Cowboys Letting People Down

[Norfolk DJ 0]

 

Maybe it's around here, but I've had about 8 calls in the last month from people who have been let down at short notice, usually on the day.

 

There is 2 common factors, no contract and low fees usually they have been charged sub £200.

[McCardle 1]

Could be just the fallout from the actions of one or two companies.

 

Around here the local rag has been filled with horror stories about poor quality electrical and building work. To read the story and take it at face value, its scaremongering in that it sounds like the whole industry is filled with cowboys and they were multiplying overnight, in essence it turned out to be mostly attributed to the actions of two Polish brothers.

 

Sadly its usually not the numbers of these type of company which are on the increase its the instances and increase of people LOOKING for them which are on the rise because the public aren't asking questions and trusting their instincts, and those who wouldn't be tempted to cut corners a few years ago, are now routinely taking chances.

 

Still if its making your phone ring, you have an opportunity to do something about it, and it Sounds like an opportunity for you to pass on plenty of work to your trusted local colleagues.....

Edited September 6, 2009 by McCardle

[Robster 0]

i don't always issue contracts , if im honest . i am often cheaper or around the sum mentioned ..i have a 100% attendance (touch wood ) so i don't think that is the key factor... not meeting those two points in my honest opinion does not make you a cowboy.

 

I think its attitude to your job and how you conduct yourself ..i have not been well recently but i would literally have to be on deaths door not to turn up at the last minute.

 

I have numbers of people i can count on if the stuff hit the fan.

 

I have back up gear and i never double book.

 

I care what my customers think ..i think this is the difference between us and the cowboys

Edited September 6, 2009 by Robster

[McCardle 1]

Of course Cowboys can appear in many guises, and not just in how good at something somebody is or what they charge for it.

 

You could be the best DJ in the world, but still end up with your name in the paper for a criminal conviction for something else you did (or didn't do) in relation to how you run, and how seriously you take being in business.

 

I've read things on forums before now, where DJ's talk openly about fighting with guests and smashing people over the heads with microphone stands. I'm pretty sure this is just forum pub talk, but I do wonder, if some people are capable of this (and some of them are) and have a hair trigger temper, how many clients would want to book a DJ who was even habouring these thoughts towards their guests, let alone would book a DJ with a GBH conviction for their childrens' party, no matter how GOOD they were as a DJ.

 

Professionalism doesn't just apply in relation to what you do behind the decks, its also about how you act and behave in everyday life because when you are self employed you are always an ambassador for your own business and have a duty to the industry that your businesses ultimately represents.

Edited September 6, 2009 by McCardle

[Dream Catchers 0]

I've read things on forums before now, where DJ's talk openly about fighting with guests and smashing people over the heads with microphone stands..........

 

Professionalism doesn't just apply in relation to what you do behind the decks, its also about how you act and behave in everyday life

Well said :Thumbup:

 

Jim

[Norfolk DJ 0]

 

Sadly its usually not the numbers of these type of company which are on the increase its the instances and increase of people LOOKING for them which are on the rise because the public aren't asking questions and trusting their instincts, and those who wouldn't be tempted to cut corners a few years ago, are now routinely taking chances.

 

Still if its making your phone ring, you have an opportunity to do something about it, and it Sounds like an opportunity for you to pass on plenty of work to your trusted local colleagues.....

 

Yes it's good business for me and my local contacts, but giving the industry a poor reputation.

 

i don't always issue contracts , if im honest . i am often cheaper or around the sum mentioned ..i have a 100% attendance (touch wood ) so i don't think that is the key factor... not meeting those two points in my honest opinion does not make you a cowboy.

 

I think its attitude to your job and how you conduct yourself ..i have not been well recently but i would literally have to be on deaths door not to turn up at the last minute.

 

I have numbers of people i can count on if the stuff hit the fan.

 

I have back up gear and i never double book.

 

I care what my customers think ..i think this is the difference between us and the cowboys

 

the common demoninator based upon the facts preseted by these clients is no contract. I never issued these until about 3 years ago. These are issued now to protect me and the client. These people Robster don't have the professional attitudes that we have. They move along when more money is offered and with no comeback. From our view point this is a nice selling point offering the client reassurances.

[Raymilkybarkid 0]

I received a call on Friday night from a distraught Bride looking for a disco for her wedding on Saturday.

 

She had booked DJ X from a wedding directory and paid a deposit. DJ X contacted her on Friday afternoon to say that they were double booked and had to cancel her booking. I asked if she had a contact with them and she replied yes. The bride thought that she was dealing with a professional company as they had a half page advert in the publication.

 

I made a couple of calls to colleagues and found her a DJ for her wedding.

DJ Y telephoned me back to say that the bride only wanted to pay £200 as she had paid a £75 deposit to DJ X. but would forward the £75 to DJ Y when she received it back from DJ X. DJ Y declined the offer of the Job.

 

Even with a contract the bride should be able to get her money back and I would hope some form of compensation for the stress caused.

 

If it had been my wedding I would have paid DJ Ys rate and claimed it back from DJ X .

 

 

[Norfolk DJ 0]

I received a call on Friday night from a distraught Bride looking for a disco for her wedding on Saturday.

 

She had booked DJ X from a wedding directory and paid a deposit. DJ X contacted her on Friday afternoon to say that they were double booked and had to cancel her booking. I asked if she had a contact with them and she replied yes. The bride thought that she was dealing with a professional company as they had a half page advert in the publication.

 

I made a couple of calls to colleagues and found her a DJ for her wedding.

DJ Y telephoned me back to say that the bride only wanted to pay £200 as she had paid a £75 deposit to DJ X. but would forward the £75 to DJ Y when she received it back from DJ X. DJ Y declined the offer of the Job.

 

Even with a contract the bride should be able to get her money back and I would hope some form of compensation for the stress caused.

 

If it had been my wedding I would have paid DJ Ys rate and claimed it back from DJ X .

 

Interesting this one. The bride made two separate issues into 1. Really given the short notice I think she should have taken the very reasonable £275 offer and sued the company which let her down. The Dj y who was helping her out was slightly dragged into the scenario by linking the paid deposit to him. In these circumstances I would have also declined the job.

[Dukesy 0]

Whether I'm booked at the time of enquiry or not, where possible, I always advise that it is a very good idea to meet the DJ entertainer to discuss the requirements of the function.

 

This and other tips are available in free downloadable articles (guides) on the DJ@ website - guides can be reproduced on own website, so long as the credit link remains intact, unmodified and active when clicked:

 

What forms of action are available to you when a mobile DJ or Wedding DJ lets you down.pdf - pdf download

 

What forms of action are available to you when the Wedding DJ youve booked passes on the booking to another company - pdf download

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

i find most of the people who get "let down" are part of the problem, yet blame the DJ as its easier

 

Ive given quotes to people, then theyve rang up a week before to check all is ok. You explain it was just a quote and they havnt booked anything, have nothing in writing and are no longer available. A Local venue has done this to me twice, both times the day before! To Double check all is ok, when in reality they never booked anything, despite me telling them it was a quote and they would need to get back to me ASAP to book it in. Luckily both times ive been able to get one of my guys to cover the booking, but if i hadnt been able to, would the venue tell whatever DJ they find, that i had let them down??

[Dukesy 0]

Of course Cowboys can appear in many guises, and not just in how good at something somebody is or what they charge for it.

 

You could be the best DJ in the world, but still end up with your name in the paper for a criminal conviction for something else you did (or didn't do) in relation to how you run, and how seriously you take being in business.

 

I've read things on forums before now, where DJ's talk openly about fighting with guests and smashing people over the heads with microphone stands. I'm pretty sure this is just forum pub talk, but I do wonder, if some people are capable of this (and some of them are) and have a hair trigger temper, how many clients would want to book a DJ who was even habouring these thoughts towards their guests, let alone would book a DJ with a GBH conviction for their childrens' party, no matter how GOOD they were as a DJ.

 

Professionalism doesn't just apply in relation to what you do behind the decks, its also about how you act and behave in everyday life because when you are self employed you are always an ambassador for your own business and have a duty to the industry that your businesses ultimately represents.

 

 

Yes. I always despair when I see customer orientated topics with replies like 'Tell them to Eff off' from DJ's.

 

Whether the customer is in the wrong or whether they may be difficult or even infuriating is immaterial - it does not warrant that sort of comment, especially when its made in a PUBLIC VIEWABLE thread.

 

When are DJ's going to start acting responsibly and showing respect to the people who pay their wages?

 

If you had a Day job, you wouldn't go into your boss on Monday morning and tell him to 'eff off', yet DJ's clearly in some cases think that they are something special and above the rest of civilised society. Worse still, this behaviour rarely goes unchallenged or openly criticised by others who also profess to be professionals.

 

So in other words, this is widespread industry acceptance that these comments and attitudes are perfectly acceptable and as far as the public is concerned, LUMPS US ALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY.

 

I for one would be concerned if I'd invited a tradesman into my home, only to find him making comments on his industry related forum along the lines of "The wallpaper was about 30 years out of date, his wife was pig-ugly and his kids were right out of the garbage patch films.'

 

This would be very personal and unacceptable - I doubt that you would be quick to employ the services of that particular tradesperson either!

 

Well, it is a perfect example of why we shouldn't be discussing our customer publicly or swearing at them in public either.

 

I'll continue to cheerfully delete threads of this nature from DJU, but you are perfectly welcome to continue them on forums whose whole philosophy of allowing some within the industry to discuss, refer to and generally show publicly that they treat their customers like rats in a sewer, which is doing more damage to YOUR business than you'll ever know.

Edited September 8, 2009 by Dukesy