I would like to add a paragraph to my contract.

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nextgen1

nextgen1

Mac Daddy DJ
Sep 23, 2006
3,178
784
65
Waterford, CA.
www.tngdj.com
I'm looking for the right words to say this. But the idea is that I would like to put a contractual time limit for clients to get me thier stuff, meaning finishing there planner. Yes we already go over everything with our clients but it does seem that some want more time. They either come to meetings with no idea what they want. Or they don't per say like my suggestions but have non of there own and look for more time to come up with their answers. Generally I have no problem with that at all.

But a couple of recent brides have caused me to second think this issue. I have two weddings next week ( Saturday & Sunday) both of them have had meetings, emails and phone calls. Both are lacking in finishing so that I can finalize everything and begin my process of setting up everything with my computers, backup hard drives and back up CD's. I do realize that I will receive all there info. But it is a PIA waiting. Thus my reason for wanting a clause in our contract for future clients. Now I do realize also that some clients might not even read it or care about it and still blow it off. But I would like to add it for my own sanity if nothing else. The wordage is what I'm looking for here.
 
Geez Dave, did Cap throw his clipboard at ya again...? :sqerr:

You're a trained and seasoned pro -- why do you need every nail driven down, when yer supposed to be driving the nails yourself, when you do your job?

At some point in time, the amount of clauses you put into a contract, becomes not only a distraction, but a turn off to the client. Whatever happened to "just do the gig to the best of my ability"...?

Sometimes (many times actually) -- I think some DJ's on these chat boards, should have been lawyers, and not purveyors of music and/or entertainment. It starts to influence the actions of regular DJs, and next thing you know, everybody is adding riders to their contracts. At some point in time, you reach Ludicrous Speed, or whatever they said in Spaceballs...

Just play good music, and try not to mumble into the mic -- pretty simple job.


Just my thoughts :)
 
How will having it in the contract help?
What happens if they still dilly-dally?

I have been dealing with this forever, some clients need to be hand-held (or shoved)
 
My close out for the planning doesn't pass 6 weeks out - in case I have to order items. You're right though, recent clients seem to run it to the wire. I'll be the biggest PITA as the day gets closer. Typically, they're months out and done.

nextgen1 said:
I'm looking for the right words to say this. But the idea is that I would like to put a contractual time limit for clients to get me thier stuff, meaning finishing there planner. Yes we already go over everything with our clients but it does seem that some want more time. They either come to meetings with no idea what they want. Or they don't per say like my suggestions but have non of there own and look for more time to come up with their answers. Generally I have no problem with that at all.

But a couple of recent brides have caused me to second think this issue. I have two weddings next week ( Saturday & Sunday) both of them have had meetings, emails and phone calls. Both are lacking in finishing so that I can finalize everything and begin my process of setting up everything with my computers, backup hard drives and back up CD's. I do realize that I will receive all there info. But it is a PIA waiting. Thus my reason for wanting a clause in our contract for future clients. Now I do realize also that some clients might not even read it or care about it and still blow it off. But I would like to add it for my own sanity if nothing else. The wordage is what I'm looking for here.
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I would agree, one has told me she would have everything to me last Saturday. She has done none of that, even though I talked with her 2 days ago. Both weddings are next Saturday. I'm quite sure I will get everything but the closer to her day the bigger PIA I also become. This one will probably take a shove. The other will get another phone call Tomorrow in hopes she can give me her 4 songs left. If she has no answer for me then I will see if she will allow me to just do it for her, which I already tried. With both of these clients I think the close to there date and if they have no answers the more I feel they will just say do it for them which is what I'm waiting for.
 
If she was to call and ask about songs that I do not have and cannot get, sorry - SOL. I gave you MY deadlines to get such and such.
 
ittigger said:
If she was to call and ask about songs that I do not have and cannot get, sorry - SOL. I gave you MY deadlines to get such and such.
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This is my reason for the wordage. As of right now I really don't have a cut off date though I tell them to have everything by a certain time etc etc. Some of the songs mean little to nothing while some are thing such as bridal march and thing in that vein.
 
The problem with putting this in your contract is that you must be willing to enforce it 100% of the time. If a bride misses the deadline, does that void the contract? Would you be willing to cancel your own services at a particular event because that part of the contract was not adhered to?

While it's nice to be able to breathe easy when your clients are perfectly punctual, the reality is that not everyone is going to be sticking to your planning schedule. That's just life, and part of running a business. Fortunately, the positives usually outweigh the negatives.
 
I don't know that I'd add wordage to the contract as this doesn't change the problem nor the result. Nor would having them sign a written agreement. For me, I insist that without this completed plan, I may not be able to give you what you want and / or you will have to provide said media and that without said media, I cannot give you what is requested.
 
Brendan it will really be just fluff. But it allows me to at least to point out to clients. I'm a fairly direct person and most of our clients are very good about getting me their stuff. The last bride that was like this, was Last Saturday so that will make 3 brides in a row that have been this way. The good part of all this is that the bride from last Saturday just sent me this on face book.

"
Hi Dave,
Pam T***** commented on her Wall post.

Pam wrote: "Where do I start... Dave, you and your lovely wife are amazing!! Everything you did for us, from the moment we chose you to be our DJ, was TOP NOTCH!! You made everything flow smoothly from the rehearsal, prelude, ceremony, reception, to the very last dance and even kept us groovin' through our time cleaning up! Thank you for helping me to relax and enjoy every moment. I can't imagine having anyone more professional or fun! Joe is already talking about having you do a barn dance for us and our friends in the near future. Thank you again!! Cheers! Pam & Joe"
 
nextgen1 said:
Brendan it will really be just fluff.
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That's why it needs to stay out of your contract. In theory, if it were included, anything and everything else in your contact could also be regarded as fluff.

I understand that some clients need more hand-holding than others. But as you found with that Facebook post, sometimes acting patient (even when you're not) can help you male a very positive impression on your clients.
 
I see what your saying Brendan but how would they know what is fluff and what is something that I would go after. In my contract it also says that if I'm not paid 2 weeks in advance that I can consider there event cancelled. Have I ever enforced it when they where a little late? Nope but you should see how some of the scrambled to get me the money when they took the time to reread their contract. I'm a fairly patient guy but when the lack of effort makes it even harder for me to do my business with them and keep up with their event and others and making my days longer. It does make me rethink somethings.
 
nextgen1 said:
I see what your saying Brendan but how would they know what is fluff and what is something that I would go after.
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There shouldn't be any gray area in your contract. If it's in there, it's important enough that you'd stop your performance for it or even go to court over it if you had to.

nextgen1 said:
I'm fairly lucky my wife is a paralegal that actually works in a law office that majors is business and corporate law.
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If that's the case, stop asking for contract advice from a bunch of DJs. :)
 
Brendan is right - just what do you propose to do if the clause is violated? Will you cancel the event? Will you tell them they can't have that first dance song? Will they still have to pay you?

You might as well put a clause in there reminding them to say "please" and "thank you."

If your contract does not already promise in detail everything you will do to prepare for this event - then there is no liability for being unprepared should they not get you the information needed in a timely manner. Can't you just imagine it on Judge Judy:

Bride: "Your Honor - the DJ didn't even have my first dance song even though we gave him a lsit of everything we wanted."
Judy: "When did you give him this list?"
Bride: "We faxed it to his office the night before."

Your contract is not the place to make up for a lack of boundaries. Bad planning on the bride's part does not constitute an emergency on my part. When eleventh hour Annie calls for a meeting, she may just have to settle for a phone call instead. If she needs something special and now at this late date/time it interferes with my own priorities then her priorities will have to take a back seat - even if that means not having some unusual song she wants.
 
This kind of thing belongs in your policy statement not in a contract. A policy statement provides the understanding under which you enter all contracts to do business with any customer.

None of this logistical stuff needs to be in your contract. Your contract says: who will perform with what and how at where and when in exchange for what from whom barring these exceptions and remedies.
 
I think Pro you are right. My biggest problem and also one of my best qualities is that I'm a nice guy and try very very hard to make everyone happy. At the same time making myself unhappy. With most of these women I'm not concerned on if I will get there info. But more of when, given my very busy full time job and my desire to give 120 percent to our business and our clients. Sometimes it can cause me to over work, tire myself out and get irradiated. I guess in reality its a little far fetched for me to assume everyone will be as dedicated to there event as I am.
 
No doubt it is a annoying when you have a bride and/or groom not provide you information in a timely manner. I had a wedding last year, and not the bride, but the groom called me about 5 times the day of asking for some songs for me to play. None of them were for wedding events, but just filler type music to play, and I already had most of them, so it was not too bad. But I have also had a bride call me at 1:00 the MORNING of the wedding, because her groomsmen told her after the rehearsal dinner they provided me a new list of songs for the events at the reception. They were joking with her, but she panicked and had to call me in the middle of the night just to make sure. I reassured her, no one else had given me a list other then her. She gave them hell the next day at the reception.
 
Ron said:
But I have also had a bride call me at 1:00 the MORNING of the wedding, because her groomsmen told her after the rehearsal dinner they provided me a new list of songs for the events at the reception. They were joking with her, but she panicked and had to call me in the middle of the night just to make sure. I reassured her, no one else had given me a list other then her. She gave them hell the next day at the reception.
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Now that is just cruel and uncalled for!
 
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