Short Changing The Client. My Rant!

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I thought the name of the thread was "stop short changing the customer".

How is the customer being short changed?

If all he is willing to spend is $50, sounds to me like the client's getting a bargain. Finding someone to show up for $50 without any gear is a bargain in my book.

There has been DJs using cheap gear ever since I can remember. Some talented ones can use cheap gear and make people not even notice. Some just make the cheap gear an extension of their super cheap show and bad show.

Some clients are only willing to pay for the bare minimum...and low and behold, they find it.

If your gear helps separate you, then that's great. But don't expect everyone to be your client. Not everyone is willing to pay $200 for a limo ride. Some times, a $20 dirty taxi cab ride will work.
 
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ahoustondj said:
I know that Bar owner. That Guy would have been lucky if he got $50.00 for the night. Every time I drop by, there is always someone different. LOL. I am going to stop by again next Monday to see.
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I agree with Scott.
Who really got short changed?
This situation is not about negotiating and sales techniques.
You said it yourself. He'd be lucky to get $50 out of the owner.
If so, the only negotiationg would have been for the owner to ask,
"What do I get for 50-bucks?"
And the answer, was just what you saw that night.
 
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Jon Tuck said:
Thanks Steve,

Im just stupid and need to be schooled by the all mighty. Keep your narrow mind Canute it is definitely fitting. always the one who knows all. In teaching you must be willing to learn and not put down other thoughts. Unless of course you are Canute the All Mighty. I probably know alot more about Art than you think Canute but its all good carry on. Im doing just fine here. Let me ask a question. Why do you take the Bose Boom box to some events?

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Always an answer.........................
Yeah keep believing that naive mentality.
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You seem to get your feathers easily ruffled! Allow me to explain why my my friend would not stab me in the back. If he did, that would be the last time he would get a Gig from me. He won't bite the hand that feeds him. Just as how I do not pass out MY business cards when I am doing a Gig for my Agency, because it is unethical.
As far as Art, I don't know where that comes in and I can't speak for you and your knowledge and experience but here is mine.
I have formal Education from University of Cambridge, London in Art 1969.
I have owned an Art Gallery for a short time and have been active in the Art, Framing and Installation Business since 1985
I have procured and still do procure Art for Corporations, Interior Designers and Retail Clients.
I worked in the Furniture and Design Industry.
I own and collect Fine Art. Salvador Dali is my favorite Artist. In case you do not know, he is on the same level as Pablo Picasso.
Any more questions?

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Ausumm said:
I agree with Scott.
Who really got short changed?
This situation is not about negotiating and sales techniques.
You said it yourself. He'd be lucky to get $50 out of the owner.
If so, the only negotiationg would have been for the owner to ask,
"What do I get for 50-bucks?"
And the answer, was just what you saw that night.
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Mike, this guy does not know the true value of a KJ or DJ. He has a set limit on what he wants to pay but expects the best. He does not know what the performer is capable of doing and what tools he is going to use until the performer show up. By then it is too late. I am sure you have heard of many a Bride who made the same mistake. This is no different.
 
ahoustondj said:
Mike, this guy does not know the true value of a KJ or DJ. He has a set limit on what he wants to pay but expects the best. He does not know what the performer is capable of doing and what tools he is going to use until the performer show up. By then it is too late. I am sure you have heard of many a Bride who made the same mistake. This is no different.
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But your rant seemed to be directed to the KJ/DJ and should be towards the bar owner, IMO.
 
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Thanks again Steve for having my view on all of this. Thanks Canute for showing your credentials in art. I still didnt get an answer from you as I posted only one question.
 
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Scott Hanna said:
I thought the name of the thread was "stop short changing the customer".

How is the customer being short changed?

If all he is willing to spend is $50, sounds to me like the client's getting a bargain. Finding someone to show up for $50 without any gear is a bargain in my book.

There has been DJs using cheap gear ever since I can remember. Some talented ones can use cheap gear and make people not even notice. Some just make the cheap gear an extension of their super cheap show and bad show.

Some clients are only willing to pay for the bare minimum...and low and behold, they find it.

If your gear helps separate you, then that's great. But don't expect everyone to be your client. Not everyone is willing to pay $200 for a limo ride. Some times, a $20 dirty taxi cab ride will work.
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Scott, you are correct to a point but to go further, it is the Performers job to inform and then sell the Client. The guy looked like he could do neither of those two things and was just desperate just to be in the limelight. There are still DJs and KJs like that around. Some will play for free just to be in that position.

If people learn how to turn things around not only can they benefit but so too can the client. However reading your words again, you are right, he got what he paid for. It was the patrons who were shortchanged and are being short changed. I just came from a short appointment a few minutes ago and drove past the joint, there was only two cars out there. One belonged to the waitress/bartender! That says a lot. He will be gone soon. Mark my words.
 
Art of sales requires some credentials as well and Im selling my stuff my way and still doing quite well. Oh I forgot I also have driven school bus and built nuclear weapons in my past.
 
My objective with this post believe it or not is to show that there is always an opportunity to up one's game. I have done Sales all my adult life. The DJ Business is Sales. If I don't sell someone on hiring me for a Gig I don't get to work. I don't just go in and say "I am available!"
It used to be that in the Art Gallery someone would come in and ask for custom Framing. One of the first things out of their mouth was "I don't want to spend a lot of money, I want something cheap". Most framers would rush to show the cheapest moldings and designs. I viewed that as a challenge. I would start out showing some of my best designs and work down from there. They always spent more than they thought they would.

Ever see the sign outside businesses that state "No Soliciting"? I used to walk right in and sell. Know why? To me that sign read "Leave me alone because I am easily sold" and they were! It was meant as a barrier for the weak salespeople.
Someone wants to spend $200.00 for a Karaoke DJ, if you could show them that they can get a Karaoke show worth $600.00 for $400.00 they will be more than willing to pay.

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Jon Tuck said:
Art of sales requires some credentials as well and Im selling my stuff my way and still doing quite well. Oh I forgot I also have driven school bus and built nuclear weapons in my past.
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You mean to say you don't eat beans anymore? :laugh: Those Gases and Blasts can be very dangerous! LOL
 
Jon Tuck said:
Why do you take the Bose Boom box to some events?

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Always an answer.........................
Yeah keep believing that naive mentality.
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Sorry but I do not own a Bose Boom Box! :rolleyes:
 
steve149 said:
But your rant seemed to be directed to the KJ/DJ and should be towards the bar owner, IMO.
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That's what I'm trying to say. I understand clients wanting more for less..
But your first post, and the title of the thread seem to imply your reason for the thread was to knock performers who "short change" the client.
Somehow, it morphed into something else.
 
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I don't see what was so terrible with the setup that you mentioned for a bar doing Karaoke. Especially on a Monday. Maybe that DJ has better equipment but decided to use just that for this bar and it is on a Monday night. How much do you really need to impress the people doing karaoke. People are there just looking to sing, have a drink or 2 and have a good laugh. As a lot of people like myself can't sing a lick.

I mean it's not like it's a DJ doing a party in a bar. When i play inside of this one bar in Orange, NJ here is what i bring. The 2 Yamaha DSR powered tops. 15"'s of course. The Denon 6000, my laptop and external HD. That's it. No sub at all. The bar is a small place and you really don't need a sub. I brought both subs in there once before when i played just to see what they would sound like and they kicked butt. I never had to bring them again because the crowd is impressed and like the sound from just the tops. They sit on the floor and they rock.

Now just remember this. You did say it was a Monday night and this KJ is getting $50.00 for the night more then likely. What would you charge if that were you doing it Canute? Keep in mind this is a Monday night and how much do you think a bar owner is willing to pay a KJ for a Monday night? In my eyes not a whole lot. Lastly how many people would you expect you could get to come to this bar on a Monday if that were you doing it?
 
ahoustondj said:
Scott, you are correct to a point but to go further, it is the Performers job to inform and then sell the Client. The guy looked like he could do neither of those two things and was just desperate just to be in the limelight. There are still DJs and KJs like that around. Some will play for free just to be in that position.

If people learn how to turn things around not only can they benefit but so too can the client. However reading your words again, you are right, he got what he paid for. It was the patrons who were shortchanged and are being short changed. I just came from a short appointment a few minutes ago and drove past the joint, there was only two cars out there. One belonged to the waitress/bartender! That says a lot. He will be gone soon. Mark my words.
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I agree. he'll probably be gone soon. Probably replaced by someone else willing to do it for $50...and the owner will get the same result. Which is why I don't do bars anymore. Private events only.

The reality is...if you are only willing to pay for a bike ride, don't expect a limo.

This business is not unique. There always has been...and always will be...people looking to be the cheapest around...usually because they have no other idea on how to sell. So they are cheap, the owner's only looking for cheap....sounds like a match made in heaven. Let them have each other.

Every time I drop by, there is always someone different
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BTW...since you go there, then technically, you are supporting this behavior:)

Find a place that pays for talent and support that.
 
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Scott Hanna said:
I agree. he'll probably be gone soon. Probably replaced by someone else willing to do it for $50...and the owner will get the same result. Which is why I don't do bars anymore. Private events only.

The reality is...if you are only willing to pay for a bike ride, don't expect a limo.

This business is not unique. There always has been...and always will be...people looking to be the cheapest around...usually because they have no other idea on how to sell. So they are cheap, the owner's only looking for cheap....sounds like a match made in heaven. Let them have each other.


BTW...since you go there, then technically, you are supporting this behavior:)

Find a place that pays for talent and support that.
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Who says I always buy drinks!;)
 
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ahoustondj said:
He is wasting money. He won't last long. The guy before him was the same way and did not last a year. There is never more than a few cars outside this one particular Bar and I tried to tell him that he needs to upgrade his Entertainment Offering. If he was doing a lot of business that would be different. Just as there are a lot of wannabe DJs I guess there are a lot of Wannabe Bars/Clubs, they come and go rather quickly.
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First and most importantly people need to know this bar exist. This bar can have a great DJ with grat gear and if they don't know the place is there that won't matter.

How much business does this bar get on other days there is a DJ there?
 
Damn! Even Mix is on my azz! :eek:
 
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