Hi all,

Just interested in your comments on this little scenario.

Just before Christmas we picked up a function for a kids party, 5 - 7`s, we had been booked for disco and entertainment, for this age group this usually means mainly games with short spells of dancing to give me a breather.

On arrival at the venue it was clear that there were two parties on in different rooms, the other DJ had started setting up in our room by accident and had to move.

The other DJ had older kids I guess 8 and overs.

We did the usual games with the kids who were having a great time, then we switched over to dancing for a while so that i could have a drink and pay a visit, enroute I stopped off in the other room to see what the other guy was up to.

There were two of them, both reading newspapers while a PC pumped out the music, no one on the floor, all the kids looking utterly depressed and bored.

We still use CD etc, so i took the opportunity to ask him how he was getting on and have a nose at the software etc, which he willingly demonstrated, must say the rig was very compact, a laptop, amp, mic, speakers, stand and 2 very mediocre lights, he wasnt even set up on the stage, he was set up as close to the door as he could get.

I asked about his backup facilities as I couldnt see any sign of a CD player anywhere let alone a CD, or mindisc etc.

I asked what he would do if the laptop gave up or amp blew up or something and his answer was "the party is over and we go home".

He claims to only work around three miles of the venue we were at, and to be very busy, I asked what he charged and was told less than £100., he had no business card or trade name to offer.

So I suppose you get what you pay for, I feel sorry for the punters who book him, and even more the ones who fall foul of a system failure of some sort.

We took enquiries for three bookings for kids parties on the day, converted 2 of them and have been rebooked by the client for their next party at the end of this month, the venue also took a pile of our cards so that they could recommend us.

I think as far as equipment goes, then you can't really judge a DJ on that. Whether you take 100 lights with you or 4 you still have the capacity to entertain people, and it doesn't make you a better DJ the more lights that you have. However I think two lights - unless it was a Daytime gig, is perhaps too little and for an additional £100 he could at least add one or two budget effects.

Reading Newspapers, or playing with your mobile phone whilst the disco should be in full swing, does call into question their professionalism and dedication, and there can really be no justification for doing this. We've all had discos where the audience are not remotely interested in the Disco or getting up to dance, but that still wouldn't justify reading a paper!.

With regard to his fee, well £100 would still get you a fairly decent DJ in this area!!! so I can't say that his fee was reflecting the service you would get in this case, but if he is indeed busy then it goes someway to what i've said before, in that some clients really don't give a damn as long as the DJ turns up and there is music playing

I see this quite often during the year when I also take the chance to look in on and chat to other DJs at the same venue. Some take the job seriously, others, sadly, think it is a way of making some easy money on a Saturday night and don't make any effort with either their rig or their audience.

There will always be these 'DJs' because even if the current ones give up through lack of interest or gigs others will follow in their footsteps. They do have a place in the market because we all have experience of those enquiries where the only issue is price and the cheapest gets the job. Having said that there are DJs who do make an effort and charge little but that's another subject.

As you point out CK your efforts were appreciated and further bookings were obtained as a result of it. It could be that some of the people at your event also took time to look in at the other function and compared the 2. It's only when people do have a chance to make comparisons that they realise that price isn't the only factor.

It's a law of physics that you cannot take out more than you put in (unless you pay interest) so put the effort in and you will be rewarded.

PaulS

Its a pity but I am coming across this quite a bit, not the fact that the Dj was poor and showing no enthusiasm as you pointed out. But the fact that a lot of clients dont care.

I get alot of calls for childrens partys after doing a very large amount last year I am finding that the children are taking home the cards and asking there parents to book me for there party.

As you rightly do wether performing for adults or children when you have been paid to provide a service you should allways give your best wether for £10 or hundreds. But some clients dont really care they just want someone to turn up and keep the kids from under there feet, they are not intrested in what you have to offer, were you come from or what you look like.

I have even had clients phone me and complain about me sending a contract saying it only a kids party or we only wanted a Dj. As the children get older and have partys I am sure we have all noticed this but the parents just drop them off at the club door and then leave, no checking to see who is in charge, no talking to anyone it just seems drop off the kids and go.

Ive had clients meet me at the club and pay me then say 'ok we will be back in 4 hours, good luck' and ive thought to myself wether they think that they have booked a Dj or a Child minder. For childrens partys I have a contract that states under no circumstances can the Dj be held responsible for any of the actions the guests get up to, and the sad fact is I have had to point this out after a client phoned me because she was getting billed for damage to some toilets. She asked me why I didnt stop them from leaving the room and why I didnt watch what the children were getting upto.

I have built up a very good reputation doing childrens partys, mainly through my hard work as a Dj and entertaining the little lovelys (and a fact that they get good value for money, I really do need to charge more for childrens partys) and once you get a group of parents talking about how proffestional you were even for a childrens party you will gain lots more work.

But as I say, its the clients fault not the newspaper reading Dj. If they allow this to happen it will happen. But the difference in the 2 partys at your venue was quite noticible. Lets just hope the other partys orginiser picked up on this.

Jim

I make it clear we are NOT childminders, by asking parents to remove any offspring climbing on stage etc (very loudly, too)

I often wonder about the ones who just drop off a child, without even checking. Would you leave your kids with a complete stranger in the street? So why is it OK in a hall?


Saying that, I love children................

Just couldn't eat a whole one!

Hi all,

A lively discussion, we too always specify that there must be "adequate parental supervision in the room at all times" this is to protect all concerned, venue, kids and us.

We have spotted a couple of the organising parents trying to slope off a couple of times and have dragged them back, we will happily organise the games and dancing competitions, singing of happy birthday and sending the kids for food etc, but we are not child minders and have no intention of becoming one either.

Goodness know it takes all our time making sure they dont tamper with the equipment or sneek behind us to nick the CDs.....

We were ok with the supervison angle at this party as the parents were all in attendance too, so we had them up dancing as well and got them involved in the games.

I must confess sometimes I pick my mobile up and send the odd text message but "attempt" to do it discretely behind the decks.
Cant beileve anyone would have that attitude to doing Discos. They must be doing it purely for the money, where I do it as I enjoy doing them and the money is good!

Hi

I've found the perfect solution for me.

I won't do kids parties!

Sure I'll entertain the little blighters at a regular function, but I won't put up with them trying to climb on the stage or get behind the gear.

And I state in my contract that under no circumstances will we set up equipment if there are unsupervised children around.

Darren