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Thread: Post COVID - what's the future going to look like?

  1. #41

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    Apr 2011
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    I've been saying for several months that it'll be a long time before my phone rings with new normal work, as people won't want to commit to potentially spending £20-50k on a party without a very high degree of certainty that they'll be able to go ahead with it without having to cancel and I can't imagine them wanting to hold an event with any form of distancing, so they'll be waiting to see how the next few months progress before doing anything. Some will be quicker than others to proceed, so my gut feeling is that next year will be better than some are expecting, providing there isn't a significant ongoing second spike, but of course I've not got a crystal ball either.

    Having a good look at the figures on the BBC site for new confirmed cases across the UK, other than a couple of localised hotspots they appear to be falling quite rapidly now. And when you consider that quite a lot of those being confirmed are in hospitals or care homes, then the figures in the general population are really incredibly low. Obviously we're all aware that the actual figures are probably significantly higher than the number of positive tests, but there's also an increasing level of targeted testing so surely a higher proportion of cases must be being picked up.

    I live in a very rural part of Wiltshire where we're being extremely careful about distancing, even though the chances of actually coming into contact with the virus are minimal (the whole of Wiltshire excluding the Swindon area appears to have had a total of 7 confirmed new cases last week). I fully admit I'm being careful not because I'm concerned for my own safety but for 'the greater good' and because it's what we're meant to do.

    I'm lucky in that I've got a reasonable cushion, am keeping the costs down as much as I can and am very grateful for the government's help, especially in that I know it could be a long time before my income returns to normal levels, so I'm not worried financially. I've also got a big annual exterior lighting job over Christmas that the customer is still hoping to be able to hold in some format if they can get over budgeting issues so I've got my fingers crossed for that, but I'm not yet putting any effort into risk assessments and Covid secure working practices as I suspect things will change significantly over the next few months as the UK finds it way with dealing with it.

    But I really am quite looking forward to finally being able to shake someone's hand again!

  2. #42

    Join Date
    Dec 2015
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    Cardiff
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    It’s been a long time since I last posted - 2016 and 2017 weren’t the best years and then life has flown by. Until this year! Since I last contributed I’ve been on a long hiatus from mobile DJing but do still have relatives in the game. In early lockdown I was out walking one Saturday night and heard some one call my name. Turned around and it was a guy who I helped out over the years and who was still doing regular work. He was going stir crazy as he’d seldom had Saturday nights off since the 80s!

    I was inspired to check back in because I drove through the nearest town centre yesterday night and it was a very sorry state of affairs. The pubs haven’t reopened in Wales yet as you probably know and the town was devoid of people unless you counted the odd few queuing outside chip shops. The weather wasn’t too bad and you wouldn’t think it was the second weekend in July. It had been the same last Saturday. I know some will think it’s bliss; I find it unnerving.
    I drove past a few venues I’d played in and wondered how many will actually reopen.

    I can empathise with a lot of the posts already, particularly comments from those who have enjoyed having the time to do other things on the weekends. That was the feeling that hit me when I started being a bit more selective about how many gigs I accepted when I began a full time day job over 10 years ago.

    Hope 2021 is a better year for everyone!
    Last edited by Marc J; 11-07-2020 at 11:41 AM.

  3. #43
    Dinosaur Excalibur's Avatar
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    First of a different postponement for me, something which may perhaps happen more often. Couple booked me for a June wedding, were told that they may be able to marry in August, so asked me to pencil in the August date, and also one in June 2021, ie a year on from initial date.

    Received an email last night, they are indeed marrying in August 2020, but we're having the big party/celebration in August 2021, again as a one year anniversary.

    I wonder how many venues will urge couples to have weddings that were booked in ( although in a much reduced form ) to create a bit of cash flow now ( and hang on to a portion of money already paid), knowing that they can rebook the date next year with a new couple?
    Excalibur. Older than the average DJ.

    www.excaliburmobiledisco.co.uk

  4. #44

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    Feb 2015
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    Quote Originally Posted by Excalibur View Post
    Received an email last night, they are indeed marrying in August 2020, but we're having the big party/celebration in August 2021, again as a one year anniversary.
    I wonder how many will do this, and then 2-3 months after getting married realise that the expense of the 'big party' is unnecessary, and if it does happen, will be a very much reduced affair compared to what the wedding would have been.

  5. #45

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    Quote Originally Posted by rth_discos View Post
    I wonder how many will do this, and then 2-3 months after getting married realise that the expense of the 'big party' is unnecessary, and if it does happen, will be a very much reduced affair compared to what the wedding would have been.
    Agree - after a year the wedding is 'over and done with' and people will have moved on with their lives. I think any 'party' will be of similar elk to most engagement parties - cheap room, cheap drink, cheap entertainment.

    Plus, for next year at least, venues and suppliers will likely be running at capacity (or very close at least). I have now closed my diary for next year with exception of residency bookings. Whether those bookings will go ahead is anyones guess haha.
    Semi-Retired Multi Award Winning DJ

    www.ultimateweddingdj.co.uk

  6. #46
    Jim - Scotland's Party DJ's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ppentertainments View Post
    Agree - after a year the wedding is 'over and done with' and people will have moved on with their lives. I think any 'party' will be of similar elk to most engagement parties - cheap room, cheap drink, cheap entertainment.

    Plus, for next year at least, venues and suppliers will likely be running at capacity (or very close at least). I have now closed my diary for next year with exception of residency bookings. Whether those bookings will go ahead is anyones guess haha.
    That's why asking for 50% of your fee from the original date is a smart move.

  7. #47

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jim - Scotland's Party DJ View Post
    That's why asking for 50% of your fee from the original date is a smart move.
    Until they ask for a full refund
    Semi-Retired Multi Award Winning DJ

    www.ultimateweddingdj.co.uk

  8. #48
    Resident Antagonist Benny Smyth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ppentertainments View Post
    Until they ask for a full refund
    But then it's their own choice to cancel. Cancellation terms come into effect.

  9. #49

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    Quote Originally Posted by Benny Smyth View Post
    But then it's their own choice to cancel. Cancellation terms come into effect.
    Hmm, maybe technically speaking - but with everything up in the air it might get messy.
    Semi-Retired Multi Award Winning DJ

    www.ultimateweddingdj.co.uk

  10. #50
    Resident Antagonist Benny Smyth's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ppentertainments View Post
    Hmm, maybe technically speaking - but with everything up in the air it might get messy.
    No technically about it. If a couple decide to have the ceremony this year and have asked to transfer their booking of your DJ services to next year so they can have a larger party, if they cancel that party it will not be down to Covid-19. Cancellation terms come into effect.

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