Hi everyone,

I've been pondering this one for a few days now, mainly because it's an excuse I've not come across before.

We all know that alot of venues have resident dj's or preferred suppliers and they market their dj's in various ways - sometimes as part of an inclusive package, other times as a "bargain" price if you use their function rooms etc etc.

Then their are the few that will not allow you to bring your own dj in. Which brings me to my latest dilemma.

An aquaintance of mine has booked a venue in Tunbridge Wells for his wedding reception and wanted me to provide the disco. When he went to pay his deposit he was told that they couldn't have outside dj's in because of an insurance clause, he contacted me to break the news and felt that he had been put in an awkward situation by the venue. This potential client was more than happy to pay my required fee which was more than the in-house dj but not about to move venue for me (unfortunately).

I asked if he would mind me contacting the venue to find out what the exact nature of this insurance problem was, as with my MU £10 million PLI in place, I thought I would be covered (and in turn so would they). With his agreement I contacted the function manager who said " oh no it's not an insurance problem , but when we apply to the local council for our music liscence we have to name our pool of dj's" The conversation was amicable, but going nowhere, so I thanked him for his time and ended the call.

So - has anyone come across this one before, I will try to find out which council he is talking about to see if their is any truth to his statement, and am looking into the venue website which states "We can advise on Discos or Bands for entertainment, and we have the expertise to ensure that everything is tailored to your needs." which I think should maybe read "dictate".

Over to you guys, any thoughts



Vinnie

In cases like this, the client should point out to the venue that if they are being forced to have a DJ that the venue puts forward, then if that DJ does not meet the clients expectations, therefore the venue will be held responsible and will be liable for compensation; then the client should draw up a letter stating this and ask the venue management to sign it. This would make the vast majority of venue's rethink this ridiculous interference in the most important day of some people's lives.
Usually if the client says something along the lines of they would like to book the venue, but that if the venue insist on being so inflexible over this issue that they will be forced to book an alternative venue, is enough to make most venues rethink this ludicrous policy.

I find this one hard to believe too. Think its just the hotel's way of using their guy. I mean, why on earth would the council want to know about this?

Its just another hotel making money out of some fool of a DJ who is happy to take £120 a night instead of being inderpendant and take £250 a night becuase he thinks hes garanteed loads of work.....

the hotel will be charging full price and making there cut... you might even find the events manager is pocketing the diference....

there is not a council in the UK who demand that only certain DJs get to play a venue in order for them to have a licence.....

What a load of &%@!, naming a pools of DJ's. I have never heard such nonsense.

Go on name and shame the venue so we are all aware!

Update - I have contacted the licensing department at Tunbridge Wells council and they have confirmed that they do not require the names of dj's to issue any lisence, I have also contacted the prospective client to let him know, and he will be giving the venue another go, (the way they package it is that you get the function room free, so obviously they are making on everything else to cover that).

I will keep all posted - as to the name of the venue...............

It's..............................................................

Oh ok then, The High Rocks - Tunbridge Wells

Vinnie

PS - It's not a hotel, but a resturant and banqueting suite.

The only "lock out" situation that I've encountered in the last few years was when a couple booked me for their Wedding Reception, after changing their mind from having a band.

Apparently the venue didn't have any preference about which band, or what PLI the band offered - but as soon as the couple changed their mind to a disco... then the venue tried to push their own - and made a big ambiguous, non-specific ramble about the PLI, "Electrics" (I'm assuming PAT).

The venue backed down when I had a talk-through meeting with the hirers and was able to show the venue my own PLI and PAT documentation.

As was covered in a thread a week or so ago, its fine for a venue to "recommend" or "suggest" its own Disco, band, caterers, mobile bar etc,etc but they should leave the final option to the hirer.

Hi all, the problem with this venue is very well known to me, and it is not a licence issue, but a person, better not go into to much detail, but will try to address the problem and get back to vinnie.

Needless to say, DJ try to block up Venues, and some listen.

Well i am an in house/resident dj my self an this predicament i find to be out of order. the client should have the choice full stop.

At my venue the choice is always given to client. Me or a dj of their own and i fully agree with

We have had a client book us for a job, pay a hefty deposit, then come back to us and cancel because their in-house DJ was doing a job the night before our gig and the night after and so the venue wanted to charge our customer a fee for the removal of their in-house DJ's equipment.... The fee they wanted to charge was greater than our fee in total!

I've had similar experiences, usually clients being charged to bring their own DJ in. More often than not no explanation for this fee is given.

However 2 days ago took a booking for a 30th at an hotel not far from me. The staff at the hotel actually advised the client to get her own DJ as they had to charge £350 for organising one!!! How refreshingly honest

You'll probably find that the DJ is a personal friend of the hotel manager/owner. I was asked to play at a venue about a year ago, they said i couldnt use their inhouse/installed equipment due to insurance and would have to bring my own down