Would you take this event the way the client is asking? This is funny - in a good way

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
19,843
594
64
Valley Forge Area
Ok, I just had a potential client call me about doing a Retro Party. This was one of the people I saw writing down my number from my car magnets. It is actually quite a hoot......

She wants mostly 70's and 80's music, plus all my lights, which is excellent. I quoted full rate, and I think she is absolutely fine with it, but does want to confirm with her husband.

Everything about this is both fun / funny.... BUT I didn't quite know what to say to her when she said......

"So, with all those lights and stuff, I guess you're going to have lots of wires."

Me: "Yes, but I tape them all down and hide them as best as I can"....

Her: "No, no, no! I mean tape down what you need to for safety, but I want the rest of the wires all showing and looking all crappy!"

Me: "Why?"

Her: "Because my husband was a DJ in the late 70's and early 80's and I have seen pictures of his set up, and it looked like crap, and I have pictures of it. I want you to recreate what he was doing. This is a 50th birthday party and I want it to look just like back in the day, when all the DJs setups looked really bad".

:sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:

So, if she gets back to me, I guess I'll do this, but in a small way, it bothers me to have a setup that looks all crappy..... but, I guess I can also tell the crowd that it wasn't my idea..... that it is actually part of what the client asked for.
 
Wow that would be a gamble. I think I would get it setup with the wires looking like crap and take a picture of it for her. But unless she makes an announcement that you left it that was for her, some people there might look at it and think this guy's setup looks like crap, and not give you a call for a future event.
 
Jon Tuck said:
Papa you gotta bring out the Turntable for this one for sure.
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No doubt about it. I may not even bring my laptop, and no facade.
 
MBM said:
Wow that would be a gamble. I think I would get it setup with the wires looking like crap and take a picture of it for her. But unless she makes an announcement that you left it that was for her, some people there might look at it and think this guy's setup looks like crap, and not give you a call for a future event.
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Obviously my concern.... but if I get the event, I am making sure that she knows I will have to announce something about it not being my idea.
 
DJFuzzy said:
I would take it, as long as it was clear that I could make a funny announcement about why it looks so bad.
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I don't think thats necessary!
 
Oh, and no Bose for this event..... have to use my speakers on sticks, I guess.... Nothing wrong with my JBL setup, other than it ain't my Bose setup.....:sqwink:
 
ahoustondj said:
I don't think thats necessary!
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Really? I absolutely do. No way I am taking it without it. I can't afford to be thought of as having a crappy looking setup by those who don't "get" it....

WOM in a negative way can be brutal....
 
Papa Deuce said:
So, if she gets back to me, I guess I'll do this, but in a small way, it bothers me to have a setup that looks all crappy..... but, I guess I can also tell the crowd that it wasn't my idea..... that it is actually part of what the client asked for.
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I think we as DJs put too much pressure on ourselves. Does a band hide wires? People are interested in the music first and foremost. If you have nice gear and some wires showing, so what? Now if your gear was all beat up and raggety thats a different story!
 
Papa Deuce said:
Really? I absolutely do. No way I am taking it without it. I can't afford to be thought of as having a crappy looking setup by those who don't "get" it....

WOM in a negative way can be brutal....
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So you intend to publicly pass on the blame to the client? Just play great music man! Thats going to be remembered more so than a bunch of loose wires.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Oh, and no Bose for this event..... have to use my speakers on sticks, I guess.... Nothing wrong with my JBL setup, other than it ain't my Bose setup.....:sqwink:
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Make sure you put a big piece of masking tape on the side of the speakers with your DJ name on it!
 
Or Papa Setup your Bose but Put your JBLs out for visual effect. Run unsecured wires to nothing.
 
ahoustondj said:
So you intend to publicly pass on the blame to the client? Just play great music man! Thats going to be remembered more so than a bunch of loose wires.
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Absolutely. But in a fun, lighthearted way. But ABSOLUTELY.

ETA... I don't have to name names, but I can just say that it was all part of the "theming" of the event, and people will figure out who requested the theming....
 
MBM said:
I would break out my old carpeted TOA cabinets that are setup in my garage, for this one.
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I wish I still owned my old Peavy's.
 
Why not get a blow up or have a slide show of the pictures the client has and then set up how you do it today with a THEN and NOW "My how things have changed!" Type deal.

You could even welcome him up to spin the first song.

This way she gets what she wants, you get what you want and you are still entertaining everyone. I am sure you will also have a great time explaining to people what else has changed in the industry since then.
 
Since Papa asked, I'll add my thoughts.

If this party was for the VFW, Legion, Moose or so forth, I'd take it. There ya have members only. It's not as likely that prospective customers would see a sloppy setup, however deliberate it may be.

Otherwise, no way. People love to take pictures and video and post 'em online for the world to see. The camera never blinks. Only the guests at the party would understand why the DJ company was so sloppy. Millions of potential YouTube viewers would not.

Something like this could come back to haunt you and follow you around for a long time. We'll stick with a neat, professional setup, thanks very much. :D
 
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