to your continent?

I have always enjoyed the Great White Shark, and I would so love to see one in person.
 
DJFuzzy said:
I love how they make it sound like the other vendor is the bad guy for doing this!! :sqconfused:
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Yeah, I know, right?! That, and I wonder if they are implying something w/ the "preferred vendor list" comment. Really, it has nothing to do with the issue and I wonder if I am supposed to infer if I don't sign it, they will exclude me from their list. Who knows? I like what someone here said, that unless it's an exclusive list, the preferred vendor list doesn't matter much.

Doesn't matter. I'm satisfied w/ the outcome.
 
RaskyKat said:
Yeah, I know, right?! That, and I wonder if they are implying something w/ the "preferred vendor list" comment. Really, it has nothing to do with the issue and I wonder if I am supposed to infer if I don't sign it, they will exclude me from their list. Who knows? I like what someone here said, that unless it's an exclusive list, the preferred vendor list doesn't matter much.

Doesn't matter. I'm satisfied w/ the outcome.
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This is just speculation. By having a preferred vendor list, those vendors may be FORCED to pay them to do Gigs there. That is WRONG! I see a class action discriminatory suit.
If they are going to employ a DJ to provide services and pay the DJ a flat fee then they have every right to do so. They can pay a wannabe $100.00 and charge the client $500.00.
If someone is paying them for the preference, then there is nothing you can do either. They can do whatever they want. The place is theirs. They are making it harder for the clients to bring in their own vendors.

There are some venues here in Houston that supply EVERYTHING. Either you take it or leave it. Some Brides to be like that because it becomes a one stop shop!
 
Will,

As a fellow DJ in the Philadelphia area, care to share the venue name? PM is fine if you don't want to post it.

Thanks & good luck with this venue.

Cheers,

Joe
 
Tell the facility that you will need $600 from them because their staff will be enjoying your clients music, that THEY paid for, for free.
If the facility can prove that the staff did not listen to any tunes in the course of the night....the $600 will be refunded.
See how long it takes for the facility to see how STUPID "Their" deposit sounds.
NO! I wouldn't sign. I have insurance for stuff like that.
 
Alphabet said:
Will,

As a fellow DJ in the Philadelphia area, care to share the venue name? PM is fine if you don't want to post it.

Thanks & good luck with this venue.

Cheers,

Joe
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Hey Joe, it's The Lake House in Perkasie.

Got to tell you, friends, this is not the worst that I have come across. There is a venue in nearby New Hope (don't remember the name) that has a mandatory orientation for any vendor that is working there. That's fine w/ me as I always make a site visit anyway if I have not played there. But they require $300 for the orientation per vendor! I told the B/G that I won't pay it and that I won't be her DJ if she has the wedding there. The venue agreed to waive the fee. The photog was coming from quite a distance and refused the whole thing and told the bride to find another photog.
 
RaskyKat said:
Hey Joe, it's The Lake House in Perkasie.

Got to tell you, friends, this is not the worst that I have come across. There is a venue in nearby New Hope (don't remember the name) that has a mandatory orientation for any vendor that is working there. That's fine w/ me as I always make a site visit anyway if I have not played there. But they require $300 for the orientation per vendor! I told the B/G that I won't pay it and that I won't be her DJ if she has the wedding there. The venue agreed to waive the fee. The photog was coming from quite a distance and refused the whole thing and told the bride to find another photog.
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That is sad if not pitiful.
 
I'd contact the venue and inform them that I would not be paying the fee. If they insist that I will not be allowed to play there, I'd tell them that the fee is a matter that they would have to take up with the client. I am not bound by any contractual clause to pay a fee to them. That's all on the client's end. I'm sure that a bitching bride would help make the venue change their mind.

As for a "preferred vendors" list, I had a new venue in town contact me about that sort of thing. Yeah, to become a preferred vendor, she wanted to skim 1/3 of the earnings off the top. I ran away from that deal. :sqeek:
 
ahoustondj said:
Isn't that caving in to them? Shouldn't the client have brought that up at the time of the contract signing? Arrangements should have been made between the client and venue. It was not the DJ who picked the venue, it was the client. Oh well!
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Yup. Unfortunately, it is. :(

I agree that the vendor CC nonsense should've been brought up when the client booked the house and Will should have been informed before he was booked.

This is an unfortunate situation all around since there is not sufficient lead time to find another venue. If that were not the case, Will and his client could tell 'em to sod off.

But the situation is what it is... and if Will refused to work out something with the house management, said management could effectively bar Will from entering the facility.

Should that occur, Will would not be able to fulfill his contractual obligations to the client. Irregardless of what happens later, the B&G won't have their DJ on site for their wedding.

This is why I suggested playing along... for the B&G's sakes. When the wedding is over, Will can blackball the venue if he wishes. But right now, the B&G and their guests are expecting Will to be there to do his thing.

Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Sometimes one has to go above and beyond for the client. :)
 
RaskyKat said:
I called the venue lady and got her VM. Didn't hear back from her. But I got an email just now from the General Manager. Here it is, bad grammar and all:

"Shannon forwarded me your email regarding our vendor security deposit. We are in the process of establishing our preferred list of vendors, but until we have that list in place, we are asking the vendors currently working at here to provide a credit card number to hold on file which would only be charged in the event of gross infractions to our house rules. Based on your email, we will inform the client that you have signed a contract passing the responsibility on to them for any damages or misconduct by your company."

I'll re-post if something else comes about from this. But in my book, this case is closed.

--Will
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it also sounds like they dont trust any vendor at all...
lets see how they are in say 12 months
once other vendors say no to that crap
 
My contract says that the client is responsible for all charges from the venue.

I have not had this happen before and if it were to come up the form would be passed on to the client.
 
Overall, I'm glad you all responded and opened my eyes on how dirty venues can be.

There is no way I would give anyone my cc #'s for a security deposit.

However if for some reason, and as such in this case, where the event was so close, I would pay the fee in cash, or check, and do the gig. There is no way I am giving my cc information for something like this. Do they not think that someone inside the venue could steal this information and basically take you to the cleaners?

As a man with good credit, and a valuable business, no venue like this will have the opportunity to have this information. NO ONE! I don't care how much I am getting paid for the gig.

I agree with Thunder and all the people who have said "Show em your insurance!" And someone said..it is 999,700 better than the cc. Thats right on the money.

I understand that however, the venue feels obligated to have extra rules and such to keep out the "riff raff." This is why they want a "solid" list of vendors who are willing to abide by these stricter rules. While I find it good in many ways, the cc thing is not right.

From the venue standpoint...since they are looking for those not so wild parties...I would make sure all my vendors have insurance. Not that I am going to try nickel and dime them, or I intend for there to be any problems...just would be nice to have that extra comfort of knowing I am protected.
 
I would call them up & talk directly whomever is in charge & ask them about it.

I would refuse to pay.

The day that I have to pay kickbacks to get gigs (referral fees, Etc) is the day I find a new line of work. I know this is common with some vendors or market places, but I don't play that game.
 
Vendor: Youse gots to pay to play here.
DJ: Do you mind if I check with the IRS to see if you are declaring it as income first?
Vendor: Well, since you put it that way...

They may not be and every time they collect they should be.
 
Fred Wright said:
Yup. Unfortunately, it is. :(

But the situation is what it is... and if Will refused to work out something with the house management, said management could effectively bar Will from entering the facility.

Should that occur, Will would not be able to fulfill his contractual obligations to the client. Irregardless of what happens later, the B&G won't have their DJ on site for their wedding.


Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Sometimes one has to go above and beyond for the client. :)
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Fred,

I see it another way here: If Will is at the venue but refused entry he has fulfilled his contract. He is there ready, willing and able to play, just blocked from doing so by the venue, the client has the option of suing the venue for blocking Will from playingm but certainly can't blame Will. Even better if the Venue calls the police to have Will escorted from the property, then he has the best witness for court.

No I don't think it would hurt Will at all but can you see what a write up in the local paper about the situation would do to the venue?

If they had Will arrested he would certainly have gone above and beyond for his client!
 
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