what would you do?

[DJ INDIE]

evening all,

just wondered if any of you could give youre HONEST opinion on this?


Ive had a booking for maybe 4 weeks now for this Friday - about 50mins drive away from where I live.

I was given the name of the venue, and have just 'googled' for the Postcode now so I could satnav the venue.

The 2nd listing on google had the venue owner calling for the birch to be brought back after his car had been 'torched' by youths outside the club only a month ago.

apparently this happened a few days after some youths had thrown a pertol b*mb at that venue whilst it was full!!!


now im now coward and can handle myself (but not against flame throwers!), but would any of you STILL do this gig, bearing in mind its an 18th and cancelling would leave them completely in the lurch?

I genuinely havent made my mind up yet.


common sense says one thing. heart says another.

[Vectis]

You've taken the booking, honour it.

Imagine if it was the other way round and a customer cancelled on you four weeks from the event because they heard that there was a fight at one of your recent gigs?

If you're worried about security make sure you take a mate if not a roadie and be extra vigilant.

[rob1963]

You've taken the booking, honour it.

Imagine if it was the other way round and a customer cancelled on you four weeks from the event because they heard that there was a fight at one of your recent gigs?

If you're worried about security make sure you take a mate if not a roadie and be extra vigilant.

:agree:

[DJ INDIE]

ive never cancelled a gig yet in 10 years and played some bad places, but never been faced with this!

drunken fighting doesnt bother me - petrol b*mb attacks targetted at the venue DO!

especially when the local DCI is quoted as saying "we are determined to stamp out such incidents" ............... implying its not a one off in the area!


I'll be very very surprised if I dont do it - it'll keep me on my toes if nothing else:)

just interested to see what others would do?

[Dragonfly]

always research venues before quoting .... some pubs in Derby have had quotes of £400 for a disco in the past :D :D :D :D

[501damian501]

oh you,ll be fine, seen and had much worser, had sumone shot at one of my events in birmingham, nuffing major, get in get out have the police on speed dial lol

[DJ INDIE]

lol!

cheers - ive changed my avatar to suit:)

[501damian501]

hahahahahahahahhahaha

[Tom]

always research venues before quoting .... some pubs in Derby have had quotes of £400 for a disco in the past :D :D :D :D

Client - Hello there, may I get a quote for a disco ect ect

DJ - Hello, may I please take the venue name and address so I can google it to so if its safe to do a gig there. lol.

Client - Excuse me.....:eek: ;) :D


Could work.


I guess if you spent a bit of time on the net you could find out some trouble spots in the area you cover and maby note these down. If you get a booking for a venue that is on you black list then maby charge more or tell them your washing you hair. lol.


Had someone shot at one of my events in birmingham...


Nothing major, get in get out have the police on speed dial lol

So I take it its normal for people get shot at discos? I mean, its nothing major, just a slight disagreement :rolleyes: lol

[Have a disco]

Honour the booking as long as the venue provide gauranteed SIA trained doorstaff This is a recommendation from a guy whom doe regular 18th birthdays as long as you Have SIA door men then you should be covered. Also suggest notifying the police as to ensure a peaceful night.

If nothing else you should have a quiet night. Just play the music your client wants not playing too the crowd after all its there party???

[DJ INDIE]

cheers, i may just ring the local station to see if its THAT bad - ie if they recommend i dont go there then at least I have some backup!

Theres no doormen, its a Labour club.

Im not worried about myself, just my gear!!


anywho, ive changed the set list now.........

"give peace a chance" - john lennon
"take it easy" - eagles
"i dont want to fight no more" - tina turner

and so on, and so on !! :) :)

[501damian501]

dont let thugs and drunken looneys, get in your road of making money, yeah thats right just a slight disagreement, cheers damian

[LEENEWSOME]

cheers, i may just ring the local station to see if its THAT bad - ie if they recommend i dont go there then at least I have some backup!

Theres no doormen, its a Labour club.

Im not worried about myself, just my gear!!


anywho, ive changed the set list now.........

"give peace a chance" - john lennon
"take it easy" - eagles
"i dont want to fight no more" - tina turner

and so on, and so on !! :) :)

If you dont feel safe doing it, then dont do it, inform the client of your concerns and try to organise another DJ for them:eek:

could be an option for you

[robbiedj]

So I take it its normal for people get shot at discos? I mean, its nothing major, just a slight disagreement :rolleyes: lol



When there was a stabbing at the end of our road I spoke to the Home Beat officers who said "It wasn't serious. They're friends."




"give peace a chance" - john lennon
"take it easy" - eagles
"i dont want to fight no more" - tina turner

and so on, and so on !! :) :)


No, I would suggest nothing stronger than The Carpenters, that will keep them comatose for the evening.

But keep a copy of "Fire Brigade" handy, just in case. :D

[soundtracker]

Theres no doormen, its a Labour club.



As far as I understand it any venue staging such events will have a Public Entertainment Licence(PEL) which will include a paragraph such as that below

"During the period of any such event, a minimum number of licensee(s)/ registered door staff must be working, which is proportion to the number of customers actually on the premises as follows” (see ratio on licence)"

So they certainly should be providing some sort of security. Might be worth checking with the Local Council.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I can see the dilemma you are in. You want to honour the booking but are obviously worried about your equipment and yourself. Do you know if there will be adults at the function too? (family etc). The problem with 18th's as we all know, is that the ones that aren't quite 18 yet will also turn up and try to drink or they will somehow get hold of cans and drink them outside. When you are that age and you hear that there is a party on then the word goes round and you get loads of gatecrashers etc.

Personally speaking, IF I were you and I really didn't want to do it then simple, I wouldn't. You say you can handle yourself and you were quite confident in that so go in there with that attitude (in your mind obviously) and be prepared.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

always research venues before quoting .... some pubs in Derby have had quotes of £400 for a disco in the past :D :D :D :D


Do they get many bookings with prices like that?

[soundtracker]

Do they get many bookings with prices like that?

I think that's the point... price yourself out of the market.

[pagan_flame]

If you're worried about security make sure you take a mate if not a roadie and be extra vigilant.

:agree:

Never, ever, would I do an 18th on my own.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

It's a sad state of the world that you have to feel like that but I can see why. I have never had any trouble at any 18th's that I have done in the past but to be honest with you, I have noticed that there has been a lack of bookings for 18th birthday parties. I think it's because more and more venues are refusing to host them. That doesn't do us much good but then again after hearing of trouble etc then it shouldn't be much of a problem.

I would do one and I would go on my own like I always do. I'd keep doing them until something put me off. I don't think we can put all 18th birthday parties on the 'No No' list.

[rob1963]

I don't think we can put all 18th birthday parties on the 'No No' list.

I do!

It's simply because there is much more chance of problems at an 18th birthday party than a wedding, so I'd rather stick to the weddings (as well as 30th birthdays upwards).

After virtually 25 years in the business, I just don't need the hassle!

[DJ INDIE]

cheers all,

Im going to do the gig after all, after some serious consideration.

Ive got my roadie/mate coming too, so he's on 'check the cars ok in the car park' duty (rather than propping up the bar supping lager duty!!) so fingers crossed everything should be ok.

Ive no problem with 18ths, its more the stuff i cant see (car/van outside unattended) that I was worried about.


anywho, cant let the one or two thugs out there ruin it for everyone else can we!

cheers

[JAMdisco]

I do!

It's simply because there is much more chance of problems at an 18th birthday party than a wedding, so I'd rather stick to the weddings (as well as 30th birthdays upwards).

I don't!

I've had quite a few sucessful 18th birthday parties, obviously I haven't been in the business as long as you Mr. Rob but surely you must have had as much (if not more) hassle at weddings in the past?

Luckily I haven't (yet) but I have heard of horror stories where there has been massive fall-outs and fights at weddings. :eek:

[colagirl]

i did a thirtieth last year and it finished about 10.15 because a massive fight broke out and police were called. person causing trouble wasnt invited to party and noone knew who she was

[daz226]

last 18th i did had a few minor problems which i sorted straight away some muppet decided to reach over and turn my volume up and some other guy thought it would be a good idea to stand on my speaker but i had a chat with the both of them and it was all good.

Thankfully in the area i live we dont have any venue's that require such concideration as worriying if the car will be ok or if trouble will break out.

I do quite a lot in Poole and Bournmouth now as well though and so far so good no problems but i am sure my time will come when i get a bad venue.

good luck on the night i hope all is well come the end

[rob1963]

surely you must have had as much (if not more) hassle at weddings in the past?

You must be joking!

I can't remember the last time I had a problem at a wedding, but it must be a good few years, and I do them virtually every weekend.

I'm sure I'd have a very different story to tell if I was doing 18ths every weekend though!

[theoloyla]

I still do 18th's but only if they are family occasions. There used to be a club in a mining village near here where many dj's refused to play because their vans were vandalized.

[nigelwright7557]

Surely if there is the slightest bit of trouble near your gear you are out of there ? £10,000 worth of gear and £150 for the night, there is no contest I am off home with my gear still intact.
Had some young pups fighting next to my gear a couple of weeks back and they knocked a speaker flying ! I announced over the mic that it stopped now or I was packing up. They soon sorted themselves out and apologised.
Young pups and drink are a volatile mixture.

[501damian501]

£10,000 is that it, when i took fairground machinery around the country you was looking at £700,000 for a basic ride without sound system, image how i felt when youths started fighting and bashing into the £200,000 paint jobs

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Surely if there is the slightest bit of trouble near your gear you are out of there ? £10,000 worth of gear and £150 for the night, there is no contest I am off home with my gear still intact.


Which is why you should have a contract with T&Cs and then you'll be covered. :)

[theoloyla]

Which is why you should have a contract with T&Cs and then you'll be covered. :)
But Daz you forget NOBODY will book Nigel if he has a proper legal contract with terms and conditions.:)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

But Daz you forget NOBODY will book Nigel if he has a proper legal contract with terms and conditions.:)

Oh yeah....;)

[DazzyD]

You must be joking!

I can't remember the last time I had a problem at a wedding, but it must be a good few years, and I do them virtually every weekend.

I'm sure I'd have a very different story to tell if I was doing 18ths every weekend though!

I disagree, Rob.

Like you, I specialise in weddings but I do all kinds of family parties. I can safely say I've seen more trouble at weddings than 18ths (although 30ths tend to be more problem gigs for me!). I think this is due to the fact that, at wedding functions, people tend to have been drinking all day and stress levels are higher. Things get said and, because of alcohol, words are taken out of context and things flare up. That's my theory, anyway!


I still do 18th's but only if they are family occasions.

:agree:

I only take on 18th gigs if they are booked by a parent. After all, a 17yr old can't sign a legally binding contract (or so I'm told!). The person booking is always blatantly informed that they're responsible for the conduct of the guests. I think a lot of parents appreciate this approach as they don't want any trouble, either, and they can see I'm a responsible service provider.

[DJ INDIE]

evening all,

just to fill you in - after all the worry, the night was probably one of the best ive ever done!!

100+ people (mostly 17-18 yr olds) dancing ALL night, couldnt get them off the dancefloor (anyone remember having THAT much energy??!) - was one of those nights I just couldnt put a foot wrong - i think theyd have danced to george formby and vera lynn if i had any!

they were a credit to their age group and i let them know that at the end of the night, to a rousing cheer.

the unloading was potentially a bit dodgy (pitch black alley way off the main street surrounded by trees and fences) but managed safely enough.....and not an ars0nist in site!

[DazzyD]

Well done, Andy. It's usually the case when you worry. After the event you can't understand why you worried so much!

I did an 18th a few weeks ago and it was a fantastic night. Like your night, it was one of the best I've ever done. They wanted modern dance and R&B all night and they were more than willing to dance to it. They even enjoyed some of the retro stuff I threw in for good measure. It's gigs like these that help me remember why I do this job!

[Excalibur]

Well done both, and well done Andy for playing fair and fulfilling the agreement.