Weddings Venue asking for $200.00 deposit

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Thank you Joe and good buddy Steve. I agree. If the Bride and groom want to pay it good deal they failed to inform me of such nonsense. I am all there for my clients and expect them to be all there for me. Otherwise they are on their own and the booking fee will remain in my hands. Call me callous but its a business beyond the art.
 
Thank you Joe and good buddy Steve. I agree. If the Bride and groom want to pay it good deal they failed to inform me of such nonsense. I am all there for my clients and expect them to be all there for me. Otherwise they are on their own and the booking fee will remain in my hands. Call me callous but its a business beyond the art.

And the award goest to "my friend JT" that's exactly how I feel.
 
There is nothing wrong with sitting down with the venue to discuss the purpose of the deposit and do some fact finding about the timing of the notification of this policy.

The bottom line is that this policy exists; it does not matter if the policy existed before you were hired or did not exist until a few days ago; it exists.

The owners of the house make the rules and determine how and when they are enforced. The owners of this house have this policy and, even if this policy did not exist, have the right to refuse you admittance and they don't even have to tell you why. And that is the bottom line in this situation.

Scenarios:

1. Pay the $200 work the event. Do a bang up job and get you money back. No harm, no foul and then you can decide if you want to work there again. If you don't, black list the venue.

2. Pay the $200 work the event. Do a bang up job but they refuse to give you your money back. At this point you can take them to court or shrug your shoulders and black list them but you've done a bang up job for your client and now possibly have an ally in the fight against the venue.

3. Refuse to pay the $200. On the day of the event the venue refuses your entry. You insist and the police are called. You leave. Yeah, you have a contract with your client but you have not fulfilled it and you have ruined your client's wedding. You can argue about the venue's policy in court all you want but the judge will inform you that you were notified and that ends that argument when your client takes you to court.

4. Refuse to pay the $200. You are allowed to DJ the event but the venue staff gives you a hard time all day and, for you, this becomes the day from hell. Afterward you black list the venue but the venue talks trash about you all over town.

Someone said that they bet this venue doesn't do this to the caterer. Chances are, they are the caterer.

They've obviously had some difficulties with DJs in the past. When you sit down with them you can find this out.

If this is a new policy, make the timing argument. If this is not a new policy and your client was just informed, again, timing argument. If the client has known all the time, you need to work this out with them.

Obviously the "client pays the venue charges" was not in your contract. If it isn't there you can't make them. Put it there for the future.

As to what I'd do; I'd sit down with the venue to get the reasoning and make the argument I stated above. If they insist on the $200, I'd pay it and worry about the consequences about getting it back or not after the event is over.

Now, we also don't have all the details we need to make a full evaluation of this situation folks. Is this a multifunction venue is a big question.

If the venue does more than one event in a day, which is likely, sirdj is probably expected to be packed up and out in an hour after the end of the event so that the venue can turn the room around for the next one. If any of the options he is providing is a hindrance to this then this needs to be discussed with the client. For example, I use an assistant so we can take down my gear, and stage it for load out in about 20 minutes and, with a change of clothes afterward, that usually pouts us on the road 45 minutes after we have shutdown. If we throw in lights and/or heavyduty video, now we're talking about maybe on the road two hours after we're done. And then there's the time needed on the fronbt end to set up.

The venue can and will make the argument that this is not their problem and it is not. Again, you have a choice to make.

Remember, the venue has the power in this situation and there really is not much that you can do about it at this point. Good luck.
 
Thank you Joe and good buddy Steve. I agree. If the Bride and groom want to pay it good deal they failed to inform me of such nonsense. I am all there for my clients and expect them to be all there for me. Otherwise they are on their own and the booking fee will remain in my hands. Call me callous but its a business beyond the art.

Jon, yes, it is a business beyond the art and probably a year ago I would have agreed with your statement and fought this tooth and nail. But, today is a different day and I weigh all the consequences.

Yes, it sucks to have this hit at such a late date but look at the scenarios in my previous post.

I will continue to argue that the venue is in the seat of power and they always have been there. If you refuse to pay they can refuse to let you in and, more than likely, the client will take you to court. Is $200 really worth this hassle at this point?

SirDJ, pay it and change your contract. If you don't get it back, black list the venue. If you do get it back, chances are you probably will never have to pay it again.
 
GoodKnightDJ, this is what the agreement says entirely, I have not changed, added or substracted any words from it:

DJ Agreement​

The purpose of this agreement is to ensure decorum and a smooth event, as well as the schedule that is worked out with the bridal couple is adhered to. Therfore, the DJ is required to sign the following agreement as well as provide "The Venue" with a $200.00 deposit. This deposit will be returned at the conclusion of the event provided the DJ follows the agreement:

  1. The DJ will arrive and be set up prior to guests arriving. This is generally 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.
  2. The DJ will dress in appropriate styles to a semi formal event, athletic wear is not acceptable
  3. The DJ will be fed after the guests have been served
  4. DJ is here to work, not as a guest, therefore there will be no comsumption of alcoholic beverages.
  5. DJ will with catering to announce dinner service by escorting each individual table of guests to the buffet table.
  6. The speaker will be set up under the marquee ad all wiring will be covered.
  7. When asked by a staff member to adjust the sound level the DJ will do so immidiately without argument.
  8. The Deposit will be secure by "The venue" at the time the DJ signs contract with the bride. It will be issued by the DJ, not by the bridal party.
  9. DJ will contact the bride or "The Venue" to secure the event schedule, prior to the event day.
  10. DJ will not bring a "friend" to the event, nor sit behind the podium.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now once again, how about if the schedule gets delayed for about 15 minutes, and the venue is hard headed and says well you just broke part of your agreement, or they don't like what I wear. As you said they have the last word, who says they won't keep the $200.00.

Obviously they had trouble in the past with other DJ's again this is where a liability insurance kicks in, and not only that the client failed to give me that information in the beginning.
 
Total B.S. if you ask me.. I mean, who are you working for the venue or the client? Personally, I do what MY CLIENT wants, not the venue. They have no right to dictate what I wear, or who I bring etc. In my case, I work with my wife, thus a violation. How about a themed wedding? I would not be allowed to dress appropriately, even if my client wants me too? violation...

Fault: Client... Even the agreement with the venue states:

"The Deposit will be secure by "The venue" at the time the DJ signs contract with the bride. It will be issued by the DJ, not by the bridal party."

This was not completed by the client at the time of the contract signing.

"What we've got here is.... Failure to communicate"

Simply advise the client that you will not be able to fulfill the imposed requirement. If no arrangement can be made on your behalf, the CLIENT is in breach of contract (according to my contract). Keep the money and take a Saturday off.

I would even go so far as to tell the client, I would be willing to come half way in the interest of making her happy. Tell the client to provide the funds to me, then I will forward them to the venue. When I get reimbursed after the event, I would return the money to the client. (possible tip opportunity?)

In no way, I would forward any venue money to meet their "requirements". All that matters is my client is happy.

G-Lou
 
Personally, I'd give the venue a "1, 2, shut the h@!! up." And heck, I'd still probably make sure every person and organization in the area know about this venue's sham "business policies" regardless of how the event goes.

But that's just me.
 
I would schedule a meeting with the venue to discuss this it is obvious they have had bad DJ syndrome before. If this fails to get results I would send them my agreement that would state I demand a $500 deposit in case thier staff damage my gear, or the event goes bad because of unreasonable demands by staff.... And I know they aren't going to sign this.

I then would pay the $200 because regardless of the fact the venue is hard to get along with I am still committed to my client. At this late date anything else will make you look bad and they have a reason to blackball you

If I didn't get my $200 back I would then blackball them any way I could

My questions in Navy

The purpose of this agreement is to ensure decorum and a smooth event, as well as the schedule that is worked out with the bridal couple is adhered to. Therfore, the DJ is required to sign the following agreement as well as provide "The Venue" with a $200.00 deposit. This deposit will be returned at the conclusion of the event provided the DJ follows the agreement:

What happens if it is the venue staff that makes the schedule late?
  1. The DJ will arrive and be set up prior to guests arriving. This is generally 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.

    I have serious issues with this one. I generally setup hours ahead of time
  2. The DJ will dress in appropriate styles to a semi formal event, athletic wear is not acceptable

    No one has had to tell me what to wear since I was 7...I can figure it out
  3. The DJ will be fed after the guests have been served

    This is reasonable...I never expect to be fed at all if they do that's nice
  4. DJ is here to work, not as a guest, therefore there will be no comsumption of alcoholic beverages.

    I guarantee this to my clients so doing the same for the venue won't be an issue. This might be alot of the problems with the venue
  5. DJ will with catering to announce dinner service by escorting each individual table of guests to the buffet table.
  6. The speaker will be set up under the marquee ad all wiring will be covered.

    Mine or thiers :sqwink:
  7. When asked by a staff member to adjust the sound level the DJ will do so immidiately without argument.

    Volume is very much an opinion. Do they use a Decibel meter?
  8. The Deposit will be secure by "The venue" at the time the DJ signs contract with the bride. It will be issued by the DJ, not by the bridal party.

    This breaks my contract which states the client pays all fees associated with the event
  9. DJ will contact the bride or "The Venue" to secure the event schedule, prior to the event day.
  10. DJ will not bring a "friend" to the event, nor sit behind the podium.

I often work with an assistant...Are employees allowed?
 
...Obviously they had trouble in the past with other DJ's again this is where a liability insurance kicks in, and not only that the client failed to give me that information in the beginning.

Nothing in that agreement is covered by your liability insurance, you are comparing two entirely different issues. I have heard of such "agreements", usually at a higher end or historical venue. They are generally more to control your set-up (location, size, power draw, use of effects, etc).

Many of the items in that list are already covered in my contract with my client. The volume one is a concern, I work for the client and while I respect the wishes (and local laws) of the venue, what if the client wants it louder...whose contract wins?

The agreement has already been broken because the B&G failed to present it when you signed with them. Do you hard line the client and have them go back to the venue? Whose to say the venue doesn't have a house DJ on stand by. Tom has some good points. Bottom line, only you know all the details of this situation. Do what you think is best for your business.
 
Kicking the ego to the side...

DJ Agreement

The purpose of this agreement is to ensure decorum and a smooth event, as well as the schedule that is worked out with the bridal couple is adhered to. Therfore, the DJ is required to sign the following agreement as well as provide "The Venue" with a $200.00 deposit. This deposit will be returned at the conclusion of the event provided the DJ follows the agreement:

Is it reasonable to assume that if a schedule conflict is caused by a vendor other than SirDJ then he will get his deposit back? For example, let's say the client asks the photographer to take family pictures on the dance floor (happened to me on Sunday) and this takes longer than expected due to the rounding up of the folks to be in the photograph and this impacts the cake cutting, does the photographer get dinged?


1. The DJ will arrive and be set up prior to guests arriving. This is generally 30 minutes prior to the ceremony.

I arrive two hours before the start of the event and the contract is for four to five hours including ceremony if it is at the same venue.

After reading this again, they are saying that the guests arrive thirty minutes prior to the ceremony. If the ceremony is at 5:00 PM, they expect the guests to start arriving at 4:30 PM. I would be set up by then.

2. The DJ will dress in appropriate styles to a semi formal event, athletic wear is not acceptable

I will dress in the manner that the client wants. If they want formal, they get formal. If they want business suit, they get business suit. If they want Hawaiian shirts, that's what they get. If they want nude, well...


3. The DJ will be fed after the guests have been served

I don't eat half the time anyway so I really don't care.



4. DJ is here to work, not as a guest, therefore there will be no comsumption of alcoholic beverages.

Not a problem. Water works fine for me and most of the time I bring my own.



5. DJ will with catering to announce dinner service by escorting each individual table of guests to the buffet table.

I'll release them but not escort them.



6. The speaker will be set up under the marquee ad all wiring will be covered.

Run a spell check on your agreement.

If that's where you want the speaker. If it doesn't sound good there then I'll send all complaints to you.

I always cover my wiring.



7. When asked by a staff member to adjust the sound level the DJ will do so immidiately without argument.

I'll send all guests and my client to you when they want it turned up.



8. The Deposit will be secure by "The venue" at the time the DJ signs contract with the bride. It will be issued by the DJ, not by the bridal party.

But the bridal party will issue it to me first.



9. DJ will contact the bride or "The Venue" to secure the event schedule, prior to the event day.

I always do a finalization thirty days prior to the event with the bride and groom. The venue gets the agenda after that. It is always open for change.



10. DJ will not bring a "friend" to the event, nor sit behind the podium.

I don't use a podium so this is not a problem. I do sit behind my console when my back tells me that I need to.

Hmmm, I guess my assistants can't come because they are friends.

After looking at this I think I'd be hardpressed to sign it. Since your client sprung it on you at the last minute, they need to work this out with the venue.
 
I'll gladly pay the deposit.




But before i do, I'll inform them of my policy of collecting $300 from any venue that requires a deposit. This insures me of getting my deposit back.:sqwink:


all kidding aside, none of those things will really be an issue. However, there is nothing there that says how exactly they document things and how or why they would charge something against the deposit. What if the hall owner is hard up for money and decides i violated one of these rules. How do i prove I didn't? Is he judge and jury? how much is deducted per "violation'?

No, the fact is I would not have signed an agreement with the bride and groom if they brought that up when they signed with me, and I will not be forced to sign it now. I'm sorry they decided to book with a hall like that. If the hall told them about that when they signed, then it's the bride and groom's fault. If the hall didn't make that clear to them, then it's the hall's fault.

I don't like to be hard to work with, and will gladly do just about everything I can to make things work. I draw the line at that.
 
I'll gladly pay the deposit.

But before i do, I'll inform them of my policy of collecting $300 from any venue that requires a deposit. This insures me of getting my deposit back.:sqwink:

Hmmm...actually...along those lines, why not present them with an agreement and deposit you require from all venues that you have not worked in before. The agreement would require the venue to provide a clean, consistent power source on an independent circuit. When you've completed the show without anything burning out or any variable issues such as the house lights being on dimmer packs on the same circuit, they get their money back.

Anybody want to add to this agreement...
 
-The manager of the venue (not a lackey) must present the DJ(s) with a tour of the facility.
-The venue must provide matching tablecloth and skirts for each DJ table.
-The DJ(s) must have open access to all house lighting and temperature controls.
 
5. DJ will with catering to announce dinner service by escorting each individual table of guests to the buffet table.

No way am I going to escort each table to the buffet table, with a large group you would be away from your work station way too much, this to me should be the caterer's duty, if the venue is doing this have at it. I will make announcements, and try to release the tables, but as I've mentioned in many posts before I've never seen the releasing of tables go smooth, some tables will start jumping up and not wait to be released.

So if the guests jump up and go before being released is the DJ responsible and will they loose the deposit??
 
Hmmm...actually...along those lines, why not present them with an agreement and deposit you require from all venues that you have not worked in before. The agreement would require the venue to provide a clean, consistent power source on an independent circuit. When you've completed the show without anything burning out or any variable issues such as the house lights being on dimmer packs on the same circuit, they get their money back.

Anybody want to add to this agreement...

I like that!
 
This may be the case

I would meet with the venue manager and work out the details, find a middle ground and put it in writing. Call me paranoid but have you considerd that this venue manager may have a DJ company that he already has a kick back agreement with and may be trying to discourage you? If this is the case and you don't play it right you loose.:sqwink:
 
It is in my contract as well. The clients know this up front that they are responsible for any fees by the venue, parking, etc. If the fees are not paid then it is the clients who are in breech of contract but clear communication should handle this.

Proof of liability insurance is all the venue needs. I sign nothing presented by the venue. Never did and never will. Unfortunately Tom the venues cannot make up any rules they'd like. They are not a private club and must meet fair business practices. That is something a lawyer would have a field day with. But who's going to let it get to that point?

And I know you are not going to like this one but those who pay that $200 are truly showing why they are part timers and they are the reason we are though of in this regard. At this point in the deal this has nothing to do with the clients or their happiness. This is simply a business transaction. When handled in a professional way this shouldn't be a problem nor should it cost the DJ business upfront money. I'm sure that many part time DJ's cause damage then have no liability insurance to cover their @$$. Most part time DJ's don't have this protection. But that should not affect those professionals who carry liability insurance.

Part time or full time, act professional and deal with it in a professional manner but there is no need to pay $200.
 
I guess it's time to re-do my contract then.

I'm not going to pay the $200.00, isn't that why we have insurance?, It doesn't matter how elegant is this venue, I have worked at venues that just to reserve a 4 hour bracket time you have to pay $12,000.00 that doesn't include food, beverage, other grounds rentals. All they asked me was for my insurance certificate and gladly show them a copy.

Jefferson Street Mansion in Benicia, CA?

As I recall (when this happened in October of 2006) -- My performing DJ cut them a personal check, which they returned UNCASHED at the end of the evening.
 
Ron and others:

As I indicated earlier, there are red flags in this agreement. For example, I sit behind my consol if my back says I need to. No DJ or venue is going to tell me that I can't do that. However, I will still argue that the venue has the right to refuse anyone entry for any reason they want; it is private property.

Now, I would sit down with the venue and discuss this. I would simply outline that my company's policies mirror theirs for the most part; that is, we are always set up before guest arrival and start playing when the first guest arrives; we have a no alcohol policy; we always dress in a professional manner consumate with the occasion unless the client specifies otherwise; and so on. I would also empasize that we are professionals in our business and place speakers where they will do the most good; cover our wires; and have a decible meter to take frequent measurements of the sound level. Finally, I would indocate that since their staff knows the venue layout better than we do it would be far better for their staff to release the tables to the buffet.

It is my belief that such a conversation would cause this agreement and deposit to be dispensed with. But, if the venue is being hardazzed about it, I would bring up the fact that we have only just learned about it and it is also our policy to not enter into agreements like this or to pay any fees to the venue; that is our client's responsibility per our contract with them. At that point they will either tell you to get out and to not bother to show up or they will negotiate. A real bastage would use the first argument and will have the police waiting for you on the wedding day and one of their DJs already set up inside; in that case, contract or not, you are either going home or to jail.

I have never run into this before, even at the "highend" venues in the area and hope that I don't.