So, I waited to hear about my sweet 16 all week. I had left a few answering machine messages, with no luck. I sent the contract over a month ago and I heard nothing. So, today is the day. I finally get a call at 8am this morning that they booked someone else. My $500 price for 3 hours was just too expensive. They had found someone for $150. I'd like to have the cash today, but I get the night off.
Customers Stink!
- Thread starter DJ Cam
- Start date
I'm sure you're worth it, but show me the 16 year old that is.
I hate when they assume you know what their intentions were. Still, as the saying goes...."Don't count your unhatched chickens".
Keep the faith.
I hate when they assume you know what their intentions were. Still, as the saying goes...."Don't count your unhatched chickens".
Keep the faith.
The Pittsburgh area and surrounding suburbs is another market that's flooded with cheap DJ companies. 
That's compared to the DJ's that are doing quinceañeras around the bay area. $25.00 an hour or sometimes they'll work just for food
Well for the 3 hours they would have gotten my regular system with 2 18" subs.
Doubt the guy they hired brings a sub at all.
A Truss with 4 Scanners and 2 EFX600's as well as Rear Projection Music Videos on a 7' x 7' screen.
I'm sure he not bringing lights or music videos either.
$500 is a very fair price for that setup. I'm now in year 3 of full-time. I'm not working for less than I feel I'm worth anymore.
Doubt the guy they hired brings a sub at all.
A Truss with 4 Scanners and 2 EFX600's as well as Rear Projection Music Videos on a 7' x 7' screen.
I'm sure he not bringing lights or music videos either.
$500 is a very fair price for that setup. I'm now in year 3 of full-time. I'm not working for less than I feel I'm worth anymore.
Seems like you gave them a hell of a deal. Around here I would have gave them 2 EON's and a sub for $500. Add in lights and video and you're now double.
Maybe they just want two speakers and some hip-hop to grind to? Then they got a good deal.
Don't sweat it. You have a great package. It's just not going to be for everybody.
Brother Cam,
Is it possible to find out how the DJ did at the party? I'm curious and I bet you are, too.
Is it possible to find out how the DJ did at the party? I'm curious and I bet you are, too.
Brother Cam,
Is it possible to find out how the DJ did at the party? I'm curious and I bet you are, too.
Yeah, maybe a non-invasive email to the the birthday girl this week. She had emailed me a list of music a few weeks ago.
DJ Cam : I'm not sure how you send out your contracts, however there's a sure place to begin to tighten up the anxiety. A month? You should've known in seven days.
Stop being a nice guy. Get in control of your business. Set deadlines. Stick to them. I want to see you make it. If I can help with any sea stories, experiences, and/or wisdom, call. If reinventing the wheel your way is a preference, I fully understand.
Stop being a nice guy. Get in control of your business. Set deadlines. Stick to them. I want to see you make it. If I can help with any sea stories, experiences, and/or wisdom, call. If reinventing the wheel your way is a preference, I fully understand.
The general rule is 10-14 days from my own mailing date. Feb is not the most in demand month of the year. The thing is that the daughter had emailed me a list of songs 14 days ago. I figured there may be a mix up and I sent an email and left a phone messase. I got an auto reply from the customer's email that she would be out of the office until Feb 20 on Vacation. I figured no big deal something must of happened. I called the last few days and still no answer. Then the customer called this morning.
I kind of expected this to happen, but it still stinks.
Again it's slower and this is Feb. Weddings are a differnt animal I hold no dates until I have a deposit, customers are aware that is the case.
I kind of expected this to happen, but it still stinks.
Again it's slower and this is Feb. Weddings are a differnt animal I hold no dates until I have a deposit, customers are aware that is the case.
Seriously? Don't know if I could sleep after that! I'm sure every area is different though... but wow if that's the going rate!
I treat EVERY booking the same. My contract requires a deposit and has a cancellation clause in it. Basically, if they cancel within 30 days of the date they owe me the full amount.
Did you have a signed contract? Does it have a cancellation clause in it? If not DO IT! While I understand that $500 might be a bit high for a 16 year party IN THEIR MINDS, they shouldn't have agreed to it in the first place. I feel that the publics perception of us (DJs) is that we're not a true business. They can cancel anytime with no penalty. It doesn't matter whether we're full time or part time. Time is money and we are providing a service and should be paid the agreed upon price. We eat from this, we pay our bills from this and we work hard. Personally I'd sue them If you have a signed contract. But perhaps that part of the problem. As you said "Weddings Are a different animal". WHY? It's still work and what does it matter if it's a wedding or anything else. Just my opinion.
Did you have a signed contract? Does it have a cancellation clause in it? If not DO IT! While I understand that $500 might be a bit high for a 16 year party IN THEIR MINDS, they shouldn't have agreed to it in the first place. I feel that the publics perception of us (DJs) is that we're not a true business. They can cancel anytime with no penalty. It doesn't matter whether we're full time or part time. Time is money and we are providing a service and should be paid the agreed upon price. We eat from this, we pay our bills from this and we work hard. Personally I'd sue them If you have a signed contract. But perhaps that part of the problem. As you said "Weddings Are a different animal". WHY? It's still work and what does it matter if it's a wedding or anything else. Just my opinion.
1st - Dave, nice to see someone on the boards in my area. We'll have to try to get together sometime.
I think this thread has gone from the reality of my problem to a lesson for others about booking procedures.
After 10 years I know the business and have a solid event contract. The problem this time was the contract was not returned with a deposit. The customer confused me by contacting me with music selections. I then began contacting the customer wondering when their deposit would be in the mail.
If another customer would have requested the date I would have booked their event.
The entire point of the thread was the customer did not ever return my calls and emails. When the customer finally contacted me it was the day of the event to tell me they booked someone else.
I think this thread has gone from the reality of my problem to a lesson for others about booking procedures.
After 10 years I know the business and have a solid event contract. The problem this time was the contract was not returned with a deposit. The customer confused me by contacting me with music selections. I then began contacting the customer wondering when their deposit would be in the mail.
If another customer would have requested the date I would have booked their event.
The entire point of the thread was the customer did not ever return my calls and emails. When the customer finally contacted me it was the day of the event to tell me they booked someone else.
Hey Cam, I am about 40 miles SE of you so getting together is very possible.
My point about the contract was because you really didn't spell out the time frame in your original post. Personally, I would have called and left a message when I didn't get it back in a timely manner that the date was open again and I would not be at their event. But then that's just me.
If I didn't get a return call or email the deal would have been dead at that point. I've been doing this for many years and am very tired of people dissing me and the job that I can do. So pardon me if I came across a bit brash. I also didn't mean to hijack the thread.
Are you a member of the WPDJA? If so I'll be at their meeting in March and can meet you there.
My point about the contract was because you really didn't spell out the time frame in your original post. Personally, I would have called and left a message when I didn't get it back in a timely manner that the date was open again and I would not be at their event. But then that's just me.
If I didn't get a return call or email the deal would have been dead at that point. I've been doing this for many years and am very tired of people dissing me and the job that I can do. So pardon me if I came across a bit brash. I also didn't mean to hijack the thread.
Are you a member of the WPDJA? If so I'll be at their meeting in March and can meet you there.
Cam,
that's a bummer, but like you said, if someone else had called to book, you would have booked them, so you really didn't consider them a booking. Happens to me at least several times through out the year that i send agreements out when people said they wanted it and don't get anything back. The one time i got music requests from someone, i called them and emailed them to let them know that THEY WERE NOT YET BOOKED for the evening since they did not retern the agreement or the deposit. Never heard from them again.....never booked them so i didn't think of it as a lost booking.
BTW, they also got an email from me after a week saying that their pending agreement period had expired and we were no longer holding the date for them.
that's a bummer, but like you said, if someone else had called to book, you would have booked them, so you really didn't consider them a booking. Happens to me at least several times through out the year that i send agreements out when people said they wanted it and don't get anything back. The one time i got music requests from someone, i called them and emailed them to let them know that THEY WERE NOT YET BOOKED for the evening since they did not retern the agreement or the deposit. Never heard from them again.....never booked them so i didn't think of it as a lost booking.
BTW, they also got an email from me after a week saying that their pending agreement period had expired and we were no longer holding the date for them.