Query about payment

[a1adisco]

Hello, after some more advice.

What do most do with regard to being paid? When do you ask for payment, before or after the event? What payment methods do you normally use, cash or cheques?

Thanks

[Mayhem 1]

Hiya Mate,

I request a deposit with the signed contract then the balance to be paid to me in cash upon my arrival at the venue.

Never had any problems.

regards

Mayhem 1

[rob1963]

Hiya a1adisco,

I take a £50 deposit by cheque when the booking is made.

My terms & conditions state that the balance can be paid EITHER by cheque at least 14 days before the function, or on the date of the function BEFORE the start time in cash.

This avoids the problem where you wait until the end of the night to get paid, only to find that the person with the money got taken home early due to too much alcohol, or has forgotton to bring the money, or lost it etc etc.

[Vectis]

£50 booking fee to secure the date; balance in cash on arrival at venue, by cheque 14 days before the event, or the whole lot in advance by PayPal.

Deposits are legally refundable, Booking Fees are not.

[rob1963]

Deposits are legally refundable, Booking Fees are not.




Vectisvibe...are deposits legally refundable if your terms and conditions state that they are non-refundable (as mine do) and the client has signed the booking form to confirm that they have read, understood and accept the terms & conditions?

:confused:

[Shaun]

I take a £50 deposit by cheque when the booking is made.

My terms & conditions state that the balance can be paid EITHER by cheque at least 14 days before the function, or on the date of the function BEFORE the start time in cash.



Same for me.

I'm considering changing my T&C's to payment in advance. I've never been keen on payment at the event.

[rob1963]

I'm considering changing my T&C's to payment in advance. I've never been keen on payment at the event.


Elite DJ - you could try a trick I use.

When I get the booking form & deposit back, I send a letter confirming the booking and also a music request form.

My letter asks for the request form to be returned 14 days before the function if possible, and suggests that they might like to enclose a cheque for the outstanding balance at the same time.

I find that most of them do. After all, most of my work is weddings, and its one less thing for them to think about on the night.

[Shaun]

Good tip. Cheers.

Do you find they return music requests on time?. I don't know why but the booking forms are very rarely returned on time to me (despite stating that they must be returned within 10 working days). I always seem to be 'chasing' people up for the paperwork.

[Corabar Steve]

Deposits are legally refundable, Booking Fees are not.Not strictly true & has been covered before (quite recently)

[Dragonfly]

i got a booking form back last week i sent out in dec !!!! they lost it twice and then took 4 weeks to return it despite 2 phone calls and an email ..... cant wait for that gig lol funny thing is they kept me waiting 4 weeks well longer if you count losing 2 forms to confirm brought it round last friday with deposit ...... yesterday 3.5 days later a message on the answerphone "we dropped the deposit off on friday and havent had confirmation in writing yet and are getting worried???????"

[Shaun]

funny thing is they kept me waiting 4 weeks well longer if you count losing 2 forms to confirm brought it round last friday with deposit ...... yesterday 3.5 days later a message on the answerphone "we dropped the deposit off on friday and havent had confirmation in writing yet and are getting worried???????"


LOL. Jim Morrison got it right..."People Are Strange".

[Corabar Entertainment]

Deposits are legally refundable, Booking Fees are not.Calling the initial amount you take a 'deposit' or a 'booking fee' will not automatically make it refundable or non-refundable... it's one of those urban myths that I keep trying to dispell! It has arisen out of how the courts may interpret the phrase if you don't have T&Cs which properly define how the money is to be treated.

You need to make sure that you have details in your terms and conditions as to what will happen to that money (whatever you call it) in the event of cancellation, etc

[rob1963]

Good tip. Cheers.

Do you find they return music requests on time?. I don't know why but the booking forms are very rarely returned on time to me (despite stating that they must be returned within 10 working days). I always seem to be 'chasing' people up for the paperwork.


Elite - I would say that about 80% of my clients return the request form on time, and about the same percentage return the booking form and deposit within the required 14 days.

Having said that, I'm about to send a letter chasing someone who requested a booking over 3 weeks ago, and still hasn't returned the form & deposit. Ugh!

If you don't already have it, put something in your t & c along the lines of "The booking form and deposit must be received within XX days of the date when the booking was requested, otherwise we reserve the right to accept other bookings"

[Shaun]

If you don't already have it, put something in your t & c along the lines of "The booking form and deposit must be received within XX days of the date when the booking was requested, otherwise we reserve the right to accept other bookings"


We already have something to that effect, we also re-mention it in the covering letter. Yet still.......

[Vibrant Sounds]

I ask for a booking fee of £100 or 50% of the total amount whichever is the lower. Payment of the balance must either be made by cheque a minimum of 14 days prior to the event or in cash on the night prior to the start of the event.

I have never had a problem yet (fingers crossed and touching wood), except for one short notice booking supposedly for a charity karaoke do (for members of the local BBC) where I trusted them to pay (a vastly reduced fee) on the night and they cancelled about 5 days prior to the event.

Learnt my lesson that night, catch 22, how do you chase a charity event for money without getting yourself a bad name?

[Danno13]

30% booking fee, and then full payment 14 days before. Just started this year, i used to just collect cash on the night, but this way is much better as i don't go and spend the cash i collect on food and drinks!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I take a 25% advance payment and then the balance is payable 7 days before. Most people pay long before that though.

[DK Karaoke]

What do you do, if someone want to book you for say 4 days time, and you have a slot?

You cant easily take payment in advance in this case.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

What do you do, if someone want to book you for say 4 days time, and you have a slot?

You cant easily take payment in advance in this case.

They bring the money to my office.

[a1adisco]

Thanks for the replies.

Does anyone use Paypal? Whats your opinion on this payment method.

[Shaun]

Thanks for the replies.

Does anyone use Paypal? Whats your opinion on this payment method.

I accept paypal for deposit payments, no problems so far.