More work....

[Charlie Brown]

I'm on the hunt for a new residency following the collapse of my other one.

Preferably a hotel/function room sort of job...

I have a few venues in mind, a lot who already have their own DJ's and wondered if I'm wasting my time in sending a letter?

Do you have to wait for work to come to you?

If not, how would you word a letter selling your services?

Cheers in advance.

[NKR]

I'm on the hunt for a new residency following the collapse of my other one.

Preferably a hotel/function room sort of job...

I have a few venues in mind, a lot who already have their own DJ's and wondered if I'm wasting my time in sending a letter?

Do you have to wait for work to come to you?

If not, how would you word a letter selling your services?

Cheers in advance.

Letter will get FIB'd. You need to get in there in person or get a private booking at the venue to show your worth.

[Charlie Brown]

Letter will get FIB'd. You need to get in there in person or get a private booking at the venue to show your worth.

Sorry? What's FIB'd?

....and yes, your right. How would you approach the situation? I don't really stand much chance do I. Even venues who have a resident DJ, whether he is fantastic or terrible aren't really prepared to change, because to be quite frank, it's "too much effort."

[WWDJ]

FIB = Filed in Bin

[NKR]

Sorry? What's FIB'd?

....and yes, your right. How would you approach the situation? I don't really stand much chance do I. Even venues who have a resident DJ, whether he is fantastic or terrible aren't really prepared to change, because to be quite frank, it's "too much effort."

Filed In Bin (FIB'd). It's what I do with CV's with spelling mistakes, etc when we get grad applications.

A lot of venues will have resi's booked under agencies as well. I did a two year residency in a hotel in my early years and it was through an agency.

If you want more work find a decent agency and use it to fill the gaps. The moneys not the best, but you get into venues and get a reputation and that allows you to be taken more seriously when you break free.

I caveat that as the agencies are light on work this year so far too.

[Charlie Brown]

I see, I see.

I really didn't want to take on agency work, because I feel I have come so far by myself, it would be like taking a step back and not forward...but I guess at the moment as long as I'm getting myself out there, that's all that matters.

:)

[NKR]

I see, I see.

I really didn't want to take on agency work, because I feel I have come so far by myself, it would be like taking a step back and not forward...but I guess at the moment as long as I'm getting myself out there, that's all that matters.

:)

It gets the rig working and puts you in venues that walking in the door and saying 'I'm Charlie, I'm Good'. Would get the reaction - you are 16 with big hair, I don't have time for this.

If you have just shown your talents and done it well (as we know you can). It can be a whole different conversation.

I am still filling gaps with agency work and lots of it is not so clever and some of it has establish new contacts and potential future options.

The key is to get a decent agent and set your parameters from time to time. You can't call the shots straight off, but they know who can do what as they get feedback. Once you are near the top of their retained list you can start talking about the better work and the better pennies.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I see, I see.

I really didn't want to take on agency work, because I feel I have come so far by myself, it would be like taking a step back and not forward

I disagree. It gets you out, earning money and gaining more experience to put on your CV. Just be careful who you deal with. :)

[Corabar Steve]

I disagree. It gets you out, earning money and gaining more experience to put on your CV. Just be careful who you deal with. :)
It's OK, Mikeeeeeeeeeeeeeee doesn't operate in Charlie's area :sj:

[nisfo]

Agencies are good Charlie, for money at least anyway.

Experience is everything. And you never know, you may end up playing somewhere there is a scout ;)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

...and also, IF you decide to go ahead and do some agency work, don't worry about what the agency is being paid...make sure you get what YOU want or feel comfortable going out for.

[nisfo]

...and also, IF you decide to go ahead and do some agency work, don't worry about what the agency is being paid...make sure you get what YOU want or feel comfortable going out for.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I 110% agree with Shakers post

[Charlie Brown]

Right I see. Thanks for the advise :) what are the chances of any agency taking me seriously, let's be realistic here...

[nisfo]

Right I see. Thanks for the advise :) what are the chances of any agency taking me seriously, let's be realistic here...

Erm, don't take it personally.......You obviously don't take yourself seriously.

You have a great portfolio dude. Any agent would give you a go. As a current no commision agent myself I would take you on :D, and before I get slated I have never charged for passing on work as I am building up a reputation myself :)

From what I have seen (I'm sure it's only a small amount) you know how to entertain, I wish I had half your bottle when I was your age.

Grab the bull by the horns and put your reputation out there ;)

[Charlie Brown]

Fair enough, I'm be begining to make sense of it all now.

So tonight, after school, I could write down a list of local agents-what would one do? Email, write, phone? I appreciate all your help by the way guys :approve:

[NKR]

Fair enough, I'm be begining to make sense of it all now.

So tonight, after school, I could write down a list of local agents-what would one do? Email, write, phone? I appreciate all your help by the way guys :approve:

Get on the phone to them and have a chat as they are generally too busy to deal with e-mails from all the buding DJ's out there.

Your conversation needs to be along the lines of "Hi I know you probably have lots of DJ's looking to get on your books, but I am genuinelyr running this professionally. My next job is XXXX where I would be grateful if you could send someone down to have a look at what I do and check that I have proper pro audi equipment and the necessary licenses, insurances to work legitimately. Something about you want to work for them as they are a recognised good angency and you believe you have a lot to offer them"

Thats your best bet. Nothing like the phone as its personal and you can sell the fact you want to do this and are not just sending letters and e-mails hoping something might come of it.

[Charlie Brown]

Yeah, your right. I think I will do this - the masons party, may be a good choice?

[rob1963]

I agree with the agency advice.

Even now, I still do a handful of gigs each year for the agencies run by a couple of my friends.

As previously stated, the money is rubbish, but these gigs are very handy in filling in any gaps in your diary.

Apart from earning, it's all experience, Charlie.

:)

[Corabar Steve]

the masons party, may be a good choice?
Probably not.

[Charlie Brown]

Why not Steve?

[Corabar Steve]

Why not Steve?
Because it is a formal masonic function & I doubt that Freemasons (whichever lodge they are from) would appreciate a DJ inviting somebody else to one of their functions. It may cost you further work from them.

If you must invite the agent along to see you in action I suggest it is either to an event that the general public is admitted to, or if it has to be a private function, a birthday party would be far more appropriate (with the celebrant / organiser's permission of course). They will appreciate the fact that you can't just go inviting them to any function that you are working at.

[NKR]

Agreed a masonic function would not be the best to invite an agent to at all.

[Jonny Boy]

Charlie:

If you're going to get an agent, although many of these also deal (or vastly deal) with live acts, many are asked to add discos to events. (Which is then not only easier work possibly supporting live acts but also still getting you out there at the same (albeit lower) rate agencies give DJs...but for less actual performance time (due to slot live act will take up.)

Start by checking out the website for Agents' Association, which like the directory of this forum, is searchable by UK area.
http://www.agents-uk.com/agents/find/

Think of it like the agency equivalent of NADJ, SEDA etc. No guarantee the agent is fantastic but does show they are at least making an effort to present themselves as reputable/hold the minimum requirements.

One of my 2 agents is a member, and so far has come across more organised/professional and more likely to get the rates I'm happy with.
(The other guy is for fill-in or easy but poorly paid work.)

I found I got sent for unimportant and very poorly paid jobs first and once i had proven myself, I got more options.

DON'T FORGET - they will take their 15-20%.

[rob1963]

DON'T FORGET - they will take their 15-20%.

15-20%?

I know two people who run agencies.

One takes 33% commission and the other takes 50%.

[Charlie Brown]

Thanks for all the input guys, and arob your right...when I ha my crazy drinking night with the neighbourhood watch gang ;) *everyone frowns at their computer screen* the guy working, bearing in mind this was days before Xmas, he got £110 and the agent got £140!

[DJ Jules]

Thanks for all the input guys, and arob your right...when I ha my crazy drinking night with the neighbourhood watch gang ;) *everyone frowns at their computer screen* the guy working, bearing in mind this was days before Xmas, he got £110 and the agent got £140!

Yup, agents (and hotels) seem to value our work highly - when it comes to charging the client anyway. I've been talking to a hotel about booking a function room for 300 people, initial price £20/head including DJ. When I stated I already had a DJ, they knocked £2/head off - i.e. £600! I bet if I had taken them up on the offer they most likely would have booked someone through an agency, with the hotel pocketing about £250, the agent a further £200 and the DJ seeing about £150 of it. Or am I getting cynical in my old age? :D

Julian

[A1DL]

the hotel pocketing about £250

Much less percentage margin than the same hotel make on buying a case of premium bottled beer from their wholesaler at £15.00 ex vat and paying their bar staff £5.80/hour to sell those 24 bottles for £3.50 each.

What's wrong with a hotel adding 40%+ margin on resale of services bought? I'm sure it will be part of their business model and all goes in the melting pot toward the spiraling costs of business rates, insurance, heat, light & power, staff costs, vehicles, etc etc. There's a much bigger picture than what lots of individuals might initially think, this particular example doesn't look "greedy" to me. If the hotel is lucky, they'll make a profit and still be there next month/year.

[NKR]

Yup, agents (and hotels) seem to value our work highly - when it comes to charging the client anyway. I've been talking to a hotel about booking a function room for 300 people, initial price £20/head including DJ. When I stated I already had a DJ, they knocked £2/head off - i.e. £600! I bet if I had taken them up on the offer they most likely would have booked someone through an agency, with the hotel pocketing about £250, the agent a further £200 and the DJ seeing about £150 of it. Or am I getting cynical in my old age? :D

Julian

No you're not getting cynical. Its true - in some cases not all.