Leaving gear at the venue.

[KaraokeDJ]

Hi guys. This may get shifted to the business forum if it should be there, no prob. I have a gig tomorrow where I am setting up at noon and then leaving the venue until 7pm.

I'm sure a lot of you have done this before but it's the first time I've done it for more than an hour or so and the first time in a venue I've never worked at before.

Has anyone ever come up with a form or something they get someone at the venue to sign to confirm the gear is there? Is my insurance valid if anything got stolen or damaged in my absence?

Any thoughts anyone?

[spin mobile disco]

Yes always get a manager at the venue to sign for it. Check your insurance, mine says if left at a venue ihave to have a signature of a manager of the venue to make it valid.

[Adam_F]

One thing to remember, DO NOT leave your CDs, or laptop/HDDs there, do your soundcheck, and then take them away with you. They are the easiest things that could go walkies.

[Ace DJ]

You will always find that even though you have got someone to sign for the gear. The venues insurers will have no liability, also yours will be void because in the small print it will always state that gear must not be left unattended.
Mind you I have done this on hundreds of occasions and all has always been OK. But never leave the easy to pocket bits and bobs.
Ace

[mldiscos]

One thing to remember, DO NOT leave your CDs, or laptop/HDDs there, do your soundcheck, and then take them away with you. They are the easiest things that could go walkies.

i completely agree with adam, set up your gear do your sound check and then pack up the small bits that ain't bolted to your bar etc etc or are just too **** heavy to lift , the rest goes away with me, it's taken me years to build up all the gear i dont want some one walking away with my gear, but thats what insurance is for. but why claim if it takes a little longer, and common sense

[nigelwright7557]

When I have worked for other discos the equipment has been left on numerous occasions with no problems.

With my own disco I wont leave it unattended.

However, someone came up with a good point about not leaving CD's.
I have some that are simply irreplacable. Anything else can be replaced.

[Sapphire Disco]

I have some that are simply irreplacable.

The only thing I have ever left unattended is my 18" subs, I wish someone would nick them now, I fancy a pair of the 12" sin bins :D

So Nigel which CDs do you have that are irreplaceable ?

I've got the Now series 8 to 70 which is worth a lot and few CDs like London Boys etc, but it would be interesting to know what other Djs consider as collectible CDs.

[nigelwright7557]

So Nigel which CDs do you have that are irreplaceable ?



I have numerous rock compilation albums that I havent seen in shops for years.
I am also a big Sweet fan and have all their rare albums.

I could be wrong of course, I know Virgin (Zavvi now) have a computer which has lots of rare stuff on it but they have to be ordered specially and some are silly prices.

I tried to get Far Corporations "Stairway to heaven" and it took months to find. I eventually found it on a "Hidden Treasures" rock compilation album for just a few pounds on Amazon.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Dare I say it but if they are that rare and irreplaceable, why don't you er...do the obvious!!?

By the way, just for a bit of humour....and as I used to work for Virgin many moons ago... The computer system in the stores is called ELVIS.

Epos
Linked
Virgin
Information
System

I know you'll all sleep better knowing that now!

[nigelwright7557]

Dare I say it but if they are that rare and irreplaceable, why don't you er...do the obvious!!?

But where do i stop ?
Do i copy all the hundreds of CD's ?

I do have them on my PC but its still a pain in the butt if someone nicks the box with hundreds of CD's in it....
Its better to avoid the problem in the first place by not leaving them anywhere.

[rob1963]

But where do i stop ?
Do i copy all the hundreds of CD's ?

I do have them on my PC but its still a pain in the butt if someone nicks the box with hundreds of CD's in it....
Its better to avoid the problem in the first place by not leaving them anywhere.

Sounds like a good reason for going digital.

That way, you can keep all your CDs safely at home.

:)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Yes, I agree but think how you would feel if you didn't make a copy and it was either nicked, broken etc...

[nigelwright7557]

Sounds like a good reason for going digital.

That way, you can keep all your CDs safely at home.

:)

But going digital means buying a laptop and a produb license.
Its not worthwhile as I only do a gig now and then.

I am happy enough feeding in CD's all night, its not like there is much else to do.

[rob1963]

But going digital means buying a laptop and a produb license.
Its not worthwhile as I only do a gig now and then.

I am happy enough feeding in CD's all night, its not like there is much else to do.

Ahhh...that's fair enough then.

I wasn't aware of how many gigs you did.

:)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

THAT's exactly what I used to say (although I am doing at least 12 - 15 gigs a month at the moment to be fair)...and I was adamant that I would not go Digital BUT BUT BUT...it's without doubt the best move I have made. Different subject I know and one that always gets talked about on here but true!

[Vectis]

The computer system in the stores is called ELVIS.



There's a song in there somewhere... :p

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Dare I say it but if they are that rare and irreplaceable, why don't you er...do the obvious!!?

What, get insurance or use T&Cs? :D

[Penfold42]

What, get insurance or use T&Cs? :D

What and be a real DJ?

Only ever done this once ......never again.
Came back to stuff being moved and little bit out of place....someone having a tinker......:mad:

[KaraokeDJ]

Yes always get a manager at the venue to sign for it. Check your insurance, mine says if left at a venue ihave to have a signature of a manager of the venue to make it valid.

That's exactly what I did today. I printed out a sheet and the manager of the Race Course signed it. I have done my sound check and then removed laptop, mics, CDs box and CD wallets... All 'easy to pocket' items back in my truck until tonight.


But where do i stop ?
Do i copy all the hundreds of CD's ?

I do have them on my PC but its still a pain in the butt if someone nicks the box with hundreds of CD's in it....
Its better to avoid the problem in the first place by not leaving them anywhere.

It's so easy to 'lose' CDs. It happened to me a few years ago while I was at the bar in a local venue. A CD wallet holding 128 CDs went walkies... There was about 50 or so mastermix Cds and the rest was sunfly karaoke. All originals. Fortunately most were already on my hard drive but many Grandmaster CDs were not.

Like Rob said: Perhaps a good reason for being digital.

[Shaun]

Yes always get a manager at the venue to sign for it. Check your insurance, mine says if left at a venue ihave to have a signature of a manager of the venue to make it valid.


That's exactly what I did today. I printed out a sheet and the manager of the Race Course signed it.

Interesting. I've left equipment unattended on a few occasions in local venues. I've never asked anyone to sign anything though. Out of curiosity, what do you say on the form that you use?

Cheers. :beer1:

[KaraokeDJ]

Interesting. I've left equipment unattended on a few occasions in local venues. I've never asked anyone to sign anything though. Out of curiosity, what do you say on the form that you use?

Cheers. :beer1:

PM sent.

[theoloyla]

Agree with most of the above. Never leave your software unattended. All disco insurances I know of insist that gear is not left unattended. I use the SEDA contract which includes a clause to say that if I am required to leave equipment at a venue then the management are responsible.

[KaraokeDJ]

Any chance of seeing how that is worded Theo?

[theoloyla]

Clause 8. If at the request or instruction of the promoter the discotheque equipment and/or recorded music is to be left at the venue outside of performance, setting up and dismantling times the promoter will be liable for any loss or damage howsoever caused to that equipment and/or recorded music during such time as it is at the venue.

[Shaun]

PM sent.

Thank you. :approve2:

[KaraokeDJ]

Clause 8. If at the request or instruction of the promoter the discotheque equipment and/or recorded music is to be left at the venue outside of performance, setting up and dismantling times the promoter will be liable for any loss or damage howsoever caused to that equipment and/or recorded music during such time as it is at the venue.

Thanks Theo. That is excellent wording, and obviously written following consultation with 'legal' department somewhere... I think I shall be adding a clause like that to me contract/booking form.

[Corabar Steve]

Fortunately most were already on my hard drive but many Grandmaster CDs were not..

& all of them were rendered illegal by this theft due to the absence on your collection of their physical counterparts

[KaraokeDJ]

& all of them were rendered illegal by this theft due to the absence on your collection of their physical counterparts

Ouch! That's cheered me up loads. Ta. :beer1:

[theoloyla]

Thanks Theo. That is excellent wording, and obviously written following consultation with 'legal' department somewhere...

Indeed a lot of time and legal expertise and expense went into producing the SEDA standard disco contract (including having it approved by the Office Of Fair Trading). It has now been in existence for 30 years and been tested successfully at law many times. I am constantly surprised that more dj's dont avail themselves of it. You can purchase a pad of pre-printed, triplicate, self carbonated sets for the small sum of £15 from SEDA or you can ask permission to reprint it yourself as it is a copyright item owned by SEDA and SEDA is usually happy to grant permission.