Is there a polite way to ask?

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
19,843
594
64
Valley Forge Area
I have to call a potential client back about a September event. The event is not in a great area. Supposedly it can be a bad area, but I don't know if I have ever witnessed the area in person. To be honest, I'm maybe a little more than just a little concerned about my safety...

Still the woman sounded really nice, and she said she had seen me at a wedding, and also assured me that payment will not be a problem.

So, is there a polite way to ask about my safety?
 
Big Dan said:
I wouldn't bring it up and go scope out the area. Would you be working during the day or night? Even the worst areas are generally okay during the day. The animals don't come out until after midnight.
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Early evening... out by 8PM.
 
Papa Deuce said:
Early evening... out by 8PM.
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I really wouldn't worry about it much. I'll hang in bad neighborhood until about 10 pm then I start getting antsy. You're a fairly large dude like myself the average crackhead isn't going to run up on you though the equipment may attract the wrong kind of attention.
 
Papa....trust me you need to ask...and make yourself clear!



And I can speak from first hand experience!

There is not a racist bone in my body, so hear this out for what it is...because the truth is the truth.


I did 2, back to back graduation parties on a reservation last memorial day!

And this reservation has been known from time to time to getting rowdy.

Stabbings/Shooting/Missing People/Robberies/Drugs....you name it.
**This is the same reservation with all those school shootings years ago**

They have a casino that I once worked for, so I already know a lot of these members, and many of them I can call my friends. But I knew that before I took the events, I needed to know that our safety was an issue. And both families knew what we meant, and why we meant it.

It's not that we were scared, but things happen on the "rez" and you need to "in the back of your mind" have this on your mind.

The first party ended up with a "white" guest who started hitting on the beautiful girls, in which he was kicked out, and a few minutes later, a few of the party guests jumped into a pickup, and went to find the guy and "rough" him up.

*We had no problems*

The second party a minor fight broke out, which escalated into a bigger fight at about 12:30 pm....not one person at that party threatened us or our equipment! All the people who started the fight were immediately kicked out, and the party resumed.




It doesn't matter how you ask how you will be safety will be guaranteed, but you need to ask if you feel it is an issue. I am sure they will understand.
 
I've played gigs in some of the worst sections of Newark, Elizabeth, Philly , East New York, Bedford Stuy.

I bring the S&W equalizer and a big friend with me to such places.
Have never had a problem.

If you are really concerned ( afraid) add $150 to the gig and hire an off-duty cop from the area to stand by with you. Believe me---they are available for these duties.
 
Steve Cie said:
I've played gigs in some of the worst sections of Newark, Elizabeth, Philly , East New York, Bedford Stuy.

I bring the S&W equalizer and a big friend with me to such places.
Have never had a problem.

If you are really concerned ( afraid) add $150 to the gig and hire an off-duty cop from the area to stand by with you. Believe me---they are available for these duties.
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In the NY area - there is a site called side gig. http://www.sidegig.com

Its all for cops who want to offer services or offering services to cops.
 
Geeze doesn't your contract guarantee your saftey? :triwink:

Seriously though saftey is an issue at any event we just think about it less in "good" areas
 
Isn't Penn a right to carry state, .44 special low recoil good take down power!
 
Ask the lady if you should be concerned about the safety of you and your equiptment? But realize that if you treat people as human Beings regardless of where they come from or who they are you will nearly always get the same treatment in kind:triwink:
 
Kind of funny I used to get freaked out driving through a certain area near San Bernadino. I did a party down there one night and was talking to the bartender who said well to be quite honest this is where most gang members and the bad folks live but its likely the safest place in the Valley as they even leave their doors unlocked etc No one would pull some stuff down here they have a code so to speak. Having been invited into this neighborhood for other than a stop at a Red light allowed me to go unnoticed.
 
Short of visiting the area yourself (in the daytime), wouldn't Google Earth help?
 
Jeff Romard said:
Geeze doesn't your contract guarantee your saftey? :triwink:

Seriously though saftey is an issue at any event we just think about it less in "good" areas
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Why is it the client's responsibility?
Maybe during the gig, ...but outside, it's not their responsibility/liability.

As a client I would not sign or agree to a contract where they want me to guarantee their safety before or after the gig.

I know of a DJ service that states in the DJs contract that it's the client's responsibility to reserve a parking space for the DJ. I know several potential clients that didn't hire him because of this. It's not their problem. I know this because they told me when they hired me.
 
My reception this past Saturday was at a downtown Baltimore hotel. Load in was at 3pm at the rear loading dock so it was daylight.

Load out was at 11pm. The rear loading dock was dark and there were a few flaky guys hanging around and were walking closer to my car as I got in (gear still upstairs in empty ballroom).

So I decided to drive the car to the front which was well lighted and load out there. I'm pretty sure the hotel probably preferred I load out in the back, but they could not provide any security after I asked.

Gotta CYA.
 
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