Originally Posted by
Gary
I would start suspecting that the venue person doing the slagging either -is- a DJ who plays that venue, or he/she knows the DJ who normally plays that venue and is lining their nest for future bookings.
There's nothing wrong with most resident or "favoured by venue" discos/DJs, by that I mean, there's the same percentage chance that a client will get one that truely matches their requirements, as from most other sources eg : web surfing individual pages , yellow page etc. However, when an over-zealost marketteer tries to get their product/service in by slagging off another - then that's poor in my opinion.
I wouldn't chase after this particular booking - even if you got the client back - their mind will have already marked you down for the night and even a 100% performance will be seen as a 49% one in the clients eyes. The minute late arrival will be " 'alf an 'our" in the clients mind.
However, I would write to the client confirming the canx but use that same letter to thank him/her for selecting you originally (there must have been something they saw that they liked), point out that in a competitive marketplace some less scrupulous DJs and their friends or £associates might try "anything" to shoehorn one service provider out, to get theirs in (maybe the clients also been told rubbish about their chosen caterers also, by the same venue - for example). In the letter, also re-iterate your good points, web-references, PAT , PLI, produb if applicable, AMPDJ/NADJ/SEDA (alphabetical order there).
Also, that the (former) client for providing you with the information about who was in the room when the negative comments were said, which has enabled you to narrow down that it wasnt the hirer of the last party themselves making any negative comments about you, and that they praised you. Depending how you word this, or what depth you go into revealing your detective work it shows this client that youre professional enough not to just shrug your shoulders about negative false comments.
Bear in mind also that nowadays, its so easy to get hold of stuff that can make the guy who wasnt a DJ at 2pm, a DJ by 3pm, that theres a lot of "my mate can DJ your gig - pay him in beer". There are still plenty of excellent DJs for hire also of course, and thats a topic we all know, all too well. There's a possibility that this client has been lured by "mate of a mate of a brother of a mates mates uncles mate" etc.
Above ALL, genuinely wish them a great/pleasant/successful evening. This letter could be the last bucket of water you can throw over this burning bridge, so wishing them what they'd wish themselves for the night probably won't win this battle but then neither will you be casting a last unprofessional shot at them.