why so many cancellations :(

[djdave01]

In the last two weeks, ive had three cancellations. One was a wedding where the couple have split up, fair enough. Paperwork was done so id received a deposit, and its still six months away so plenty time to re-book the date.

One was last week, where the client decided not to proceed after id posted out a booking form. He was good enough to call and tell me.

Ten days ago, I posted out a booking form for a gig this Saturday (2nd march), I noticed yesterday that the form wasn't back yet, so called the client. He didn't answer but texted me back later saying 'sorry dave, don't need the disco for saturday'. So ive no deposit, and no chance of getting another job. To make things worse, I turned away another client five days ago for the same date.

Right now, I am completely :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored: :Censored: off

Why cant people let us know if there not going ahead with a booking :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[Vectis]

Easy answer - no deposit, no booking.

And move to an online process (e.g. Echosign) rather than posting stuff out.

[djdave01]

Easy answer - no deposit, no booking.

And move to an online process (e.g. Echosign) rather than posting stuff out.

You have to allow a reasonable amount of time for clients to return a booking form & deposit, in this case only 5 days had past between the form being posted, and another client enquiry. I had no reason to think the booking wouldn't go ahead.

I do use an online booking process, unfortunately not all clients are happy to use it. Around 40% of clients still want booking forms posted out. I always try to encourage people to use the online system as its quicker and saves me a walk to the post office.

[Shaun]

Dave,

Sounds like you could benefit from going completely digital. Works great for me and no client has ever queried not having the option of not doing it online. On the contrary, some have commented how quick and easy the process is (something they never done when I used to post forms out). They only receive my booking form once they've made their initial payment (although a copy of the T&C's are available for them to peruse prior to making payment). Once deposit is paid I forward them the booking form to eSign. Simple, extremely fast (http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?31959-Digital-Signatures&p=623917&viewfull=1#post623917), and no more waiting around for forms to be posted.

[dj foureyes]

So ive no deposit, and no chance of getting another job. To make things worse, I turned away another client five days ago for the same date.


Dave, always wise after the event, but when you got the 2nd enquiry, why didn't you ring the first enquiry and tell him that someone else was after the same date?

[djdave01]

Dave,

Sounds like you could benefit from going completely digital. Works great for me and no client has ever queried not having the option of not doing it online. On the contrary, some have commented how quick and easy the process is (something they never done when I used to post forms out). They only receive my booking form once they've made their initial payment (although a copy of the T&C's are available for them to peruse prior to making payment). Once deposit is paid I forward them the booking form to eSign. Simple, extremely fast (http://www.forum.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/showthread.php?31959-Digital-Signatures&p=623917&viewfull=1#post623917), and no more waiting around for forms to be posted.

Hi Shaun, I'd love to go completely digital, unfortunately a lot of my clients seem to be older, and un-willing to use online booking systems. I do lots of older birthdays and wedding anniversarys.
The majority of bookings for weddings or younger birthdays are done online.


Dave, always wise after the event, but when you got the 2nd enquiry, why
didn't you ring the first enquiry and tell him that someone else was after the same date?

I did try calling but didn't get a reply. As the booking form had only been sent out 5 days before I had no reason to expect the gig to cancel.
I've always allowed 14 days for clients to return booking forms, maybe I need to reduce that.

[chrisj]

Hi Dave, I am in the same position as you with reference posting contracts. Many of my clients are not interested in having it any other way. I received a contract confirming a booking only yesterday with £50 cash deposit as the client does not have a cheque account and does not do anything online.

I will admit I send 40% of contracts by email and receive BACS payment but not everyone is quite so modern. I even have bookings where the clients do not have the internet and computers.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I'd of quoted for the second job as well. If both happened to book then put in a decent DJ for one of the jobs.

[Excalibur]

Dave,

They only receive my booking form once they've made their initial payment (although a copy of the T&C's are available for them to peruse prior to making payment). Once deposit is paid I forward them the booking form to eSign. Simple.

Blimey mate, you're taking no chances, are you? To me, that seems to show that there's no trust between you and the clients. ( although I'm perfectly ready to concede that some of them don't deserve any trust at all ) Personally, I'd be affronted by that. If it works for you, well and good.

I've just sent out ( and received back ) my first Echosign contract, and I'm expecting a bank transfer soon to seal the deal. Perhaps there's a bit of fine tuning to do, but it beats the postal service hands down.

[chrisj]

With all the mention of Echosign I must look into it. Might be easier than what I do already and anything for an easier life.

[Corabar Entertainment]

They only receive my booking form once they've made their initial payment (although a copy of the T&C's are available for them to peruse prior to making payment). Have you ever had trouble getting the signed contract after they've paid a deposit? I presume you only confirm the booking once you have both the deposit and contract?

[Shaun]

Have you ever had trouble getting the signed contract after they've paid a deposit? I presume you only confirm the booking once you have both the deposit and contract?

Hi Ang. Yep, the booking is confirmed only when I've received both. To date I've never had any issues getting the contract back once they've paid. *fingers crossed*

[Excalibur]

Have you ever had trouble getting the signed contract after they've paid a deposit? I presume you only confirm the booking once you have both the deposit and contract?


Hi Ang. Yep, the booking is confirmed only when I've received both. To date I've never had any issues getting the contract back once they've paid. *fingers crossed*

I'm missing something here. :daft: If Shaun's holding the money, surely it's in their interests to send the contract back? :confused: Otherwise, he might stick to his guns, reaffirm that both are neeed before a binding contract exists, and justifiably retain the funds.

[Shaun]

Blimey mate, you're taking no chances, are you? To me, that seems to show that there's no trust between you and the clients. ( although I'm perfectly ready to concede that some of them don't deserve any trust at all ) Personally, I'd be affronted by that. If it works for you, well and good.



Interesting. I don't work this way because of any trust issues, and if I'm completely honest I hadn't even thought about it from the point of view you've mentioned. To me it just makes more sense to get the payment first rather than sending the booking form and holding the date whilst I await it's return and the payments return. As I don't hold dates without a payment, it just makes a lot more sense to take payment first.

A few easy steps...
1. Payment
2. Upload form for them to sign
3. They sign..DONE!


I'm missing something here. :daft: If Shaun's holding the money, surely it's in their interests to send the contract back? :confused: Otherwise, he might stick to his guns, reaffirm that both are neeed before a binding contract exists, and justifiably retain the funds.

Interesting again.

Average signing time for me is 1 day at the most, with the vast majority signing same day. I read in the signature thread where another has an average signing time of 3 days. I don't know if the fact that they've already made payment prompts them to sign quicker?

[djdave01]

as if to add more weight behind the online booking system, I had a phone call today at 2pm, by 2.15pm I had a completed online form and the deposit paid via Bacs.

ive decided that if anyone wants to book a date that's less than a month away, they must either book online or the client can come to the house to sign the paperwork & pay deposit.

Im also going to reduce the turnaround time for postal bookings to seven days.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Interesting again.

Average signing time for me is 1 day at the most, with the vast majority signing same day. I read in the signature thread where another has an average signing time of 3 days. I don't know if the fact that they've already made payment prompts them to sign quicker?

That was me and as I said in the thread a handful of people taking weeks to sign has pushed that average to 3 days. I send the contract for them to say which includes a clause saying the NRBF needs to be paid for the booking process to be complete.

[JAMdisco]

I too am completely digital these days, makes the booking process from one week (at the best) to a few hours (less than 24 hours in my experience).

I haven't had a problem with the 'age thing' - the last 2 bookings were for 60th birthdays and both times they've signed the echo-sign contract and paid by direct bank transfer.

To be fair, unless they really insist that I post the contract I always opt for the on-line method.
I usually send out the payment details first, followed up by the echo-sign contract. I also state that both need to be completed for the booking to be definitive.

Just a tip for anyone using echo-sign - if you link it with your twitter account (even if you don't use it) you get 5 extra free contracts making a total of 10 per month. I used 6 last month and 2 so far this month so worth it in my opinion. :)

And back to the original statement / question, I've had no cancellations for at least 3 years (goes to find some wood to touch...:D)

[Chris G]

Have just started using Echosign myself and have upgraded to the paid service as the number of free contracts a month were counting down in the total left but not topping up again after a month - anyone else encountered this problem?

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Oh another tip with echosign, you can see if they have viewed it or not :)

[JAMdisco]

Have just started using Echosign myself and have upgraded to the paid service as the number of free contracts a month were counting down in the total left but not topping up again after a month - anyone else encountered this problem?

Not me. I think it maybe a rolling month period though rather than a calendar month - not 100% sure on this though.

[edit] Just had 2 deposits paid in last 1/2 hour. I do like seeing the money magically appear in my bank, so much better than waiting 3-5 days for cheques to clear...

[djdave01]

another cancellation last night, this time for a gig next month. Client phoned, completed online booking form, and said he'd post the deposit by cheque. Two days later he called and cancelled :(

also had a school disco postponed today, due to not enough staff being available to help on the night.

im getting a bit disheartened with all this all the moment.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Dave did they give you a reason for the cancellation?I would certainly ask why it has been cancelled,then speak to them about it,was it cancelled because they have another dj?,I would ask these questions just for my piece of mind.if it was me with all the cancellations you have had dave,i would want to know why?

[djdave01]

Dave did they give you a reason for the cancellation?I would certainly ask why it has been cancelled,then speak to them about it,was it cancelled because they have another dj?,I would ask these questions just for my piece of mind.if it was me with all the cancellations you have had dave,i would want to know why?

Gary, I know ive told you on Facebook, but just for anyone else reading this,,,, I did ask why this one was cancelled, apparently their cancelling the whole event as they cant afford it. Might just be an excuse though.

[Retrodisco]

I've had a few last minute cancellations, a school disco and they didn't sell enough tickets, 3 days before, and a 40th 90s night this weekend as the guy had a call to come in for a leg op, this one will be rescheduled for later in the year, so happy with that, and picked up a replacement booking for it yesterday.

[Shaun]

I guess you may never know the full reason for the cancellation. If they're cancelling because they've found someone cheaper, perhaps taking a larger deposit may deter.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I guess you may never know the full reason for the cancellation. If they're cancelling because they've found someone cheaper, perhaps taking a larger deposit may deter.

Yup. It's a hard one to gauge but you need your deposit to be reasonable but also high enough that it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for someone to bail on you for someone cheaper.

Touch wood I've never had to enforce it but I've got cancellation periods clearly stated within my contract and anyone cancelling within 2 weeks is liable to pay the full balance. If the unfortunate ever happened, I'd be fairly confident of having my day in a small claims court if they didn't pay up.

[Shaun]

Touch wood I've never had to enforce it but I've got cancellation periods clearly stated within my contract and anyone cancelling within 2 weeks is liable to pay the full balance. If the unfortunate ever happened, I'd be fairly confident of having my day in a small claims court if they didn't pay up.

I've only had to enforce my cancellation term once. A long-term corporate client contacted just over a week prior to their Christmas event, stating they had to cancel, but would like to re-schedule for later in January. As it was so close to the event I decided to charge them the full fee owed as per my terms, but I did offer them a substantial discount (as a gesture of goodwill) for the January gig. They paid and re-booked (with a nice discount) for the later date.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

I've only had to enforce my cancellation term once. A long-term corporate client contacted just over a week prior to their Christmas event, stating they had to cancel, but would like to re-schedule for later in January. As it was so close to the event I decided to charge them the full fee owed as per my terms, but I did offer them a substantial discount (as a gesture of goodwill) for the January gig. They paid and re-booked (with a nice discount) for the later date.

Win win.

My brother's band has had some hassle with cancellations and funnilly enough it was corporate and around Christmas too. They still charged the full amount and got it.

They actually made a tonne for doing jack when the banking crisis hit as they had a lot of bank parties lined up and they cancelled the entertainment and other extravagances so it didn't look like they were :Censored::Censored::Censored::Censored:ing money away when everything was going belly up. The only problem with that was, they had to pay the suppliers anyway so they'd still spent the same amount only had nothing to show for it.

[Shaun]

Win win.



Well...time will tell. They've booked me the last 6 years, if they don't re-book me this Christmas I've maybe cut my nose off to spite my face. They seemed understanding enough at the time when I explained that I'd already turned away work for the date so I'd need payment for the cancellation so close to the date. Hopefully my actions haven't lost me future work with them.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Well...time will tell. They've booked me the last 6 years, if they don't re-book me this Christmas I've maybe cut my nose off to spite my face. They seemed understanding enough at the time when I explained that I'd already turned away work for the date so I'd need payment for the cancellation so close to the date. Hopefully my actions haven't lost me future work with them.

I wouldn't stress about it mate. They're a business and should realise that you're a business too.

I dunno what they do but I'm pretty sure they have a system in place where they're compensated if a client lets them down so they can't really complain.