How to TACTFULLY say "no".

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
19,843
594
64
Valley Forge Area
#1. You're at an event and someone want you to hook up their iPod to your system for a song you don't have / know.

#2. Someone other than the client wants to use your microphone.

#3. Folks want to browse your CD collections.
 
I am with Precisionpower on this one a simple NO is all that is required! I do not feel the need to be tactful in any of the mentioned situations!
 
For a mobile op I'd tell people "I'm sorry my insurance doesn't cover that". In the bars I was always happy to have company up in the booth especially if they were of the female persuasion so pretty much anyone could look through my CDs unless they were really drunk. iPods were okay too so long as they let me kill all the equalization and bass boost.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Is it ALWAYS as "simple as that"? I doubt it.
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No..Your right.

But it is up to me to decide after feeling out the person.
Sometimes i'll let them plug in the i-pod, Sometimes i won't. Really depends on my initial "gut" feeling.

I've been burned by people playing a really chitty song from an i-pod before.
I've learned that a simple, Direct answer is way better than a "maybe" or something.

If it doesn't feel right to me. I simply say NO, and leave it at that. I don't explain my reasoning either.
 
Papa,

It really is that simple, I have people all the time who bring in CDs to DJ shows and want me to play something off of it. I say NO! I have had the Ipod situation happen twice at weddings and again I said NO!

No one uses my mic but me and I mean no one, For Karaoke if I sing it is with my own mic, NO ONE ELSE PUTS THEIR MOUTH CLOSE TO IT OR THEIR GRUBBY LITTLE FINGERS ON IT! I use disinfectant spray liberally on the singers mics (about every 4th singer) Even in the studio there are mics for everyone else to use and then there is MY mic!

I no longer take a large collection of CDs with me so there is nothing to browse! When I was carrying them all the CD table was behind me and I didn't allow anyone behind my setup (for saftey reasons):sqwink:
 
Precisionpower said:
If it doesn't feel right to me. I simply say NO, and leave it at that. I don't explain my reasoning either.
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This is where I have screwed myself a few times. I need to say NO instead of maybe. I'm trying to be accommodating whenever possible.
 
Papa Deuce said:
#1. You're at an event and someone want you to hook up their iPod to your system for a song you don't have / know.

Even I am not so cheap to use ipods... no place to hook one up so NO is an easy answer

#2. Someone other than the client wants to use your microphone.

Unless she is hot and bear chested not going to happen. Most of the time it's a drunk and he just wants to yell and spit and spill his beer on me and the mic.

So no. If they take the mic, I kill the mic volume and turn off the receiver. Most of the time I wear a head set so they don't ask.

#3. Folks want to browse your CD collections.

What CD's? I have about 20 Burned CD's of top songs if the laptop goes down, other wise it's all data base driven.
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nuf said. :sqlaugh:
 
Situation #1 - Simply tell the client you don't have the access to that part of your mixer or have the right cable. Or tell them you don't have the client's authority to play any music source that you haven't previously "ok'ed".

Situation #2 - Sorry, only the officiant (or person offering the blessing/toast(s)) gets to use the mic besides me or the client.

Situation #3 - Don't have CD's...so it's a non-issue. If you wanted to be a wise-a$$, you could ask them "Where do you work?" When they reply, you could say "Oh, so it'd be ok to browse through your files/desk/etc while you're working"?
:sqwink:
 
Saying "maybe" leaves yourself in there sights all night for harassment about it all night.

If your not even considering it, Do yourself a favor and just end it with a nice polite NO. Don't explain yourself.

The drunker they get the more they harass you.
 
Prostate exam :D:D:D:D:D
No is short and simple you don't get it than talk to the hand.
 
#1. You're at an event and someone want you to hook up their iPod to your system for a song you don't have / know.

No wire, sorry

#2. Someone other than the client wants to use your microphone.

No allowed by contract.

#3. Folks want to browse your CD collections.

Don't have any cd's. I'm too busy to let you look at my computer.
 
I need to add here that I do have a book with all my songs listed by title, artist, BPM and time and anyone is welcome to browse through that!
 
jokerswild said:
LOL short story....

I had a drunk guy at one of my last weddings who kept trying to sneak up and talk over my head worn mic... I had my hand on the on/off switch like a cop with an itchy trigger finger all night.:sqlaugh:
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I'm sorry. :sqembarrassed: I was just trying to have fun. The rest of the wedding party would of loved it too.
 
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