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View Full Version : Flaming Venues!!!



Dynamic Entertainment
17-12-2010, 11:19 AM
Well guys, theres another "what would you have done?" thread.

So, got an afternoon disco booking starting at 1.30pm, til 5pm...then im off to my Evening booking, starting at 6.30pm.

So, i phone this afternoons venue on Tuesday to check if its ok to use their sound and lighting system (its not a bad one), as it will be a tight squeese otherwise. I get told that they usually charge for the use of it (new one on me), but OK as it will help them with their room turn around.

To give you an idea, their system playout system is set in an alcove directly onto the dancefloor. Its a case of plugging my mixer into theirs and setting up the laptop, so I get there at 10.30 to do it.

They have their resident DJs own gear all over the dancefloor and its set up for karaoke, so they have the alcove blocked off with a starcloth backdrop. Now, i dont mind their sound system, and its more than ample, but the resient DJ, has one active mackie bass bin, one EV bass bin, and 2 ev tops....in the size of room that im RCF ART 312A's manage fine with on their own.

Anyhow, i cant do anything with the backdrop in the way, so me and a waiter fold up the legs, and carry it (fully assembled) into a side room thats not getting used.

At which point the manager wanders in and says "If i knew you were going to move that, i wouldnt have let you...its not our gear. Dont move anything else". My reply back was along the lines od, "Well i had to move the backdrop to be able to set up, or your party wouldnt have had any disco. Ill not move anything else, but you realise that these loose cables all over the floor, and lights are a trip hazard, and wont be coverer under our Public Liablilty".

His reply back was that its not his responsibility either, and was nothing to do to them.

So, had they insisted on me paying for the use of their sound system, and me then not being to set up my own disco....would i have paid....erm...no! How about you?

Would you have moved the resident DJ's back drop?

Had the manager seen you first and told you you couldnt ove anything....how would you have dealt with the situation?


And fianlly....general comments?

Cheers

Steve

:beer1:

DeckstarDeluxe
17-12-2010, 11:24 AM
I would of told him straight but not in a blunt way. If he thinks that trip hazard isnt of any interest to the venue then he clearly doesnt know his backside from his elbow.

DazzyD
17-12-2010, 12:59 PM
Thing is, it's not just a trip hazard to the guests but to anyone in the room including you!

And, yes, I would have moved the other DJs backdrop but would have made it clear to the venue manager that everything would be put back the way I'd found it.

Excalibur
17-12-2010, 02:27 PM
Nightmare. I've arrived at a venue where last night's gear was packed up ready to go, but I wasn't allowed to touch it, so I could get mine in! When the person turned up to move it, he was more than happy for me to assist in moving it.

I can see where the hotel's attitude to moving gear which doesn't belong to them comes from, but in all honesty I don't see what else you could have done.

Dynamic Entertainment
17-12-2010, 04:51 PM
Well, just got aback from the gig...got 20 minutes restp, before back out.

Anyway, i put everything back as was....even the lighting which a duty manager thought best move!

The GM came through...i said that everything was back as was, and he claimed he would plead ignorant if the DJ noticed anything.

Ive figured that its boiled down to the fact that they didnt want to tell their resident that there was a gig in that he wasnt doing!

spin mobile disco
18-12-2010, 12:08 PM
After having some equipment damaged by someone moving it I have to say that I would simply make it the venues issue not mine.
If they want you to pay to use their gear then they should provide it. In a manner to which i can be used in. i.e they ring their dj and get him to shift it or they do. Then if they break anything it is them not you that are resposible.
Anyone touching my gear gets a thump as 2 customers this year have already found out.