Freebies, Discounts, Charities & Mates Rates

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Do you do free work, charity work or give discounts to regulars, residencies or people that have come via recommendations?

I ask this following a post in another thread.

I do regular nights throughout the year at my local. The payment is decent enough for pub work and I use the nights as 'fillers' sometimes. If I get a booking come in that is obviously more money to me, the pub is very understanding and knows that I need to take it on so we 'jiggle' dates around. Also with pub work, as you know....you never know if it's going to be a busy night or not but even if it's dead, I will still get my money and I appreciate that. Because of this, I do the venue a good deal when it comes to Christmas and NYE.

I'm the same with my other residencies but do it in a different way. I have always done the staff parties for free. It's a way of thanking them for providing me with bookings throughout the year and it gets me brownie points. Last year at my previous hotel residency (I've mentioned this before), I agreed that I would do the staff party subject to my availability. They kept mucking me about and I asked a number of times when the staff party was on but was never told. In the end they let me know a week before and said it was on a friday (previous 4 years was on a sunday) and I was already booked so I couldn't do it. They ended up getting someone else and weren't entirely happy.

Probably, just like many of you...I get a number of calls throughout the year for charity stuff. If it's a charity I believe in and I am free then I may consider doing something at a discount but more often than not, and this is being honest....I am usually booked. However, last year I did a boot sale at my local pub selling lots of my old CD's etc and gave all of the money (£195.00) to Help The Heroes. I do a christmas disco every year for a local school for Autism (sp?) for literally petrol money so I am doing my bit and it makes me feel good.

Lastly, I don't do 'mates rates' anymore. I used to but I was mucked about on more than one occasion. The last one being a friend of a friend who wanted me to do his 30th birthay party. I agreed and quoted him with a discount. During the time he was making his mind up, I turned down 2 bookings. He then came back to me (after I had chased it) saying that he now couldn't afford it. The guy hasn't spoken to me since...possibly through embarassment or knowing the fact that I was very angry.

So....as the title says, do you do freebies for people that provide you work all year round or offer discounts?

[Charlie Brown]

Interesting thread Gary.

I had the local stroke association call me yesterday to play music and MC at a big park.

A) I have to be up at 8.00 am on a Sunday after being at work all week and working Friday & Saturday night.

B) Budget is £50

C) They want me to source my own generator! (included in the budget)

...I'm very reluctant to do it but I said I'd think about it.

I don't want to do it but I feel guilty if I don't.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Personally mate, I wouldn't do that one and I wouldn't feel guilty either.
There are some enquiries that come in and I think "No" as soon as they start talking. This would be one of them.

[ppentertainments]

I have 2 chosen charities which I support. They are both local and basically organise events around me. This means about 4 gigs a year for free - but is ideal time to try out new ideas and kit.

A lot of my work is for charities and you do have to take a firm stance at times.

Apart from that I do not do any freebies, discounts (unless it suits me) etc.

If I had a £1 for every enquiry wanting a cheap disco because it will 'get loads more work for me' I could have retired by now.

[Megamix]

Difficult one - any DJ would have to limit such charity events as you could be employed permanently if word gets round.

If you had the time, maybe felt personally connected, it would give you good publicity.

Tough call - a poster on here said he did a single free one a year - i think that’s reasonable and lets face it gives us all a warm feeling - life is not all about taking (although you begin to wonder!)

(so pretty much what has just been posted)

[mike8863]

I do one freebie a year for the MS society, infact doing a Christmas party for them on the afternoon of the 12th. Very personal to me, so it's never a chore.
As for discounted rates, yes but only if i want to. A local "old boys" football team, I ususally do 3-4 gigs for them or members of the team a year. And a local Air cadet sqdn, again 2-3 a year for these, and these get 10-15% off, for which they're always grateful.

[Ecstatic Events]

The two "mate rate" bookings I had for next year have cancelled already (I wonder if they would of cancelled if I took deposits!!) I will do mate rates in the future, but normal T&C's will apply (and I WILL take booking fees)

I like to help out for charities wherever possible, normally with a 20% discounted fee.

I am doing a Wedding next year as a "freebie" for a very good friend, who is aso a very good bar/club DJ. I wont be doing much DJ'ing, as there are 3 local DJ's scheduled to play for the night. It'll be a case of setting up, a little MOC and lots of drinking :)

BTW - He's getting me a room for the night in the hotel, so not a complete freebie

[Shaun]

As a rule I don't usually do freebies, but I've got 2 next year that I'm providing as gifts to very close friends. Really looking forward to both of them.

[funkymook]

I used to do several charity gigs a year that were arranged by the company I worked for (I worked with Chico once - well I say worked, I put his backing CD on!). And did inbetween music for a band that organised a St Ormonds Street Hospital charity night every year.

But since being self employed I haven't been approached for any charity work.

I have just taken a hard line and stopped 'mates rates' after a recent party was rescheduled and rebooked to another venue with it's own DJ. I actually found out on facebook! Absolutely no consideration that I might need to know so I can free up the cancelled date (and they are fully aware DJ'ing is now my only income). Luckily managed to fill the cancelled date. Didn't bother going to their party the week after!

So from now on, for mates, it's full price, with deposit booked through my usual DJ booking process.

[TONYTIGER]

Every year i do a freebie for my local council in Dorchester i supply all the lighting and sound system it has become quite a big event so good PR ,i have to have 3 roadies to help and the council pay them so a good arrangement all round.People also remember which is handy when i stand for election every 4 years so works for me as well.;)
I also do the local village youth club at Christmas every year.

[Megamix]

I worked with Chico once
That knowledge is safe amongst us..we won't breathe a word :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I did my good friends 40th in Jan for 40 quid :) I had just got the DSB so was dying to test it out :)

I usually do a cheaper service for a charity every so often (usually about once a year) which infact I have one this saturday. It sounds like a great networking event too and there are going to be a few celebrities there by the sounds of it.

My hotel this year have booked up most of my fri/sats and also a few midweek dates too so I'm doing their staff party in Jan for free.

[funkymook]

That knowledge is safe amongst us..we won't breathe a word :D

He never mentions it either! :(

[mark@pegasus]

Strange how this should come up now. I recently became involved with a charity called Heroes Haven (www.heroes-haven.org.uk) and am currently organising a fundraiser involving 5 local bands with me providing the lighting and acting as MC for the night this I am doing FOC, but one of the charity directors has booked me for their birthday at full price and was happy to pay it as they understand this has nothing to do with the charity and did not expect 'mates rates'.