DEPOSIT REQUEST

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TJS

GetSomeJuJu
Nov 8, 2018
350
372
58
Ankeny, IA
www.jujulab.rocks
First, I wanted to say the layout of the forum looks nice. Kudos!
Secondly, my question is regarding requesting deposits in regards to booking. I know a deposit is a 'must' to finalize a booking for a wedding etc. Do any of you mandate a deposit when it comes to a bar or a brewery (for like a car show) etc when it's a one-time event? Do you find that bars or breweries don't want to put down a 50% deposit? I could easily see that if you didn't require one, a wedding opportunity could come up that same Saturday and you miss an opportunity for a higher paid event.
 
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Honestly, for "business" customers, I have always gotten paid in full day of, or even afterwards (if they invoice). I've never had an issue.
 
When it comes to bars, pubs, and restaurants I don't do deposits. I usually get paid cash at the end of the night. Sometimes they require an invoice but usually not. Two of the clubs I sometimes play at pay the following week by check but I'm on their payroll. Deposits are for my mobile gigs.
 
Yeah, I understand if it's a weekly set-up at the same location. I'm more curious about one-time events. Do you guys require a signed contract for business customers?
 
It may vary depending on the circumstance. In your original post you mentioned a car show. In that case I would get a deposit and a contract.
Tomorrow I'll be DJing in a pub that I've never DJed at before. They don't normally have DJs on a weekly basis but there is a convention in the area and they are expecting a big crowd so they felt a DJ was needed. I've spoken to the manager on phone and secured the gig. I won't be getting a deposit or contract.
 
Honestly, for "business" customers, I have always gotten paid in full day of, or even afterwards (if they invoice). I've never had an issue.

Same with me. Happens a lot on private gigs too that I get paid night of

Yeah, I understand if it's a weekly set-up at the same location. I'm more curious about one-time events. Do you guys require a signed contract for business customers?

I'll likely get ripped for this but with bar gigs I don't think it's necessary. You make an agreement and stick to it they do the same it's pretty cut and dried at a bar. By all means if you feel uncomfortable with the arrangements get one though

I use a contract with all new corporate clients but there are some I have been doing for over 20 years that I don't put out a contract for mainly because when I started doing them I didn't use a contract...There was never an issue they are happy and so am I

Any Federal government work I do I sign their contract they don't sing mine anymore
 
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I should also mention that I know the manager of the Pub from High School. I know he's been the manager there for at least 5 years and I work across the street from the Pub. Basically this means that I trust that I will be getting paid. If you don't have that level of trust then you should definitely at least get a contract signed.
 
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I don't do bars anymore, but they were ALWAYS cash at the end of the night,
with no contract. Even if it was a one-off event.

I have done plenty of corporate, school, and festival gigs....
and most of them pay the full amount at the end, with NO deposit.

When doing personal gigs, like parties and weddings...
you are dealing with a person, not a business...
so deposits are the norm.

When doing corporate work...the money has to go thru a bunch of people...
so, you always get a contract, but you almost never get a deposit.
 
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All great input! I had done a car show last year where I didn’t ask for a deposit nor got a contract signed ( didn’t have one at the time). No problems at the event nor in getting paid. So in doing the show this year, now that I have these processes in place, it made me wonder if I even need to go down that path with them. And didn’t know what general protocol was with bars and businesses anyway. Thanks for filling in the blanks.
 
All great input! I had done a car show last year where I didn’t ask for a deposit nor got a contract signed ( didn’t have one at the time). No problems at the event nor in getting paid. So in doing the show this year, now that I have these processes in place, it made me wonder if I even need to go down that path with them. And didn’t know what general protocol was with bars and businesses anyway. Thanks for filling in the blanks.

Great!
The main reason for contracts is because you don't know the client well enough
to blindly trust them to pay you.
Now that you are doing your SECOND show with them...
and they were good about it last year...
you can be pretty confident that they will pay you without issues.
Which means they can trust YOU enough to do the job.
But in the end, a contract with a deposit is a good idea...
especially if the contract includes a clause about getting paid
in a case where they have to cancel your appearance.
 
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TJS,

If you require any payment prior to the time of delivery (service or goods), and depending on your state's laws (can't determine your 20 from your empty profile), and if you have a legit contract, typically in written form, you should use the term payment not deposit. (Search these forums for prior discussions on this very topic)

Unless otherwise contractually allowed or legally prohibited, payments are made in consideration of/for something of value and are generally not a mandatory refundable transaction...deposits are a different monster. (Bold = legal, not lay terminology)

If you truly want a reliable and trustworthy understanding of contract payments vs deposits, get ye to a lawyer and have your contract and payment practices reviewed by someone other than unvetted forum counsel.

Good Luck.
 
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... reviewed by someone other than unvetted forum counsel.

Good Luck.
What you talkin' bout Willis .. there's plenty of Vets here ...
 
Weddings and some private gigs i do contract and deposit. For commercial..bar, school, etc i usually email an invoice and get paid the night of. One regular customer mails me a check when they book and I send them the invoice.
 
For businesses, colleges, universities, parks/recreation & corporations use contracts either mine or theirs. Sometimes for short notice, invoices if it’s a recurring client. No deposit although at times the check comes in before the event. Private individuals, contracts & deposit. Agents and agencies always have a contract no deposit on those I have a relationship with. If a client is new, not referred, there is something I can’t verify or have had issues with previously I will ask for full payment in advance along with the contracts.
 
My quotation, contract, and invoice are all the same document so, yes I provide a contract to any bar or restaurant requesting service for a one-off event. The deposit is a separate issue because I can waive that at my own discretion. Responding to a quote request is in most cases enough to establish agreement if they request and accept delivery of the service. (Their signature is legally unimportant at that point if the contact person is someone with authority to approve the purchase.)

It's unwise to enter into any event without providing at least a written scope of services, and the associated cost. (That's how you end up looking like a loser on Judge Judy.)

My document also specifies that where a contract for whatever reason is not executed, the terms of engagement shall default to those of any prior contract with that customer. This establishes an ongoing relationship whereby repeat clients may be invoiced after the fact when the circumstances of an evolving or short order need was not fully detailed in a formal contract.
 
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Let me say I like the word retainer better than deposit. I understand your concerns since you've never worked for this client. You want to make sure you get paid. I would talk to them to see how they plan to pay you. If you don't agree with the way they want to pay you I would talk to them and seek a solution that will work for both parties.

Also I think it depends on how much they have agreed to pay you if you're going to look to get a retainer. Getting an agreement in writing weather you ask for a retainer or not would be a good idea since this is your first time working for this client.
 
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Let me say I like the word retainer better than deposit. I understand your concerns since you've never worked for this client. You want to make sure you get paid. I would talk to them to see how they plan to pay you. If you don't agree with the way they want to pay you I would talk to them and seek a solution that will work for both parties.

Also I think it depends on how much they have agreed to pay you if you're going to look to get a retainer. Getting an agreement in writing weather you ask for a retainer or not would be a good idea since this is your first time working for this client.
What have you done with The Mix??
 
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I have a contract for EVERY event, even for clients I know and repeat events. It’s just good business practice, and good clients are fine with it. Sometimes it’s their contract; sometimes it’s mine; sometimes it’s mine with changes the client requires. If a client won’t sign a contract, it raises questions about their commitment to me, so I’d probably decline any gig for which no contract is signed.
 
First, I wanted to say the layout of the forum looks nice. Kudos!
Secondly, my question is regarding requesting deposits in regards to booking. I know a deposit is a 'must' to finalize a booking for a wedding etc. Do any of you mandate a deposit when it comes to a bar or a brewery (for like a car show) etc when it's a one-time event? Do you find that bars or breweries don't want to put down a 50% deposit? I could easily see that if you didn't require one, a wedding opportunity could come up that same Saturday and you miss an opportunity for a higher paid event.

Your deposit question has been addressed a few times... but I'll chime in on your second point.

Most of my bar and club bookings are made in the 15-30 days before execution. I have a few bookers that I work with and those agreements are typically made over text message. Most of my wedding bookings are happening 90 days to 1.5 years in advance of the performance date. Very rarely do I have a club trying to book me way in advance, and similarly, I have almost no last-minute wedding bookings.

That difference is why I like the barbell approach that I'm currently using to operate. If I were to book a car show for $750 on a Saturday 6 months from now, and then get a wedding inquiry... I'd be pissed. Its like giving up $1,000+ on the date. I do my best to reserve prime dates for prime bookings. And if they happen to still be open when I get there, I'm willing to fill it with something small and simple.

Not everyone feels that way. Many take the approach of "working is better than not working" and will take the first lead that approaches them about the date. Your business goals and needs may determine how you approach it. But my method works well for me, and keeps me as busy as I want to be.