charity booking?

[The_Blue_Dragon]

Hi people,
Just recieved a text from a mate saying one of her mates has just asked her if she knows any DJs as she has organised a charity girls night out on Friday night and their DJ has just called to cancel with no explination.

I am un aware at the moment if I will be able to help out as I lent some of my gear to my mate and he hasn't returned it yet so doubt I'll be able to help.

The booking is in Ponds Forge, as soon as I get more information I'll post it on here incase someone can hep them out.

I just wondered though, if someone called you asking for your help with a charity gig after their original DJ had cancelled, would:-
a) say yes you can help free of charge
b) say yes you can help for a fee
c) no as it too late notice

I do alot of charity work but do you draw the line somewhere with how many charity bookings you do?

[STEVE HANLEY]

I've done about 3 so far for nixie, but sometimes say yes there's a fee involved, but I'll donate quarter of it back to the said charity.

Never seems to work mind. So I'll do about 3 or 4 a year and that's it.

[StarZSoundS]

Hi people,
Just recieved a text from a mate saying one of her mates has just asked her if she knows any DJs as she has organised a charity girls night out on Friday night and their DJ has just called to cancel with no explination.

I am un aware at the moment if I will be able to help out as I lent some of my gear to my mate and he hasn't returned it yet so doubt I'll be able to help.

The booking is in Ponds Forge, as soon as I get more information I'll post it on here incase someone can hep them out.

I just wondered though, if someone called you asking for your help with a charity gig after their original DJ had cancelled, would:-
a) say yes you can help free of charge
b) say yes you can help for a fee
c) no as it too late notice

I do alot of charity work but do you draw the line somewhere with how many charity bookings you do?




Ponds Forge is a nice venue......


You need to way up wether it may get you a foot in the door/and probably more importantly how good the cause is!!;) ;) ;)

[yourdj]

Ponds Forge is a nice venue......


Does not mean the people will be nice. they probably got the venue free. I did one early this year and im convinced they were not donating all the money :) Never again.

I would only do them in the day or week now.

I do certain charity gigs but i can tell now which ones will be trouble.

I would stay clear of that one if i were you.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I do the following;

One gig FOC (RNLI)
One gig at reduced fee (People First)
One gig where i charge full fee and donate a portion of it back (whichever worthwhile cause comes along first).

Thats all i do per year. I know DJs who done a couple for gigs FOC and got inundated with phonecalls from organisers. Im sure they talk to each other and pass details between each other.

[ppentertainments]

Thats all i do per year. I know DJs who done a couple for gigs FOC and got inundated with phonecalls from organisers. Im sure they talk to each other and pass details between each other.

That's normally right, free gigs only generate enquiries from other people wanting - free gigs :(

[Vectis]

I have two chosen local charities that I do work for at cost - usually 3 or 4 gigs per year - and anyone else pays full whack.

[Shaun]

I used to provide a free disco annually to a local charitable organisation, but only on the provision that it was held on a night other than a Friday or Saturday. As a full timer it's just not feasably possible for me to turn away paid work over a free gig on a weekend. The charity I provided the freebie for is no more, and I now charge full price for all charity enquiries.

[rob1963]

I don't think I've ever done a charity gig.

Virtually all my advertising is geared towards weddings, so I guess that's the reason.

[flatliners]

I do the odd one or two but always charge a reduced rate

[JTRS]

Ponds Forge is a massive venue, if you are in the main room you may well find they have also arranged for their sound and lighting engineers to be there that evening, in which case you just plug your decks into their system and away you go.

I did there last year for a Corporate event and that's what happened when I was there.

On the subject of charity events I do them twice a year (both for the same charity), anything else is charged at full rate. To be honest I think it's a bit cheeky if they expect you to step in at no charge to cover for someone else who offered to do it for free.

JTRS

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I done one for my neighbour for a saturday I hadnt booked up yet for 150 instead of my usual 225. Happy days more money for me, doing something for charity and a favour for my neighbour.

Wouldnt do a free gig though unless I thought there was a good chance for fully paid bookings.

[robbiedj]

Only my local Handicapped society.

I do a fund-raiser usually October and their Christmas party, which is normally a Sunday afternoon in beginning of January. I've done this for years.

[Jambo]

I do 2 Charity nights every year but it is for a charity that is very close to my heart and I am very involved with www.magicaltaxitour.com

1 in Disneyland Paris in September and 1 in December at the Marriott Hotel West India Quay, Canary Wharf !

[addoaddo]

I do a couple of my own choice but if someone rings up and just asks for a discount I say no and charge full rate.

I turn the request arround to the organiser and say
" if I was to organise an event next week would you give me 100 pounds from your own pocket"
They always aswer no so I reply
"why should I give it to your event".

[NKR]

That's normally right, free gigs only generate enquiries from other people wanting - free gigs :(

Not always true. I helped my wifes school out with a free PA system and Kev singing on Thursday just gone. Got all the staff Christmas do's, leavers balls and school disco's from it - paying of course and also booked a £400 wedding into one of my free slots in September (first weekend due to baby coming in that month). So a productive night, plus all the money raised goes towards the kids history trip to Poland and the concentration camps - sobering, but educational for them, so worthwhile.

We are also booked in for Derian House's kids Christmas party Gratis. Derian provide residential support and care for terminally ill children. I am not charging them a penny and will provide a range of give aways in the form of selection boxes and other bits free too. Some things you just can't price. I am sure it will be emotional, but it will be really giving back.

In answer to your question on would I do the job you have been asked to do. Depends on who the mate was and what the charity was really. You need to watch people aren't taking the mick sometimes, but many are genuine.