Help, my DJ has cancelled/let me down!

[Imagine]

Flipside - I was invited into a small group of a dozen or so (I think we're nearing 20 now) of decent, hardworking, pro minded DJs up here - unlike the sid groups, we all, quite literally are, each other's competition but you know what - it's the most helpful and beneficial group I've ever been a member of because we all know we do a good job and provide a great service so we don't mind keeping it "in house" so to speak when passing on gig details, load in info, lending gear or giving advice.

Funny enough - I'm friendly and work with quite a few of those types down here. Yes, we're rivals and working in the same area, but at the same time we all respect each other for what we do and how we do it. There's none of the willy-waving "my speakers are better than your speakers" or "I earn three thousand pounds a night" - we all do what we do very well and work with each other.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Funny enough - I'm friendly and work with quite a few of those types down here. Yes, we're rivals and working in the same area, but at the same time we all respect each other for what we do and how we do it. There's none of the willy-waving "my speakers are better than your speakers" or "I earn three thousand pounds a night" - we all do what we do very well and work with each other.

And that goes back to what I said about wanting to do a good job.

I give advice to a few up and coming guys and allow them to shadow me because they're genuinely interested in getting better and willing to put the graft in to get there, 95+% aren't and just want it spoon fed to them.

I've been called everything from a stirrer to a bully on these groups for calling the idiots out on their BS, I'm willing to help those that are deserving of it but it's not my responsibility (or anyone elses) to drag the idiots up by the scruff of the neck, there's plenty of work at my fee out there without me, you guys or my pals in the small group advocating for widespread recognition of the industry.

[Excalibur]

Wow, this one took off, and elicited some great posts, thanks lads. Haven't really had time to return to this before, so here comes a bumper bundle of multiquotes.

I work on the basis of "I'm not available, but I'll introduce you to John Doe who could be of help" and then step away. I don't handle the booking, and I don't expect a 'drink' from it (Karma will work itself out eventually).

As you say Benny, I think some folk find it's pleasant to start passing work and creaming off a few bob, but fraught with danger. I work the same way as you do, and yes, Karma will come round again.

I don't know how people can look at themselves in the mirror if they wilfully let people down.

Nor I. Sadly, others appear to do it with ease.

Sorry - I don't understand how they do it. Once a client's booked - that's it. I've often had the opportunity for a higher paying night in the past and it's always been a case of "sorry - already booked".

And a case in point, I quoted a month ago for a nice wedding in a lovely venue ( one of the most breathtaking I've ever worked in, Sun Pavilion, Harrogate ) and heard nothing. Took a short hours teen party as a diary filler at a perfectly acceptable price, only for the wedding to ask to book. Well over a hundred quid down on that deal, but hey ho.

I don't think it is only DJs to blame.

I have had 2 last minute calls over the past few weeks - on the wedding day - because they had forgot to book a DJ.
I know a lot disagree, but out of all the wedding suppliers DJs are generally at the bottom of the list, if not fallen off the list, and silly as it sounds a lot of people do forget to book one until the last minute.

This does go to show, once again, just how far down the list the DJ is and just how little engagement with a DJ some couples expect to have.

Agreed. Necessary evil, sometimes.

Not to mention the funding, where's the cash coming from? a few £'s a year subscription will not be anywhere near sufficient, the whole idea's a pipe dream. It will never work while 16 year old spotty Herbert's can start a mobile disco business with nothing more that a couple of hundred quid spent on eBay and a hard drive full of pirated MP3's

And that's the biggest problem. A customer last night took one look at the laptop, and suggested I'd get all my music from various free sources. Err, no mate, it's bought and paid for. More perception problems.

Sorry lads, I'm totally over the idea of anything like this a. happening or b. being effective.



Flipside - I was invited into a small group of a dozen or so (I think we're nearing 20 now) of decent, hardworking, pro minded DJs up here - unlike the sid groups, we all, quite literally are, each other's competition but you know what - it's the most helpful and beneficial group I've ever been a member of because we all know we do a good job and provide a great service so we don't mind keeping it "in house" so to speak when passing on gig details, load in info, lending gear or giving advice.

Funny enough - I'm friendly and work with quite a few of those types down here. Yes, we're rivals and working in the same area, but at the same time we all respect each other for what we do and how we do it. There's none of the willy-waving "my speakers are better than your speakers" or "I earn three thousand pounds a night" - we all do what we do very well and work with each other.

I'm not too sure about the word " competition ". While a lot of the folk I know are indeed fishing in the same pond, I regard them totally as allies, and not opposition. The help and advice offered is beyond price.

[theoloyla]

There will always be emergency situations caused by illness or accidents but many of these last minute enquiries are indeed about customers not booking reliable dj's. This is what SEDA was set up to combat over 40 years ago and to some degree it has done so. Originally it was a restricted membership only open to those endorsed by fellow members or prepared to undergo a vetting procedure but unfortunately (in my opinion) that was allowed to lapse and the association became focussed on equipment and numbers. More recently however it has become more about educating its members and I do believe the nes committee is thinking about returning to its original raison d'etre. It has though continued over the long period of its existence enabled genuine emergencies to be covered by fellow members. I remember personally when I got rushed into hospital my wife was able to get fellow members who were free to cover my gigs - and thats how it should be and avoids those last minute emergency calls from clients who have been let down. Over the years SEDA has arbitrated in disputes and investigated members who have had complaints made against them by other members or the public and has imposed warnings and even expulsions where required.
One a side note I do recall one occasion a few years ago where another well known dj asked me to cover a local wedding for him. There was not much info available even though it had been booked in advance. He paid me in advance of the gig as he had already got the money. Eventually just before the gig he asked me to pretend to be him and said the bride and groom would not know the difference as he hadnt met them. It transpired that he had another gig AND had charged them far more than he paid me to cover it about a week before the event. I made SEDA members aware of his behaviour and I made no attempt to impersonate him at the gig which went off well.

[Excalibur]

Eventually just before the gig he asked me to pretend to be him and said the bride and groom would not know the difference as he hadnt met them.

Oh Theo, over the years, I've been many different people! Similar scenarios, but perhaps I don't quite have your principles.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I'm not too sure about the word " competition ". While a lot of the folk I know are indeed fishing in the same pond, I regard them totally as allies, and not opposition. The help and advice offered is beyond price.

I use the term purely in a business sense.

I'm not up against Ronnie Ropelights and his £150 budgets for work so those guys (and their clients) have no impact on the sphere I operate in) the guys in the group however who all pretty much specialise in £500+ weddings, whilst friends and colleagues, economically and in a business sense are who I'm competing against for bookings.

There will always be emergency situations caused by illness or accidents but many of these last minute enquiries are indeed about customers not booking reliable dj's. This is what SEDA was set up to combat over 40 years ago and to some degree it has done so. Originally it was a restricted membership only open to those endorsed by fellow members or prepared to undergo a vetting procedure but unfortunately (in my opinion) that was allowed to lapse and the association became focussed on equipment and numbers. More recently however it has become more about educating its members and I do believe the nes committee is thinking about returning to its original raison d'etre. It has though continued over the long period of its existence enabled genuine emergencies to be covered by fellow members. I remember personally when I got rushed into hospital my wife was able to get fellow members who were free to cover my gigs - and thats how it should be and avoids those last minute emergency calls from clients who have been let down. Over the years SEDA has arbitrated in disputes and investigated members who have had complaints made against them by other members or the public and has imposed warnings and even expulsions where required.
One a side note I do recall one occasion a few years ago where another well known dj asked me to cover a local wedding for him. There was not much info available even though it had been booked in advance. He paid me in advance of the gig as he had already got the money. Eventually just before the gig he asked me to pretend to be him and said the bride and groom would not know the difference as he hadnt met them. It transpired that he had another gig AND had charged them far more than he paid me to cover it about a week before the event. I made SEDA members aware of his behaviour and I made no attempt to impersonate him at the gig which went off well.

I would love West of Scotland Amp to arbitrate but unfortunately when any issues arise - many ethical, plenty financial and some verging on criminal, it's either swept under the rug or a case of "don't air your dirty laundry in public, we're meant to be professionals here."

That's why so many of them don't like me - I'm one of the few people who is quite willing and prepared to call someone out publicly - right is right.

[Excalibur]

That's why so many of them don't like me - I'm one of the few people who is quite willing and prepared to call someone out publicly - right is right.

Not like you, Jim? I find that hard to believe, they're obviously heathens and imbeciles! Why you're naught but a little ray of sunshine.

I too am well known for my predilection for calling a spade a manually operated soil inverting implement.

Right, certain observations here have given me food for thought, and I believe it justifies its own thread, maybe even with a poll. When I've created it, I'll put a link here, meanwhile, keep up the good work, lads. This one has already been pure gold.