Cornerstone Entertainments

[Mister Musicman]

I’ve not subscribed for a while as I have started another business to run alongside the Disco and Karaoke which is taking much of my time.

The main reason for my post is that I have recently received an invitation to be represented by a new agency by the name of Cornerstone Entertainments. I had been recommended to them by the UK Wedding Guide as “being suitable for their needs“. The website seems to be genuine: www.cornerstoneentertainments.com - but we all know how easy it is to be drawn in to something dodgy these days and I just wondered if anybody out there had heard of them - Robert O'Donnell (Manchester Office) and William Williams (London Office).

Their well written invitation explains that they operated an agency in the UK prior to going to Hong Kong for a number of years and have returned despite the current economic position in the country and now have now opened offices in London and Manchester.

I haven’t replied yet as I don’t usually work for agencies because I had my fingers burned a few years ago. The problem is that most of them obtain payment from the client in advance of the booking date and these payments sometimes don’t reach the people who have signed up to their scheme. I know this because the one I previously worked for took quite a lot of persuading to part with the hard earned money following my efforts on his behalf. He certainly had very good contacts in the corporate entertainment field, and that was something which impressed me most. But I would rather do a birthday party for 60 people down the local hall and get paid than provide entertainment for the masses and then have to chase for payment.

Rob (Mister Musicman)
www.mistermusicman.co.uk

Advice for Newbies:People are more interested in themselves than they are in YOU!

[SC Events]

I don't know what they're like if they are genuine, but I had the same email about a month ago...i've ignored it so far.

[Mister Musicman]

I don't know what they're like if they are genuine, but I had the same email about a month ago...i've ignored it so far.


Hi Scott

Will you be replying :confused:

Rob (Mister Musicman)
www.mistermusicman.co.uk

[SC Events]

I'n not sure tbh, something just seemed a bit dodgy...

[flatliners]

Try giving Alan Rees from the northeast a bell he seems to be on there site he would be able to tell you if there ok

[CRAZY K]

I’ve not subscribed for a while as I have started another business to run alongside the Disco and Karaoke which is taking much of my time.

The main reason for my post is that I have recently received an invitation to be represented by a new agency by the name of Cornerstone Entertainments. I had been recommended to them by the UK Wedding Guide as “being suitable for their needs“. The website seems to be genuine: www.cornerstoneentertainments.com - but we all know how easy it is to be drawn in to something dodgy these days and I just wondered if anybody out there had heard of them - Robert O'Donnell (Manchester Office) and William Williams (London Office).

Their well written invitation explains that they operated an agency in the UK prior to going to Hong Kong for a number of years and have returned despite the current economic position in the country and now have now opened offices in London and Manchester.

I haven’t replied yet as I don’t usually work for agencies because I had my fingers burned a few years ago. The problem is that most of them obtain payment from the client in advance of the booking date and these payments sometimes don’t reach the people who have signed up to their scheme. I know this because the one I previously worked for took quite a lot of persuading to part with the hard earned money following my efforts on his behalf. He certainly had very good contacts in the corporate entertainment field, and that was something which impressed me most. But I would rather do a birthday party for 60 people down the local hall and get paid than provide entertainment for the masses and then have to chase for payment.

Rob (Mister Musicman)
www.mistermusicman.co.uk

Advice for Newbies:People are more interested in themselves than they are in YOU!

My wife runs a Barn Dance Agency.

She asks the client to pay you the Entertainer either 14 days in advance by cheque or in cash on the night.

The Contract states how much the agency gets and how much you get---totally transparent.

Over the last 18 months more or less been 100 per cent effective.

I know many agencies have arrangements with clients who dont pay on the night and you have to wait a while to get paid.

Unless you know an agency and trust them I would suggest its not a good idea to start dealing day one on that basis.

[Booche]

Same email and it got filed under B1N :D

[Wiggyjnr]

I’ve not subscribed for a while as I have started another business to run alongside the Disco and Karaoke which is taking much of my time.

The main reason for my post is that I have recently received an invitation to be represented by a new agency by the name of Cornerstone Entertainments. I had been recommended to them by the UK Wedding Guide as “being suitable for their needs“. The website seems to be genuine: www.cornerstoneentertainments.com - but we all know how easy it is to be drawn in to something dodgy these days and I just wondered if anybody out there had heard of them - Robert O'Donnell (Manchester Office) and William Williams (London Office).

Their well written invitation explains that they operated an agency in the UK prior to going to Hong Kong for a number of years and have returned despite the current economic position in the country and now have now opened offices in London and Manchester.

I haven’t replied yet as I don’t usually work for agencies because I had my fingers burned a few years ago. The problem is that most of them obtain payment from the client in advance of the booking date and these payments sometimes don’t reach the people who have signed up to their scheme. I know this because the one I previously worked for took quite a lot of persuading to part with the hard earned money following my efforts on his behalf. He certainly had very good contacts in the corporate entertainment field, and that was something which impressed me most. But I would rather do a birthday party for 60 people down the local hall and get paid than provide entertainment for the masses and then have to chase for payment.

Rob (Mister Musicman)
www.mistermusicman.co.uk

Advice for Newbies:People are more interested in themselves than they are in YOU!

William Williams is a Chinese guy whose real name is Chen Xi Li. His address in the UK is a virtual address an two of his 3 phone numbers don't work. The 0203 number is a virtual number which forwards to his mobile.
We learned this lesson the hard way, as did another band who got duped by him.
Therefore do not use him!
The acts on his site have been put there by him, not by the acts themselves.

[DazzyD]

Never heard of the agency but I'd think twice about believing someone who said their name was William Williams!! :eek:

[Mister Musicman]

William Williams is a Chinese guy whose real name is Chen Xi Li. His address in the UK is a virtual address an two of his 3 phone numbers don't work. The 0203 number is a virtual number which forwards to his mobile.
We learned this lesson the hard way, as did another band who got duped by him.
Therefore do not use him!
The acts on his site have been put there by him, not by the acts themselves.



Thanks Wiggy,

It DID look dodgy, and I just had an idea that someone on here would verify my thoughts.

MDD is useful - even for old farts like me :Rock on:

Rob
(Mister Musicman Entertainments)
www.mistermusicman.co.uk

[chrisj]

No website apparently.

UK2.NET
This Site Is Unavailable

[Excalibur]

Dave ( Wiggy ), many thanks for your post confirming what some of us suspected. It's always good to know if someone is not above board ( and heaven knows, there are enough of them about nowadays ), it may have stopped someone being caught, so your post is much appreciated.

Now I've got to do the official bit, and ask you to introduce yourself in the Newbies section. It's usually painless, and we all like to know a bit about who we're conversing with. Welcome along.

[CRAZY K]

William Williams is a Chinese guy whose real name is Chen Xi Li. His address in the UK is a virtual address an two of his 3 phone numbers don't work. The 0203 number is a virtual number which forwards to his mobile.
We learned this lesson the hard way, as did another band who got duped by him.
Therefore do not use him!
The acts on his site have been put there by him, not by the acts themselves.

Yes we have all been caught--the rule is unless you know them dont give credit--ie insist on advance payment.

That soon flushes out the wasters:rolleyes:

[Wiggyjnr]

Never heard of the agency but I'd think twice about believing someone who said their name was William Williams!! :eek:

Fair enough, but this is showbusiness after all;many folks have a stage name, DazzyD ;)

[Excalibur]

Wiggy, thanks for your input into this conundrum, it's appreciated. May I ( belatedly. I missed it the first time ) urge you to pop across to the newbies section, and introduce yourself there. It's nice to know something about who we're communicating with. Thanks.

[Wiggyjnr]

Hi Again, sorry, I hadn't received the notifications of comments on the thread until just now as I have logged back in. I'll head over to the newbies section now and introduce myself!:)

[SC Events]

Never heard of the agency but I'd think twice about believing someone who said their name was William Williams!! :eek:

Gary and Phil Neville's Dad is called Neville..... Neville Neville, so it could be true! ;)

[Wiggyjnr]

I've managed to track down William Williams (I think) to a UK address, I believe he and Robert O'Donnell are one and the same person, as I sent an invoice there via registered post and it was signed for by W.Williams, even though the address is listed as that of R.O'Donnell!

I also found this recently.....

http://www.iamengaged.co.uk/uploads/Myweddingspeeches/Myweddingspeeches.php

Therefore I now have more UK mobile numbers to try. I have been to the police and am currently working alongside them in their investigations.

I may never receive the money I'm owed (over £1100.00) but I will certainly do everything in my power to try!

[Wiggyjnr]

Yes we have all been caught--the rule is unless you know them dont give credit--ie insist on advance payment.

That soon flushes out the wasters:rolleyes:

Agencies don't tend to pay their acts in advance, and all the paperwork was in place; contracts, the lot. Unfortunately he is a clever trickster, and I've been doing this for long enough to not fall for simple tricks :-(

[DazzyD]

Fair enough, but this is showbusiness after all;many folks have a stage name, DazzyD ;)

That's true but most business owners run their businesses under their real names and not stage names. Imo, there's something very suspect about anyone who has to use a fake name for running their business. And I'm not sure Inland Revenue would approve, either!


Gary and Phil Neville's Dad is called Neville..... Neville Neville, so it could be true! ;)

I didn't say it's impossible - just that I'd be wary. When I first got interested in fraud, scams and the like, I did a fraud awareness course with a very well known UK law-enforcement agency. This course taught me what to look out for and one of those things were people who have the same initial for forename and surname. This is because fraudsters (often outside of the UK) who need to think up an alias are most likely to choose names with repeated initials. They are names you learn as a child (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, etc) and, being from fiction, become linked to the creative side of your brain. So, when you trying to "create" yourself a new name, this part of the brain kicks in and these childhood links come back. I'm not suggesting this is a sure-fire way of spotting a fraud but it is one of the factors to take in to account. And, from the way this thread's gone, it could well be the case here!

[funkymook]

That's true but most business owners run their businesses under their real names and not stage names. Imo, there's something very suspect about anyone who has to use a fake name for running their business. And I'm not sure Inland Revenue would approve, either!



I didn't say it's impossible - just that I'd be wary. When I first got interested in fraud, scams and the like, I did a fraud awareness course with a very well known UK law-enforcement agency. This course taught me what to look out for and one of those things were people who have the same initial for forename and surname. This is because fraudsters (often outside of the UK) who need to think up an alias are most likely to choose names with repeated initials. They are names you learn as a child (Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, etc) and, being from fiction, become linked to the creative side of your brain. So, when you trying to "create" yourself a new name, this part of the brain kicks in and these childhood links come back. I'm not suggesting this is a sure-fire way of spotting a fraud but it is one of the factors to take in to account. And, from the way this thread's gone, it could well be the case here!

A very interesting point Mr Dazzy D :D