G
Guest
Guest
Your contract is clear and concise. It just doesn't give her all the power and control she's looking for. Good riddance.
Weddings What is your stance on your contract??
- Thread starter trafficgoo
- Start date
You'll be happy you didn't have to deal with "Momzilla".
There's just no pleasing folks like that, trust me! You did right by passing on the wedding.
Best,
Paul
There's just no pleasing folks like that, trust me! You did right by passing on the wedding.
Best,
Paul
Its one of the reasons I have always used Agreements instead of Contracts. The document is an individual unique one drawn up between that particular client and I. I can change, delete, add or do whatever the client and I want with it. The main thing is that my performance/Service and their consideration/Payment is spelled out. Agreements give more flexibility than Contracts.
I've had a few like this. I started by asking Mom if she had a prior experience with another DJ company where they had a less then stellar outcome.
In every case, it was that or just a general bad reputation for our industry.
But since the bride saw me at another event, I had her on my side and between the two of us, we were able to calm the Mon's fears.
LISTEN to the concerns and try to decipher where they started. In most cases, you really can nip this in the bud without bringing contract changes into the mix.
In every case, it was that or just a general bad reputation for our industry.
But since the bride saw me at another event, I had her on my side and between the two of us, we were able to calm the Mon's fears.
LISTEN to the concerns and try to decipher where they started. In most cases, you really can nip this in the bud without bringing contract changes into the mix.
G
Guest
Guest
Update on the bride's mom with the venue
So my wife Kerri calls the venue (one of our regular places) where we were supposed to do this wedding to explain to them what had happened. We find out that the bride's mom already went down there and grilled them over everything in their contract and put them through a massive Q&A session. Our contact there said she felt like she was on trial.
I just don't understand why some parents act like this. All it does is put every vendor on pins and needles and ruins that "feel good" atmosphere that a wedding is supposed to be.
Thanks to all that told me to back out of this. I'm extremely glad that I took your advice.
So my wife Kerri calls the venue (one of our regular places) where we were supposed to do this wedding to explain to them what had happened. We find out that the bride's mom already went down there and grilled them over everything in their contract and put them through a massive Q&A session. Our contact there said she felt like she was on trial.
I just don't understand why some parents act like this. All it does is put every vendor on pins and needles and ruins that "feel good" atmosphere that a wedding is supposed to be.
Thanks to all that told me to back out of this. I'm extremely glad that I took your advice.
My contract was written by an entertainment lawyer and is NOT negotiable. Take it or leave it. There are NO open ended options.
If she doesn't like it.....I move on.
If she doesn't like it.....I move on.
If it's any consolation, neither do I. And I'd wager, neither does the venue manager who got put on the hot seat.
It would seem that Mom has the attitude of "I know how to handle contracts. Let me deal with this." In doing so she's blown the whole thing way out of proportion.
After thinking about this I can't help but wonder if Mom has ulterior motives... like scrutinizing vendor contracts in search of a way to get her money back afterwards.
Wouldn't be the first time it's been tried.
That is the take we got on it and so did the venue. The venue mentioned how she wanted to put "an out" in their contract as well...the ol' if we're not satisfied clause.
People are strange...
I've all kinds of situations over the years with people and contracts. Our contracts are defined by our corporate AMS and lawyer approved.
One was with the Mitzvah which I had explained. One was with a simple basic Pig Roast. Yes...The person who hired us was an attorney..Nice. I was told to go to his house and meet with him. Ok...Our contract ai straight forward, no surprises. He looked and examined the contrtact for at leasdt 15 minutes. Apologizes twice. He signed.
Next was a Maid of honor who came into $$$ and wanted to pay for her sisters wedding. Her questions were like what does "Base" price mean? Lights, OT, seemed pretty basic..Not so typical, What time will you be there, what type of vehicle do you drive. How do you prepare for a wedding..??
She too eventually signed. At the reception, she spoke to me once and left me alone...No worries..
Every one is different.
I've all kinds of situations over the years with people and contracts. Our contracts are defined by our corporate AMS and lawyer approved.
One was with the Mitzvah which I had explained. One was with a simple basic Pig Roast. Yes...The person who hired us was an attorney..Nice. I was told to go to his house and meet with him. Ok...Our contract ai straight forward, no surprises. He looked and examined the contrtact for at leasdt 15 minutes. Apologizes twice. He signed.
Next was a Maid of honor who came into $$$ and wanted to pay for her sisters wedding. Her questions were like what does "Base" price mean? Lights, OT, seemed pretty basic..Not so typical, What time will you be there, what type of vehicle do you drive. How do you prepare for a wedding..??
She too eventually signed. At the reception, she spoke to me once and left me alone...No worries..
Every one is different.
These same people buy a car or house, they sign their name 150 times on the yellow highlighted line without even reading a word - The thought of trying to "negotiate terms" doesn't even occur to them. They just think because we're "small fish" and somehow "desperate" for their pittance that we're willing and able to cave or do whatever it takes to wind up subject to their nonsense.
So much for that!
My business is a business, and it comes with a standard contract. Like it? Let's get busy! Don't like it? Let me point you to this site called Craigslist where there's plenty of guys not using contracts who are more than happy to give you their oldest daughters hand in marriage to get your gig paying $150!
So much for that!
My business is a business, and it comes with a standard contract. Like it? Let's get busy! Don't like it? Let me point you to this site called Craigslist where there's plenty of guys not using contracts who are more than happy to give you their oldest daughters hand in marriage to get your gig paying $150!
THATS the real killer right there...
how happy were the B/G to work with you??
how happy were they that MOM stepped in and peed in their cheerios?
I'm sure there were more changes than the one you mentioned,
but she should have realized that this one was for THEIR protection, not yours!
And you were just trying to comfort them by noting that they would not end up having NO DJ at all!
Wonder what kind of back-up plan the venue has, in case of a fire or power failure?
What kind of plan does the cake-maker have? or the Photographer?
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
The kids are probably going to get pregnant when mom wants a grandchild. They'll live were she wants them to live and they'll have to ask permission for whatever they want to do.
Yep, but ya know, there is something comforting about never having to make a decision.... Mommy!!
On the Flip side, I just had someone cancel, they broke up, and the town they are in I have 2 more bookings coming up. It's not a big place so I took the high road. he wanted his deposit back but I told him I could not do that and pointed out the cancellation clause in the contract. I did do him the favor of cutting the cancellation deadline from 120 days to 60, which gives him a week to get a cancellation request letter to me with his signature on it, i am doing it in good faith and when I receive his letter I will approve it after I have contacted the hall to be sure the wedding is canceled and he is just not fishing for a different DJ.
I figure this will be a positive move and in a smaller town it will be appreciated people will think positively of me. But i take the risk he is not acting in good faith at which point he owes me the full balance and it goes to court.
I figure this will be a positive move and in a smaller town it will be appreciated people will think positively of me. But i take the risk he is not acting in good faith at which point he owes me the full balance and it goes to court.
DjDennis
RIP- My Dad (2011), Sister (2013) and Mum (2017)
Seriously... My stance on my contract is that I have one, I use it, and my client's sign it.
All the when, what, who, where & how is filled out per-event, all policies, terms & conditions are standard, and no reason it should be otherwise. The "when, what, who, where & how" are the only things that are "event-specific."
Seriously - do these same people try to change/scribble out clauses on the contract when the carpet cleaner comes to their house?
A contract is a contract - and its part of the deal, and you hire me - you get IT.
Trust me Mr. Client - more time, care, and consideration was given to protecting YOUR interests in the deal when developing my contract than you're spending on it right now considering it... so just sign it and let's be on our way.
Note to clients and fellow dj's: Yes - you CAN provide your clients "custom service" while still running your business LIKE A BUSINESS! (ie set term and conditions, policies, etc.) Tailoring service on a case-by-case for a unique result does not mean having to tailor your business practices or policies themselves in the same way - nor is it wise to take such an approach.
All the when, what, who, where & how is filled out per-event, all policies, terms & conditions are standard, and no reason it should be otherwise. The "when, what, who, where & how" are the only things that are "event-specific."
Seriously - do these same people try to change/scribble out clauses on the contract when the carpet cleaner comes to their house?
A contract is a contract - and its part of the deal, and you hire me - you get IT.
Trust me Mr. Client - more time, care, and consideration was given to protecting YOUR interests in the deal when developing my contract than you're spending on it right now considering it... so just sign it and let's be on our way.
Note to clients and fellow dj's: Yes - you CAN provide your clients "custom service" while still running your business LIKE A BUSINESS! (ie set term and conditions, policies, etc.) Tailoring service on a case-by-case for a unique result does not mean having to tailor your business practices or policies themselves in the same way - nor is it wise to take such an approach.