Weddings What is your stance on your contract??

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trafficgoo

trafficgoo

Weight lifting Music Guy
Apr 1, 2008
4,435
40
Gilbert, AZ
www.musclemanmusic.com
So I met with a B&G and her dad a couple of weeks ago. The meeting went well and we got the booking. The problem...the mom steps in and decides she's going to add a bunch of her terms to our contract, sends it to us with a deposit. A few days prior, I replied to her via email that we cannot lock in the date unless she signs our original contract without her additional terms.
I haven't heard back from her yet but am holding on to the deposit check until we do.

Do you stand 100% by your contract or do you allow changes? Personally...I prefer to stick by mine.
 
Randy A said:
I customize my contract all the time, depending on the needs of the client. But, it's always a mutual agreement. Why not pick up the phone?
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I've got the number for the bride but nothing from the mom. I've even asked her to give me a call and she hasn't or won't. The main thing is she's acting like it's her way or no way without wanting to talk to me. I agree...if you're going to change something it needs to be discussed first.
 
DJ Cam said:
What does she want changed?
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One of the additions off the top of my head is this....

In the contract my wife and I offer a backup DJ of equal or greater caliber if something were to happen to us, family emergency etc...we have a few people that we know that could step in and we belong to the ADJA.

She writes in the contract, in not so many words, that if something did happen to us and she wasn't happy with the replacement that she's entitled to a full refund.

To me...if we make sure the event goes on no matter what, then why should she get a full refund or refund at all. It's not likely we would miss an event, we never have at this point.
 
How many times have any of us taken a job with some reservations, and after the event realized that it simply wasn't worth the money?

Who is your contracted client? What are the changes she is looking for? Is it worth the pricwe of the event to get tied in with someone you aren't comfortable with?

Lots to think about...
 
trafficgoo said:
One of the additions off the top of my head is this....

In the contract my wife and I offer a backup DJ of equal or greater caliber if something were to happen to us, family emergency etc...we have a few people that we know that could step in and we belong to the ADJA.

She writes in the contract, in not so many words, that if something did happen to us and she wasn't happy with the replacement that she's entitled to a full refund.

To me...if we make sure the event goes on no matter what, then why should she get a full refund or refund at all. It's not likely we would miss an event, we never have at this point.
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Talk to your lawyer. Have a Lawyer to write out your Contracts. It is cheaper in the end to get value in the beginning!
 
I give no wishy-washy subjective money back guarantee for my own services - i'm certain not going to do it for a sub-contractor or emergency stand-in!

My contract basically specifies that I will provide the same thing as yours does. As long as I find a last-minute replacement able to perform the gig, my obligations are met. If she doesn't like his hair or shoes or his breath is funny, I'm not refunding her money. And I wouldn't use someone even last minute that I don't have confidence in and experience working with, so how they would handle themselves and the event itself is automatically a non-issue.

My contract includes verbiage that any changes to the contract have to be in writing and signed off on by all parties, so unless I (you) explicitly initial or sign her "written changes," they are null and void and not part of the legal agreement anyway.
 
Zero changes to the contract. Case in point, and you tell if this was right..

About 4 years ago, and yes I do remember this...Like it was yesterday.

I had a Mitzvah booked at my regular rate of $1200/ 4 hours. We had done their 2 other kids prior, at $1400 each respectively. I felt ok, I'll cut him a deal.

Oh, he cut himself a deal ok, he put down $995 for 5 hours at night. This was a day time event. He changed the times...(Cap, remember this???)

Long the short of it...Cancelled, bye!!

Never...
 
trafficgoo said:
One of the additions off the top of my head is this....

In the contract my wife and I offer a backup DJ of equal or greater caliber if something were to happen to us, family emergency etc...we have a few people that we know that could step in and we belong to the ADJA.

She writes in the contract, in not so many words, that if something did happen to us and she wasn't happy with the replacement that she's entitled to a full refund.

To me...if we make sure the event goes on no matter what, then why should she get a full refund or refund at all. It's not likely we would miss an event, we never have at this point.
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Oh Man send that broad a packing. Repeat yourself slowly so she can hear you this time or to the daughter. Its your contract. Dude what she basically could do is say he sucked and you owe her all the money. Let her look for someone else. This is the only reason I have even looked at the ADJA. So I could have a back up DJ because that is a question I have been asked a few times.
 
Your contract shouold be an instrument in which you have spent many hours laboriously covering every aspect in which you wish to conduct YOUR business. Your contract should, and must, comply with your state laws. Your contract should be consistent, and should never deviate from one client to the next (past practices principle is applicable here).

The minute you began deviating from your contract is when you begin to loose any chance of being succesful in a litigiation that may arise from the execution of your contract.

From what you have stated here, this mother of the bride will turn out to be nothing but a real problem. It's the bride whom you should be trying to please and satisfy.

Tell mom she raised a fine daughter, with a good head on her head, who knows what she wants. Then tell mom, politely, to leave the room so you can discuss the wedding plans with the bride.

Time for mom to let the apron strings go!

Otherwise----believe me---waLK AWAY FROM THIS GIG!
 
When a mom starts out like this from the get-go believe me she will be a thorn in you side all the way, and B*t*h all the way through the reception, maybe ruin it and blame it on you or somebody else. Might even cause problems after.

RUN FOREST RUNNNNN
 
Small suggestion, based on this topic: I believe members of the ADJA can get a reasonable amount of legal advice via the ADJA's lawyer, especially in the area of contracts. Use it.
 
and i'll bet here that mother-in-law is paying for some or all of the wedding.then again she could just be that pain in the ass who wants her way.
 
Well...
I took the advice of those saying "pass" and we did. I sent off a professional email to the mother of the bride explaining how we were not able to change our contract. This was here response...

Hi Jason,

I appreciate your response and trust me, if we didn’t feel confident with you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. .

As much as we would love to work with you, unfortunately without a clear and concise contract, we will have to pass. Please return the check at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your time.

Barbara

It's interesting...out of all the events in the past 6 years that my wife and I have done, we've NEVER had anyone have issues with our contract. Some of these were big corporate events too. Then we find out...this lady is one of the executives at the AZ Association of Realtors. That's why she was so anal about the contract. The other funny thing....she didn't want to spend the extra $200 on our ceremony set up with mics...she had an issue with that too.
 
trafficgoo said:
Well...
I took the advice of those saying "pass" and we did. I sent off a professional email to the mother of the bride explaining how we were not able to change our contract. This was here response...

Hi Jason,

I appreciate your response and trust me, if we didn’t feel confident with you, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. .

As much as we would love to work with you, unfortunately without a clear and concise contract, we will have to pass. Please return the check at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your time.

Barbara

It's interesting...out of all the events in the past 6 years that my wife and I have done, we've NEVER had anyone have issues with our contract. Some of these were big corporate events too. Then we find out...this lady is one of the executives at the AZ Association of Realtors. That's why she was so anal about the contract. The other funny thing....she didn't want to spend the extra $200 on our ceremony set up with mics...she had an issue with that too.
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You did the right thing.
 
Glad you stood your guns. I listen to people who want to have my contract adjusted, but only budge on minor things (lighting included, prepaid overtime, etc.). I can't imagine the price I would charge for a "pain in the rear" add-on!
 
In Mom's defense, real estate agents spend a lot of their time dickering with contractors. They spend considerable time in court suing them, too.

That said, she did you a favor by walking. If she has decided to be the boss of this wedding, you will be well-served not being a party to it. :)

I feel for the B&G. It would seem that they're getting the short end of the stick.
 
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