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View Full Version : Huge difference compared to last weekend



Shakermaker Promotions
31-08-2008, 09:16 AM
Hi all,

This weekend compared to last weekend was so different and has filled me with absolute joy and positivity that I almost feel stupid for moaning last weekend.

Friday night I was in a local pub. Really easy night, plugged in my Denon to their system and that was it. They had their own lights etc... It was somewhere that has been after me for a while and they had bigged me up for weeks. Anyway, the night was great, busy and I actually gave out 4 cards. At the end of the night the manager offered me a nice price (for 3 hours in a pub), once a month next year.

Last night was a wedding in a place called Tufton Warren in Hampshire. Lovely venue and in the middle of nowhere. I was booked until Midnight but was told that the music had to finish at 11.30pm on the dot as everyone had to be out of the venue by Midnight. There were 180 people there, a lot of irish and a lot of children and they were all up for it from the off. I only had 2 requests all night (Van Morrison and Abba) and they were up for anything that I played. Best tracks of the night were 'Night boat to Cairo' and 'Place your hands'....you could'nt move on the dancefloor.

I won't go on like I usually do but just wanted to say that it was the best wedding I have done this year by a long shot. 4 hours felt like 2 hours, it was great!

Only negative what right at the end and didn't have anything to do with anyone at the wedding. It was the venue owner. She was very, very posh and treated me all evening as if I was totally beneath her. She kept coming up to me during the night reminding me that we all had to be out by Midnight so after about the 4th time I decided that I would do the 'Go Slow' at the end when packing up. The Bride and Groom were lovely and were talking to me at the end and praising me on a good job and Mrs Posh was in the background pacing up and down whilst her staff were cleaning up. When everyone had made their way outside and most of my stuff was packed down, I went round the corner to get my van (Mrs Posh didn't want it parked outside)... I still had a few minutes before it got to Midnight and was going backwards and forwards with my gear when I noticed Mrs Posh and her staff all in a group in the venue waiting for me to finish as they had now cleared up. Everytime I walked past her with gear she looked at me as if to say "Hurry up and clear off".

Would you believe it.... It was dead on Midnight when she clicked her fingers and sent one of her staff over to help me. He went straight over to one of my light cases and picked it up. "Oi...you can put that down" I said.. He stood there and looked at me and then looked at Mrs Posh..."Excuse me, can you put that down" I said to him.... I would'nt have minded if they wanted to help me with all of the gear when I started to load up but it was obvious that she wanted me out as quick as possible. She didn't mention anything about it being a good night or anything. She obviously just wanted the wedding parties money and that was it. "We need to be cleared by Midnight" she said, "I have mentioned it a number of times".... "My apologies but 2 minutes won't hurt you and if he damages my equipment then I won't be happy" I said. The look was a look of thunder and as I walked out to the van with the last couple of bits, I noticed that she and her staff had disappeared. I left them to it, didn't say bye or anything. If you are ever going to this venue, remember that ok!

I'm up early today as I now have to drive to Telford, Shropshire to DJ at my mates 40th birthday from 6pm - 10pm. He wants classic 80s and 90s and Indie Anthems and also some really stupid stuff (TV Themes etc), there's a magician and also casino so it should be great....but I'm knackered!

Anyway, have a good sunday!
G

Andy Westcott
31-08-2008, 09:47 AM
Thankyou - I will.

Glad you had a better night this week - so did I.

I think we are going to have to grow thicker skins if we are to survive the next 10 years in the business - any ideas how we can do this?!

mike8863
31-08-2008, 10:28 AM
Nothing wrong with being passionate about what you do and taking every effort to give 110%, but the punters don't always instill confidence I'm afraid, unless they tell me i was rubbish or demand their money back, I assume I needn't worry. And I've had some right hard gigs, that I thought were awful, but then had further bookings from them later.........

theoloyla
31-08-2008, 01:31 PM
Really glad you had a better weekend Gary but you do seem to spark off easily by in this case the "posh venue owner". You seem to enjoy the confrontation. I would never go on a go slow to wind someone up. I want to get home asap. I wouldnt go any quicker either despite what they said. It takes us as long as it takes us but I certainly wouldnt deliberately stretch it out to annoy them.

Solitaire Events Ltd
31-08-2008, 01:48 PM
Got to agree with Theo, I'm afraid Gary. You do seem to take umbrage with venue owners more than most. (Unless others just don't post about it!)

Charlie Brown
31-08-2008, 02:03 PM
Good for you Garry, she shouldnt be so rude in the first place. Glad you had a good night.

Excalibur
31-08-2008, 02:15 PM
Got to agree with Theo, I'm afraid Gary. You do seem to take umbridge with venue owners more than most. (Unless others just don't post about it!)

I've not worked there Darren, is it near Reading? :p :D Gary is only young you know, and may yet learn how to smile politely at, agree totally with, and still completely ignore the wishes, exhortations and entreaties of the more irritating venue owners and staff, without them ever realising. ;) ;) :D :D

KaraokeDJ
31-08-2008, 04:53 PM
I would never go on a go slow to wind someone up. I want to get home asap. I wouldnt go any quicker either despite what they said. It takes us as long as it takes us but I certainly wouldnt deliberately stretch it out to annoy them.
Like others, I agree with you (again) Theo. The mind of experience in this business without a doubt!

I have had time tightened on me during the night before and I don't mind how 'posh' or not the owner/manager/customer is, I oblige. I would suggest putting a ten/fifteen minute mix on at the end and start disconnecting as much as I can, then do my utmost to get out by the specified time.

Pleasing the management of the venue is important to me as they are very likely to recommend a good, professional, flexible DJ in the future. I handed out several cards last night but the most important one was to the MD at Market Rasen Race Course!


Good for you Garry, she shouldnt be so rude in the first place. Glad you had a good night.

Being rude is not on but it happens. Staff may have had an awfully long day and just want to get home. They may be back at work in the morning and (although it's no excuse) don't mind who they upset in order to get finished.

Our business depends on making a good impression - a quick 'goodbye', a handshake and a smile (even if you are gritting your teeth at the time) goes a long way...

Andy Westcott
31-08-2008, 05:04 PM
Wise words - I agree totally.

rob1963
31-08-2008, 05:29 PM
Really glad you had a better weekend Gary but you do seem to spark off easily by in this case the "posh venue owner". You seem to enjoy the confrontation. I would never go on a go slow to wind someone up. I want to get home asap. I wouldnt go any quicker either despite what they said. It takes us as long as it takes us but I certainly wouldnt deliberately stretch it out to annoy them.


Got to agree with Theo, I'm afraid Gary. You do seem to take umbrage with venue owners more than most. (Unless others just don't post about it!)

Sorry, Gary, but I have to agree with Theo & Darren on this one.

I would NEVER pack away slowly just to try & wind up a snotty venue owner or official.....partly because I want to get home as soon as possible after a gig & partly because I just think it's VERY unprofessional to do so.

nigelwright7557
31-08-2008, 05:42 PM
There are numerous parties at a gig.
1/ The client.
2/ The audience.
3/ The venue owner.
4/ The DJ.
5/ Bar staff.

All have their own agendas and these can conflict.

I must admit to having been told before to leave my gear and come back next day for it and I refused. I asked if they would be responsible and pay if anything got damaged or nicked and they wouldnt so I carried on packing up.

rob1963
31-08-2008, 06:18 PM
I must admit to having been told before to leave my gear and come back next day for it and I refused. I asked if they would be responsible and pay if anything got damaged or nicked and they wouldnt so I carried on packing up.

I think I'd do something similar in that situation.

However, before leaving my gear I'd also ask them to pay me a cash amount to cover my extra time & travelling expenses when coming back for the gear the next day.

That should make 100% certain that they'd let me pack away that night!

:D

CRAZY K
31-08-2008, 06:31 PM
I think I'd do something similar in that situation.

However, before leaving my gear I'd also ask them to pay me a cash amount to cover my extra time & travelling expenses when coming back for the gear the next day.

That should make 100% certain that they'd let me pack away that night!

:D

Yes sadly often these people are extremely aggressive, unfriendly and unhelpful --in my experience--

My classic was down in Kent where the Caretaker of the Town Hall realised how long it was going to take me ---so he volunteered to join in and get me out the hall very quickly---thats called vested interest--

Strangely not many take the hint--just stand there and moan:bang:

CRAZY K

Shakermaker Promotions
01-09-2008, 01:26 PM
As I said, I went on a 'go slow' but I still had time before my midnight deadline. My view was that if she was going to get stroppy with me then she could wait until midnight. As it happened, the bride and groom were praising me outside and I didn't want to be rude to them. If you really want to know what this woman was like then I can tell you that when I did finally say to the bride and groom that I better go and get the rest of my gear out as she was waiting for me, the groom actually said "Yeah, you better hurry up mate as she is a right one and might put a spell on you!".

A few of you (and maybe it's my own fault for being so honest), have got the wrong idea about me. I have reported on this forum a couple of times about venue owners in the past and I have done that with reason because both times, in my opinion...they were very rude when there was no need to be. It was almost as if they were letting me know from the off, in a rude manner what they expected of me. I'm not a child and I am very polite. I treat people how I expect to be treated and once someone is rude to me or talks down to me as if I am stupid etc...then I lose respect for them and also interest in what they are saying. For every 1 dodgy venue owner, there are 9 others that are good as gold. Maybe it's my fault for reporting on the bad ones that I have had which has resulted in you lot thinking I am out of order?

Oh well!

KaraokeDJ
01-09-2008, 01:41 PM
My classic was down in Kent where the Caretaker of the Town Hall realised how long it was going to take me ---so he volunteered to join in and get me out the hall very quickly---thats called vested interest--
I've rarely had an issue with time because I make it clear on the contract/booking form and the client and venue are aware ahead of the gig what time I need. 90 minutes prior and 45 minutes at the end. But one caretaker, also at a town hall, was more than eager to help lug the gear downstairs where I loaded the truck. It didn't save much time but he got the feeling he was going to be done a few minutes earlier and was really pleasant and helpful.


For every 1 dodgy venue owner, there are 9 others that are good as gold. Maybe it's my fault for reporting on the bad ones that I have had which has resulted in you lot thinking I am out of order?

I think some people did suggest it was your nature to 'fall out' with people easily possibly because of your other reports of bad venue managers (threads I haven't read) giving some people that impression.

We all have good nights and bad nights and all I can do is reiterate what I said before - we have to be professional enough to smile politely. You never know where your next booking is coming from. It could be a guest, it could be a member of staff, it could be a recommendation from the venue.

Shaun
01-09-2008, 02:00 PM
A few of you (and maybe it's my own fault for being so honest), have got the wrong idea about me. I have reported on this forum a couple of times about venue owners in the past and I have done that with reason because both times, in my opinion...they were very rude when there was no need to be. It was almost as if they were letting me know from the off, in a rude manner what they expected of me. I'm not a child and I am very polite. I treat people how I expect to be treated and once someone is rude to me or talks down to me as if I am stupid etc...then I lose respect for them and also interest in what they are saying. For every 1 dodgy venue owner, there are 9 others that are good as gold. Maybe it's my fault for reporting on the bad ones that I have had which has resulted in you lot thinking I am out of order?

Oh well!

For the record, I don't think you were out of order. I'm sure there were extenuating circumstances for the "go slow", and it's not something you usually do.

In all the years I've been in this game there's been 2 occasions where I've deliberately taken my time because of downright rude, disrespectful and unprofessional behaviour by venue staff. Considering the way they acted..I make no apology for it.

It's not something I make a habit of, as I cherish the good relationships I have with venues.