Just wanted to know how many times have you been called for last minute services.Do you accept if able to or pass it up? In the last month Ive had 2 situations where people have called me for the reason that their dj flaked out on them,but on those dates me and my buddies were booked
Help! My dj cancelled
- Thread starter smallworld55
- Start date
Sometimes, people are the largest contributors to their own misfortunes. So your DJ bailed. Sorry about your luck. A misstep on your part (booking a wildcatter service) does not necessitate an emergency on my part.
We often receive a couple of these calls during the course of a month depending upon the time of year. Grad party season and holiday weekends are the big ones.
Another aspect is the old "DJ-as-an-afterthought" routine. Someone says "who's doing the music" and there's a last-moment scramble to book a cheap DJ service because there's little money left.
We usually decline these last-moment offers. We have found through experience that last-moment shows tend to be extremely disorganized. There is also insufficient time to prepare and build a program that will suit the client and guests.
If it's an informal Country music party, we can manage that. But a wedding or other formal? No thanks.
We often receive a couple of these calls during the course of a month depending upon the time of year. Grad party season and holiday weekends are the big ones.
Another aspect is the old "DJ-as-an-afterthought" routine. Someone says "who's doing the music" and there's a last-moment scramble to book a cheap DJ service because there's little money left.
We usually decline these last-moment offers. We have found through experience that last-moment shows tend to be extremely disorganized. There is also insufficient time to prepare and build a program that will suit the client and guests.
If it's an informal Country music party, we can manage that. But a wedding or other formal? No thanks.
being in the phone book, we get these calls quite frequently. If we have the availability, we do them.
Most are people that were planning on having someone they know..or a friend of a friend...and they either back out...or realize it ain't such a good idea.
Some are calling cause their dj bailed....
a few call because they realized the DJ they hired is unreliable and has missed or blown off meetings or phone calls.
We have no problem doing last minute events if we are available. We even get referred from other DJ companies that don't want to take last minute events.
Most are people that were planning on having someone they know..or a friend of a friend...and they either back out...or realize it ain't such a good idea.
Some are calling cause their dj bailed....
a few call because they realized the DJ they hired is unreliable and has missed or blown off meetings or phone calls.
We have no problem doing last minute events if we are available. We even get referred from other DJ companies that don't want to take last minute events.
I don't take late bookings because I don't own "DJ Transportation" I lease it on a per need basis. Usually by the time "late bookings" have their act together to pay me I don't have enough turn-around time to secure a van. I don't book my van until I have money and a signature. So I don't take late bookings.
It's a catch 22, I can't afford to have a "DJ vehicle" and drive it as personal vehicle, it costs too much now with the gas prices, and an affordable vehicle for daily driving is too small for DJ use. Then there's the additional booking for Uncle Sam that would go with it.
It's a catch 22, I can't afford to have a "DJ vehicle" and drive it as personal vehicle, it costs too much now with the gas prices, and an affordable vehicle for daily driving is too small for DJ use. Then there's the additional booking for Uncle Sam that would go with it.
Lost a wedding gig couple months ago because the B & G found a friend of a friend to do the wedding for 150.00 It turns out the DJ friend backs out on the day of the wedding due to getting another gig that pays more. The bride calls me up but I had a bunch of friends over for a BBQ. They ended up using a boom box during the reception. Oh, well!!!!
G
Guest
Guest
The last time it happened:
Bride: Are you available tomorrow.
Me: (I was). Yes I am. What type of event is it and where?
Bride: A wedding. It is at (local wedding factory).
Me: What happened?
Bride: The company that was supposed to do it works for the (local wedding factory) and the owner called me last night and said his DJ can't do it and he doesn't have anyone else.
Me: I can tell you that I am about four times what they charge.
Bride: Well, we can only afford $150. (She's paying over $7,000 for stuffed chicken and can only afford $150 for the entertainment.)
Me: Well, that is our price and we will expect to be paid in cash, money order, or cashier's check before we even unload our gear.
Bride: Oh. You won't take a check?
Me: Not for a last minute event. We need a form of guaranteed payment.
Bride: What about a credit card?
Me: Sorry, not for last minute events.
Bride: Well, we can't do it.
Me: Sorry. Good luck.
The conversation ended. This was yesterday. I wonder how it went?
Bride: Are you available tomorrow.
Me: (I was). Yes I am. What type of event is it and where?
Bride: A wedding. It is at (local wedding factory).
Me: What happened?
Bride: The company that was supposed to do it works for the (local wedding factory) and the owner called me last night and said his DJ can't do it and he doesn't have anyone else.
Me: I can tell you that I am about four times what they charge.
Bride: Well, we can only afford $150. (She's paying over $7,000 for stuffed chicken and can only afford $150 for the entertainment.)
Me: Well, that is our price and we will expect to be paid in cash, money order, or cashier's check before we even unload our gear.
Bride: Oh. You won't take a check?
Me: Not for a last minute event. We need a form of guaranteed payment.
Bride: What about a credit card?
Me: Sorry, not for last minute events.
Bride: Well, we can't do it.
Me: Sorry. Good luck.
The conversation ended. This was yesterday. I wonder how it went?
G
Guest
Guest
Here's a crazy idea... a contract
Or if you use a credit card machine, have them physically swipe and sign.
Then sign a contract. They cannot dispute it.
Also, use Paypal. Paypal will NOT refund money if there was a contract given. Sorry Tom, but I've heard this excuse from other DJs and it's pure BS. Don't let anyone tell you that you can dispute a service-- that's what a contract is for.
G
Guest
Guest
You're right about PayPal but it was late last night and I would not be able to have the contract in hand till the event. I just didn't want to take the chance on being stiffed by these folks. Just a feeling.
Tom... easy to solve.
Tell her that you will take the credit card payment and will require a contract signing the day of the event. She would have to sign it because you "could" screw her over and not perform and there's no contract to prove otherwise Not that you would do this, but you see my point.
However, if she really wanted you, I'm sure the drive would not be so bad. There are 24 hour Copy Centers where you can fax stuff. You DO have a fax machine, right?
Tell her that you will take the credit card payment and will require a contract signing the day of the event. She would have to sign it because you "could" screw her over and not perform and there's no contract to prove otherwise
Not that you would do this, but you see my point.However, if she really wanted you, I'm sure the drive would not be so bad. There are 24 hour Copy Centers where you can fax stuff. You DO have a fax machine, right?
Exactly. And they often ignore you after the show... no referrals, no thank you, go-to-hell, nothing.
Some people have a low opinion of DJs. You can bail 'em out of a jam and you're still hired help.
We always try to help out if we can but its for our rate not the rate of the guy who left them standing out in the cold
Thanks, Jeff. That's the rub right there.
The wildcatter who shagged ass on 'em charged a pittance... and the client thinks that is all a DJ company should be paid.
Geeze... how much brains does it take?:wtf:
Had a desperate call for a last-moment wedding show a couple of years back. During the course of the conversation, I learned that the original DJ company had quoted the B&G $150.00 for a four hour wedding show.
Well, I said sorry about your luck. You could offer us $150.00 and we wouldn't show up either.
Call me the bad guy... but I couldn't help myself.
I average one call a month this time of year about a DJ bailing, and you are right Fred they dont want to pay 9 times out of 10.
Just Thursday I was offered the Princley sum of $75.00 to cover the DJ that bailed on this girl. I mean hell thats all he was charging. It was for the Sept 1 weekend (this Sat coming) Rather than pay the price she is going to look around on with a week left on one of the busiest weekends of the year
The sad part is she will probably get someone
Just Thursday I was offered the Princley sum of $75.00 to cover the DJ that bailed on this girl. I mean hell thats all he was charging. It was for the Sept 1 weekend (this Sat coming) Rather than pay the price she is going to look around on with a week left on one of the busiest weekends of the year
The sad part is she will probably get someone
A last-moment DJ service on Labor Day weekend? For $75.00?? What the heck are these people thinkin'???
Kinda causes one to wonder if they're thinkin' at all. Pardon me but this is not 1977. The cost of living has tripled since then.
Let's see... what is $75.00 today?
My grocery bill at Sam's was just shy of $300.00 today.
My electric bill was over $340.00 this month.
My fuel bill (Sunoco card) is typically over $170.00 per month.
Propane delivery was $400.00.
My mortage is slightly shy of $700.00 per month.
$75.00 for a DJ show doesn't get me outta the driveway, sorry 'bout your luck. Gosh, that's less than I was charging in 1993 for school dances with my old RS rig.
Jeff could be right. They may find some sucker who has nothing better to do...
Kinda causes one to wonder if they're thinkin' at all. Pardon me but this is not 1977. The cost of living has tripled since then.
Let's see... what is $75.00 today?
My grocery bill at Sam's was just shy of $300.00 today.
My electric bill was over $340.00 this month.
My fuel bill (Sunoco card) is typically over $170.00 per month.
Propane delivery was $400.00.
My mortage is slightly shy of $700.00 per month.
$75.00 for a DJ show doesn't get me outta the driveway, sorry 'bout your luck. Gosh, that's less than I was charging in 1993 for school dances with my old RS rig.
Jeff could be right. They may find some sucker who has nothing better to do...
Not to hi-jack
The bar i did the b-day party last night at, has a crappy low baller.
He is doing Thursdays,Fridays, & Saturdays for get this $150 for all three days!!
And he's there from 4 P.M. till Close!!!
I told them $150 a night minimum, and i start at 9 P.M and go to close.
More people, and more sales is more money for me.
They had no problem with that.........
So why is the other guy working so cheap??????
The bar i did the b-day party last night at, has a crappy low baller.
He is doing Thursdays,Fridays, & Saturdays for get this $150 for all three days!!
And he's there from 4 P.M. till Close!!!
I told them $150 a night minimum, and i start at 9 P.M and go to close.
More people, and more sales is more money for me.
They had no problem with that.........
So why is the other guy working so cheap??????
$75.00 for a DJ show doesn't get me outta the driveway, sorry 'bout your luck. Gosh, that's less than I was charging in 1993 for school dances with my old RS rig.
It's all the same to me I have a show this weekend, and I get to work with an awesome easy to get along with bride and groom who don't mind paying my rate, but I did have a guy open if they really wanted him (we had a cancelation for this date about a month ago) but not for that kind of money.
When I went on my own in '89 our rate was $225 when most others were $250. Now our rate is still only $300 to $350 depending on the details of the event (some a little higher). The guys that were $250 back then....Well most of em are still $250 and I work just as much as any of them and more than alot of them. We have more than our fair share of hundred dollar wonders here too
Right now I have 29 signed contracts for 2008 and one for 2009. I am hoping that finally people are starting to see quality over quantity