Advance bookings

[Spirits High]

Hi Guys,
Have just had an enquiry for Aug 08, does anyone else take bookings that far in advance?

Whats the norm for you?

[lightspeed]

Certainly! A lot of people (esp. for weddings) book 1/2 years in advance! There really is no norm for bookings, people don't want to be left caught out I suppose so they're just being careful! Just make sure you get the deposit, booking contract etc. sorted promptly and you're all sorted.

[DMX Will]

Seems fine and normal to me :)

[Shaun]

I've got several confirmed weddings for 2008. I don't think I'd accept bookings more than 2 years ahead though.

[ian8limelight]

2008 is only next year. It makes a pleasant change though for weddings to book their DJ in advance (like they do for the Hotel, etc) and not leave it until the last minute !!

[Spirits High]

Thanks fot that.

Have got his number so will give him a call later today.

Must be that time of year again as things are buzzing along quite nicely!

[Creature]

yep got bookings for 2008,2009,and 2010 :)

[Spirits High]

Mossy,
Retirement, now there's a nice thought.

[leighinstoke]

I have bookings for Veteran's Valentine' Dinner Dances 2007, 2008 and 2009 plus a 21st birthday next Spring.

NYE 2007/2008 deposit also arrived this morning.

Leigh....

[CRAZY K]

Going against the flow here--I only accept bookings one year in advance.

I am concerned about things like travelling costs escalating--which they do all the time--

I ask people to contact me a year before the event--or for recommended clients I make a diary note and contact them a year before their event.

And YES they do come back by the way.

I GUARANTEE you will be kicking yourself on the price when the time comes round in a couple of years---unless you forward price properly.

For example the Government say official inflation is about 4 per cent---yeah in your dreams---for most of us its at least 10 per cent plus.

So are you forward pricing at 10 to 20 per cent per year?

What happens then? You sound expensive:(

Ah well-everyone to their own--I cant see the value of a lot of advanced work---unless its priced properly--I dont give discounts for forward work---
just the proper going rate at that time with inflation built in,

Just my view

CRAZY K

[Spirits High]

well i'm with Crazy K on this one,

Unless your powers are strong you cant predict the future!

[ross@rds]

Yip sure do i took a booking for 2008 , 2009 and 2010 on NYE well it is a 3 year contract with a hotel but all the same lol. Mind you this week i have had alot of late bookings for jan might be people just getting up after all the parties lol.

[djexie]

If i was contracted like i was this year, i would say take them. But analyse the contract. Although sometimes contacts aren't worth the paper they are written on.

[BeerFunk]

Apparently, if you take a deposit, it must be refunded upon request legally. Which is why you must call it a booking fee or something..

[Corabar Entertainment]

Not this one AGAIN! I've explained this one so many times, but obviously no-one ever bothers to read my explanations, so I won't bother again.

Just next time you see a contract to buy / sell a house, have a look at what that down-payment is called. That's right ...."a deposit". Now try getting a refund on that after you've exchanged contracts!

[soundtracker]

You tell em Ang! You just need to make sure you use the words non-refundable in your spiel

[BeerFunk]

Not this one AGAIN! I've explained this one so many times, but obviously no-one ever bothers to read my explanations, so I won't bother again.
My sincerest of apologies, I'm so sorry I missed the thread which covered this...

You know, the button marked 'reply' is optional, you don't have to answer everything.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Ever heard the saying that sarcasm is the lowest form of witt?

It is not a case of you having missed 'a thread'.... it is a case of having the same topic vitually on a monthly basis, and since you've been a member here for some time, I would have thought that you might recall the subject coming up occasionally!

As for not having to reply..... no, none of us ever have to reply to any post..... just as you didn't need to reply with your last comment. However, I do have some obligation not to leave mis-information sitting there when I know it's wrong.

[theoloyla]

Now Now . Settle down. As for advance bookings - I certainly issue contracts in advance and take bookings over a year upfront. As for costs esculating I prefer to have a full datesheet of guaranteed work and the non refundable deposit is sitting in my bank account earning me interest to defray any inflationary costs. As for the client they feel good that they are getting everything confirmed and that they are paying a fixed price. I do remember however many years ago when inflation was running at a very high level signing contracts where there was a provision to renegotiate the price at a shorter period before the gig and a get out on either side if this could not be agreed. It would also be possible to write in an index linked fee if you really wanted to but I think that is a little over the top.

[CRAZY K]

Now Now . Settle down. As for advance bookings - I certainly issue contracts in advance and take bookings over a year upfront. As for costs esculating I prefer to have a full datesheet of guaranteed work and the non refundable deposit is sitting in my bank account earning me interest to defray any inflationary costs. As for the client they feel good that they are getting everything confirmed and that they are paying a fixed price. I do remember however many years ago when inflation was running at a very high level signing contracts where there was a provision to renegotiate the price at a shorter period before the gig and a get out on either side if this could not be agreed. It would also be possible to write in an index linked fee if you really wanted to but I think that is a little over the top.

Higher inflation is here NOW--mine is personally at least 10per cent--gas, electric, council tax, petrol, car repairs, car insurance, MOT, flying by plane the list gets longer by the day.

Ignore Government statistics about inflation--absolute rubbish.

I think for a while with escalating costs out of control I wont book more than a year in advance.

Why take bookings cheaply now? My suggestion again is build in inflation to your quotes, OR YOU WILL BE THE LOSER.

CRAZY K

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Hi ive got a wedding booking for july 2008.nothing wrong with forward planning

[CRAZY K]

Hi ive got a wedding booking for july 2008.nothing wrong with forward planning

Agreed-as long as you price in an allowance for increased costs and profit.

CRAZY K

[DK Karaoke]

Not this one AGAIN! I've explained this one so many times, but obviously no-one ever bothers to read my explanations, so I won't bother again.

Just next time you see a contract to buy / sell a house, have a look at what that down-payment is called. That's right ...."a deposit". Now try getting a refund on that after you've exchanged contracts!


First aplogies to Corabar here for continuing a thread which is probably hated. However, I felt I needed to respond.

I always call my initial payment a booking fee, (i.e. a fee for actually booking the act which is not refundable) and not a deposit. I believe there is something about the fact that we are providing a 'service' and not selling a tangible asset, which by the shear nature of the beast involves a lost of cost to actually arrive at the deposit stage, thats why a 'deposit' is not refundable. However, we do not incur a lot of cost, also its a service.

Am sure some of you out there, will know the exact answer to this in legal terms.

Again, sorry croabar.

[CRAZY K]

First aplogies to Corabar here for continuing a thread which is probably hated. However, I felt I needed to respond.

I always call my initial payment a booking fee, (i.e. a fee for actually booking the act which is not refundable) and not a deposit. I believe there is something about the fact that we are providing a 'service' and not selling a tangible asset, which by the shear nature of the beast involves a lost of cost to actually arrive at the deposit stage, thats why a 'deposit' is not refundable. However, we do not incur a lot of cost, also its a service.

Am sure some of you out there, will know the exact answer to this in legal terms.

Again, sorry croabar.


Been thinking about this a bit more as time wasters have been visting my world recently and I think you could put forward a reasonably good argument that the admin, time and overheads which get you to the acquisition stage of your new business before "booking" takes place might well be something like £50 which is our booking fee generally.

Just my view, people do ask for their "deposits" back in our experience which is why its vital to make it clear they are non refundable booking fees.

CRAZY K

[Corabar Steve]

There are several definitions of the word deposit in the English language.

Some would infer that it is refundable, some that it most definitely is not.

Some don't even refer to money at all http://smilies.vidahost.com/cwm/cwm/eek7.gif

It is up to each of you how you refer to your booking fee / deposit / down payment, but if you are worried about anyone asking for it back just add the words "Non Refundable" to your T&Cs. Simple isn't it?

EDIT: The above is just my personal opinion.

However, I think that Angela's legal background does mean that she does have a fair idea what she is talking about.

[CRAZY K]

There are several definitions of the word deposit in the English language.

Some would infer that it is refundable, some that it most definitely is not.

Some don't even refer to money at all http://smilies.vidahost.com/cwm/cwm/eek7.gif

It is up to each of you how you refer to your booking fee / deposit / down payment, but if you are worried about anyone asking for it back just add the words "Non Refundable" to your T&Cs. Simple isn't it?

EDIT: The above is just my personal opinion.

However, I think that Angela's legal background does mean that she does have a fair idea what she is talking about.


Looking at a common sense point of view--doh!

If you make a deposit unless its specifically mentioned that you can have it back within a specified period---which happened to me ---then I think most people KNOW they cant have it back, they just try it on---which seems to be the latest craze in the UK.

Down here the second word is the word following licence meaning a place where you can buy booze:D

I made a SERIOUS deposit with MFI for 3 grand at Xmas time being told and in the Tand C that I could cancel in 7 days and get it back--- which I did.

Otherwise thats it--you lose it--agree 100per cent with Steves comment.

Best one we had was the lady who wanted her " deposit back" but refused to say why she was cancelling the gig--obviously got it cheaper somewhere else:(

CRAZY K

[theoloyla]

Quite right. T & C number 5 of the SEDA standard disco contract (which has been approved by the Office of Fair Trading and tested legally many times since it was first drawn up in 1976) says "If either party cancels a booking that party shall pay to the other by way of liquidated damages a sum equal to the advance payment or, if cancellation occurs within 30 days of the engagement, a sum equal to the full fee for the booking. Any cancellation must be made in writing"...etc etc
If anyone wishes to use this contract pre-printed self carbonated triplicate pads are available from SEDA at a very modest price.