Would You Work For Less To Help?

[McCardle 1]

Following on from another thread:- http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23231

 

Q1) A Dj you have heard of, but otherwise do not know, has contacted you at the last minute, he / she has a family emergency to attend, and is asking you to go out immediately (Within 1 hour) to venue 5 miles away in order to cover an entire gig for them (with the permission of the client). The problem is that the DJ offering the work is cheaper than you, do you make an exception and reduce your fee to match theirs, or do you stick to your guns and demand your full fee regardless?.

 

Q2) You have been looking forward to a night off for a while, now you were planning to take the family to the local pub for a meal and enjoy a quiet pint, would you even CONSIDER covering this booking at the eleventh hour? or would you politely decline.

Edited February 9, 2009 by McCardle

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

i voted yes for both

 

but the answers are a bit too black and white

 

Would i work for less? Depends how much less...£60 quid gets no backup from me! If its a genuine hard working DJ who i respect, then id take the £150 he was working for

 

Would i cancel plans? Depends on what the plans were, depends who they were with and depends on how much i respected the other DJ

 

The currect girlfriend is very supportive of my Djing career, which is what helped me make the move to fulltime. We had no firm plans for valentines, no booking anyway. Then the phone rang for a £200 local disco, she said lets do it and she will come along, she said thats another £150 we can put into the baby fund (due June)

[Kingy 0]

i voted yes for both

 

but the answers are a bit too black and white

 

Would i work for less? Depends how much less...£60 quid gets no backup from me! If its a genuine hard working DJ who i respect, then id take the £150 he was working for

 

Would i cancel plans? Depends on what the plans were, depends who they were with and depends on how much i respected the other DJ

 

 

 

I think I agree with this post.

[TonyB 0]

To me I would think of the client first and irrespective of how much the other DJ was charging, if I could I would still cover it.

 

I may have a bit of a word with him afterwards but the main thing would be not to let the client down and tarnish the reputation of the DJ'ing industry. The politics of what is being paid could wait until afterwards.

[dj will 0]

To me I would think of the client first and irrespective of how much the other DJ was charging, if I could I would still cover it.

 

I may have a bit of a word with him afterwards but the main thing would be not to let the client down and tarnish the reputation of the DJ'ing industry. The politics of what is being paid could wait until afterwards.

 

What would you do if Dodgy Dave gave you a call and said that he had a 'family emergency'?

[TonyB 0]

What would you do if Dodgy Dave gave you a call and said that he had a 'family emergency'?

 

I would still do it to show the clients what they would get for their money if they paid a descent amount and hired a proper disco tongue out icon

 

To me it would be more important to ensure the client had a disco. Otherwise they would be without and think all mobile disco are pants and unreliable or they may get another Dodgy Dave for the same money and think that is the way all disco's are.

 

Instead they would get Dodgy Tone smile icon

[McCardle 1]

What would you do if Dodgy Dave gave you a call and said that he had a 'family emergency'?

 

Rumour has it that 'Dodgy Dave' sold his family for a pair of FAL decks and a ropelight , so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Edited February 9, 2009 by McCardle

[digitaldistortion 0]

What would you do if Dodgy Dave gave you a call and said that he had a 'family emergency'?

 

Apart from the fact that I don't (personally) know any (although I know who they are in the area), I think that this would be one occasion where I wouldn't help.

 

The reason for this being that the Dodgy Daves in my area are Beer Money Berties! £50 all in and 'wot you see is wot you get' (if you're lucky and they turn up at all).

 

I would say that the more these people let themselves down, the less likely that clients are prepared to take the chance.

 

I will always, but always, in a situation where I am unable to take a booking, beg the client to be wary of simply looking at the financial aspect, gently explaining to them the potential pitfalls (legal or otherwise), and wishing them a great evening (and luck)!

 

:damn:

 

[Bouncy Dancefloor 0]

i think being a sixty quid sid is quite a hazardous job, they seem to have alot more family emergencies than other DJ's out there

 

ive had a few last minute (day or two notice) bookings from a local sixty quid sid, its astonishing just how many emergencies this man has! He calls them to let them down (how kind) and hands out my number which a warning that i charge more than he does, but is very good

 

this way i can do all the relavant paperwork with the client, not the DJ and everything is done properly (and im normally the hero). For the very very last minute gigs, speak to the client and tell them you will need a contract signing when you arrive and cash payment on arrival, this covers all eventualities

[UKHero 0]

Rumour has it that 'Dodgy Dave' sold his family for a pair of FAL decks and a ropelight , so I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Its not a rumour its true... I have one slightly used dodgy family available on ebay if your interested.

 

Nik

[Kingy 0]

Its not a rumour its true... I have one slightly used dodgy family available on ebay if your interested.

 

Nik

 

And I bet Dodgy Dave was well stung.... :ads: tongue out icon

[deejaymitch 0]

Off topic but, in my area the Dodgy Dave's and Sixty Quid Sid's are actually better than most of the legit Djs (with the notable exceptions of myself and Eazy who are both world class tongue out icon ). That's one of the factors making I have to bear in mind in my pricing. A lot of people have been let down by expensive pros and delighted by cheap illegal DJs.

[McCardle 1]

A lot of people have been let down by expensive pros and delighted by cheap illegal DJs.

 

Good point, well made :Thumbup:

 

Maybe the next question could be:- in a quote situation, would you also be willing to price match (i.e drop your original price by the same amount) with a client to secure work from the other DJ in a non emergency :scared: . I wonder if the vote would be the same?.

Edited February 10, 2009 by McCardle

[Steve_Mitchell 0]

Dont ring me if your stuck! I wont be doing it for ya! :angry:

[deejaymitch 0]

Maybe the next question could be:- in a quote situation, would you also be willing to price match (i.e drop your original price by the same amount) with a client to secure work from the other DJ in a non emergency

 

I used to price-match/compete but not anymore. My pricing structure isn't simple but I'm happy with it and I won't budge. I know I've lost a few jobs because of this but I've moved from just making up a figure on the spot to using a well thought out system that takes into account most relevant factors. So I don't haggle anymore.

[McCardle 1]

Dont ring me if your stuck! I wont be doing it for ya!

 

Not even if working for less for 'me' meant still earning more than you'd usually charge?

 

:bouncy:

 

How about if I threw in a free Kebab? :hide:

[Kingy 0]

Turning this around a bit, how about if you had already quoted to the client for this gig and they had opted for the cheaper DJ, who then let them down? Would you still honour his discounted price?

 

I would not.

[Danno13 0]

Turning this around a bit, how about if you had already quoted to the client for this gig and they had opted for the cheaper DJ, who then let them down? Would you still honour his discounted price?

 

I would not.

 

Nor would I, great opportunity to educate them as to why you were more expensive!

[dj_dex 0]

I'm afraid I wouldn't price match, you want me - pay me what I ask. If the defaulting dj is worth his salt he'll stand the difference - which may not be that much anyway.

 

Would I give up plans - I voted no, but might for the right conditions - do I know the venue or organiser, I might help them out. I got call recently about 6pm, from a venue I've played a few times but booked & paid for by the party organisers, I'd left cards with the landlord but never had a booking from him, guy he'd booked had cried off at the last minute - needed a 7.30 start meaning I'd have to leave right now, survey says ' NO ' . I had plans and kept them.

 

BTW - I've NEVER let anyone down, even when feeling like death warmed up - the audience never know it, I may call on help from friends or family to take some pressure off me, but the shows go on. If I did have to call a fellow dj to help I'd pay his fee, regardless of what I charged the client.

[haydengoy 0]

Following on from another thread:- http://www.dj-forum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23231

 

Q1) A Dj you have heard of, but otherwise do not know, has contacted you at the last minute, he / she has a family emergency to attend, and is asking you to go out immediately (Within 1 hour) to venue 5 miles away in order to cover an entire gig for them (with the permission of the client). The problem is that the DJ offering the work is cheaper than you, do you make an exception and reduce your fee to match theirs, or do you stick to your guns and demand your full fee regardless?.

 

Q2) You have been looking forward to a night off for a while, now you were planning to take the family to the local pub for a meal and enjoy a quiet pint, would you even CONSIDER covering this booking at the eleventh hour? or would you politely decline.

 

 

NO I wouldn't in the world of djing for me you pay for what you get so if he cannot make it and wanted me he would pay my price.