So guys im getting a lot of enquiries through my site which I can't personally deal with so I'm looking to pass it on some dj's i trust.

Hows the best way to do it?

Say for example I receive an enquiry through my site...


Do I

A) Say that I'm personally not available but I have a suitable replacement that would charge this much, and find the availability of the dj. Then just ask the dj for a small commission on the booking but he can take the work on under his name and with his contracts

B) Send an immediate quote, then try find one of my trusted djs to cover, then run the risk of them being booked but take it under my name, take a small commision etc.

C) Something else? If so what?

I personally just pass a list of suitable DJ's on to the customer for them to contact the DJ's themselves. I ussualy ask them to mention that they were given the number/contact by me.

If you start taking commission from it, that makes you an agency.

If I get an enquiry where i'm already booked, I will usually pass on the details of two or three other DJ's who I know would be suitable. it's all done on a Goodwill basis, I pass them work, they pass me work.

I've usually pass on the details of a couple of other local DJ's.

I make Chris right.

You pass on work....you get work back.

I know a couple of DJs who have accepted appreciated work.
Likewise, any passed back my way has been thanked for.

But, when everyone who I know is busy, what can I do if I'm in the same boat as you?

I've never received any work from being a member of an Association - only from a DJ who was a fellow member of an Association.
I hope that members of the DJ Associates association (plug plug plug) and others look towards their fellow association member if too much work comes in......
If you don't know the 'available' DJ in the Association, you can check the status of the DJ members details - have they got PAT and PLI, contact details, area of cover, etc.
But not everyone will like the idea of associations, which is why the DJ@ is simplified compared to others and in association with The DJU!

Perhaps a suggestion at this point.....

Why not see if you and some fellow DJs can get together informally to iron out the problems that arise from time to time (such as too much work coming in) and form a DJ pool?

You can adopt all the ethics and ideas from all the known associations and make work what works for you and fellow DJs.......
Keep it simple and you may be surprised how you'll all benefit!

If you need any advice in setting up a DJ pool - why not contact CS?

Hope this helps

personally i'm with the majority i just pass on the details of a couple of other dj's who return the favour when there already booked, some dj's like to make a commision but i would hate to take on a booking i cant do and hope the dj i arranged is not going to let me down 2 hours before the gig is due to start just for a few extra quid, one other thing i have noticed that if you are already booked but do your best to help then when they need a dj again most of the time they will call you.

You have to be SO careful passing work on. I know people who pass on a lot of jobs.

I can outline literally hundreds of jobs where this has worked out excellently.

I can outline hundreds of jobs where the DJ turned up late, was aggressive, took drink or drugs. So what? You think that's the worst that can happen?

You want problems? I'll tell you about two jobs where something really awful happened:

(a) A friend of mine who is now a millionaire, partly because of discos sold a set of gear to a charismatic, keen, well cut, Pioneer (someone who has sworn to God not to take drink or drugs).

Someone was DESPARATE for a DJ on New Year's Eve.

The guy who bought the gear couldn't get work. Hadn't been in the game long enough.

So, let's do everyone a favour and put the party in touch with the DJ right?

People come home from the party. House ransacked. Some members of the family came home from the party. House also ransacked. Cops think this is too much of a coincidence as they live on opposite sides of the city.

Lots of good detective work later, guess who was the mastermind?

(b) Another friend of mine runs a very stylish disco. Took on and regularly gave work to what I call a "pretty boy" DJ. Very stylish. Very smooth. Nice car. You get the picture.

One day it was a booking requirement to have a radio microphone for a gig. Pretty boy didn't have a radio mic. Friend asked me to lend him one on way to my gig.

Turn up. Band playing, DJ is nowhere to be seen. Not under pressure for time. Go outside for a smoke. Find pretty boy in intimate position with 14 year old (not let's say the worst case scenario, but beyond decency).

Running a business means that you are somewhat/totally responsible for scenarios like this.

Do you honestly know what is going on behind your (DJ) neighbour's door?

Looks like the moral of all this is to only pass on work to a tried and trusted DJ. If that isn't possible, it is best to offer your apologies, saying you are already booked.

Plenty of other DJs out there in the Yellow Pages for them to try........

our dj pool has been up and running for 4 years now and works beautifully but we are careful what djs we allow to join and we give them training.

Here's a bit of a tricky situation - how would you handle this?

You get a phone call from someone wanting to book you. They tell you that they tried to book DJ X, but he was busy and gave them your number. You get the booking and ring up DJ X to thank them. Everything goes smoothly, a good night is had by all and you are booked again for a future event.

That's all good. Here's the tricky part. You don't really rate DJ X, so if you need to turn down a job, you don't want to recommend him because you feel it would damage your relationship with that client. Do you feel honour bound to pass on work to DJ X because DJ X passed on work to you? Or would you just not pass the work on and say nothing to DJ X. Or would you have the difficult conversation with DJ X?

the criteria i set for passing onto a fellow dj is would i have them dj my own party if the answers no i would not pass on there details.

C. I give the client someone elses number. This way there is no come back on me.

Agree with Steve, I just give the number of local DJ,s who I know, who I have seen work (very important) and who do the same with me when they can't do a job. I leave it at that, and I am in no way responsible if something goes wrong - mick

Well, what about this,
you spend a small fortune on advertising and making sure you are available to take calls personaly, whilst DJ x doesn't advertise and works full time so cant take daytime calls,
you always have extra bookings, whilst he doesn't because of no advertising,
Why shouldn't you get a little money from the deal?
After all, you have done all the legwork, I say, as long as you feel you can recomend them, then why not make a few quid out of it, you have payed out for the advertising, made an effort to check out DJX, and have a good telephone manner,
After all, if you don't take the booking, they could end up with a DJ much worse than DJX!

As long as you are good with people, and make sure the contract is between the client and DJX I can't see a problem.
If you have 2 or 3 DJs you feel you can recomend, take the booking but tell the client that you will double check you colegue is availabe, then find a siutable DJ, get the client to send a small booking fee to yourself, with cash on the night to the DJ.

Something I am tinkering with for the new year.

It could be argued that if you are completely overrun with work, you might be spending too much on advertising, and would be able to cut back the funding a little. (Of course, you might just be darned good at the job.....!)

Sub-contracting another DJ is not something I would do, simply because I would ultimately be responsible for the (no) show, and quality thereof.

Wouldn't want the headache. Just give them a list of numbers, or the Yellow Pages.