Nose? Cutting? Face? Spiteing it? BOV-VERED?!?!?!

[Jonny Boy]

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

SCENARIO
A venue you have worked at previously has over-run due to staff slowness on each occasion you played there.
The wedding co-ordinator is snide, and seems to go out of her way to make setting up more difficult.
The load in is not brilliant either.
The set up of the rooms and marquee/dancefloors mean you cannot set up your show in a way whcih looks professional.
The layout of the space resulted in you constantly struggled with feedback and guests in danger of bumping in/falling over equipment, despite your best efforts
The owner is rude and arrogant
The venue is also miles from anywhere and a difficult drive to get to.

However, it's a pricey pad, so couple are unlikely to hire Sixty Quid Sid.


DO YOU:
refuse to play there
refuse to play, but pass the gig on to a more tollerate peer
charge a bit extra
charge a lot extra
charge usual rates, and let it roll
charge usual rates but warn the bride and groom what is likely to happen

[rob1963]

Without a doubt, I'd refuse to play there.

More trouble than it's worth, and I really don't need the hassle.

I'd rather have a night off than work in those conditions, as I'm not THAT desperate for the work or money.

[welby]

However, it's a pricey pad, so couple are unlikely to hire Sixty Quid Sid.


The single biggest no no for me is the possible health and saftey issues.


The layout of the space resulted in you constantly struggled with feedback and guests in danger of bumping in/falling over equipment, despite your best efforts.

Where you place your kit is your responsibility and if someone falls over it and breaks a leg, the venue and injured party would come after you like a shot!

You must have PLI and I would not even play a venue without it!

If this situation can't be resolved by approaching the Venue manager not the wedding organiser, I would refuse to play. The Manager is responsible for the venues health and safety of all its employees and contracted staff etc.

I always do a reccee at each venue, before playing so that I can:

A) get my kit in a safe way
B) I don't bring too much kit
C) meet the staff your working with
D) plan a "plan b" what if

Sounds over the top, but I have found it to be so useful.

If something is not hunky dorey I speak with the manager and if that fails I usually have a quiet word with the Bride and Groom. After all the venue want to please the paying couple at all costs as it should pride itself on getting a happy event.

Hope this helps?

[rob1963]

The single biggest no no for me is the possible health and saftey issues

I completely agree, Welby.

For me, the most concerning of all the negatives stated was also this one:


The layout of the space resulted in you constantly struggled with feedback and guests in danger of bumping in/falling over equipment

[Shaun]

I've had a similar(ish) type situation with a venue (there's a topic about it in the supporters section).

I was going to add the venue to the "avoid like the swine flu" list, but instead I've decided to add extra clauses in my contract when playing that venue. My main concern is the obnoxious owner and issues with allocated space when playing there. The additional clauses will put the onus firmly on the client to make sure we are unhindered and unobstructed in the pursuit of our contracted duties. That way if there is future trouble with the venue, it'll be the client and not myself that has to deal with it.

[CRAZY K]

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

SCENARIO
A venue you have worked at previously has over-run due to staff slowness on each occasion you played there.
The wedding co-ordinator is snide, and seems to go out of her way to make setting up more difficult.
The load in is not brilliant either.
The set up of the rooms and marquee/dancefloors mean you cannot set up your show in a way whcih looks professional.
The layout of the space resulted in you constantly struggled with feedback and guests in danger of bumping in/falling over equipment, despite your best efforts
The owner is rude and arrogant
The venue is also miles from anywhere and a difficult drive to get to.

However, it's a pricey pad, so couple are unlikely to hire Sixty Quid Sid.


DO YOU:
refuse to play there
refuse to play, but pass the gig on to a more tollerate peer
charge a bit extra
charge a lot extra
charge usual rates, and let it roll
charge usual rates but warn the bride and groom what is likely to happen

Interesting.

I have a venue with a similar sort of problem.

The dancefloor is ok but problems with neighbours means after 11pm music cut down to near radio volume:eek: :eek: :eek:

Turn off the bass :eek:

I did a brilliant Wedding gig there last year before these problems emerged in 2009.

Slowness also causing a load of aggro because it means everything is behind time and I cant get going early enough.

Everything is then out of sync.:( and before you know it its 11oclock and instead of driving the party onwards and upwards to a great finish---you kill it stone dead:eek: :eek: :eek:

Tell em your booked somewhere else--

Dont bother with last option--makes you ( and me) look like a muppet:bang:

CRAZY K

[CRAZY K]

The single biggest no no for me is the possible health and saftey issues.

.

Where you place your kit is your responsibility and if someone falls over it and breaks a leg, the venue and injured party would come after you like a shot!

You must have PLI and I would not even play a venue without it!

If this situation can't be resolved by approaching the Venue manager not the wedding organiser, I would refuse to play. The Manager is responsible for the venues health and safety of all its employees and contracted staff etc.

I always do a reccee at each venue, before playing so that I can:

A) get my kit in a safe way
B) I don't bring too much kit
C) meet the staff your working with
D) plan a "plan b" what if

Sounds over the top, but I have found it to be so useful.

If something is not hunky dorey I speak with the manager and if that fails I usually have a quiet word with the Bride and Groom. After all the venue want to please the paying couple at all costs as it should pride itself on getting a happy event.

Hope this helps?

Very fair points raised here--sadly cant agree with---

After all the venue want to please the paying couple at all costs as it should pride itself on getting a happy event.

Sometimes not the case in my experience.

They just want the business:eek: :eek: :eek:

CRAZY K

[Steve the DJ]

I would add the venue to my blacklist but keep my ear to the ground should the ownership/management change, new broom and all that.

I added another venue to my blacklist on Saturday that is marketed as a "Castle" but is in fact a "Toilet" that smells of damp, sweat and vomit, has dangerous access arrangements and an owner who is on a different planet to the rest of us.

More hassle than it's worth.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Personally, if the venue gave me regular work and lots of it then I would more than likely 'grin and bear it' but I would make sure that I tried my hardest to get Mr Snidey on board. I would point out of all the issues that Jonny Boy has stated in his original post and like I said TRY to get him to change his stance. He sounds like he doesn't like Discos and DJ's but has to put up with them as they are more or less the given thing to have at a function. That's the main thing that gets my back up to be honest with you. These venue owners are happy enough to take the money but seem as if they don't like actually earning it. I hope that makes sense.

There's a venue near to me that I do probably 4 times a year. I'm not their resident or anything, I just happen to get booked there a bit. The co-ordinator is a pain in the preverbial and the load in is a real pain in the backside too but it is a popular venue and the times I have been there have resulted in follow on work.

To go back to the original post. I would not compromise on Health & Safety whatsoever and would state my case if there were any arguments. Maybe, if it is a venue that you do the odd function at here and there during the year and it gets your goat everytime you play there then why not charge a little extra to ease the pain... The thing is, the people booking you are going to be paying the extra and it's them and not the owner that you are kind of taking it out on...again, I hope that makes sense? At the end of the day, look after yourself and do what you think is right. If it really is a pain in the backside playing there then simply don't play there.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I cant say Ive had a venue thats had all those proplems but maybe one or two of them. I would make a personal judgement call but as all my jobs are quoted rather than using a fixed pricing list I would factor this into costs.

I would have no issue turning the work down and explain to the customers why.

[CRAZY K]

:eek:
I cant say Ive had a venue thats had all those proplems but maybe one or two of them. I would make a personal judgement call but as all my jobs are quoted rather than using a fixed pricing list I would factor this into costs.

I would have no issue turning the work down and explain to the customers why.

I really wouldnt go there.

You will have LEGAL ACTION slapped on you before you know it.:eek: :eek: :eek:

And that could cost you a lot of money.

By all means load the price---but start making allegations about a venue---no way.

CRAZY K

[rob1963]

Personally, if the venue gave me regular work and lots of it then I would more than likely 'grin and bear it'

I don't think that's the case here, Gary, as the OP only describes it as "a venue you have worked at previously"

[DeckstarDeluxe]

:eek:

I really wouldnt go there.

You will have LEGAL ACTION slapped on you before you know it.:eek: :eek: :eek:

And that could cost you a lot of money.

By all means load the price---but start making allegations about a venue---no way.

CRAZY K

We arent dealing with allegations however are we? If the place makes you set up in an unsafe way then you tell the customers " In our view we are unhappy in the setting that we are asked to use as we feel it goes against our PLI and risk assessment". If its a difficult load in and out then employ a roadie and pass on the cost.

A good terms and conditions will also protect you from "staff slowness meaning the evening overruns" and most other proplems. If the people working there are people you dont get along with then you either grin and bear it or you just turn the work down.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I don't think that's the case here, Gary, as the OP only describes it as "a venue you have worked at previously"

Fair do's then.

Look at it this way, albeit a different scenario but still the same kind of thing with regards to a venue you're not happy with...

Imagine that you've previously been to a venue/club/pub whatever and it all kicked off. The venue isn't renowned for it kicking off but on this occasion it did and whilst you were working. It made you feel uncomfortable at the time and you feel uncomfortable about going back even though the owner assures you that it doesn't happen that often.

What do you do?

If the OP on this topic is saying that he doesn't play there regularly then simple...If you aren't happy with the issues there then don't go there. If I was in the same position and using the scenario I have given above, there's no way I would go back whether it was a one off incident or not and whether equipment got damaged or not.

At the end of the day a venue is our workspace and it needs to be safe to work in. You wouldn't see (for example)...guys working on the motorway with no signals indicating that they're there would you? I have turned down venues before and to be fair to the people that booked me, they took my word for it and swapped venues for their chosen function. Most of the time it's because the same venue has been noted as having strict sound limiting issues which I am not happy working with.

[CRAZY K]

We arent dealing with allegations however are we? If the place makes you set up in an unsafe way then you tell the customers " In our view we are unhappy in the setting that we are asked to use as we feel it goes against our PLI and risk assessment". If its a difficult load in and out then employ a roadie and pass on the cost.

A good terms and conditions will also protect you from "staff slowness meaning the evening overruns" and most other proplems. If the people working there are people you dont get along with then you either grin and bear it or you just turn the work down.

A tricky Lawyer acting for the Hotel will make life difficult.

Example--we never had any complaints before--so wheres your evidence?

Ill say no more---:zip:

CRAZY K

[andyw]

i think i would just refuse to do the venue, we have a couple of venues that we refuse to do because of access. but if the access was not the real problem,i would first have a word with the venue manager and try to get him onside (see where we can work together on this), then work out a way i could get the best show in place while keeping it safe, remember sometimes less is more( how do others manage to play there). as gary said if there is a chance of more work their then is it worth investing in equipment to suit that venue

[soundtracker]

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

SCENARIO
A venue you have worked at previously has over-run due to staff slowness on each occasion you played there.
The wedding co-ordinator is snide, and seems to go out of her way to make setting up more difficult.
The load in is not brilliant either.
The set up of the rooms and marquee/dancefloors mean you cannot set up your show in a way whcih looks professional.
The layout of the space resulted in you constantly struggled with feedback and guests in danger of bumping in/falling over equipment, despite your best efforts
The owner is rude and arrogant
The venue is also miles from anywhere and a difficult drive to get to.

However, it's a pricey pad, so couple are unlikely to hire Sixty Quid Sid.


DO YOU:
refuse to play there
refuse to play, but pass the gig on to a more tollerate peer
charge a bit extra
charge a lot extra
charge usual rates, and let it roll
charge usual rates but warn the bride and groom what is likely to happen

I would make an appointment to have a good chat with the wedding co-ordinator, and try to get to the bottom of why these problems are occurring,
Her attitude may be to do with the collection of clueless DJs that make her life a misery, because they haven't got half of a brain between them. She may actually be pleased that someone has taken the time to understand the problems that she has, and that someone is actually doing something positive to help make her life easier.
From my point of view, the more DJs that go around black-listing venues the better, most problems can be surmounted with a bit of constructive assistance.

[rob1963]

Imagine that you've previously been to a venue/club/pub whatever and it all kicked off. The venue isn't renowned for it kicking off but on this occasion it did and whilst you were working. It made you feel uncomfortable at the time and you feel uncomfortable about going back even though the owner assures you that it doesn't happen that often.

What do you do?

I'd probably go back to the venue...and that's what I did when I found myself in a similar situation.

I had a residency at a pub for many years, and had never seen any problems. One night when I refused to play a single which he handed me, some idiot smashed a bottle over my head.

However, I was back there as normal the following week. Why wouldn't I be?

[DJMaxG]

From my point of view, the more DJs that go around black-listing venues the better, most problems can be surmounted with a bit of constructive assistance.

I don't know if this is right or not, but perhaps we could have an area of the forum dedicated to venue information - and blacklisting, but without calling it a 'blacklist'

Any ideas ?

[Steve the DJ]

From my point of view, the more DJs that go around black-listing venues the better, most problems can be surmounted with a bit of constructive assistance.

If it helps I have just black listed every venue in Herefordshire... :D

[soundtracker]

If it helps I have just black listed every venue in Herefordshire... :D

All contributions gratefully received!:)


I don't know if this is right or not, but perhaps we could have an area of the forum dedicated to venue information - and blacklisting, but without calling it a 'blacklist'

Any ideas ?

Great idea! Shall we start with your bedroom!

[Tony Scott]

I had an issue the first time I worked at a venue 3 yrs ago, It was a private booking and I was working directly for the client.

The staff were really unhelpful, rude and miserable. I asked for a glass of tap water, was refused and told I'd have to buy a bottle at £2.50. The events manager kept coming up trying to give me advice on what I should be doing, stating that their regular DJ wouldn't be playing 'this sort of stuff!' and stood around shaking her head even though the floor was packed and the whole place was buzzing.

The next time I got booked there I was in two minds weather or not to take the gig, I did and when I got there the second time it couldn't have been more different. It turned out that their regular DJ was a relative of the events manager and he had been let go, the events manager had also been replaced.

3 years on and I have a great relationship with the venue owner and events team, they give my detais to anyone looking for a DJ and I do at least 10 gigs a year there so it just shows what a difference a change of manager can do, it's always worth giving a venue another chance. :)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I'd probably go back to the venue...and that's what I did when I found myself in a similar situation.

I had a residency at a pub for many years, and had never seen any problems. One night when I refused to play a single which he handed me, some idiot smashed a bottle over my head.

However, I was back there as normal the following week. Why wouldn't I be?

I reckon thats because he wasnt happy with your 256kps mp3's Rob ;)

[rob1963]

I reckon thats because he wasnt happy with your 256kps mp3's Rob ;)

:Laugh:

To be honest, this was so long ago, I didn't even know what a 256kps mp3 WAS then!

Not only was it before my digital era, but it was even before my CD era!

:eek: :eek: :eek: