Question for the Midlands DJ's

[Twinspin]

I took a last minute wedding booking for 14th august 2010 for a wedding in a village not far from Hull. Its been booked through.

Midlands Bar & Marquee hire. Just a question does anyone have any experience with this business.

The company have been left in charge of the event management for a wedding reception. They are supplying a marquee bar etc and

the company have booked myself as the wedding DJ.

Its just so i know who im dealing with.... whether it be bad or good?

Thanks

John

[Danno13]

I don't think I've seen them anywhere before, can't find a website for them either :confused:

[soundscapes]

http://midlandsmarqueehire.com/Home.html

this looks like them john

[Dynamic Entertainment]

If it is them...check out their prices ;)

[Twinspin]

The guy seemed genuine enough on the phone. I did say to him. That i take full payment 14 days before the wedding.

Ive asked for a deposit upfront to be returned with a booking form which he said he will sort out because the wedding is only 3 weeks away i requested the full balance with the booking form because the wedding is now 3 weeks away. But the bride and groom wont release any funds until the marquee is up.

So he's having to shell out for the beer and this that and the other. He said can i pay the remaining balance on the night. So whats on my mind is getting paid and having to chase up.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I would be tempted to say...tough.

You have your policy which is payment upfront and he obviously advertisesp as providing disco and everything so let him deal with the cashflow problem.

[NKR]

http://midlandsmarqueehire.com/Home.html

this looks like them john

John. If that is them I would be asking for payment before I left the house.

Also I would not set my kit up in one of those tents on their web site. How you being powered?

[Twinspin]

its definetely not them. They are based in nottingham. This one is based in derby.

http://www.marqueehirecompare.co.uk/directory/marquee-hire/derbyshire/derby/midlands-bar-and-marquee-hire-_748.html

upon looking this is what i found.

[NKR]

its definetely not them. They are based in nottingham. This one is based in derby.

Well as the marquee will be set up when you arrive tell him he had better furnish your hand with the queens folding when you arrive or its a nil set up. If marquee is up he will have his payment correct.

[Twinspin]

definetely before.... wont accept it after or during.

[DJMaxG]

I don't think I've seen them anywhere before, can't find a website for them either :confused:

Judging by their small webiste, I would say that they are a small company, and/or, fairly new to the trade. It is funny how a marquee company would manage the whole event though. :confused:

[DeckstarDeluxe]

The guy seemed genuine enough on the phone. I did say to him. That i take full payment 14 days before the wedding.

Ive asked for a deposit upfront to be returned with a booking form which he said he will sort out because the wedding is only 3 weeks away i requested the full balance with the booking form because the wedding is now 3 weeks away. But the bride and groom wont release any funds until the marquee is up.

So he's having to shell out for the beer and this that and the other. He said can i pay the remaining balance on the night. So whats on my mind is getting paid and having to chase up.


Sounds odd to me. Not sure how that is your problem either. I'd be wary.

[DazzyD]

Judging by their small webiste, I would say that they are a small company, and/or, fairly new to the trade. It is funny how a marquee company would manage the whole event though. :confused:

Website? What website? There is a mobile phone number and a hotmail address.

This doesn't look like a very professional outfit to me. I don't know many people in this line of work who accept payment on the night. You usually have to put a fair sized deposit down when booking.

I'd be asking for payment in full before unloading the van.

[Twinspin]

Well. the guy has been sent a booking form and unless he returns it with a deposit. There will be no disco. He knows this too.

Im away for a week as from tommorow and upon my return i expect a returned booking form with a deposit wether thats by cheque or bank transfer im not bothered.

I can put a cheque in my business account and it will be cleared by thursday morning if the cheque bounces he will get a telephone call from me requesting a transfer if he refuses to do that... He will have to find another dj.

I will not load my equipment at home even until the deposit is in my bank account and showing. When i arrive at the gig i will be asking for the full amount before i take any disco gear out of the trailer (In Cash!)

No full balance Payment upfront ...... No Disco!

[Larry B Entertainment]

Well. the guy has been sent a booking form and unless he returns it with a deposit. There will be no disco. He knows this too.

Im away for a week as from tommorow and upon my return i expect a returned booking form with a deposit wether thats by cheque or bank transfer im not bothered.

I can put a cheque in my business account and it will be cleared by thursday morning if the cheque bounces he will get a telephone call from me requesting a transfer if he refuses to do that... He will have to find another dj.

I will not load my equipment at home even until the deposit is in my bank account and showing. When i arrive at the gig i will be asking for the full amount before i take any disco gear out of the trailer (In Cash!)

No full balance Payment upfront ...... No Disco!

Sounds sensible, especially after how you were stung the other week when that guy wouldnt pay up.

[Excalibur]

Watch this space lad and lasses. It's tonight. ;) John has enlisted the help of a Professional Roadie/Sound Engineer/PA Provider/Logistics Specialist. ;) :D :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Watch this space lad and lasses. It's tonight. ;) John has enlisted the help of a Professional Roadie/Sound Engineer/PA Provider/Logistics Specialist. ;) :D :D


Night off then Peter? :P

[Corabar Entertainment]

...and going by FB comments....

..is the marquee standing up all on it's own now for more than five minutes? :p

[Excalibur]

Night off then Peter? :P
You've never roadied for John, have you? :whistle:


...and going by FB comments....

..is the marquee standing up all on it's own now for more than five minutes? :p
Dunno, but I reckon it'll all fit in an LDV if John doesn't get paid. ;) :D :D

[Creature]

It is funny how a marquee company would manage the whole event though.

Easy really they charge something like £700.00 to provide disco - they then ring around or use friends or other djs they have used in the past and pay them a lot less - they make money for doing nothing.

[Excalibur]

Status update: We're out in the wilds, in a small tent. Up till an hour ago, we technically had no bar!!!!Guests had to drive off and raid the nearest offie!:eek: John was set up early, cos the PA for speeches and background was conspicuous by its absence. We've got the full Wembley RCF PA in operation, so I'd expect them to be complaining in East Hull soon.

One ray of sunshine: John is currently the proud possessor of his fee in cash, with a supplement to come for his extra time, from the bride's parents.

[Corabar Entertainment]

:thumbsup:

[Excalibur]

Quick precis of subsequent events. Marquee person did not cover himself in glory. John did. The marquee person was apparently simply working too far from home, and with insufficient resources. A reasonable fellow, but struggling against unequal odds. Punters loved John, couldn't praise him enough for rescuing the event. 1-0 to Hull, it seems. :D

[STEVE HANLEY]

Quick precis of subsequent events. Marquee person did not cover himself in glory. John did. The marquee person was apparently simply working too far from home, and with insufficient resources. A reasonable fellow, but struggling against unequal odds. Punters loved John, couldn't praise him enough for rescuing the event. 1-0 to Hull, it seems. :D

Well done to you and John. So pleased for you:beer1: :beer1:

[Twinspin]

Well ive returned home.

Account of the gig.

this is a long read because there is a lot to tell.

The marquee guy and event coordinator who booked everything didnt give me any contact with the bride and groom.

2 Days before the wedding. I had a call from the brides mum extremely worried about the disco. Because the marquee guy had turned up with the marquees supposed to be a high standard Roder clearspan frame marquee.

puts it up.... its well and truly knackered very dirty and tatty and it was ripped. So of course the father of the bride wasnt happy (Damn right!)
he told him he wanted another marquee because it was a mess.

The brides mum told me on the phone what trouble she'd had with the marquee guy. They said he turned up with two new marquees (to make a 12x12 metre) The marquee guy... it took him all day to try and get the marquee up and still didnt the marquee frame up even.

so the brides dad and the groom spent hours and was there while 3am putting it up themselves without the marquee guy he'd dissapeared.

The brides mum got extremely annoyed and she wanted the number of all the contractors he'd booked to take the wedding on. The brides mum contacted me she was very nice with me on the phone.

So i give the brides mum information told her all about my dj business i give her my site information so she could see pictures and everything. So after what i told her i give her my contact number and said you will have full contact with me all the time by mobile or landline any problems give me a call.

So she said to me. Im so glad that ive spoken to you. I have confidence that you'll be there.

the day before the wedding stuff is still going wrong the marquee guy was messing about trying to sort linings etc out and dancefloors etc mobile toilets etc etc. So she said to the marquee contractor... what times did you book the dj for he said 7pm start. The brides mum said to him... the deal was 4pm start. So he said it was booked for 7. So the brides mum contacted me and said would you be able to get setup and switched on by 4pm. I said to the brides Mum about the extra 3 hours is chargable.

So the deal was take 1 hour off the end time (disco now finishing 12am)
and 2 hours overtime (i said £100.00 for the 2 hours extra time) So the brides mum said sure np.

I arranged a time with her... I said i will be there at 2:30pm. I was there at half past 2 and met the brides mum and dad of course just before they went to the church.

look at whats suppposed to be a marquee LOL... but it was more like a cheap gazebo marquee type thing 2 joined together. Not very professional.

http://www.mollettsmarquees.co.uk/images/marquee_d_640.jpg

what got used

http://www.curlew.co.uk/secondhandmarquees/Pictures%20of%20secondhand%20marquees2/12M%20Roder%20Marquee%20for%20sale.jpg

roder hocker HTS

if you pay for a proper marquee you should get a proper marquee

one of these. the most crooked mobile dancefloor ever... not even fastened together properly. The brides mum said the marquee bloke will be back within the hour with the bar stuff and drinks... wedding guests back the fridges and that just stuck about in the bar area. Wedding starts they have no bar... they had some alcohol luckily but not much.. Everybody fed up... So someone got a few hundred quid worth of alcohol. The marquee guy turns up 3 hours into the wedding with excuse after excuse.

rubbish dancefloor, rubbish marquee, and a bar run by the grooms mate and one of the bridesmaids.

he was saying to me. when he come to pay-up. he said im not going to stick around as I dont feel at all welcome at this wedding..... I wonder why?

Now onto the disco part lol.

It was a good night the bride and groom certainly enjoyed it and a big thanks again to Peter for helping out. The bride and groom their family and guests all enjoyed the disco. The brides dad said to me at the end of the night that the best things at the wedding was your dj services and also the hog roast.

A happy client makes a happy DJ. Word of advice to anyone in the midlands you know who not do business with. First time for me and certainly the last.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Well, glad to know the disco went OK John!

[Twinspin]

Im glad as well tbh. Im relieved.

If they couldnt take it on... they shouldnt take it on. The brides dad was originally going to go with a hull marquee contractor (Humberside Marquees) Which i know this company very well and have worked in conjunction with them a few times. Its a real shame tbh that the company that did it and made a mess of it... was recommended by a family friend.

I know full well.. Had they gone with Humberside they could have just relaxed and watched a top notch marquee company take care of the marquee bar dancefloor and everything and done it to a high standard.

[simon1969]

Oh dear, sounds like a nightmare!!
I'm glad your disco went well sounds like you made people feel at ease,
shows what the quality of people who are a part of this forum!!!!
Don't know how people can be so unprofessional, :eek: I'm surprised they got paid, I would have spilt blood that day if it was my wedding!!!:mad:

[soundscapes]

Told you it was in the middle of nowhere :) at least you got paid and took the plaudits, job well done !

[Twinspin]

Oh dear, sounds like a nightmare!!
I'm glad your disco went well sounds like you made people feel at ease,
shows what the quality of people who are a part of this forum!!!!
Don't know how people can be so unprofessional, :eek: I'm surprised they got paid, I would have spilt blood that day if it was my wedding!!!:mad:

The brides mum wasnt happy at all (Can't say i blame her) she tryed to contact the marquee guy via phone and he wasnt answering he was avoiding them.

By not turning up the bride was in tears and the groom was in a bad mood.
as you would expect in that situation.

So i thought... Time to be ruthless. I got the number up on my mobile phone
and rung it and give it to the brides dad otherwise they wouldnt of got in contact with him. The marquee guy didnt say nothing when he arrived.

he paid what he owed and that was that. He did ask me if i was available to cover any gigs for him..... That i will not do or have anything to do with this guy.

The brides mum and dad are apparently going to sue him for damages. They do right !!!!

[simon1969]

The brides mum wasnt happy at all (Can't say i blame her) she tryed to contact the marquee guy via phone and he wasnt answering he was avoiding them.

By not turning up the bride was in tears and the groom was in a bad mood.
as you would expect in that situation.

So i thought... Time to be ruthless. I got the number up on my mobile phone
and rung it and give it to the brides dad otherwise they wouldnt of got in contact with him. The marquee guy didnt say nothing when he arrived.

he paid what he owed and that was that. He did ask me if i was available to cover any gigs for him..... That i will not do or have anything to do with this guy.

The brides mum and dad are apparently going to sue him for damages. They do right !!!!

Yes they should sue !!
Quick thinking phoning the marquee guy !!!
I really feel for the couple and their families, just a shame he can't be exposed they should write to watchdog or whatever it is "Marquee Tents from Hell !"
He will end up spoiling other people's big days!!!!!
Well done anyway sounds like you handled it well...... :) :)