Should I be ashamed? Did I do wrong?

[Excalibur]

Don't hold back on this one, it's open season.

I replied to a NaD enquiry for this Friday, and by cutting the rig down so I could use the car, got the price down to £20 more than the max stated budget. As I'm going to tonight's gig, I get a phone call, from a colleague of the original enquirer. Negotiations aren't too difficult, and I'm looking good for this one.

Then the bombshell. " I've booked somebody else yesterday, but you're cheaper, so if you can do it, I'll cancel him".

The other bloke apparently didn't mind being cancelled, so I'm told, and the gig's mine.

Did I do wrong?
Should I have stood aside? Insisted she stay with the dearer option?

I was travelling when the first call came in, so first instinct was to secure the gig, cos money's money. It was only when I'd had time to consider, that the doubts surfaced.

One thing's for sure, there'll be a contract in place on this one.

So bous and girls, what do you think? Am I a sensible businessman, or a bounder?

Floor's all yours, fire away, don't hold back. I'm not sure how I view my actions yet.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

No contract, no deposit, no gig.. Simple in my opinion.

[Excalibur]

No contract, no deposit, no gig.. Simple in my opinion.

Blimey! Very black and white on Planet Neil, eh? :D

[Imagine]

No contract, no deposit, no gig.. Simple in my opinion.

:agree:

Very black and white on planet Wayne as well I'm afraid ;)
Like you say...money's money :)

[surround sounds]

Yes agree with neil

[yourdj]

Then the bombshell. " I've booked somebody else yesterday, but you're cheaper, so if you can do it, I'll cancel him".

The other bloke apparently didn't mind being cancelled, so I'm told, and the gig's mine.


If i was the other DJ I would also be happy with the client doing that if that was their attitude. :)
They clearly hold no value for the other DJ so i would take it as an insult personally that price was the only reason they booked me.

To answer your question no not at all but I would questions the clients requirements and reason other than price why they booked you.
If your happy/need the work and/or it looks like your sort of venue/cliet then great :)

[Daryll]

No contract, no deposit, no gig.. Simple in my opinion.

Spot on :like:

[musicology]

Not your worry at all. Up to the customer what she wants to do. You'd better be prepared to be cancelled for someone even cheaper tho'!

[DJ Jules]

As a few others have said, I'd be questioning the clients motives (and be getting a deposit and a contract in place as quickly as I could!) I think my attitude to the client and how comfortable I felt would depend on what my starting price was and what went on in the negotiations prior to booking.

If the client had booked someone last minute in a rush, and then I came along a few hours later and she liked the look of me more, then that's fine - I can live with that.

If the client booked someone else and then thought about it and thought she'd have a go at getting the night cheaper as I appeared to be more prepared to negotiate to fill a date - then I'd be a) a bit cross at myself for undervaluing myself and going out for a lower fee when the client was clearly prepared to pay someone else more b) a bit insulted that the client was looking at me as a cheaper and not necessarily a better option. In this scenario I'd be more bothered as this is where we're devaluing our services as an industry.

I don't know the ins and outs of the conversations you've had, but clearly something about this booking is bothering you.

Julian

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I agree with the majority of what's been said already. If the customer hadn't officially booked the other DJ, in that there were no booking forms or deposit / booking fee paid then it's their choice as to who they book and they can change their mind if they like.

Peter, you said yourself "Money is money".
If I were in the same position and had quoted someone for a job a bit cheaper because I had availability and would rather be out working than sitting there twiddling my thumbs in front of rubbish TV then I would have done exactly the same and not felt bad about it whatsoever so you shouldn't.

The other side of it though is that some customers are just interested in the lowest price and normally I'd steer clear of that but if you get what you want out of it then it doesn't matter. There used to be a time where I would drop my price just so that I could be out working but I haven't done that for ages now. Not saying I wouldn't do it because I probably will at some point (January is very quiet for me at the moment for example).

[Benny Smyth]

I hope that they did sign a contract with the previous guy. Then they's have to pay him and you. And it'd serve them right.

Beyond that, I'm with the crowd. Not your fault. :)

[Excalibur]

I hope that they did sign a contract with the previous guy. Then they's have to pay him and you. And it'd serve them right.

Beyond that, I'm with the crowd. Not your fault. :)
Nope, no contract. He was only booked the night before.




I don't know the ins and outs of the conversations you've had,
You don't. Here's the flesh on the bones.
It's a staff party, thirty guests. Normally they just go to Wetherspoons, but this year, a number of them have had significant birthdays, so they decided to push the boat out, and have a disco.
I'm guessing they had a kitty for this, and the person I spoke to had agreed to make up the shortfall, as she was 65, and thus the " senior" member.
Here's the twist. Do try to keep up at the back, I'll be asking questions afterwards. :D
One of her colleagues ( for whatever reason :confused: ) put it on NaD, and I replied with a quote twenty pounds over their budget. The person who spoke to me wasn't aware of this, until her colleague told her she'd found this brilliant guy for less money. :D Hence, her desire to economise. Now you're up to speed.


but clearly something about this booking is bothering you.

Well spotted, Sherlock. I'm sure all of us have had this happen to us in the past, and it usually left a bad taste in the mouth. Now I've ( somewhat inadvertently ) done it to someone else. I'm not proud of myself. If I'm honest, I wish I'd refused it when I found out.

Obviously, as many of you have pointed out correctly, this reinforces the need for contracts, especially when we can exchange them electronically in minutes.

[funkymook]

Personally I'm not that desperate for the work to be told I'm being booked just because I'm the cheapest option as if it's something I should be grateful for. And they deserve an earful just for the fact they think they can tell me how they treated the other DJ - what sort of person says all that to someone they're hiring? I'd feel insulted.

I'd be tempted to let them cancel the other Dj and then tell them I can't do it because I've had a better offer and see how they like it.

[yourdj]

Well spotted, Sherlock. I'm sure all of us have had this happen to us in the past, and it usually left a bad taste in the mouth. Now I've ( somewhat inadvertently ) done it to someone else. I'm not proud of myself. If I'm honest, I wish I'd refused it when I found out.


Whats the client like - have you spoken/met them.
I would personally point blank say no unless they were decent people and had a good reason. I have always found bookings like that have turned out to be a nightmare, but of course it depends on the venue/function/guests/time of year.

[djdj]

If I was the other DJ and had been booked then I would not be happy,
On the other hand-
If it's on NAD then you are 100% ok to quote a price!

PS Peter, May have to start charging you for that mirrorball & pinspots :beer1:

[Creature]

Over the last few years this has happened to me over 40 times!,

Some were contrated and lost there booking fee others confirmed but paperwork not yet returned.

To say I was unhappy would be an under statement

When I have spoken to the clients its 100% been about the price! and some have booked me since as they wernt happy with the cheeper DJ - but they still try n beat me down on price.

I can understand your feelings on this Excalibur, Luckily for me its a situation Ive ever been under and hopefully wont

[Excalibur]

Thanks for all your comments so far folks, much appreciated one and all. I've said I'll do it, so I'll do it, but like many of my customers she's being a nightmare. I asked for a name and email, and got the venue details. Helpful, but my contract isn't with the venue.Pointed this out, and asked for details for the contract and invoice. Got the name of a third person, who has not yet been involved, no address to put on the contract.

Have I ever pointed out that a camel is just a horse designed by a committee? :whistle:

[funkymook]

Have I ever pointed out that a camel is just a horse designed by a committee? :whistle:

You're getting the hump?

[musicology]

Thanks for all your comments so far folks, much appreciated one and all. I've said I'll do it, so I'll do it, but like many of my customers she's being a nightmare. I asked for a name and email, and got the venue details. Helpful, but my contract isn't with the venue.Pointed this out, and asked for details for the contract and invoice. Got the name of a third person, who has not yet been involved, no address to put on the contract.

Have I ever pointed out that a camel is just a horse designed by a committee? :whistle:

Yep, when too many people get involved with "works do's", no one wants to take sole responsibility for the booking in case everyone drops out at the last minute and they're stuck with the bill. Sounds like she's not willing to give her address in case this happens. I suppose if it gets too close to the event and still haven't got someone to ratify this booking you could insist on upfront payment to ensure you will be there. But they do know, that at the moment, they have not secured you so it's up to them to sort themselves out!

[atlanticdisco]

Yes agree with neil

Also with Neil on this one.

Sounds like we have a version of DJ's intuition going on for feelings with certain gigs!