New Years Eve Amounts Offered So Far from Clients

[megamixevents]

Hey,

So been a mid-priced mobile disco company cover London and Home Counties we generally charge £260-£300 per typical 4 hour gig throughout the year, however we've had probably 10-30 quote requests since September for NYE.

So far the smallest budget we've received was £150 - highest £400.

I think so far I'll be having an early night at home ...lol

[Fullforceeventsltd]

We have had a load of low end budget enquiries too for NYE. Clients have been enquiring with budgets of £150 for a dj and disco, I just email them back and say you can dry hire some equipment from us. We have probably experienced the same range as you between £150 to £400.

[megamixevents]

We have had a load of low end budget enquiries too for NYE. Clients have been enquiring with budgets of £150 for a dj and disco, I just email them back and say you can dry hire some equipment from us. We have probably experienced the same range as you between £150 to £400.

I think the best offer I saw on NAD was a client offering £800 in Central London, unfor we missed this bid by around £50. I think it's fair to say DJ's should be charging double time/usual Fri/Sat night rate if not more.

But either me or any other team members going out for less than what they would usually get paid is just plain daft..

[funkymook]

Hey,

So been a mid-priced mobile disco company cover London and Home Counties we generally charge £260-£300 per typical 4 hour gig throughout the year, however we've had probably 10-30 quote requests since September for NYE.

So far the smallest budget we've received was £150 - highest £400.

I think so far I'll be having an early night at home ...lol


Do you have a bottom line you don't offer to the DJ's on your books? Or does every enquiry get texted to see if there's any interest?

[megamixevents]

Do you have a bottom line you don't offer to the DJ's on your books? Or does every enquiry get texted to see if there's any interest?

We have a small freelance team of of DJ's who are specialised in there own right, so if a gig is booked then only the DJ's who are specialised in that type of party is accepted.

So for example if it's an 18th birthday, we would ideally send a text or call our younger DJ's who can better engage with the client and audience. They would need to have great mixing skills, all the latest new music etc.

If it's say a 40th Birthday then a DJ would be selected around the same age group, who knows all the typical party classics etc..

If we just sent a text to everyone in the team chances are the gig would be a failure and therefore the client wouldn't be impressed and risk losing future business. Some of our clients will specifically request a black DJ, female, or even a gay DJ if it was a civil partnership of the crowd is predomently a LGBT crowd.

In terms of payment our prices are openly displayed on our website which changes daily depending on demand for our services, this goes in line with how much the DJ's expect to be paid. NYE each DJ has been asked how much they would be willing to work for.

Each DJ normally will have a 1 in 4 chance of getting the job, if a particular DJ gets great feedback on many of the gigs then he/she will get a slight priority over the job. We do this as an incentive for others to provide a great service, work hard and make sure every client has a great night.

[surround sounds]

We have a small freelance team of of DJ's who are specialised in there own right, so if a gig is booked then only the DJ's who are specialised in that type of party is accepted.

So for example if it's an 18th birthday, we would ideally send a text or call our younger DJ's who can better engage with the client and audience. They would need to have great mixing skills, all the latest new music etc.

So a young inexperienced DJ around 18 years of age is better suited for a 18th birthday party? They can engage with client and audience better?
I do not really this that statement is true.. I have been djing for 25 years and i would of done a lot more 18th birthday parties than a typical young dj.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think texting out jobs to a group of DJs is a terrible way to fill bookings.

[megamixevents]

We have a small freelance team of of DJ's who are specialised in there own right, so if a gig is booked then only the DJ's who are specialised in that type of party is accepted.

So for example if it's an 18th birthday, we would ideally send a text or call our younger DJ's who can better engage with the client and audience. They would need to have great mixing skills, all the latest new music etc.



So a young inexperienced DJ around 18 years of age is better suited for a 18th birthday party? They can engage with client and audience better?
I do not really this that statement is true.. I have been djing for 25 years and i would of done a lot more 18th birthday parties than a typical young dj.

I'm happy you've been DJ'ing for 25 years but our own client research and feedback proves other wise. There are several blogs and discussion forums, and audience research throughout the web that proves when clients are booking DJ's and Presenters to play music they prefer to have somebody around the same age, or has 'proven' strong knowledge of the genre or age of the music the client wants.

And would I send a 50 or 60 year old DJ to a gig - the simple answer is NO.... Unless of course the client wants this.

[welby]

We have a small freelance team of of DJ's who are specialised in there own right, so if a gig is booked then only the DJ's who are specialised in that type of party is accepted.

So for example if it's an 18th birthday, we would ideally send a text or call our younger DJ's who can better engage with the client and audience. They would need to have great mixing skills, all the latest new music etc.



I have seen some 18 year old Dj's on the circuit and they were dreadful most of the time - mic skills were lacking. :rolleyes::rolleyes:

It's a sweeping statement that you make and I think it's down to the persona of the DJ and not his age.

By the way I'm 56 and still do parties for 18 year olds and still get repeat business and recommendations! :beer1:

[Corabar Entertainment]

Having read some of your business practices on both this thread and the other thread, I really hope that you have taken legal advice, because you are operating in a minefield!

What with operating an agency and charging people to register without an 'opt-out' and discriminating out of hand on the grounds of age, gender and race, you're going to land yourself in incredible trouble if you're not careful.

If you haven't sought legal advice about what you can or can't do as an agent, I strongly suggest that you do so as soon as possible!

[Ryu]

I'm happy you've been DJ'ing for 25 years but our own client research and feedback proves other wise. There are several blogs and discussion forums, and audience research throughout the web that proves when clients are booking DJ's and Presenters to play music they prefer to have somebody around the same age, or has 'proven' strong knowledge of the genre or age of the music the client wants.

And would I send a 50 or 60 year old DJ to a gig - the simple answer is NO.... Unless of course the client wants this.

Yeah you can prove all sorts of stuff on the internet can't you... :rolleyes:

when clients are booking DJ's and Presenters to play music they prefer to have somebody around the same age - would dispute this

has 'proven' strong knowledge of the genre or age of the music the client wants - Bit obvious that one. Interested in what "Proven" means though.

[megamixevents]

I think texting out jobs to a group of DJs is a terrible way to fill bookings.

Every single client who books through us receives a feedback form via within 24 hours of the gig by an independent research company the feedback we get will then be passed back to all our team members, this feedback proves what we are doing is working and has been working since Megamix Events began over three years ago.

Not only this but we send Mystery Party guests to all our gigs booked, they will provide us 'Megamix Events' with lots of vital information to protect the brand, and notice little things such as the quality of the sound or lighting that our clients probably wouldn't.

Again this information we get back from the Mystery Guests will be fed back to that particular DJ so improvements can be made.

You may not agree with our business ways nor the creative way we operate, but it's working for us and the clients are happy. And we will continue to move forward and remain competitive and try new things, some ideas may not work but if we don't try we'll never know.

[funkymook]

It sounds wonderful that you match your clients needs so carefully with your DJ's skills - but it must cut down your options for filling gigs. What happens if your first choice DJ's aren't available (or there's no takers) - does the gig then get texted out to the next best fit? (and so on until it's filled).
Or do you advise your clients you have no one suitable for them?

And as you take bookings from NeedaDisco how does that work? Do you contact the client first to get more of an idea of what they want before offering it out?




Not only this but we send Mystery Party guests to all our gigs booked, they will provide us 'Megamix Events' with lots of vital information to protect the brand, and notice little things such as the quality of the sound or lighting that our clients probably wouldn't.

.

You send people to all your gigs? How do you manage that? Doesn't anyone notice the stranger in the room?

[surround sounds]

We have a small freelance team of of DJ's who are specialised in there own right, so if a gig is booked then only the DJ's who are specialised in that type of party is accepted.

So for example if it's an 18th birthday, we would ideally send a text or call our younger DJ's who can better engage with the client and audience. They would need to have great mixing skills, all the latest new music etc.

If it's say a 40th Birthday then a DJ would be selected around the same age group, who knows all the typical party classics etc..

If we just sent a text to everyone in the team chances are the gig would be a failure and therefore the client wouldn't be impressed and risk losing future business. Some of our clients will specifically request a black DJ, female, or even a gay DJ if it was a civil partnership of the crowd is predomently a LGBT crowd.

In terms of payment our prices are openly displayed on our website which changes daily depending on demand for our services, this goes in line with how much the DJ's expect to be paid. NYE each DJ has been asked how much they would be willing to work for.

Each DJ normally will have a 1 in 4 chance of getting the job, if a particular DJ gets great feedback on many of the gigs then he/she will get a slight priority over the job. We do this as an incentive for others to provide a great service, work hard and make sure every client has a great night.


Every single client who books through us receives a feedback form via within 24 hours of the gig by an independent research company the feedback we get will then be passed back to all our team members, this feedback proves what we are doing is working and has been working since Megamix Events began over three years ago.

Not only this but we send Mystery Party guests to all our gigs booked, they will provide us 'Megamix Events' with lots of vital information to protect the brand, and notice little things such as the quality of the sound or lighting that our clients probably wouldn't.

Again this information we get back from the Mystery Guests will be fed back to that particular DJ so improvements can be made.

You may not agree with our business ways nor the creative way we operate, but it's working for us and the clients are happy. And we will continue to move forward and remain competitive and try new things, some ideas may not work but if we don't try we'll never know.


Your business ways can not be that good if from a earlier thread you was asking for work to be passed on...

[megamixevents]

It sounds wonderful that you match your clients needs so carefully with your DJ's skills - but it must cut down your options for filling gigs. What happens if your first choice DJ's aren't available (or there's no takers) - does the gig then get texted out to the next best fit? (and so on until it's filled).
Or do you advise your clients you have no one suitable for them?

And as you take bookings from NeedaDisco how does that work? Do you contact the client first to get more of an idea of what they want before offering it out?

If we do not think 100% a particular presenter/DJ is suitable for a particular event or gig, we will simply do some talent searching or a recruitment drive and spend around 1 -2 weeks conducting auditions.

This very rarely happens though. :)


Your business ways can not be that good if from a earlier thread you was asking for work to be passed on...

I'm not sure what you mean by 'passed on' we don't pass on work to external companies if we've accepted a gig, if we do not have the resources on a particular date then we will simply decline the job or conduct a 'no bid'.


It sounds wonderful that you match your clients needs so carefully with your DJ's skills - but it must cut down your options for filling gigs. What happens if your first choice DJ's aren't available (or there's no takers) - does the gig then get texted out to the next best fit? (and so on until it's filled).
Or do you advise your clients you have no one suitable for them?

And as you take bookings from NeedaDisco how does that work? Do you contact the client first to get more of an idea of what they want before offering it out?



You send people to all your gigs? How do you manage that? Doesn't anyone notice the stranger in the room?

We inform the client or business that a mystery guest may appear at the gig at some point, this is written clearly into the contract and it's there to serve a purpose of improving the quality of service for everyone.

If that mystery guest appears they hold a ID card that will only be produced if questioned on the night, and they are simply from Megamix Events. Many of our contracted work to large businesses or hotels have frequent visits by mystery guests to arrive and conduct research. It is to be expected from any business operating to the general public.

In fact I am not aware of any business that does not operate a mystery shopping program?

At Megamix Events we understand the importance of offering great service and we have been using Mystery Guests as a research technique for since we first began offering entertainment. We are renowned for taking a unique approach to improving the delivery of customer service. We also help our clients to improve and compare their service quality by gathering information on our competitors. This boosts both the awareness and importance of good customer service. Our mystery guests will directly contribute to the improvement of customer service as well as getting paid to do it. After all, without happy customers there is no Megamix Events
voice be heard

[funkymook]

We inform the client or business that a mystery guest may appear at the gig at some point, this is written clearly into the contract and it's there to serve a purpose of improving the quality of service for everyone.

If that mystery guest appears they hold a ID card that will only be produced if questioned on the night, and they are simply from Megamix Events. Many of our contracted work to large businesses or hotels have frequent visits by mystery guests to arrive and conduct research. It is to be expected from any business operating to the general public.

In fact I am not aware of any business that does not operate a mystery shopping program?

So do you match the mystery guests as carefully as the DJ's? Obviously a 60 year old may look out of place at an 18th and vice versa.

You now say 'may' appear - before it was 'to all our gigs' - what sort of percentage is it?

I'm just having trouble imagining a B&G agreeing to a stranger turning up at their wedding and taking notes.

[hadyn]

Does the client feedback form not give you enough information
if the client is happy at the end of the event and enjoyed the show and indeed says that in their form
then that is job done.
Surely this mystery Guest incurs a cost implication on your business.
if a Mystery guest is out at a gig for about 4 hours including getting to gig and returning home thats going to cost you about 50 pound with tax implications and national insurance contributions as well as the mystery guests wages.
also do you have a never ending supply of mystery guests otherwise the dj's will start to recoqnise them.
you would be better spending the money on increasing the dj's wages.

[megamixevents]

So do you match the mystery guests as carefully as the DJ's? Obviously a 60 year old may look out of place at an 18th and vice versa.

You now say 'may' appear - before it was 'to all our gigs' - what sort of percentage is it?

I'm just having trouble imagining a B&G agreeing to a stranger turning up at their wedding and taking notes.

We normally say 1 in 3 gigs will grant a visit.

The mystery guest will not stand there with notes and writing things down or the 'mystery' part would be obsolete.

[funkymook]

We normally say 1 in 3 gigs will grant a visit.
.

You must have more than 3 gigs a night over a weekend - so every Friday and Saturday night you'll have someone out as a mystery guest.

Who does this? If they're a DJ aren't they losing out on gigs? If they're not a DJ what qualifies them? What do they get paid?

Obviously every gig can be different, some may want a chatty personality DJ, others may want no talking whatsoever, some DJ's may be given must play songs that are floor-killers, other given a completely free choice.

So plenty of things to take into account to make sure the mystery guest gives a fair appraisal, so preparation is key, it's not just a matter of turning up. On average how long do they stay? Will they do more than one gig a night if they are near to each other?

[Pe7e]

The more I read, the less I believe, and I sense I'm not the only one.

[Corabar Entertainment]

...and I see you're completely ignoring my post!
Having read some of your business practices on both this thread and the other thread, I really hope that you have taken legal advice, because you are operating in a minefield!

What with operating an agency and charging people to register without an 'opt-out' and discriminating out of hand on the grounds of age, gender and race, you're going to land yourself in incredible trouble if you're not careful.

If you haven't sought legal advice about what you can or can't do as an agent, I strongly suggest that you do so as soon as possible!

[lazersounds]

I'm not sure what you mean by 'passed on' we don't pass on work to external companies if we've accepted a gig, if we do not have the resources on a particular date then we will simply decline the job or conduct a 'no bid'.

I'm sorry but you posted another thread asking if anyone had any spare work for you during december, now not wishing to be rude but if your business model works so well why do you need us to provide you with work, that you will most likely just hand out to other people??

Can I actually get a response please rather than ignoring questions you don't like like you have been doing all through this thread.

[surround sounds]

Well i would not want a mystery guest at my party if i was a paying customer

[surround sounds]

I'm sorry but you posted another thread asking if anyone had any spare work for you during december, now not wishing to be rude but if your business model works so well why do you need us to provide you with work, that you will most likely just hand out to other people??

Can I actually get a response please rather than ignoring questions you don't like like you have been doing all through this thread.

Yes i said this in a earlier post about asking for work to be passed on

[Jonathan Ford]

The more I read, the less I believe, and I sense I'm not the only one.

You sense correctly, mate.

[lazersounds]

Yes i said this in a earlier post about asking for work to be passed on

Yes I know sorry but the question never got a answer :D

[Excalibur]

By the way I'm 56 and still do parties for 18 year olds and still get repeat business and recommendations! :beer1:
And I'm older than that, and I've got an 18th next week. :D



And would I send a 50 or 60 year old DJ to a gig - the simple answer is NO....
Hmmmmm. One less person on my Christmas card list this year, it seems!


The more I read, the less I believe, and I sense I'm not the only one.
The more I read, the less I understand. :daft:

[chrisj]

Getting back to the original question, I have had clients asking for NYE for sums from £200 - £450. The £450 was for early set up then 9 - 2am and about an hour away in a pub. The £200 was in a private barn.
I am not booked for NYE yet.

Extra extra read all about it...I am 61 and still do 18th's, 13th, 21st's (testimonial on my site) as well as weddings etc.

[Corabar Entertainment]

The more I read, the less I understand. :daft:Ah, but that's because you're one of those "50 or 60 year old DJs" and so not up to it any more :p:p:p;)

[Excalibur]

Ah, but that's because you're one of those "50 or 60 year old DJs" and so not up to it any more :p:p:p;)

Two less on My Christmas card list!! :eek:

[chrisj]

Pete, is Angela off your Christmas card list as well now? Ha Ha we all get older but doesn't mean we can't do it.

Sorry Pete you replied as I was typing.

[Corabar Entertainment]

:Kiss 3:

[ukpartydj]

I've tried to keep it quite universal this year at £350 for my DJ's unless they will only except more and the client is willing to pay the higher price.
I'm getting £500 for myself personally, would have liked a bit more but It was an early offer and one in the hand is better than 2 in the bush as they say.

Regarding Megamixevents comments, I think that way of working can work well as a budget to mid range price bracket as I do similar stuff (not the mystery guest bit though, I'm not Russel Howard). If I'm looking at a high priced event / wedding I generally ask the DJ to talk to the client directly once they've booked up.
I can normally figure out if somebody is going to be good at a gig by talking to them and if local and I feel it's needed I will meet them in person.
Getting feedback after giving them a low value gig so you know next time what they are like, If you screw up and don't have a perfect DJ then you work your arse off to find him! However I think a lot of people on here provide higher levels of service and probably think agencies are a bit of a joke, it's not for everyone is all I can really say.

[TONYTIGER]

I've tried to keep it quite universal this year at £350 for my DJ's unless they will only except more and the client is willing to pay the higher price.
I'm getting £500 for myself personally, would have liked a bit more but It was an early offer and one in the hand is better than 2 in the bush as they say.

Regarding Megamixevents comments, I think that way of working can work well as a budget to mid range price bracket as I do similar stuff (not the mystery guest bit though, I'm not Russel Howard). If I'm looking at a high priced event / wedding I generally ask the DJ to talk to the client directly once they've booked up.
I can normally figure out if somebody is going to be good at a gig by talking to them and if local and I feel it's needed I will meet them in person.
Getting feedback after giving them a low value gig so you know next time what they are like, If you screw up and don't have a perfect DJ then you work your arse off to find him! However I think a lot of people on here provide higher levels of service and probably think agencies are a bit of a joke, it's not for everyone is all I can really say.

Hope you don't minding me asking ,but are you running a agency for Mobile Djs surely you have to have a licence to be able to charge a commission,you state "my DJs " do you employ them,how does it work as i see your prices are very low.

[DazzyD]

I'm just having trouble imagining a B&G agreeing to a stranger turning up at their wedding and taking notes.

The majority of my gigs are private functions and "invite only". I can't see any of them allowing a "mystery guest". I also organize a lot of family get-togethers and I'd know if someone was there I hadn't invited personally. They'd be swiftly shown the door! ;)


We normally say 1 in 3 gigs will grant a visit.

The mystery guest will not stand there with notes and writing things down or the 'mystery' part would be obsolete.

You must have very understanding clients who are happy to provide food, drink and hospitality to complete strangers!!! :eek:


The more I read, the less I believe, and I sense I'm not the only one.

You're not the only one! ;)


Can I actually get a response please rather than ignoring questions you don't like like you have been doing all through this thread.

Don't hold your breath. I asked a very valid question twice in the other thread and notice it still hasn't been replied to.


I've tried to keep it quite universal this year at £350 for my DJ's unless they will only except more and the client is willing to pay the higher price.
I'm getting £500 for myself personally, would have liked a bit more but It was an early offer and one in the hand is better than 2 in the bush as they say.

Regarding Megamixevents comments, I think that way of working can work well as a budget to mid range price bracket as I do similar stuff (not the mystery guest bit though, I'm not Russel Howard). If I'm looking at a high priced event / wedding I generally ask the DJ to talk to the client directly once they've booked up.
I can normally figure out if somebody is going to be good at a gig by talking to them and if local and I feel it's needed I will meet them in person.
Getting feedback after giving them a low value gig so you know next time what they are like, If you screw up and don't have a perfect DJ then you work your arse off to find him! However I think a lot of people on here provide higher levels of service and probably think agencies are a bit of a joke, it's not for everyone is all I can really say.

As for NYEs, I'm out doing a really easy £350 gig. 10mins from home with a great crowd of people that I was entertaining every fortnight as their resident DJ until late summer when numbers dwindled to the point of them calling it a day. It was a great shame but, if I'd been the manager, I'd have cancelled it months earlier as some weeks only 3 people were turning up. People are feeling the pinch and this is having an effect on resident gigs such as this one. Thanks, Bankers!!! :(

As for your comment about people in the industry thinking agencies are a joke, I'm not one of those people. I think agents have a very valuable role to play and the better ones (yes, there are good ones out there!) will bend over backwards to keep everyone (clients and entertainers) happy. At the end of the day, if clients are not happy, they don't come back. If entertainers are not happy, they go somewhere else and the agent stops making money from them. It's a very difficult job to do, even harder to get right. But when it works, we as DJs can have a fairly lucrative relationship with agents who can open doors that would, otherwise, be firmly locked!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The more I read, the less I believe, and I sense I'm not the only one.

You aren't. I've heard some nonsense in my time....but this? :rolleyes:

[TONYTIGER]

As for your comment about people in the industry thinking agencies are a joke, I'm not one of those people. I think agents have a very valuable role to play and the better ones (yes, there are good ones out there!) will bend over backwards to keep everyone (clients and entertainers) happy. At the end of the day, if clients are not happy, they don't come back. If entertainers are not happy, they go somewhere else and the agent stops making money from them. It's a very difficult job to do, even harder to get right. But when it works, we as DJs can have a fairly lucrative relationship with agents who can open doors that would, otherwise, be firmly locked!

I agree with your wise words regarding agencies,i have been in this game longer than most and have traveled the World over the last 40 years or so i could not have done this without good trust worth agents,but i just wonder if some of the companies mentioned who take money from passing on work to other DJs are actually properly licensed Entertainment Agency's which i believe is essential,i may be totally wrong i am just dubious as i have been approached a few times in the last couple of years and when i have asked for there legal stuff they have hung up.

[Corabar Entertainment]

I agree with your wise words regarding agencies,i have been in this game longer than most and have traveled the World over the last 40 years or so i could not have done this without good trust worth agents,but i just wonder if some of the companies mentioned who take money from passing on work to other DJs are actually properly licensed Entertainment Agency's which i believe is essential,i may be totally wrong i am just dubious as i have been approached a few times in the last couple of years and when i have asked for there legal stuff they have hung up.Hi Tony. I've put Dazzy's post that you copied and pasted in to your reply in to a quote bubble for you to make it easier for others to read / follow.

If you need help with how to quote anther post within your post, have a read here:- http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?32729-HOW-TO-Quote-amp-multi-quote-in-replies

[TONYTIGER]

Hi Tony. I've put Dazzy's post that you copied and pasted in to your reply in to a quote bubble for you to make it easier for others to read / follow.

If you need help with how to quote anther post within your post, have a read here:- http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?32729-HOW-TO-Quote-amp-multi-quote-in-replies

Thanks Angela,you well know i am pretty useless when it comes to computers (at least i have got the hang of this copy paste lark) :)

[Corabar Entertainment]

No problem, Tony - and you'll be pleased to know that quoting is even easier than copy and paste. ;)

[wensleydale]

Sending mystery shoppers to events. Interesting. I wish I could afford to pay someone to come and check I am doing a good job. Strange way of doing things.

[PureWeddingDJs]

I've got a my1st nye gig but its a wedding too! £400. 9.30 - 1am.
doyou think people will expect me to play on as its nye?

[lazersounds]

I've got a my1st nye gig but its a wedding too! £400. 9.30 - 1am.
doyou think people will expect me to play on as its nye?

I doubt it, in the past 10 years I only had one NYE gig thats finished at 1am, most finish at 12.30, once midnights out the way people just want to go home and sleep off the beer lol

[STEVE HANLEY]

Can't believe I've read this entire thread. That's 10 minutes of my life I won't get back:D:D

[ukpartydj]

Hope you don't minding me asking ,but are you running a agency for Mobile Djs surely you have to have a licence to be able to charge a commission,you state "my DJs " do you employ them,how does it work as i see your prices are very low.

I don't mind you asking at all however the questions seem a bit well... odd.

I do not employ anybody, I operate in the simplest of ways - I find you or you find me, all your details are stored in my database and should a suitable job come up I will either contact you directly or if it's a very unspecific job (21st birthday with generic club music springs to mind) I may just send an email out to all eligible DJ's to save time. The idea came from a very established agent for bands and singers that I know, he operates this way and it seems to work.

Regarding the licence, I may be completely wrong but it sounds like BS to me. You normally need licences when you use something that isn't yours ie: music or land such as the town centre (flyering/street selling). If I do require a licence to whom am I paying my hard earned money and for what am I paying for?

I personally don't think my prices are low, I work with 2 other agents and they both charge less than me. But I expect the service you provide for the price is superior hence the price difference.



As for NYEs, I'm out doing a really easy £350 gig. 10mins from home with a great crowd of people that I was entertaining every fortnight as their resident DJ until late summer when numbers dwindled to the point of them calling it a day. It was a great shame but, if I'd been the manager, I'd have cancelled it months earlier as some weeks only 3 people were turning up. People are feeling the pinch and this is having an effect on resident gigs such as this one. Thanks, Bankers!!! :(

As for your comment about people in the industry thinking agencies are a joke, I'm not one of those people. I think agents have a very valuable role to play and the better ones (yes, there are good ones out there!) will bend over backwards to keep everyone (clients and entertainers) happy. At the end of the day, if clients are not happy, they don't come back. If entertainers are not happy, they go somewhere else and the agent stops making money from them. It's a very difficult job to do, even harder to get right. But when it works, we as DJs can have a fairly lucrative relationship with agents who can open doors that would, otherwise, be firmly locked!

I've got a lot of crap from people clients and DJ's about being an agent, which is why I say that. There isn't enough room for me to rant about all the crazy DJ's that have insulted me or the clients who cannot get their head around it like this one yesterday - wanted to book which was great but asked for the DJ's contact details beforehand, I explained that the DJ is not selected until after booking at which point she started throwing out random accusations that the DJ won't turn up and that he'd be crap, considering the price she had far more chance of that happening with somebody else... some people (the less intelligent) think agents are con artists.

I always think of the DJ and the client both being my customers, you treat them both right or they won't come back and you won't make money without them both!

[DJ Jules]

I explained that the DJ is not selected until after booking at which point she started throwing out random accusations that the DJ won't turn up and that he'd be crap

I can understand her point of view. I regularly get calls from an agent in Bristol who is trying to cover gigs for the same day. When he says that "the DJ is not selected until after booking" what he really means is that "the DJ won't be selected until the day of the event!!" (based on whoever he can find to do the gig!)

There's people in every industry who have business practices that give everyone a bad name.

Julian

[Daryll]

And would I send a 50 or 60 year old DJ to a gig - the simple answer is NO.... Unless of course the client wants this.

What complete and utter :BS: there are many DJ here who are the "other" side of 50 , me included.
And even though I do no do many 18th / 21 st , when I do ,I am awesome....:D , I think the word you are looking for is is experience.

Daryll

[TONYTIGER]

Up until 1995 all entertainment agents had to be licensed it was then dropped,there is now a campaign by equity to get them reintroduced ,on reflection on reading some of the drivel in this thread it cant happen quick enough in my opinion.

[Ecstatic Events]

Up until 1995 all entertainment agents had to be licensed it was then dropped,there is now a campaign by equity to get them reintroduced ,on reflection on reading some of the drivel in this thread it cant happen quick enough in my opinion.

Well put ;)

[BossmanKaraokeDisco]

What complete and utter :BS: there are many DJ here who are the "other" side of 50 , me included.
And even though I do no do many 18th / 21 st , when I do ,I am awesome....:D , I think the word you are looking for is is experience.

Daryll

:like:

Well I better get my pension lined up as I turned 50 this year, anyone want to take over as I have 3 18th birthdays booked for next year and they might not want a wrinkly 50 year old playing max Bygraves and Des O'connor for them :daft:

What a load of :pants: the partys will be :DJ:

Sorry back on topic, have had enquiries from £250 - £400 for NYE

[ukpartydj]

Up until 1995 all entertainment agents had to be licensed it was then dropped,there is now a campaign by equity to get them reintroduced ,on reflection on reading some of the drivel in this thread it cant happen quick enough in my opinion.

I have been googleing (Is that how you spell googling?) this trying to find out where the idea came from and I found a petition about it which is what I think you're talking about. It seems to relate to talent scouts more along the lines of actors, singers etc which will ask for an unfront fee then may not ever give any work out to the talent.

This isn't something that needs licencing! Maybe a company who checks out there credentials and ensures the agent is a trustworthy one at the cost of the agent if the agent wishes to. Similar to the way checkatrade works. It would then be up to the talent to decide if they will risk their money on an agent which hasn't passed the checks.

I get the feeling what your asking an agent to pay money to unable them to earn money? How would you feel if you needed a licence to make money from a service you can provide using nothing but your knowledge and things you've made yourself? for example you're a singer and you sing only your own tracks with no copyrighted material, wouldn't you feel robbed if someone like PRS said - you've got to pay for that!?

[TONYTIGER]

I have been googleing (Is that how you spell googling?) this trying to find out where the idea came from and I found a petition about it which is what I think you're talking about. It seems to relate to talent scouts more along the lines of actors, singers etc which will ask for an unfront fee then may not ever give any work out to the talent.

This isn't something that needs licencing! Maybe a company who checks out there credentials and ensures the agent is a trustworthy one at the cost of the agent if the agent wishes to. Similar to the way checkatrade works. It would then be up to the talent to decide if they will risk their money on an agent which hasn't passed the checks.

I get the feeling what your asking an agent to pay money to unable them to earn money? How would you feel if you needed a licence to make money from a service you can provide using nothing but your knowledge and things you've made yourself? for example you're a singer and you sing only your own tracks with no copyrighted material, wouldn't you feel robbed if someone like PRS said - you've got to pay for that!?

Why does it not need licencing it worked for many years even before you were born,now it has been deregulated there is a trend for any old Tom Dick or Harry setting up a agency which leads to unregulated bad practices ,i can tell you there are many entertainers that have been ripped of by rouge agents would you pay money up front to gain work only not to receive anything look at the many sad stories regarding model agency's anything that makes this industry a better place to work in i am all for it.Before i moved into this sector i was a professional jockey guess what i needed a licence and all i was supplying was my talent don't get me wrong i am and never have suggested you are a agent assuming you do not take money from the djs you find work for which was my initial polite question which i see no reply to .

[soundmaster mobile disco]

I really think the days of big paying gigs are over.The economic climate has changed,people do dot have the same kind of money.Yes its nice to get double time on nye but if you are offered a gig with slightly less than you hope to get.are you really going to hold out for a better offer to come along?

Im speaking from my area where enquiries for nye have been very quiet

[ukpartydj]

Why does it not need licencing it worked for many years even before you were born,now it has been deregulated there is a trend for any old Tom Dick or Harry setting up a agency which leads to unregulated bad practices ,i can tell you there are many entertainers that have been ripped of by rouge agents would you pay money up front to gain work only not to receive anything look at the many sad stories regarding model agency's anything that makes this industry a better place to work in i am all for it.Before i moved into this sector i was a professional jockey guess what i needed a licence and all i was supplying was my talent don't get me wrong i am and never have suggested you are a agent assuming you do not take money from the djs you find work for which was my initial polite question which i see no reply to .

Either that or they didn't feel there was any need to licence it any more?
You are mainly talking about con artists though aren't you? I could tell a client I will DJ but require the full amount upfront and never turn up ... I don't expect anyone to start inventing licences?
People need to use their best judgement in these situations or trust an organisation who will check the agency.

I don't see why I am not an agent? I organise a service for a client. I expect you know about agencies operating differently which I do not, and therefore I find the idea a bit obscure.

[mikeee]

The licence that has ceased, was from the Dept of Employment (as was), now Dept of BIS. Although you no longer require a licence, you must, by law comply with The Employment Agencies Act 1974, and the Conduct Of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Act 2003 and all revisions thereof, then you also have the diability act, discrimination act etc etc. I don't believe the penalties haven't changed, so if your a naughty boy / girl it's a £5,000 fine and / or 5 years at one of HM holiday camps. If you look up the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (part of BIS), give them a call, I'm sure they will answer any questions anyone may have.

By definition, any person seeking work for, and providing work to another person, in the eyes of the law is an "Agent" that includes Employment Agencies, Employment Businesses, Entertainments Agents, Talent Agents, Nursing Agencies, the list is quite long. You have a legal requirement to know beyond reasonable doubt, that when you supply a person for a job (function, wedding etc) that they are able, equiped, and conversante with all requirements to carry out that job.

[TONYTIGER]

The licence that has ceased, was from the Dept of Employment (as was), now Dept of BIS. Although you no longer require a licence, you must, by law comply with The Employment Agencies Act 1974, and the Conduct Of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Act 2003 and all revisions thereof, then you also have the diability act, discrimination act etc etc. I don't believe the penalties haven't changed, so if your a naughty boy / girl it's a £5,000 fine and / or 5 years at one of HM holiday camps. If you look up the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (part of BIS), give them a call, I'm sure they will answer any questions anyone may have.

By definition, any person seeking work for, and providing work to another person, in the eyes of the law is an "Agent" that includes Employment Agencies, Employment Businesses, Entertainments Agents, Talent Agents, Nursing Agencies, the list is quite long. You have a legal requirement to know beyond reasonable doubt, that when you supply a person for a job (function, wedding etc) that they are able, equiped, and conversante with all requirements to carry out that job.

Thanks very informative i sort of knew there had to be some sort of legal requirements,many thousands of entertainers have signed the petition to bring back better legalization.

[megamixevents]

Can't believe I've read this entire thread. That's 10 minutes of my life I won't get back:D:D

Have another drink and packet of crisps :beer1::beer1:

[Kernow]

You are mainly talking about con artists though aren't you?

Possibly make-up artists ? ;)


i can tell you there are many entertainers that have been ripped of by rouge agents

[Corabar Steve]

Possibly make-up artists ? ;)

:lol:

[DazzyD]

The licence that has ceased, was from the Dept of Employment (as was), now Dept of BIS. Although you no longer require a licence, you must, by law comply with The Employment Agencies Act 1974, and the Conduct Of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Act 2003 and all revisions thereof, then you also have the diability act, discrimination act etc etc. I don't believe the penalties haven't changed, so if your a naughty boy / girl it's a £5,000 fine and / or 5 years at one of HM holiday camps. If you look up the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate (part of BIS), give them a call, I'm sure they will answer any questions anyone may have.

By definition, any person seeking work for, and providing work to another person, in the eyes of the law is an "Agent" that includes Employment Agencies, Employment Businesses, Entertainments Agents, Talent Agents, Nursing Agencies, the list is quite long. You have a legal requirement to know beyond reasonable doubt, that when you supply a person for a job (function, wedding etc) that they are able, equiped, and conversante with all requirements to carry out that job.

I wonder how many so-called agents nowadays are actually aware they are bound by such legislation. From the practises I've seen over the years, I'd have to guess at not that many! :(

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I don't see why I am not an agent? I organise a service for a client.

How on earth do you make money as an agent when you are charging £170 for 4 hours? :confused:

[CRAZY K]

probably think agencies are a bit of a joke, it's not for everyone is all I can really say.

Agencies only get treated like a joke if they are unprofessional.

My wifes Barn and Line Dance Agency offers a fully professional service on the end of a landline 24/7 or by email.

She gets many complimentary feedback emails.

Its not that difficult;)

[mikeee]

I don't see why I am not an agent? I organise a service for a client.

If you organise, therefore you are, unless, your prime income is derived from hiring, say, tables, chairs etc and the DJ or Band is an addition to this.

[ukpartydj]

How on earth do you make money as an agent when you are charging £170 for 4 hours? :confused:

There are a lot of decent DJ's out there willing to do pubs and similar venues for £100+ I am of course talking about those that have another job. For those I only normally take £20 or £30 however. These are the sort of DJ's who will turn up, play music take requests and not give any real personal service. I used to be one of these DJ's when I started I was very keen to do a good job and fee's as low as £75 whilst I had another job was very low but also very welcome.

I know of 3 agencies other than mine (all far more established than mine) who I have got to know very well and they all offer jobs in the region of £125 -£175 for Hotel and Pub work ... small / medium sized pubs don't want to pay more than £150 -£175.

A lot of good DJ's who I know would rather earn £125-150 than sit on their arse. One of them who advertises prices from £350 on his website accepted a budget gig (£130) the other day because of this.

Actually I've just received an email from one of them I will list some of the prices they offer -

NYE - £250 (8pm-1am)
NYE - £250 (8pm-1am)
1st Dec - £150 (9pm - 2am)
NYE - £250 (9pm -2am)
15th Dec - £125 (7pm - Midnight)

And that is from an agency which employs 3 people to work in their office and have been going 5 years.

[Vectis]

NaD has so far handled quotes for a total of 322 "straightforward" NYE events with budgets ranging from £100 to £800, average of £327.

NYE 2011 was 308 events, budgets £100 - £820, average £335.

But December hasn't started yet, so the last minute panic merchants might push this year's average up a bit.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

There are a lot of decent DJ's out there willing to do pubs and similar venues for £100+ I am of course talking about those that have another job. For those I only normally take £20 or £30 however.

I repeat, how on earth do you make money as an agent charging £170? Unless you have 20+ DJs out a week, it seems hardly worth the hassle.

Oh, and I have been around quite a long time and do know the industry very well, so please try and be a bit less patronising.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I really don't understand it either Darren.
£20.00 here, £30.00 there...is it really worth the hassle unless like you said, there are multiple bookings going on in?
I have a couple of DJ's that I use on a regular basis and a number of others I can call upon should I need them. They all either tell me what they want pricewise or know exactly what they are going to get before they do the gig. I wouldn't personally take on bookings and pass them on if it wasn't worthwhile for me to do it and I certainly wouldn't do it for £20.00 here and there. I trust this DJ's 100% but firing gigs off willy nilly (ha!ha! never used that term before) to anyone just to make £20.00 is a risk in my opinion (just the same as it would be if you were making £100.00 and didn't know them). Is it worth risking your name?

[ppentertainments]

Just to go back to the title of this thread - 'Amounts offered so far from clients'

Sorry, but do we not tell THEM what we charge not ask them what they are offering ???? Or am I completely wrong ??

[marting]

NaD has so far handled quotes for a total of 322 "straightforward" NYE events with budgets ranging from £100 to £800, average of £327.

NYE 2011 was 308 events, budgets £100 - £820, average £335.

But December hasn't started yet, so the last minute panic merchants might push this year's average up a bit.

I hope so only had 2 enquiries so far max budget £250

[ukpartydj]

I repeat, how on earth do you make money as an agent charging £170? Unless you have 20+ DJs out a week, it seems hardly worth the hassle.

Oh, and I have been around quite a long time and do know the industry very well, so please try and be a bit less patronising.

Sorry I never like patronising people, you still don't seem to understand - I'm trying to explain.
£20 is not to be sniffed at, and this is the minimum amount I will take, do you think I spend hours on organising DJ's and events? Sometimes it takes about 30mins sometimes an hour and a half to answer peoples questions and organise DJ's.
I spend money advertising, every enquiry I will try and turn around - if it means I have to take £20 insted of my standard £40-50 I'd rather have the money for the little bit of work required than just turn it away.

I think you guys have got the wrong end of the stick here, I know that "DJ Fred" is great at kids parties and "DJ Jim" is good for older couples weddings. I ask a few questions to the client and then ask the correct DJ for the job to see if they are interested. If the event is a budget one then I don't ask as many questions, sometimes clients will increase their budget for a more experienced better matched DJ if I cannot provide a good match in their budget.

I am also a DJ if you haven't read my previous posts, so this money is on top of my weekends earnings.

[ukpartydj]

Is it worth risking your name?

I also thought this, but I have done well so far. Average customer rating from feedback forms is always around the 9 - 9.3/10 mark. I'm aiming for big and good rather than small and great. And I do my best to try and keep it clear that "DJ Dave Bessant" is different to "UK Party DJ".

[super-hero]

My regular NYE event pays £500
I've had enquiries with budgets of around the £375-£400 mark.

[Javlingames]

£900 for me this year.

[megamixevents]

£900 for me this year.

£1000-£1700 for two of my most loved DJ's

[hammy]

£650 for me (my regular NYE residence), £400 for Jon (was at BPM with me) and £250 for my budget Dj.

Can I smell a bit of :BS: around here :agree:

[TONYTIGER]

I also thought this, but I have done well so far. Average customer rating from feedback forms is always around the 9 - 9.3/10 mark. I'm aiming for big and good rather than small and great. And I do my best to try and keep it clear that "DJ Dave Bessant" is different to "UK Party DJ".

I have been operating in the Bournemouth area for over 40 years and i know the scene better than most ,so i have a good idea of whats going on,and have in fact been contacted by your Agency to supply Djs and felt after making some investigations it was not for me or my Djs who are regularly working in Bournemouth every weekend for sensible money,all you are doing is driving down the prices in this industry which by all your recent posts it would seem you haven't got a clue ,but then again you are young and have only been operating for a few years, yes you have done well and have lots of inquiry's coming in certainly from sources like NAD but you have gained a reputation for bargain Djs so were do you go from there ? .If you posted on this forum with a little bit more maturity and took advice especially on the legal implications of running a agency you might get a little bit more respect ,because we are all on here to help and advise as one big family,but all you seem to do is ignore and i know best attitude so i can not see what you hope to gain my coming on here.

By the way if there are any members in this Area who are looking for work over Christmas let me know as i will pass on for free 3 today for NYE we have no availibility.

[megamixevents]

I have been operating in the Bournemouth area for over 40 years and i know the scene better than most ,so i have a good idea of whats going on,and have in fact been contacted by your Agency to supply Djs and felt after making some investigations it was not for me or my Djs who are regularly working in Bournemouth every weekend for sensible money,all you are doing is driving down the prices in this industry which by all your recent posts it would seem you haven't got a clue ,but then again you are young and have only been operating for a few years, yes you have done well and have lots of inquiry's coming in certainly from sources like NAD but you have gained a reputation for bargain Djs so were do you go from there ? .If you posted on this forum with a little bit more maturity and took advice especially on the legal implications of running a agency you might get a little bit more respect ,because we are all on here to help and advise as one big family,but all you seem to do is ignore and i know best attitude so i can not see what you hope to gain my coming on here.

By the way if there are any members in this Area who are looking for work over Christmas let me know as i will pass on for free 3 today for NYE we have no availibility.

Another member having a go at a fresh, forward thinking company, with new ideas, and providing services to ever increasing consumer demands.

Getting a bit fed up with seeing the same old tired sayings on here "I've been doing this for quite a while", "We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as it seems the older and rather tired companies are pushing the new generation away from forums like this, with constant belittling, bullying, and making patronising remarks towards others who work differently to what you are used too.

I know I may upset some people here, but these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.

[CRAZY K]

Another member having a go at a fresh, forward thinking company, with new ideas, and providing services to ever increasing consumer demands.

Getting a bit fed up with seeing the same old tired sayings on here "I've been doing this for quite a while", "We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as it seems the older and rather tired companies are pushing the new generation away from forums like this, with constant belittling, bullying, and making patronising remarks towards others who work differently to what you are used too.

I know I may upset some people here, but these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.

Pass me the sick bag.

[Shaun]

Another member having a go at a fresh, forward thinking company, with new ideas, and providing services to ever increasing consumer demands.

Getting a bit fed up with seeing the same old tired sayings on here "I've been doing this for quite a while", "We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as it seems the older and rather tired companies are pushing the new generation away from forums like this, with constant belittling, bullying, and making patronising remarks towards others who work differently to what you are used too.

I know I may upset some people here, but these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.

Rather than saying to others "I respect your opinion but I disagree", you instead call experienced people "tired old companies". You're not doing yourself any favours. This is the first time I've commented on any of your posts but I felt compelled to after your above post.

As for the site staff. First and foremost the moderators are members here, and staff members second. As members here they have every right to post opinion and ask questions as every other member does.

[TONYTIGER]

Another member having a go at a fresh, forward thinking company, with new ideas, and providing services to ever increasing consumer demands.

Getting a bit fed up with seeing the same old tired sayings on here "I've been doing this for quite a while", "We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as it seems the older and rather tired companies are pushing the new generation away from forums like this, with constant belittling, bullying, and making patronising remarks towards others who work differently to what you are used too.

I know I may upset some people here, but these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.

Forward thinking Company.I think not supplying cheap amateur djs around London been going on since 1962 :muppet: how many djs have you got working world wide destinations for us this year Cuba,Japan,China, Australia, Not bad for a tired company do your research before posting.

[Javlingames]

£650 for me (my regular NYE residence), £400 for Jon (was at BPM with me) and £250 for my budget Dj.

Can I smell a bit of :BS: around here :agree:

Certainly not on my behalf.

[funkymook]

Another member having a go at a fresh, forward thinking company, with new ideas, and providing services to ever increasing consumer demands.

Getting a bit fed up with seeing the same old tired sayings on here "I've been doing this for quite a while", "We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as it seems the older and rather tired companies are pushing the new generation away from forums like this, with constant belittling, bullying, and making patronising remarks towards others who work differently to what you are used too.

I know I may upset some people here, but these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.

I don't have a problem with your ideas, in fact some are commendable - I just have serious doubts you actually put them into practice.

The direct questions you haven't answered (or have a lame excuse about why you're avoiding them) and certain things I've seen on the internet just don't support your claims.

[hammy]

So far the smallest budget we've received was £150 - highest £400.


£1000-£1700 for two of my most loved DJ's

Not bad going, You managed to get 2 high paying gigs in 3 days

[Excalibur]

I know I may upset some people here, but these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.

Hold on there Musky.* As a member of the team you refer to, I take offence at that remark. Any rebukes, remonstration or chastisement delivered is not done without due consideration. We have seen many folk arrive and claim things which we are pretty certain are economical with the actualité. There are many folk on here with vast knowledge of running successful businesses, and I tend to listen to what they say. It's not often wrong.

Ingenues and folk purporting to break eggs with sticks, I view with a healthy scepticism.




* I love my cartoons. Canine lawman with floppy ears.

[ukpartydj]

I have been operating in the Bournemouth area for over 40 years and i know the scene better than most ,so i have a good idea of whats going on,and have in fact been contacted by your Agency to supply Djs and felt after making some investigations it was not for me or my Djs who are regularly working in Bournemouth every weekend for sensible money,all you are doing is driving down the prices in this industry which by all your recent posts it would seem you haven't got a clue ,but then again you are young and have only been operating for a few years, yes you have done well and have lots of inquiry's coming in certainly from sources like NAD but you have gained a reputation for bargain Djs so were do you go from there ? .If you posted on this forum with a little bit more maturity and took advice especially on the legal implications of running a agency you might get a little bit more respect ,because we are all on here to help and advise as one big family,but all you seem to do is ignore and i know best attitude so i can not see what you hope to gain my coming on here.

I personally don't think making assumptions is mature. I don't suppose you're company is Party Tyme Entertainments? Only I had a massive long email from them about why they were too good for the gig I was offering which included a lot of similar assumptions! I normally try to stop wasting my time defending these comments but they are just wrong!

I'm driving down prices? I get told I'm too expensive very often and other DJ's in the area charge similar.
I haven't got a clue why I haven't a clue.
The NAD comment was unnecessary, I get some work from NAD (I have the 10th most bids won in 2012) however most of my work comes from my website.
I have gained a reputation for bargain discos? I offer many levels of service but focus on budget and mid range.
Maturity? I don't think I've said a bad word about anything you do, quite mature considering.
Legal Implications, I thought we went over how a licence is not a legal requirement ... their are so many misunderstood legal requirements with Mobile Discos which is why I defend them so much, the only other thing I picked up was about discrimination and this is all about employment ... I don't employ anyone!

And I do not ignore anything, I spent a fair bit of time researching about that licence thing and found it so difficult to find anything other than a "we want the licence back" website, I've emailed the CRB check customer services because I didn't believe the comments some people made about it apparent "legality" ages ago.

I come on this forum to learn from others and to help those who need it, I know a lot about websites, design general business and club DJing / mixing itself more than quite a few people on this forum and they know a lot more about mobile discos, weddings and that side which I'm learning.



Another member having a go at a fresh, forward thinking company, with new ideas, and providing services to ever increasing consumer demands.

Getting a bit fed up with seeing the same old tired sayings on here "I've been doing this for quite a while", "We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as it seems the older and rather tired companies are pushing the new generation away from forums like this, with constant belittling, bullying, and making patronising remarks towards others who work differently to what you are used too.

I know I may upset some people here, but these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.

When I used to work at Wickes one of the older guys (Bob his name was) their who I got on well with from the kitchen showroom told me a story about how he once fought his corner and said "I've got X years experience in his job" to a younger guy and his reply was "no you've got a years experience and you keep repeating it". Bob told me that story and he said admitted that the younger guy was right and to some extent that does happen a lot in all areas, the whole mobile disco thing is something that you could learn in a year if it was a degree, but nobody I know does teaches this degree so it does take longer.

[Corabar Steve]

Another member having a go at a fresh, forward thinking company, with new ideas, and providing services to ever increasing consumer demands.
Really? You haven't shown any evidence of these yet.

Oh, hang on...

information sensitivity is the control of access to information or knowledge that might result in loss of an advantage, business or trade secrets within the mobile disco business especially if disclosed to others especially to direct competitors.
Doesn't look like you're going to.



these discussion forums would be buzzing with life if the admin and staff members took a step back a little and allowed people to be themselves without the constant put downs.These forums would be buzzing with life if know it all newbies didn't come on posting the same tired old crap & claiming it was a fresh idea. From what I've read your business practices are out dated at best & truly belong back in the 70s



Not bad going, You managed to get 2 high paying gigs in 3 days
:lol: Caught out again :sj:

P.S. These are my personal opinions & nothing at all to do with my position as a member of site staff. I stick by my last commment in your £100 DJs thread.

[dj foureyes]

Hold on there Musky.*
* I love my cartoons. Canine lawman with floppy ears.

I love my cartoons too and Deputy dawg, Sqiddly Diddly and Secret Squirel were of my generation........ adding to this debate, I am working for £350 for 4 hours at a mate's pub, as he has promised me regular work next year.

[TONYTIGER]

I personally don't think making assumptions is mature. I don't suppose you're company is Party Tyme Entertainments? Only I had a massive long email from them about why they were too good for the gig I was offering which included a lot of similar assumptions! I normally try to stop wasting my time defending these comments but they are just wrong!

I'm driving down prices? I get told I'm too expensive very often and other DJ's in the area charge similar.
I haven't got a clue why I haven't a clue.
The NAD comment was unnecessary, I get some work from NAD (I have the 10th most bids won in 2012) however most of my work comes from my website.
I have gained a reputation for bargain discos? I offer many levels of service but focus on budget and mid range.
Maturity? I don't think I've said a bad word about anything you do, quite mature considering.
Legal Implications, I thought we went over how a licence is not a legal requirement ... their are so many misunderstood legal requirements with Mobile Discos which is why I defend them so much, the only other thing I picked up was about discrimination and this is all about employment ... I don't employ anyone!

And I do not ignore anything, I spent a fair bit of time researching about that licence thing and found it so difficult to find anything other than a "we want the licence back" website, I've emailed the CRB check customer services because I didn't believe the comments some people made about it apparent "legality" ages ago.

I come on this forum to learn from others and to help those who need it, I know a lot about websites, design general business and club DJing / mixing itself more than quite a few people on this forum and they know a lot more about mobile discos, weddings and that side which I'm learning.




When I used to work at Wickes one of the older guys (Bob his name was) their who I got on well with from the kitchen showroom told me a story about how he once fought his corner and said "I've got X years experience in his job" to a younger guy and his reply was "no you've got a years experience and you keep repeating it". Bob told me that story and he said admitted that the younger guy was right and to some extent that does happen a lot in all areas, the whole mobile disco thing is something that you could learn in a year if it was a degree, but nobody I know does teaches this degree so it does take longer.

This is who i am www.tonyjamesdisco.co.uk conversation with you would you be interested in some work,me yes,you how much would you charge for a wedding in Bournemouth,me at least £240 you oh i cant get that sought of money i can offer around £ 170 less my commission.As you said there is no licence but one of our members told you there are still legal requirements so down to you,i tend to recall you asked advice on video projectors i gave you advice and offered you a demonstration as i am near you that's how the forum works were here to help,i personally don't like the way you operate but if your happy with it best of luck.

[ukpartydj]

This is who i am www.tonyjamesdisco.co.uk conversation with you would you be interested in some work,me yes,you how much would you charge for a wedding in Bournemouth,me at least £240 you oh i cant get that sought of money i can offer around £ 170 less my commission.As you said there is no licence but one of our members told you there are still legal requirements so down to you,i tend to recall you asked advice on video projectors i gave you advice and offered you a demonstration as i am near you that's how the forum works were here to help,i personally don't like the way you operate but if your happy with it best of luck.

Are they exact words? I never really talk like that, which is why I ask - maybe it was a different agent?
It's as I was saying earlier, a lot of DJ's don't really like agencies or just ones that operate similar to the way I do.
I guess we can't all like the way others work!

[megamixevents]

This is who i am www.tonyjamesdisco.co.uk conversation with you would you be interested in some work,me yes,you how much would you charge for a wedding in Bournemouth,me at least £240 you oh i cant get that sought of money i can offer around £ 170 less my commission.As you said there is no licence but one of our members told you there are still legal requirements so down to you,i tend to recall you asked advice on video projectors i gave you advice and offered you a demonstration as i am near you that's how the forum works were here to help,i personally don't like the way you operate but if your happy with it best of luck.

How can you offer a 10% discount on your site when your not actively promoting your 'exact' prices online? Sounds like a trading standards issue to me.

[Corabar Entertainment]

This has gone far enough now. It's gone in to silly territory with stupid, silly accusations and comments, and I don't even want to think about where it will go from here if I allow it to go on any longer, so...

:ontopic:

[chrisj]

We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as .....

Now this is from megamixdiscos but if started in 1962...wow, I only started in 1968, 1962 to 2012 is 50 years

[Corabar Entertainment]

We been operating since 1962", "We know everything as we've been operating for 30 years" " we know more than you, as we've been in the game for longer".... I think it's a great shame as .....

Now this is from megamixdiscos but if started in 1962...wow, I only started in 1968, 1962 to 2012 is 50 yearsHELLO????????


This has gone far enough now. It's gone in to silly territory with stupid, silly accusations and comments, and I don't even want to think about where it will go from here if I allow it to go on any longer, so...

:ontopic:

[Daryll]

Well lets try to get this thread somewhere back to the OP.
I have my regular NYE gig at Midhurst club, 8:00pm until 12:20 am, very easy gig , mostly middle aged clients ,£340 + food for my self and food and drinks for my wife/rodie.

Daryll

[TONYTIGER]

I have 3 mobiles out all 8 to 1 am £ 400 and 1 club dj out 11 pm to 5 am £ 2000 but not in UK

[simonp]

For the last three years I've done NYE at the same venue for £1000, but it ain't happening this year :(

I received a phone call from an agency last week (I'm not with any agency) asking if I'd consider doing NYE at a Golf Club pretty local to me for £340, which I dismissed, as I explained to the agency that it's even less than my normal fee for a standard Wedding (7.30-Midnight).

He said that he had already allocated the job to two DJs who had both then binned it for a better offer elsewhere so was having problems filling this slot at such a low price (his words) for only £30 commission, and was considering refunding the £30 to the venue as it wasn't worth the hassle. I said I'd do it at £500 minimum if he wanted to get back to them and left it at that.

Got a phone call this morning from the agent saying the Golf Club had agreed to £500 cash on the night would I still take the job!

[welby]

I'm at my local pub this year after taking a break and doing a wedding on New Year's Eve last year - I know "A wedding on what day"?

As it's my local and I get plenty of work from them I am doing it for £350 + food for me and my roady.

I think that's fair and I am happy as it's only "down the road".

[Ryu]

A humble 300 notes for me, playing the same local pub venue as last year...the sweetener, they are friends of mine, and my wife and children will be there, as will plenty of familiar faces. A nice homely, relatively pressure free end to a pleasantly busy Christmas.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I have 4 x bookings ranging from £600, through to £780.00.

[Jason]

Local pub, £500, 9pm until 1am providing Karaoke.

[woody2]

4.5k for NYE and 20 xmas party nights at 1 venue @2k per night, first one was tonight:beer1:

[matt the cat]

I have been contacted by the ex landlady of the pub who used me last NYE, she is now at a Brewers Fayre/Premier inn pub and wanted me as in her words i was `AMAZING` last year ;)

Its £350 for 4 hours work and although its 30 miles from home i have got a room in the hotel next door so i may even enjoy a drink at midnight :D

[hammy]

4.5k for NYE and 20 xmas party nights at 1 venue @2k per night, first one was tonight:beer1:

Nice going there Woody, Are you sure your calculator works though??

[ukpartydj]

Nice going there Woody, Are you sure your calculator works though??

Lets not be mean, I'm sure he has a perfectly good reason why he's earning so much - maybe he forgot to mention the £2000 PA he needs to hire to handle the stadium he's playing at?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I usually do my local on NYE but this year I am at my residency in town.
8.00pm - 01.00am - £550.00.

[woody2]

Lets not be mean, I'm sure he has a perfectly good reason why he's earning so much - maybe he forgot to mention the £2000 PA he needs to hire to handle the stadium he's playing at?

400 people per night, so nothing OTT but 2 manky speakers and 2 lights don't cut it;)

maybe i should follow your business model and make £20 a booking?:zip:

bearing in mind i have been doing it longer than you have been alive, i know which route i will follow:beer1::muppet:

[ukpartydj]

400 people per night, so nothing OTT but 2 manky speakers and 2 lights don't cut it;)

maybe i should follow your business model and make £20 a booking?:zip:

bearing in mind i have been doing it longer than you have been alive, i know which route i will follow:beer1::muppet:

I personally don't believe you could get away with charging such a high amount, if you are then well done, you are probably laughing at me!
this summer I did a 6th form prom - 300 18/19 year olds, I used my 3 subs and 2 mid tops and it sounded great, I cannot remember what I charged but it was a weekday and I think I charged £280 for it. Probably would have been £400 for a Saturday. I wouldn't say my lightshow is impressive, I am waiting on a custom framework for a new light truss and stand so it's something I will be majorly changing but your telling me that you are charging £2000 for a weekday with just 100 more guests?

Just for a bit of fun I thought what would I do if I had £4500 to spend on a NYE disco (as a customer)...

Hire a 16 KV2 subs with 8 KV2 tops (£1800)
Hire 40 moving head lights (£1100)
Hire very good DJ for £800
Pay £500 for transport and install of speakers and lights.

Spend £200 promoting your epic night because you defiantly don't have over 2000 friends!

Pay a photographer £50 to take a picture of you and your epic wall of speakers for your facebook cover photo then spend another £50 on glow sticks because with 24 speakers you cannot be anywhere but a rave!

Maybe that gives a clearer picture of why I think £4500 is OTT, fair play though... doesn't sound so bad when you say only £11.25 per person, maybe I should try this technique.

Using genuine prices from http://www.ksl-online.co.uk

Damn those KV2's look nice!

[hammy]

Lets not be mean, I'm sure he has a perfectly good reason why he's earning so much - maybe he forgot to mention the £2000 PA he needs to hire to handle the stadium he's playing at?

well this has been taken well out of context, I actually meant 20 gigs at woodys price does noot equal 4.5k hence The comment about calculator

[hammy]

4.5k for NYE and 20 xmas party nights at 1 venue @2k per night, first one was tonight:beer1:

Lol,i didn't read it right,i read it as 20 gigs at 2k a night 4.5k in total I'm going back to bed

[wensleydale]

Lol,i didn't read it right,i read it as 20 gigs at 2k a night 4.5k in total I'm going back to bed

I read it as £4500 for 21 nights= just over £200 per night, which seems very cheap for December, but obviously there is a huge benefit to having 20 nights work in one place.

Horses for courses.

[paull]

Double time plus the extra hours, So if you are normally £300 you should be charging £800

[wensleydale]

Double time plus the extra hours, So if you are normally £300 you should be charging £800

I think this used to work as a theory but you probably also need to factor in the type of venue and what your normal work is- our usual disco is a Wedding, but most NYE enquiries are pubs/clubs so just working out the maths to show the cost per person to the pub very rarely works- hence me not working NYE too often, or disregarding the double time plus £xx theory.

[surround sounds]

I have 4 on the year

Social Club - 5 hours - £400
Golf Club - 6 hours £525
Large hotel - 5 hours - £550
Small Pub 4 hours - £350 ( they may require more time at £50 per 30 mins)

[DazzyD]

NaD has so far handled quotes for a total of 322 "straightforward" NYE events with budgets ranging from £100 to £800, average of £327.

NYE 2011 was 308 events, budgets £100 - £820, average £335.

But December hasn't started yet, so the last minute panic merchants might push this year's average up a bit.

Woo hoo! My £350 means I'm better than average!! :D


...
I come on this forum to learn from others and to help those who need it, I know a lot about websites, design general business and club DJing / mixing itself more than quite a few people on this forum and they know a lot more about mobile discos, weddings and that side which I'm learning. ...

Which is what these forums, online networking opportunities when you think about it, are all about. I've learned loads since I joined here (and, when I win the lottery, I can put some of the ideas in to practise!!) and I hope I've imparted some of my knowledge (probably mostly from my stronger points of business and business law as opposed to DJing!!) on to others who have then learned from me. Well, that's my hope, anyway!

[Sarah]

I'm at a hotel owned by friends, 15 miles away.

I'm doing the disco, times are 7pm-1am but there's a gala buffet, quiz and a male guitar/vocalist on too.

£300 but I have a room included to stay overnight, food on the night and breakfast included if I want it. Plus I can take a friend that's welcome to stay and eat too if I want.

The room is available all day, so I can set up early and get ready at leisure for the night.

I can have a few wee drams, fall into kip and then worry about packing down the next day, lol, as long as I'm done for N.Y day lunches.

It's not a fortune but I'm happy with the perks and I know I'll be in great, wholesome company too.

Sarah x

[woody2]

I read it as £4500 for 21 nights= just over £200 per night, which seems very cheap for December, but obviously there is a huge benefit to having 20 nights work in one place.

Horses for courses.

nope:beer1:

20 party nights central london @ 2k each (40k)

NYE 4.5k at another venue in the highlands of Scotland

[woody2]

I personally don't believe you could get away with charging such a high amount, if you are then well done, you are probably laughing at me!
this summer I did a 6th form prom - 300 18/19 year olds, I used my 3 subs and 2 mid tops and it sounded great, I cannot remember what I charged but it was a weekday and I think I charged £280 for it. Probably would have been £400 for a Saturday. I wouldn't say my lightshow is impressive, I am waiting on a custom framework for a new light truss and stand so it's something I will be majorly changing but your telling me that you are charging £2000 for a weekday with just 100 more guests?

Just for a bit of fun I thought what would I do if I had £4500 to spend on a NYE disco (as a customer)...

Hire a 16 KV2 subs with 8 KV2 tops (£1800)
Hire 40 moving head lights (£1100)
Hire very good DJ for £800
Pay £500 for transport and install of speakers and lights.

Spend £200 promoting your epic night because you defiantly don't have over 2000 friends!

Pay a photographer £50 to take a picture of you and your epic wall of speakers for your facebook cover photo then spend another £50 on glow sticks because with 24 speakers you cannot be anywhere but a rave!

Maybe that gives a clearer picture of why I think £4500 is OTT, fair play though... doesn't sound so bad when you say only £11.25 per person, maybe I should try this technique.

Using genuine prices from http://www.ksl-online.co.uk

Damn those KV2's look nice!

i will dig the tech spec out just for you and pm you tomorrow;)

[funkymook]

i will dig the tech spec out just for you and pm you tomorrow;)

I don't doubt the figures - I don't think it's for just a mobile DJ rig though (even a fancy one), which I think some people are assuming.

[DazzyD]

nope:beer1:

20 party nights central london @ 2k each (40k)

NYE 4.5k at another venue in the highlands of Scotland

You wouldn't get that round here!!

:sofa:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

nope:beer1:

20 party nights central london @ 2k each (40k)



Great pricing!

What do you put in for that out of interest? I have a few gigs in a central London Hotel but with basic kit with fairly good pricing but no-where near that!

[wensleydale]

nope:beer1:

20 party nights central london @ 2k each (40k)

NYE 4.5k at another venue in the highlands of Scotland

In that case I salute you Sir.

[woody2]

Great pricing!

What do you put in for that out of interest? I have a few gigs in a central London Hotel but with basic kit with fairly good pricing but no-where near that!

for the party nights

6 x VOID Stasys Prime
8 x VOID Stasys X
2 x Infinite 7
2 x Infinite 8
2 x VOID Digidrive V2
3 x CDJ-2000 nexus
1 x DJM-900 nexus

1 x Custom white serge star cloth c/w RGB LEDs 10m x4m
1 x 8m circular box truss
10 x Sharpy's
8 x Alpha wash 1200
1 x K1 Hazer
2 x Dry snow machines
1 x pearl 2010

+ a few other bits;)

[ukpartydj]

for the party nights

6 x VOID Stasys Prime
8 x VOID Stasys X
2 x Infinite 7
2 x Infinite 8
2 x VOID Digidrive V2
3 x CDJ-2000 nexus
1 x DJM-900 nexus

1 x Custom white serge star cloth c/w RGB LEDs 10m x4m
1 x 8m circular box truss
10 x Sharpy's
8 x Alpha wash 1200
1 x K1 Hazer
2 x Dry snow machines
1 x pearl 2010

+ a few other bits;)

OK now the price tag seems justified, you must have a big old van to put 8 subs and 6 speakers in before the rest! If you have a picture / can get one I would be very interested to see it all set up.

[Mark Wild]

NYE 4.5k at another venue in the highlands of Scotland

Sweet, what venue is that then?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

for the party nights

6 x VOID Stasys Prime
8 x VOID Stasys X
2 x Infinite 7
2 x Infinite 8
2 x VOID Digidrive V2
3 x CDJ-2000 nexus
1 x DJM-900 nexus

1 x Custom white serge star cloth c/w RGB LEDs 10m x4m
1 x 8m circular box truss
10 x Sharpy's
8 x Alpha wash 1200
1 x K1 Hazer
2 x Dry snow machines
1 x pearl 2010

+ a few other bits;)

Nice!

What venue is this Woody?

[JAMdisco]

I've not tread the full history of this thread as it started to go awry.

I had 3 requests ranging from £150 to £300.

Guess which one I took :)

I know a lot of you wouldn't go out for this but it's

(a) VERY local (approx 10 mins away)

(b) Better to get £300 than nothing - I'm not a huge NYE believer so would just be at home with a bottle of wine & the missus otherwise...

(c) Goes nicely towards our holiday spends lol

[djdj]

My regular NYE slot again for me
I have a Singer who is using my PA so nice little earner
Only 5 mins from home
good buffet & cheapish beer (Not that I will be drinking a great deal) / free soft drinks.
should walk away with £500 after paying the singer ;)

Also providing a PA to a local pub £100 :beer1:

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

My NYE booking fell through earlier in the week. I was sitting on £400 but it was local.

I'm in 2 minds about whether to chase something else up or not since it's quite close and most decent places will be sorted.

[woody2]

Nice!

What venue is this Woody?

do you want the clients number as well;):beer1:


Sweet, what venue is that then?

same as above;)

[Corabar Entertainment]

do you want the clients number as well;):beer1:


same as above;)HOW RUDE! :omg:

[woody2]

You wouldn't get that round here!!

:sofa:

Ramside or Lumley are not in your area then?


HOW RUDE! :omg:

i look forward to you publishing ALL your clients contact information on the forum?;)

[Corabar Entertainment]

That has absolutely nothing to do with my point. If you'd put "I'd rather not disclose my client's details", I wouldn't have made any comment whatsoever, but your comments directly insinuate that people are going to try and pinch your work.... which is bloody rude!

Mind you, my reasons for not disclosing client's names would be to do with the fact that I wouldn't use their names without their permission.

I would also like to point out no-one knew that the venue was your client when they asked you the question and we all regularly discuss venues on here.

I must say, however, that your response makes me feel that you don't think your client values you too much if you think they would jump ship so easily! (Quite apart from the fact that I doubt there's many who has that sort of kit lying around anyhow!)

Oh, and you've clearly missed Dazzy's joke given your other post on this thread tonight. Quite a :whoosh: moment there!

Had a bad night or something? :mad:

[woody2]

That has absolutely nothing to do with my point. If you'd put "I'd rather not disclose my client's details", I wouldn't have made any comment whatsoever, but your comments directly insinuate that people are going to try and pinch your work.... which is bloody rude!

Mind you, my reasons for not disclosing client's names would be to do with the fact that I wouldn't use their names without their permission.

I would also like to point out no-one knew that the venue was your client when they asked you the question and we all regularly discuss venues on here.

I must say, however, that your response makes me feel that you don't think your client values you too much if you think they would jump ship so easily! (Quite apart from the fact that I doubt there's many who has that sort of kit lying around anyhow!)

Oh, and you've clearly missed Dazzy's joke given your other post on this thread tonight. Quite a :whoosh: moment there!

Had a bad night or something? :mad:

1st rule of business is do not disclose your contacts;) which i have not

as for Darren's "joke" i must of missed that?

(back to my skeleton argument which i need to submit later today at the CAO) :beer1:;)

[Corabar Entertainment]

1st rule of business is do not disclose your contacts;) which i have not:confused::confused: Not sure why you've replied with that comment, as it in no way responds to my posts. My point was that you were asked a civil question and the manner in which you responded was incredibly rude. As I said, you could have chosen to respond in a different tone / different way, but you didn't.


as for Darren's "joke" i must of missed that?I didn't say Darren's "joke" - I said "Dazzy's":-
You wouldn't get that round here!!

:sofa:To which you responded in all seriousness:-


Ramside or Lumley are not in your area then?

[woody2]

:confused::confused: Not sure why you've replied with that comment, as it in no way responds to my posts. My point was that you were asked a civil question and the manner in which you responded was incredibly rude. As I said, you could have chosen to respond in a different tone / different way, but you didn't.

I didn't say Darren's "joke" - I said "Dazzy's":-To which you responded in all seriousness:-

"tone" then look at the smiley?

[funkymook]

Woody - If it isn't giving away too many business secrets, do you have a website I can look at?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Apologies for being interested Woody. Don't worry, I won't be doing it again. :)

[ppentertainments]

Ramside or Lumley are not in your area then?

2 great examples - one does not allow DJ's other than the resident and the other you are very very lucky if you manage to get in :D

[woody2]

2 great examples - one does not allow DJ's other than the resident and the other you are very very lucky if you manage to get in :D

done disco's at both never had any bother? Lumley was a pharmaceutical company, bad access if i remember. Ramside have done 3 event there no questions asked , as well a a few other venues in the area:zip:

[DazzyD]

2 great examples - one does not allow DJ's other than the resident and the other you are very very lucky if you manage to get in :D


done disco's at both never had any bother? Lumley was a pharmaceutical company, bad access if i remember. Ramside have done 3 event there no questions asked , as well a a few other venues in the area:zip:

Both venues are within 10 minutes from me. Lumley Castle I've done once before. A corporate event and the fee, whilst well-paying, was nowhere near £2K. And I wasn't really impressed with the venue. I much prefer Durham Castle anyday!! (fantastic room, great staff!).

As for Ramside Hall & Hotel, I was told recently on here that they now allow any outside disco to work in any room of the venue. Funny, though, that their own literature still states that when booking the main hall you must use their own resident disco which I believe is, (or at least was, Starlite Disco). Anyone can work the outside golf club venue.

My knowledge of both venues is pretty high due to having had contacts at both venues. My mate was a chef at Lumley Castle and my brother used to be the assistant groundskeeper at Ramside Hall. And even he wasn't allowed to use us when he wanted to have his wedding there!! :eek:

[woody2]

Both venues are within 10 minutes from me. Lumley Castle I've done once before. A corporate event and the fee, whilst well-paying, was nowhere near £2K. And I wasn't really impressed with the venue. I much prefer Durham Castle anyday!! (fantastic room, great staff!).

As for Ramside Hall & Hotel, I was told recently on here that they now allow any outside disco to work in any room of the venue. Funny, though, that their own literature still states that when booking the main hall you must use their own resident disco which I believe is, (or at least was, Starlite Disco). Anyone can work the outside golf club venue.

My knowledge of both venues is pretty high due to having had contacts at both venues. My mate was a chef at Lumley Castle and my brother used to be the assistant groundskeeper at Ramside Hall. And even he wasn't allowed to use us when he wanted to have his wedding there!! :eek:

as i have already said, never had any bother with been an outside disco.

Durham Castle, is that the room on the right hand side as you go up the approach road into the square? if so been there to as well, not forgetting beamish etc...

[ppentertainments]

as i have already said, never had any bother with been an outside disco.

Durham Castle, is that the room on the right hand side as you go up the approach road into the square? if so been there to as well, not forgetting beamish etc...
Whats your company name Woody ?? Very interesting, especially about Ramside.

Strange how things work - you come here for bookings, yet I find Yorkshire a lot more profitable for bookings - and more easily pleased :D

[Excalibur]

yet I find Yorkshire a lot more profitable for bookings - and more easily pleased :D
That's news to me!! :sofa:

[DazzyD]

as i have already said, never had any bother with been an outside disco.

Durham Castle, is that the room on the right hand side as you go up the approach road into the square? if so been there to as well, not forgetting beamish etc...

But, at Ramside Hall, were you in a marquee or in the golf club house? They allow other discos in there.

This is the room at Durham Castle I've played in several times - and always had a good night:

https://www.dur.ac.uk/event.durham/venues/colleges/durham.castle/weddings/

As for Beamish Hall, the few times I've been there it's always been upstairs and not an easy load-in!!

[woody2]

That's news to me!! :sofa:


are but your east not north:eek:

[ppentertainments]

Are you going to give away your secrets of your company name or website or not Woody ??

just interested in what you do as you seem to have a great business going.

[woody2]

But, at Ramside Hall, were you in a marquee or in the golf club house? They allow other discos in there.

This is the room at Durham Castle I've played in several times - and always had a good night:

https://www.dur.ac.uk/event.durham/venues/colleges/durham.castle/weddings/

As for Beamish Hall, the few times I've been there it's always been upstairs and not an easy load-in!!

Ramside was Bishops Suite, Durham Castle unsure on that room just remember the square,Beamish was at the museum in a marquee

i have a friend in the area who used to attend the chorister school who i have known for years, passes on my number;)

[Corabar Steve]

Woody - If it isn't giving away too many business secrets, do you have a website I can look at?


Whats your company name Woody ??


Are you going to give away your secrets of your company name or website or not Woody ??

Evidently not Chris. Nor does he seem to have the common courtesy to actually answer a question directed to him, even if it's just to say that he'd rather not divulge the information. (Not that I think anyone actually cares who he works for other than a passing curiosity in who this megabucks company is)

[djeddie]

Just as a side note to some of the comments in this thread:-

Our beloved friends at the HMRC will of course be looking at this forum (and other forums) so if someone has posted an amount which is total garbage then they'll have to explain why they've entered "£25" as their profit rather than the "£250K" they've mentioned here. If they have info to show they believe someone has earned something then you've got a lot to do to prove them wrong. Either way, writing a comment on a thread will take a few seconds but to get the blood collectors, sorry, tax collectors off your back will take a heck of a lot more.
I've used the amounts above as an example and are not aimed at anyone in particular and I know HMRC Inspectors do look at forums as a very good friend is one!

Just a thought.

[funkymook]

Just as a side note to some of the comments in this thread:-

Our beloved friends at the HMRC will of course be looking at this forum (and other forums) so if someone has posted an amount which is total garbage then they'll have to explain why they've entered "£25" as their profit rather than the "£250K" they've mentioned here. If they have info to show they believe someone has earned something then you've got a lot to do to prove them wrong. Either way, writing a comment on a thread will take a few seconds but to get the blood collectors, sorry, tax collectors off your back will take a heck of a lot more.
I've used the amounts above as an example and are not aimed at anyone in particular and I know HMRC Inspectors do look at forums as a very good friend is one!

Just a thought.

Well seeing as all they have to go on with some people is a forum non de plume I doubt they'll get very far.....

[ppentertainments]

Well seeing as all they have to go on with some people is a forum non de plume I doubt they'll get very far.....

Did anyone else have to google that ?? :o:daft:

[Excalibur]

Well seeing as all they have to go on with some people is a forum non de plume I doubt they'll get very far.....


Did anyone else have to google that ?? :o:daft:

Google it? No. But I will have to correct it. It's Nom de Plume, or pen name.

[DazzyD]

That's the downside with forums, though. Users can be totally anonymous if they wish to. Someone once told me they took everything they read on here with a pinch of salt. There have been many on here come and go (and some stayed!) who quite obviously "big" themselves up. I'm quite happy to admit to being an operator on a very small scale being a small family-run business with only me as the main DJ (although my brother and dad do chip in at times). But I do run the business as professionally as possible which often reflects in the comments that they we receive from our customers. A few years ago, I had big aspirations for the business but, after several setbacks, I realised that I'm happy doing what I do the way I do it. I think that counts for a lot.

Oh, and I can update my earlier comments about the resident DJ situation at the Ramside Hall. I was talking to the guy who passes me walk-in, walk-out work from time to time and he has said that he does an annual show at the Ramside (in one of the main indoor suites) for some sort of ladies club/society and usually works with a singer. He says he's done this for the last 4 years and never had a problem. So, it's quite possible that the situation with Starlite has ended or they are only used for weddings functions at the hotel. Either way, this opens to door to opportunities for bookings at the venue and when people ring me and ask for a quote for this venue, I won't be telling them I can't perform at this venue anymore!! ;)

[woody2]

Evidently not Chris. Nor does he seem to have the common courtesy to actually answer a question directed to him, even if it's just to say that he'd rather not divulge the information. (Not that I think anyone actually cares who he works for other than a passing curiosity in who this megabucks company is)

i work for myself:beer1: and no i will not be disclosing commercially sensitive information;), but i have already stated that in this thread

[Corabar Entertainment]

:confused::confused::confused: The name of your business is commercially sensitive information! :confused::confused::confused:

PMSL!

Blimey - advertising must be tough!

[funkymook]

i work for myself:beer1: and no i will not be disclosing commercially sensitive information;), but i have already stated that in this thread

So you haven't got a website?

[woody2]

:confused::confused::confused: The name of your business is commercially sensitive information! :confused::confused::confused:

PMSL!

Blimey - advertising must be tough!

company name + a quick search of central London hotels would bring up were the venue is (hotel has used our name on website) i would rather not disclose were there is a large amount of equipment left unattended most of the time (not saying that anybody on here would nick it:beer1:)

[woody2]

So you haven't got a website?

yes thanks:beer1:

[funkymook]

Pimpernel Promotions :D

[ppentertainments]

Now I am baffled :D:daft:

[DazzyD]

Reminds me of the story where two sausages are having a chat:

Sausage one "So, where do you live then?"

Sausage two "I'm not telling you 'cos you know I'm out so you might go round and pinch the washing off my line!".

Very surreal sense of humour I had back in the day!!! ;)

[funkymook]

Reminds me of the story where two sausages are having a chat:

Sausage one "So, where do you live then?"

Sausage two "I'm not telling you 'cos you know I'm out so you might go round and pinch the washing off my line!".

Very surreal sense of humour I had back in the day!!! ;)

Shhhh! Walls have ears (as well as sausages).

[woody2]

Content deleted by Excalibur. Not acceptable on this forum.

[DazzyD]

Content deleted by Excalibur. Not acceptable on this forum.

Woah!! :eek:

That was uncalled for. Chris is a well-regarded DJ who was one of the main instigators in forming the North-East and Cumbria branch of NADJ as he wanted to raise the profile and standards of local DJs. He was one of the first DJs on the forum from up here to secure £4figure bookings and has always been open and honest about what he does. Unlike you. In fact, from your comments on this thread, I'm beginning to wonder if you're little more than internet troll. Anyone can look up venues on the internet and say "I've worked there" and then precede to flame real, hard-working DJs. I had given you the benefit of the doubt until now. Now I'm not so sure whether you're just a DJ with an over-inflated ego (What? That never happens! Surely! :eek: ) or whether you live under a bridge and don't let any billy goats pass!

I've just realised that you put on your earlier post that you've worked at "Beamish in a marquee". I'm wondering if that means you've worked on the park rather than in the prestigeous Beamish Hall. Everytime I've worked at Beamish Hall it's always been raining heavily and I have to admit to being glad I've been inside even if it was upstairs!

[yourdj]

I have tried to read this thread but gave up.

In response to the question I have a good one this year for £1,200 (2pm-1am - just DJ, no MC).
I am charging my local venue £795 each and have two rooms booked.

Other offers have been about £400 but I have only had one as I advertise as a wedding DJ. :)

[Excalibur]

Woah!! :eek:

That was uncalled for. Chris is a well-regarded DJ who was one of the main instigators in forming the North-East and Cumbria branch of NADJ as he wanted to raise the profile and standards of local DJs.

The content which I deleted was indeed uncalled for, broke the rules of the forum, and has no place here, even if it is alleged to have been in jest. I agree with Dazzy wholeheartedly.

[Corabar Steve]

So a big top notch venue in London doesn't lock the doors of it's function rooms that disco equipment is left in when it's unattended? (all of ours do). I'd be having words with the management if I were you!

[hammy]

So a big top notch venue in London doesn't lock the doors of it's function rooms that disco equipment is left in when it's unattended? (all of ours do). I'd be having words with the management if I were you!

I have just had 5 days of xmas parties at The Grand Hotel in Brighton and left the gear there and they insisted it was all locked up.

[TONYTIGER]

Am i missing something here ,Woody seems to want to keep every thing very secretive so why post in the first place,we would have been none the wiser :confused:

[Mark Wild]

If I was you woody2 I would take great pride in posting up my company name/website, quite strange you feel you can't :)

[Javlingames]

If I was you woody2 I would take great pride in posting up my company name/website, quite strange you feel you can't :)

Probably because he doesnt want his site picked to pieces?

[funkymook]

Probably because he doesnt want his site picked to pieces?

Perhaps, but off topic unsolicited website criticism would soon be nipped in the bud.

It's professional interest on my part (great big speaker systems, what's not to like?), it's a shame though as networking with fellow DJ's should be a positive thing.

[Mark Wild]

I only asked where it was as I work all over Scotland, just generally interested that was all, I couldn't cope with such a large enquiry anyway :)

[Corabar Entertainment]

Anyway, I think we've had enough of the woody2 show. He doesn't want to share his toys with the rest of the forum, so let's just move on and....


:ontopic:

[woody2]

Anyway, I think we've had enough of the woody2 show. He doesn't want to share his toys with the rest of the forum, so let's just move on and....


:ontopic:

mr solitaire will be receiving a court summons for the slander/ libel:beer1:

i'm out of here

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

mr solitaire will be receiving a court summons for the slander/ libel:beer1:

i'm out of here

Eh? What have I done? :confused:

[Mark Wild]

Eh? What have I done? :confused:

Think he means Dazzy lol

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

mr solitaire will be receiving a court summons for the slander/ libel:beer1:

i'm out of here

In fact, what has anyone done to deserve this threat?

[funkymook]

mr solitaire will be receiving a court summons for the slander/ libel:beer1:

i'm out of here

Well that's one way of finding out who you are :beer1: :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

Well that's one way of finding out who you are :beer1: :DGood point, Martin. Even if there were any comments on this thread that could be construed as such, how can you commit libel (slander is spoken) against an unknown person from an unknown company!


:lol:

[DazzyD]

mr solitaire will be receiving a court summons for the slander/ libel:beer1:

i'm out of here

But it was you who made a very libellous comment towards Chris at PPEntertainments.

Unfortunately, Chris couldn't take action against you as you refuse to give any clues as to who you are!!

Besides, any comments I make are my own and not representative of any other party including this forum or it's owners thereof. Therefore any action you take should be against me solely.

However, I will point out that I couldn't possibly have libelled you as my comments were not directed against a known person or company (as we don't know who you are). However, as Chris is a known person and business then I would suggest that your comments are a smudge against his character and reputation being that directly attacked his reputation in the wording of your post.

MODS/FORUM OWNERS:

I can see why you might consider deleting my post but I would suggest that it's left in place as I'm publically relieving MDD of any involvement in my comments.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Well that's one way of finding out who you are :beer1: :D


Good point, Martin. Even if there were any comments on this thread that could be construed as such, how can you commit libel (slander is spoken) against an unknown person from an unknown company!


I will point out that I couldn't possibly have libelled you as my comments were not directed against a known person or company (as we don't know who you are).

This is one of the reasons that we have this forum rule in place:-


26. Member Details.
It is a requirement of the forum that all members provide their full name, location and business name in their user profile.

...So that people can't anonymously hide behind a keyboard if there are any issues.

It's not a rule that we have rigorously enforced up to now, but, in the light of this thread, it may be time to start pushing this more.

[ukpartydj]

I can't believe where this thread has ended up!

I'm a bit rusty on the law when it comes to sueing people but surely you cannot sue somebody when the business that you are suggesting others are insulting is not named and almost impossible to connect with the comments?

[Corabar Entertainment]

Exactly the point that several of us have made!

Luckily for woody2, the posts he made about another member have been deleted, because woody2 would have been far more likely to be sued for making them.

[ukpartydj]

Exactly the point that several of us have made!

Luckily for woody2, the posts he made about another member have been deleted, because woody2 would have been far more likely to be sued for making them.

I somehow missed those comments :daft:

Back on topic - 2 more NYE gigs £525 & £650 booked in today for a couple of my better DJ's. Very pleased with that!

[marting]

Back on topic - 2 more NYE gigs £525 & £650 booked in today for a couple of my better DJ's. Very pleased with that!

I must have missed your call lol....

[Gonzo.pete]

This will be the first NYE I have actually done. Enquiries have been thin on the ground so I have taken £400 for a posh guest houss/pub down the road. Add that to a small dry hire and I'll pull in just shy of £500.

[ukpartydj]

I must have missed your call lol....

Sorry Martin, one in Milton Keynes which I didn't think you'd fancy the other was between Southampton and Portsmouth. When I get one a bit closer to us will let you know.

[JAMdisco]

It's not a rule that we have rigorously enforced up to now, but, in the light of this thread, it may be time to start pushing this more.

Yeah go on, let him reveal all or ban him lol
Not heard so much nonsense and drivel for a long while - go on woody2 - sue me!!! :Laugh:

[Charlie Brown]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Back on topic, not sure why but I've got/had nothing for NYE! It's a shame because the money would have been nice. An evening with family and close friends it is! (Unless somebody comes along waving some notes)

[Shaun]

^ The prodigal son returns!! Welcome back Charlie. :beer1:

[Charlie Brown]

^ The prodigal son returns!! Welcome back Charlie. :beer1:

Thought I'd pop into the care home to check up on the rents and family. ;) :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

Cheeky blighter!

We're all looking forward to the thread detailing your exploits at sea, so get typing! :p

[hadyn]

same here charlie
was offered 300 for a small pub event but have been holding out hoping better offer would come along
looks like its either night off up covent garden with the missus getting merry or back to the pub with me tail between me legs lol

[hammy]

Cheeky blighter!

We're all looking forward to the thread detailing your exploits at sea, so get typing! :p

And some piccies in the gallery Charlie boy

[Charlie Brown]

Cheeky blighter!

We're all looking forward to the thread detailing your exploits at sea, so get typing! :p

Oh good grief! Where to start!?

Most of you must have seen my status updates and photos?

I'll start tomorrow. I'll have to put it in the supporters section, we can get sacked for discriminating the company. You know me, I can be quite frank. :rolleyes:

[hammy]

You know me, I can be quite frank. :rolleyes:

I must say I really cant agree on that one Charlie. :sarc:

[djtrev]

Most of you must have seen my status updates and photos?



:

Have I missed them,where can I find them

[funkymook]

Have I missed them,where can I find them

They're on FB Trev.

[djtrev]

They're on FB Trev.

Can you be more precise.I checked the facebook page but didnt come across them.

[funkymook]

Can you be more precise.I checked the facebook page but didnt come across them.

They're on Charlie's FB page - just keep scrolling down and you'll find them dotted around, but they're not really a comprehensive diary, you're probably better of just waiting for them to appear on the forum.

[djtrev]

Cheers,thanks a lot.Come on Charlie get typing!!

[alphawave]

Playing NYE down the local con club 8 til 1am......As its in my village i do them `mates rates` and it will be packed out!!...

[DazzyD]

...You know me, I can be quite frank. :rolleyes:

Frank? I thought you were Charlie!! :D

Anyway, welcome back. It's good to see you back on land safe and sound and that you didn't take the boat down!! ;)