This is quite a hard one.... having read recent posts about abusive and threatening behaviour by guest, when is it deemed appropriate to walk out on a gig..... We are all used to drunken yobs being insulting and most of us would take it in our stride. It is an impossible thing to decide when it is appropriate to walk out.... especially at a wedding. I think that the only circumstance I would walk out is if I have been threatened or if my equipment was at risk. I would obviously first give a warning but if the abuse/threatening behaviour was coming from one or two, I would probably ask my client first to have them removed... if they werent agreeable to this I would them give them the "its them or me" choice.

I've actually got this covered, to some extent in my T & C's of booking which are displayed on the website, and sent along with the confirmation to the client.

QUOTE

The Client is responsible for the safety and security at the venue and shall evict any person(s) causing nuisance to the D.J, The D.J's assistant or any other person employed by, or associated with The Ultimate Roadshow.

It would have to get to a very extreme level before I walked out on a gig, and i've never yet excercised a "walk out" because of this.

To re-assure anybody just starting out or thinking of starting up, whilst drunken brawls at family functions, and verbal abuse do happen in front of D.J's - physical violence against a D.J is very rare. I think i've only had about 2 occasions where the situation has turned physical in 15 years!.

Havent and wouldnt walk out,its the bookers responsibility and on the few occassions that things have got bad then either bouncers or the organisers themselves have dealt with it.

I agree with the above, also however take into account how many would walk out of a gig unless they knew for 100% that their gear and themselves were safe!!

Its ok saying I reserve the right to walk out, but for example in my case that would involve best part of an hour packing up with possibly an ugly crowd, during which time you've got to watch each others backs (staff), your equipment, and vehicle......... something which when there are two of you is virtually impossible. 'THAT' is the reason we are so forgiving/understanding/walked all over.............. because unlike most trades we have too much invested right in front of the punter! Sorry if people take exception to this but I'd rather stick it out, and be able to work the next night than be scratching around for gear/transport/roadies. Clauses in paperwork are all fine and dandy, but at the time nigh impossible to enforce.

Spin

Correct Spin, 'walking out' would take me 90 minutes WITHOUT any hassles, more like 3 hours with the hassle.
Not worth it, one kick or shove and you have no gear for the next night !

I have never ever had any abuse during a disco, and if I did, I'd leave, so would not risk my gear from getting trashed.

sorry to disagree guys, but if I was to be threatened with violence or my gear being trashed then I would go for the option I have already said, and if it was turning nasty - one swift call the the boys in blue for assistance - if you are under threat of violence then they have to come!

QUOTE

then they have to come

!

I know a few Kazz

I totally agree with spin as i dj alone with no rodie if the the situation had got so bad that i wanted to go, which it has, i knew if i did i would have been beaten up and my gear.

I can handle myself but 1 trying to defend himself and $$$$$$ wotrh of gear against over a 100 or more people is just crazy. kazz do you think you have a slightly different attitude coz its very rare for a woman to get hit (i mean no offence),

Also what would you say to the police to get them to come as a crime had not yet been comited. Has anybody ever phoned the police i would be very intrested as to what happend. im ok now more as i mainly dj in a club and they have sercurity who would chuck anybody out giving me grife.

QUOTE

kazz do you think you have a slightly different attitude coz its very rare for a woman to get hit (i mean no offence),

It's probably not because she's does'nt want to get hit, she receives more verbal abuse from punters, simply because she is a woman (looking at her post's).

I don't know about you - but I wouldn't DARE to Diss Karen!

QUOTE (Dj SBD @ Aug 14 2003, 05:57 PM)

QUOTE kazz do you think you have a slightly different attitude coz its very rare for a woman to get hit (i mean no offence), It's probably not because she's does'nt want to get hit, she receives more verbal abuse from punters, simply because she is a woman (looking at her post's).

Yes i can imagin that a lot of small minded people would be more likely to give kazz grife but you have to admit its a lot less chance of a girl getting him that what i was trying to say!

And no i would not diss kazz

here where I put on my law-anorak... it is an offence to propose the threat of voilence - so believe me, if you phoned the police they would have to come and assist you.
I reckon I get as much verbal as you lot - and up till a few weeks ago, have always shut myself up and smiled politely... however, I now dont take it.. it someone is rude to me... they can expect the same in return! I was once threatened by some ugly best man with his two front teeth missing that if I didnt play on he was gonna kick the sh** out of me..... and then my gear...... he was paraletic and probably couldnt even have kicked his boots off at the end of the night... but I called one of the ushers and told him to remove the person before I asked the police to do so... He was gone in two seconds!
No matter how much you are paid, you are not paid enough to have the threat or actual violence against you...... walking out is the last option you should ever take, but I dont charge enough to get a knuckle sandwich!

I done a disco/karaoke for a well known supermaket chain a good few years ago.
It was already pre arranged that the management team were gonna dess up in the style of the artist who's song they had pre requested.
All was going fine, until 2 of them came dressed and started singing an oasis song, the song was just into its intro when food and drink started hurtling my way, over the heads of these singers just missing the decks and landing mini metres from my feet, an announcement over the mic landed on deaf ears, another announcement also landed on deaf ears.after I'd been soaked by a pint of someones lager.
By this time, one of the tv's at the end of the stage as fallen over, one of the singers swung there mic and it flew straight across the room and smashed into a large bunch bowl the remainder of bad food that was there all came flying my way again, and off went the lot! the oasis pair are stomping up and down wanting to know why I've stopped one of them is manager that booked me, this flew into a rage of bad language between them and me, the party people are all starting to dwindle off, and my back up arrives to get me out.
Got paid, done a legger down 2 flights of stairs up a ramp into there loading bay into the car within 20 minutes,
The stuff that got damaged obviously cost me more than I was paid for the evening!
There thats my pennys worth added!

good on yer paula... you can fix equipment but broken bones take longer to mend!

If i found that i was having any troubles then i would have inform the customer and if it still continued then i would ask the manager to have them removed and if they were not removed i would have to turn all my equipment off and wait until the guests had left or the troubled guest was removed then i would start again.

I would have to say as to what all have been saying how could you pack up it would take like an hour and you would people heckling, swearing, shouting and not just that if you on your own do you take the chance of leaving your gear while you are back and forth taking it to the van?

I have to say one of my rules is that is somebody comes and ask for a song request but it very abusive, then i would not play there requested song. I always say to people that im here doing a job and entertaining you so please let me.

QUOTE

it is an offence to propose the threat of voilence - so believe me, if you phoned the police they would have to come and assist you.

Sorry Kazz but i have to disagree hun. Yes you are correct in what you say, but on a real life note, NO they are not going to hang around whilst you pack up, see you safely to your car and make sure everything is ok. They just don't have the resources to do that, and all the time you have not been assaulted or similar they would not be willing to be involved regarding it as a civil matter between you and punter.

Once something has happened then yes they will be willing to deal with it (assuming they manage to get there within an hour or so) but other than that you're on your own!

I speak from experience ........ 15yrs in the 'job' (OK OK it was gonna come out in my impending 'interview' anyway)!!!

Sin

HAhummm!!!!

Zero tolerance is what you all should be thinking!

Hi folks

Wow what a hornet's nest and no mistake.

The idea that written terms and conditions won't stop your gear or yourself getting smashed is worthless doesn't make sense. yes it may not stop any impending doom, however if any damage to you or your equipment happens, you can throw the book at them, and maybe, just maybe if they're aware of that, they might think twice. Is better than having not terms at all.

So what happens, as happened in my case, if it's the actual customer who's being abusive and threateneing, you can't get them to throw themselves out, and what if the management are backing the client up rather than the DJ? do you throw them both out yourself?

This is why in my case, I'm writing to the venue and I'll be lodging a formal complaint with the police regarding the Customer...little scum bag.

Darren

Hi Dazza..... agree with you that T&C wont mean anything to any would be vandal... its likely that they couldnt even read them anyway! Sorry to say but given the fact that the Manager of the venue sided with your client, writing a formal complaint is not going to achieve anything for you! It is the old two against one situation and you are basically gonna look like a trouble maker.... and you will probably loose any further work at the venue.

It really cant be simpler.. if you are ever involved in this type of situation phone 999....... you would do if you were in sainsburys car park and encountered "trolly rage" wouldnt you!

Sin..... baby..... It is a fact - it is the law - the "threat of violence" is an offence..... I am now speaking from experience.... and its got nothing to do with discos! Unfortunately I have had to gain first hand knowledge in the past of how I could protect myself against voilence and I KNOW what I can do and and what help I am entitled to by the police... if they dont attend "due to lack of resources" then I would be extremely surprised..... they have to attend - same goes with the threat to kill someone.... ok there has not been a murder but the threat is still there and the punishment for that particular "offence" is quite high too!

Hi

I see the logic of what you're saying, however they've already told me I won't be playing there again, for which I'm eternally grateful.

It's not great loss and the contract for the place isn't mine and it's already on my black list.

I doubt this is the end of the drama...we'll see.

Darren