Seen A DJ today

[Cj_The_Dj]

Hi guys, I went to a local working men's club for a friends birthday, she asked me to do the party but i said i wouldn't as i new the venue, when i turned up there was a fight out side :eek: i walked in a felt really UN easy. my partner had her phone stolen :bang: witch really :Censored: me off. the room was massive and holds about 250 people, there were about 150 there, the DJ was using 4 10" prosound speakers on stands about 8ft high on a 6ft stage. the lighting he had was 4 t-max lights on 1 t-bar. he were playing cover song for songs like ymca and and Saturday night. the DJ could talk properly on the mic as he had no teeth but when he did talk it was for stupid things like "i'm off for a fag" i stayed about 2hour and only new around 8 songs, i went to ask him for a song and maybe give him advice to join the forum etc but he shouted at me said get off the :Censored: stage your not insured, i just walked off at this time.

The main reason for this thread is I'm wondering how would you decline a venue to customers, i know i would never work there!

sorry for the long thread.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Hi Cj i think almost everywhere has a "venue from hell".we have one in my town that i wont go near.That sounds like a dj who does not take the business seiously and does not care about anyone else apart from himself.

I hate them!

Sounds like you did the sensible thing by leaving early before you said something to him that you might regret.

[Cj_The_Dj]

Hi Cj i think almost everywhere has a "venue from hell".we have one in my town that i wont go near.That sounds like a dj who does not take the business seiously and does not care about anyone else apart from himself.

I hate them!

Sounds like you did the sensible thing by leaving early before you said something to him that you might regret.

my question is if a customer trys booking you for a venue how do you say no thanks?

[Peter Lockwood]

just do what i do tell them sorry i dont work in that venue if they ask why tell them the truth ie bad stairs or the landlord/stewerd is a numpty

[djsteve10]

my question is if a customer trys booking you for a venue how do you say no thanks?

Sorry I'm booked elsewhere or quote a high price.

[Cj_The_Dj]

Sorry I'm booked elsewhere or quote a high price.

people always ask the date 1st and i tell them if im available

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Hi guys, I went to a local working men's club for a friends birthday, she asked me to do the party but i said i wouldn't as i new the venue, when i turned up there was a fight out side :eek: i walked in a felt really UN easy. my partner had her phone stolen :bang: witch really :Censored: me off. the room was massive and holds about 250 people, there were about 150 there, the DJ was using 4 10" prosound speakers on stands about 8ft high on a 6ft stage. the lighting he had was 4 t-max lights on 1 t-bar. he were playing cover song for songs like ymca and and Saturday night. the DJ could talk properly on the mic as he had no teeth but when he did talk it was for stupid things like "i'm off for a fag" i stayed about 2hour and only new around 8 songs, i went to ask him for a song and maybe give him advice to join the forum etc but he shouted at me said get off the :Censored: stage your not insured, i just walked off at this time.

The main reason for this thread is I'm wondering how would you decline a venue to customers, i know i would never work there!

sorry for the long thread.


So he played cover verisons yet had insurance?

[JTRS]

people always ask the date 1st and i tell them if im available

CJ try this

When a customer calls and gives you a date and asks if you are free answer that by saying I'll just get my diary and check for you. Then you take control of the call, ask the caller things like where did you get my number, where is the party and what type of party it is.

Once you have those answers you can decide how much to quote, or if you don't want to do the venue you can either be honest about why you don't want to do it or tell them you are already booked

JTRS

[Pe7e]

:agree: always take control of the booking process.

[DazzyD]

With a sales background, I always take control of the call.

However, I would NEVER lie to a potential client. I would always say "Sorry but..." and explain the problem with the venue. It may be that the client hasn't been there before and your honesty could well make them think twice about the venue. This exact thing has happened to me a couple of times and I've gone on to get the booking at the alternative venue.

[rob1963]

The main reason for this thread is I'm wondering how would you decline a venue to customers, i know i would never work there!

When I'd got the details from the enquirer, if it was a gig I didn't want for any reason, I'd just tell them that I had no availability on that date.

Simple!

Thats why I don't have an availability checker on my website!

:D :D :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

When I'd got the details from the enquirer, if it was a gig I didn't want for any reason, I'd just tell them that I had no availability on that date.

Simple!

Thats why I don't have an availability checker on my website!

:D :D :D

because you havent got any dates crossed off? :P

[pagan_flame]

Sorry I'm booked elsewhere or quote a high price.

:agree:

I always use that one when I hear the words 'pub' or 'working man's club' unless I know the person or venue.


So he played cover versions yet had insurance?

No, he just said that CJ wasn't insured, he didn't say that he was insured... :)

[Shaun]

With a sales background, I always take control of the call.

However, I would NEVER lie to a potential client. I would always say "Sorry but..." and explain the problem with the venue. It may be that the client hasn't been there before and your honesty could well make them think twice about the venue. This exact thing has happened to me a couple of times and I've gone on to get the booking at the alternative venue.

That's exactly what I do. Honesty is always the best policy.

[mike8863]

just do what i do tell them sorry i dont work in that venue if they ask why tell them the truth ie bad stairs or the landlord/stewerd is a numpty

works for me....!!!.
If you were booking a venue, wouldn't you prefer that people were honest and told you what it was really like??.
I did this last week as it happens, the couple want a wedding night venue for next year, they've already booked me for it. They mentioned somewhere, and i said, "lovely room, great facilities, helpful friendly staff, bar until 1am, but music stops dead at midnight". they weren't told that and would prefer the flexibilty to go on longer. They thanked me!!.
Mike

[rob1963]

However, I would NEVER lie to a potential client.


When I'd got the details from the enquirer, if it was a gig I didn't want for any reason, I'd just tell them that I had no availability on that date.

In my opinion, there are times when a white lie is the best policy, and I think this situation is one of them.

As for not wanting to lie to a potential client, if you don't want the gig for whatever reason, they are NOT a potential client, but simply an enquirer who you can't help.

I don't see the point in getting involved in discussions about the reasons why I don't want to take on a particular function with someone who is not my customer anyway.

It makes more sense for me to spend my time with people I CAN help, rather than those I CAN'T.

[Excalibur]

In my opinion, there are times when a white lie is the best policy, and I think this situation is one of them..
I don't. Tell 'em you won't work there, and why.


As for not wanting to lie to a potential client, if you don't want the gig for whatever reason, they are NOT a potential client, but simply an enquirer who you can't help.

I don't see the point in getting involved in discussions about the reasons why I don't want to take on a particular function with someone who is not my customer anyway..
The vital point which many people appear to have missed, is that even if you're available on a date, and the punter knows this, there's no obligation for you to take the gig. Any reason you have for turning it down is valid, even if it's that you don't like the wallpaper in that venue. ;)



It makes more sense for me to spend my time with people I CAN help, rather than those I CAN'T.
Financially yes. Altruistically no. While I appreciate the financial astuteness of some on here, I feel sad when it leads to people being unable to show more than the minimum courtesy to poitential customers.

Two things to bear in mind:
"It's nice to be nice".
"What goes around, comes around".

Goes off, whistling " If I can help somebody as I go along............................................. ..............." :D :D :D

[rob1963]

While I appreciate the financial astuteness of some on here, I feel sad when it leads to people being unable to show more than the minimum courtesy to potential customers.

For the record, I am courteous to ALL enquirers, whether I can help them or not.

For example, this is my standard email to people I can't help:

"Thank you for your enquiry about a disco on xxx at xxx. I regret, however, that we have no availability on this date, and are therefore unable to assist you on this occasion.

If you would like me to recommend an alternative local disco, please let me know, and I'll be more than happy to oblige.

Thank you for showing an interest in our services."

I think that's MORE than courteous!

:)

[Excalibur]

For the record, I am courteous to ALL enquirers, whether I can help them or not.

For example, this is my standard email to people I can't help:

"Thank you for your enquiry about a disco on xxx at xxx. I regret, however, that we have no availability on this date, and are therefore unable to assist you on this occasion.

If you would like me to recommend an alternative local disco, please let me know, and I'll be more than happy to oblige.

Thank you for showing an interest in our services."

I think that's MORE than courteous!

:)Oi, Mr Touchy, you must have overlooked the word "minimum" in my post. ;) I never implied you were likely to reply in the vein of " Bog off and stop annoying me, you can't afford me, and I'm not working in the cesspit you and your chavvy mates intend to disgrace with your foul presence" :D :D

BTW, you've still fibbed, Pinocchio. You said you were busy, when you weren't. :D

Right, serious time. Rob, I'd not expect you to less than courteous, I know you're a Gentleman. However, my point is that I do feel it's a pity if we can't be honest with customers who wish to use a venue we dislike, or want us to work for two pints of lager and a packet of crisps. Politeness costs nothing ( Cue somebody on here telling me that their time is valuable, and in fact it does ;) ) and I for one try to be polite in all my dealings with folk. ( Rob exempted, of course. :p :D :D :D ) Sadly when dealing with some Tech Support call centres, even I fail to achieve this standard. :(

Let's see if this tale helps.

A woman turns to a man who has held a door open for her and snaps" I hope you didn't hold that door open for me because I'm a Woman! " His reply?




" No. I did it because I'm a Gentleman. " ;) :D :D

[rob1963]

Right, serious time. Rob, I'd not expect you to less than courteous, I know you're a Gentleman. However, my point is that I do feel it's a pity if we can't be honest with customers who wish to use a venue we dislike, or want us to work for two pints of lager and a packet of crisps. Politeness costs nothing ( Cue somebody on here telling me that their time is valuable, and in fact it does ;) ) and I for one try to be polite in all my dealings with folk. ( Rob exempted, of course. :p :D :D :D ) Sadly when dealing with some Tech Support call centres, even I fail to achieve this standard.

To be honest, if I didn't want to take on a gig, my reply would depend on the REASON for me not wanting to take on the gig, and in many cases I WOULD be honest...just not 100% of the time!

For example, if it was a venue where I wouldn't work due to a sound limiter, I would be, (and indeed have been) completely honest with them about my reason for refusing their function.

The same is true of childrens parties, 18ths and people with a budget which is under my minimum price.

The point I'm making is that there will be SOME functions which I don't want to do where I'll decide it's just better to tell a white lie about not having any availability for that date.

[Excalibur]

The point I'm making is that there will be SOME functions which I don't want to do where I'll decide it's just better to tell a white lie about not having any availability for that date.

Pinocchio, or Mr Tactful? Jury's out. :p :D :D :D

[rob1963]

Pinocchio, or Mr Tactful? Jury's out. :p :D :D :D

Certainly not Pinocchio, because this post was inaccurate:


BTW, you've still fibbed, Pinocchio. You said you were busy, when you weren't.

I haven't fibbed at all, I've simply said I have no availability for that date, which doesn't necessarily mean I'm already working.

I might have no availability because I'm going out, or because I've planned to have a night in watching television, or possibly because I have no availability to work in the specific dive their function is in, just like I NEVER have any availability to work in that particular :Censored: hole!

Pinocchio, no.

Mr Tactful, definately!

:D

[Excalibur]

Certainly not Pinocchio, because this post was inaccurate:



I haven't fibbed at all, I've simply said I have no availability for that date, which doesn't necessarily mean I'm already working.

I might have no availability because I'm going out, or because I've planned to have a night in watching television, or possibly because I have no availability to work in the specific dive their function is in, just like I NEVER have any availability to work in that particular :Censored: hole!

Pinocchio, no.

Mr Tactful, definately!

:D
Rob, I wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologise. :o :o :( :( You win. :D

[andyw]

honesty is always the best policy without a doubt in my mind,i met someone at a venue a couple of weeks ago for an engagement party(as it's a new venue for us we wanted to check it out before the day so they met us there) they told us they would be looking at booking us for the wedding, when they told us one of the places they were looking at i said i am affraid we won't play that place because the access is so bad , now they have crossed that place off there list
everyone is still a potential client, you might not get the booking this time but next time they need(or someone they know needs) a disco they might come back to you with a different venue if they want you

[Excalibur]

honesty is always the best policy without a doubt in my mind,i met someone at a venue a couple of weeks ago for an engagement party(as it's a new venue for us we wanted to check it out before the day so they met us there) they told us they would be looking at booking us for the wedding, when they told us one of the places they were looking at i said i am affraid we won't play that place because the access is so bad , now they have crossed that place off there list
everyone is still a potential client, you might not get the booking this time but next time they need(or someone they know needs) a disco they might come back to you with a different venue if they want you

Absolutely. Apart from anything I've written, that's the most sensible post in this thread. :D I've had punters move venues and dates so they can have me before. :o

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I agree that you should be truthful.

Everywhere has 'one of those venues' that you don't particularly like working in, be it down to the clientel or the venue itself. I would simply be honest and I have done this in the past too.

Someone called me about an anniversary party at a venue I have played in twice over the years. It has VERY sensitive sound limiters and also the bar isn't in the room either. I won't ever play there again and avoid it as much as I can. I advised the enquirer about the problems with using that venue and asked if they had paid a deposit. They said they had but it was something like £25.00 at the time and it was worth losing it if my advice was good (which it was)...

I have also had a couple of enquiries where the person enquiring hasn't really taken my advice on board so I have HAD to turn the booking down. My reasoning and what I tell them is that I am NOT willing to risk my reputation at a venue that I have advised isn't suitable for me to work in.

Remember...everytime we go out, we advertise ourselves to guests etc by performing. Most of the general public don't know anything about sound limiters etc and music stopping etc due to them being set off (either by having to have the sound a decent level or people making more noise, sometimes when they realise that they can stop the music by clapping, shouting etc and setting them off) just makes me look like I don't know what I am doing. More importantly, SOME people may not have a clue that there are sound limiters there and may simply think that the DJ is mucking up all of the time. I am not risking that whatever and would rather be honest and say "Yes, I am available on the date you require but unfortunately I will not work in that venue for the reasons I have stated". It's then up to them to decide whether to hold their function at that venue or not.

[rob1963]

honesty is always the best policy without a doubt in my mind

We'll agree to differ then.

I'm honest with my own clients 100% of the time, but I'm honest with enquirers 95% of the time. However, I see nothing wrong with that. Sometimes a little white lie is the most practical solution.


i met someone at a venue a couple of weeks ago for an engagement party(as it's a new venue for us we wanted to check it out before the day so they met us there) they told us they would be looking at booking us for the wedding, when they told us one of the places they were looking at i said i am affraid we won't play that place because the access is so bad , now they have crossed that place off there list

That's fine, but when you told them you won't play that place due to the bad access, they could just as easily have kept the venue on the list of places they were looking at but crossed YOU off the list of discos they were considering!

Just a thought.

[andyw]

We'll agree to differ then.

I'm honest with my own clients 100% of the time, but I'm honest with enquirers 95% of the time. However, I see nothing wrong with that. Sometimes a little white lie is the most practical solution.



That's fine, but when you told them you won't play that place due to the bad access, they could just as easily have kept the venue on the list of places they were looking at but crossed YOU off the list of discos they were considering!

Just a thought.

agreed to differ rob everyone is different with different ideas and we all have to do what works best for us

on the secound point yes they could cross us off the list and that is an option they have, but if they booked the venue and then phoned us we would of turned it down, so i look at it as a no lose gamble.