Hi

Have got a meeting tommorrow with a landlady for a pub with the view to a residance posiible friday and saturday nights.

Now the question is dress code for meeting -

1) Trousers and corporate logo polo shirt (black polo with gold embroidery)
2) Trousers and shirt
3) Trousers shirt and tie
4) Suit, shirt and tie.

Im thinking option one as looks profssional image for actual business, but thought I would ask peoples opinion (sp).

Know the main thing she is looking for is someone who is competant with a microphone, so will also take bits along to prove this fact.

Also never really had a face to face meeting with a client / employer any advice tips greatly appreciated

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Up to a point it may depend on the style of pub.

However safest option is 4.

Agree with Steve (spinner).

Depends on the landlady. Does she dress up or down normally?

However I always wear a suit for business meetings. It's polite.

Its a awkward one as have only spoke to her over the phone she sounds fairly young more a mangeress than a landlady.
I know her main clients are older generation rather than teens / twentysomethings

I would go for the smart casual approach. Shirt and trousers, you are there for a business meeting, but not a Wedding and since the work is to be in the main bar area rather than private functions where a suit may be required, I would dress accordingly.

When discussing your abilities and experience etc, don't forget to mention any associations which you are a member of, and even mentioning that you are a member on a community like this one all shows committment and professionalism on your part. Do you have any references as well?, or past venues which would offer you a reference if it is requested?.

i wear a black shirt, white/cream tie, black trousers and black shoes to any meeting involving resideny djing, and 80% of discos, i like to make a good impression for future references

and have a shave Dan!!!

pink stillettos, cream blouse and red micro skirt

Option 2 , when we hire djs we want them to look smart but trendy. Wear what you feel comfortable in and you will come over as relaxed and confident.

Absolutly no taste.


You don't wear pink with red. Very unchic.

Talking of dress code, I just thought I'd add this little experience for your amusement.

I covered a Wedding in a club premises recently. It was a kind-of second referral from a contact who needed a help-out with a problem, and was out of my usual stamping ground, so didn't know the area too well.

Arrived very early afternoon to set up, by arrangement. Was dressed very casual for the sweaty job of humping and carrying, met and chatted to the club steward and his good lady etc. Finished setting up and left when guests started to arrive (I was doing evening only)

Back home, getting ready for the evening I thought, "Hmmm . . wedding, is it Tux or Suit and Tie"? Wife suggested suit would be enough, or more than enough. (What did she know, I wonder?)

Walked into club dressed in suit and tie, all bright and breezy to a near empty place, Steward and his wife at the bar. First, they didn't recognise me from a few hours ago. Gave me a look that kind-of said, "who the hell are you and what are you here to sell"

So I re-introduced myself, as the DJ for the wedding . . you remember??

He responded, "Oh yes, its you. Its just that we are not used to people in here dressed in suits"

I replied, "Well, it seems only reasonable for a wedding"

"Oh" says he, "down here, the kind of DJ's we get in, you look at them and think: well you could at least have put on a clean T-shirt"

No wonder I looked a bit out of place.
Actually went on to have a cracking night and the Steward said he'd definitely be in touch soon.

It just makes you wonder a bit tho'

It never hurts to show a bit of cleavage. You never know which way she plays. Also, you say a lot with your shoes. Flip Flops says "I've come along to show willing but I don't really want the gig".

Just to let you know decided to go to the meeting in smart black trousers and coporate polo shirt.

Had a chat for 45 mins with manager didnt even take me coat off so could have been wearing anything underneath (even the cream blouse ads suggested)

Meeting was succesful and i have a trial this friday with the view to residance if all goes well.

On way home realised I hadnt checked with them about dress code for actual night so popped them a call to be told wear what ever I felt comfortable in.

So it didnt matter in the end LOL...

On your point of outfits ADS I have been asked to quote for a civil partnership in June but they also asked if I know any drag dj's do you want gig ?????

All the best Dan - go break a leg as they say - mick

How was the first gig Dan?

Different s the best way to descibe evening.

Arrived hour before start time to check out house gear etc....

Found what they called there system had no power leads so was unusuable
great start lol. Thankfully I had taken my system with me also so used this instead.

At this point 8pm there was about 3 people in the whole pub.

Due to being plugged into house sound system was not allowed to sound check before 9 pm start so had to adjust on the fly through the first few songs.

Played some chart stuff to start off with as more people ventured in from the snow, played a few club classics that got people dancing, tapping feet ie castles in the sky, snadstorm for landlady to come over and say this was too houses so apologised and moved back to rnb main stream chart stuff again.

was then approached by a few gals in a large group who wanted some mowtown music so i obliged to be then approached by the landlady again after 3rd mowtown song to say no we dont want that kind of music ?? (people where dancing) Cant you play the current number 1 and some rnb ?? Already had played both generes for first hour.

So again due to trail I obliged again eventually got people strating to dance again for her to come over a third time and say play summer of 69 now they love that one. (hmm would mix in well from black eyed peas) So explained would play it but give me a few songs to get to that ie play kaiser chiefs, franz ferdinand to get closer to summer of 69.

She didnt then give me any more tips and a i played a good 80's set that went down well and then some cheese singalong anthems for last hour of night. which seemed to go down very well.

After finish heard landlady say that was worse friday night takings wise ? May have been due to weather and + a new pub had opened that week about 3 doors down doing the same sort of format.

Got paid okay and she then said well i didnt hear any negative comments about you from customers, But I have other dj's interested so will ring you monday week ???

Will she ring ??? who knows ?? Weird night really as if she didnt want a entertainer rather a yes no person who would play what she wanted when she wanted and not what her customers wanted.

Admitiley if it wasnt so quiet private gig wise I proably wouldnt be bothered and wouldnt rush back there but have to go where the money is ?

So we will see !!

Apologise for long drawn out post but wanted to explain clearly the evening.

Your post doesn't sound too positive, but I wouldn't be too concerned - she sounds like a typical landlord/landlady to me. They always want everything now, they know far more than you and when you do what they say and it doesn't work it's your fault.

I have only worked for one pub and they guy was a complete moron. He wanted the music turned up to max from the start of the evening and all the lights on. He then asked me to point the lights out of the pub window. His thoughts were that if people passing outside could see and hear a good show then they would come in.

I could see where he was coming from but the noise was driving people out of the pub after their first drink.

Needless to say I thanked him at the end of the night but said I wouldn't be interested in returning.

Just to follow up this story for those interested,

Last friday while travelling down to kent for a weekend charity event the landlady in questyion phoned me to say she was worried as guy working there that friday had not been in touch and did I know him he name was 'Ian'. She mentioned she was slightly worried that he didnt seem very professional when she had met him originally.

oh yeah hold on I just get out my book of every dj in the country ??

Explained that I didnt know anyone by that name and apologised that I couldnt help her further so she said she would get in touch with me this week monday to confirm her plans.

Monday came and no phone call, so I phoned her tuesday to be told thankfully he did turn up and work really hard and she would be going with him but she might be interested in me for saturdays (allthough when we first had meeting she said saturdays were already sorted)

I wont hold my diary awating her to phone back anyway.

Something not quite right with this place and maybe I am better off out of there,

So still no residance sercured so still avaliable any/every night if you get double bookings guys

Cheers Dan

I was told 'in the beginning' by a retired landlord that sometimes (or more often than not) the manager of the 'residency' will sound as if they are doing you the honours, and not the other way around!

Remember, there are DJs with laptops full of music and willing to gig for a few quid or 'drink money'......but have they got the experience, skill and client focused approach as you?

I know it can be frustrating but remember that first and foremost you're offering a service.

If you are free for the next gig - they are lucky.

Danny -
It was myself who she had booked for the Saturday night.
Phoned her up to let her know what time I was going to arrive, to be told she'd booked an agency.
The first night I met her, we'd had a bloody awful day anyway, a family death - so thats why I wasn't on top form.
She never phoned me back, even though she had my phone number.
She seemed a very funny tart anyway - so I'm not too bothered. I think she'll be better doing her own disco as any DJ she books won't come up to her standards.
She doesn't think about her customers, just her own tastes in music.
Ah well - her loss!

Ian.

Dan... email this pubs number to me. i fancy going down and working it. just to wind the manager up........... after all i've never been a yes man lol

Come on lads sort yourselves out.





Better luck with the other job I`v sent your way Dan!!!