Upset Customer - Not my fault at all!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

Back in August last year I had an enquiry for a 50th birthday party which was to be held at the local Rugby Club. I went and met the customer at their house and talked through with them the format for the evening etc etc. It was to be an 80's themed night and fancy dress and to run from 7pm until Midnight. The lady that booked me was very nice and said she totally trusted me to do the business. I also devised an 80's music quiz for her which I told her I would run at some point during the evening to break the night up a bit and she was very impressed with this and said that she was really looking forward to it. She said that there would be about 125 guests and that everyone was looking forward to it.

The booking was done well in advance with the deposit paid to secure the date (February 24th) and I kept in regular contact with her by phone and email regarding any specific song requests etc.. I also went to see the venue back in September and showed them my PLI and PAT documentation. Everything was fine.....WAS fine!

I had arranged with the venue in advance about setup and access times and 3 or 4 days before the function I tried to contact the steward to confirm these details again. He never returned any of my calls so I went to see him but was told he was unavailable..I didn't think it would be a problem so called the lady and told her that everything was organised and I was looking forward to seeing her and her guests. I like doing 80's nights and I had gone to the trouble of making some really good answer sheets etc..I devised all the questions myself and even tested it out on another night and it worked well.

Anyway...February 24th came... The booking was from 7pm so I turned up at 5.45pm to give myself more than enough time to set up and get everything perfect as I knew the lady was really looking forward to her special night. When I turned up in the van I had nowhere to park, the car park was absolutely rammed...I thought it was a bit wierd and then realised something.. It was the England Vs Ireland match!!! I walked into the venue and was met with a packed crowd of drunken rugby players / fans etc... I made my way to the bar and asked for the steward and was kept waiting for about 10 minutes. I was getting annoyed now (to put it politely) and in the time it took the steward to eventually turn up, I had a call from the lady asking where I was as it was now gone 6pm. The steward was quite rude actually..he told me that there was no way I was setting up until after the rugby had finished which was going to be at least after 7pm! I said that it was outrageous and that the people that had paid to hire the venue would not be happy.

I was still stood at the bar as he walked off when I tried to call the lady back. A phone rang behind me and she was actually stood behind me but I couldn't see at the time as there were loads of people around. I went over to her and she was on tears. Big blokes were shouting at the big screen cheering on England (or Ireland) and we made our way outside. I explained that I wasn't allowed in to set up and I also told her what I thought of the venue and it's steward. The lady's daughter was going mad, swearing and kicking things but totally understood that it wasn't any fault of mine. What was making it worse was that at the Rugby Club there are 2 bars, one is small and a private members bar and the other (which had been hired from 7-12) was full of people. The steward didn't want to sort the situation out whatsoever and for over an hour, I waited outside with the lady, her daughter and some guests who had already arrived.

When the rugby had finally finished I ran in and up to the bar..I shouted at the steward that I wasn't waiting any longer. I explained that the lady was very upset because of the situation and then I started to bring in my gear, losing my temper as people found it so much bother to move 2 inches out of my way. I was getting hot, sweaty and very annoyed and after a while, the people in the bar seemed to get the message that there was something going on...Eventually the bar started to empty and the lady and her daughter began to bring in their buffet and banners and balloons. We were eventually up and running by just after 8pm and after apologising for the delay over the mic, the night was brilliant. The lady thoroughly enjoyed herself as did the guests and she was very apologetic when she said that we would have to forget the quiz. I felt so sorry for her and asked her if she was going to do anything about it. She said that she's had enough stress but her daughter said that first thing on the monday morningm, she was going back in to see them and get her hire money back. Apparently she had paid nearly £200 for the venue plus another few quid extra for bar staff??? (I thought that would be in with the price).

I wanted to do something for her even though it wasn't my fault and offered to discount some of my fee but she wouldn't have any of it. I know it wasn't my fault but for some reason I still felt like it was.

Has anyone here ever had anything like this happen?

I will be following this up with her in the next few days to see how she got on with her attempt at a refund. I actually sent the venue a written letter saying what I thought of them and also explained that I wouldn't be recommending the venue to any of my enquiries.

Funny thing is...I have done a few functions there in the past with no problems at all....BUT, they may have been because it was someone different in charge?

Sorry, I know it's a long one but I had to get all the facts out.
Cheers
Gary

[Shaun]

Sounds like a tough situation Gary. Hopefully the client will get some recompense from the venue.

Classic case of the venue putting profit (lucrative takings with Big Match on) over customer satisfaction. There are 'cowboys' in every trade it seems..

[Corabar Entertainment]

Have come across similar situations in the past (not with rude stewards, etc) .where there is confusion over a booking and access times: many venues charge by the hour and when a function room is booked 7-Midnight, that's exactly what they mean.... you get in at 7pm and must be out by Midnight, meaning that music can only go on from around 8pm until 11-11.30pm. But in this case, as you say, you spoke to the venue beforehand and so that cannot have been the reason.

It's such a shame because, no matter how well the evening turned out, there's bound to be a sour memory of the night no matter what

[Corabar Steve]

Not quite the same scenario Gary, but have a gander at this thread (http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=4118&highlight=Paddington)

[pdarnett]

I did a wedding during the world cup, and against the brides wishes the groom decided to interrupt the speeches to take all the guests into the bar to watch the "Engerland" . Bride totally inconsolable, and to cap it all I couldn't set up anything until after "the match". When guests returned, the table decorations (which must have cost some) had England flags stuck in them. So we started late with the dancing, but the evening was screwed from the start. So I'm sorry for all you football fans out there, but its this sort of mentality that's the reason I hate football, sorry I mean I don't have anything against the sport, just the blind stupidity of a proportion of the fans. i.e. lets fupp up what is supposed to be the most important day of your life for a football match! Starts your marriage off well doesn't it?

[sleah]

So I'm sorry for all you football fans out there, but its this sort of mentality that's the reason I hate football, sorry I mean I don't have anything against the sport, just the blind stupidity of a proportion of the fans.

Here here!!! :beer1:

Couldn't agree more. Well, I propbably could if I thought about it :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

We had a couple of weddings last year that were clashing with England matches during the world cup. Instead of fighting it, the couples decided to embrace reality and incorporated the matches into the proceedings - even hiring in screens so that anyone who wanted to could watch the match. They knew beforehand that the 'party' wouldn't really start until after the match was over and so worked around it..... they actually worked pretty well because they weren't trying to get all the guests to do something else instead when they didn't want to.

[Jiggles]

So I'm sorry for all you football fans out there, but its this sort of mentality that's the reason I hate football, sorry I mean I don't have anything against the sport, just the blind stupidity of a proportion of the fans.


Yove got my Vote on that one. Wusses play that sport :D RUGBY is where it is at!!! :D :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I did a wedding during the world cup, and against the brides wishes the groom decided to interrupt the speeches to take all the guests into the bar to watch the "Engerland" . Bride totally inconsolable, and to cap it all I couldn't set up anything until after "the match". When guests returned, the table decorations (which must have cost some) had England flags stuck in them. So we started late with the dancing, but the evening was screwed from the start. So I'm sorry for all you football fans out there, but its this sort of mentality that's the reason I hate football, sorry I mean I don't have anything against the sport, just the blind stupidity of a proportion of the fans. i.e. lets fupp up what is supposed to be the most important day of your life for a football match! Starts your marriage off well doesn't it?

If football was so important, then maybe they should have arranged their wedding on another day?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yove got my Vote on that one. Wusses play that sport :D

How do you know?

Have you got a footy team in Scotland? :confused: :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

Wedding dates are fixed long before fixtures were announced, surely? They were in the cases we had, anyway.

[Jiggles]

How do you know?

Have you got a footy team in Scotland? :confused: :D


Wat-a-ya trying to say there Daz :p :p Where was the Rugby sevens made SCOTLAND :p :p :p :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Wedding dates are fixed long before fixtures were announced, surely?

Yes, but the world cup is only every 4 years and only on for a month, so if you are into football I would say that one month out of 4 years was fairly easy to avoid.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Steve, just read the thread you linked to and all I can say is that you used the right adjective when you titled the topic 'Nightmare'. Blimey, that WAS a bad one.

I had a similar one about 2 years ago when I was working for someone else and you'll know exactly where I mean. It was the town hall in Reading above the 3B's bar. Yes, there was a lift but it was still quite a walk to it and then another fair old walk to the actual room where we were going to be set up. The staff weren't overly helpful, in fact it seemed to be just one old bloke on his own (who reminded me of Uncle Albert out of Only Fools and Horses!)...The lift was very small too and the parking was all double yellows outside. Luckily there were 2 of us so we took turns waiting by the van and parked it on the path right outside the exit doors.

You done any there Steve?

[sleah]

We had a couple of weddings last year that were clashing with England matches during the world cup. Instead of fighting it, the couples decided to embrace reality and incorporated the matches into the proceedings - even hiring in screens so that anyone who wanted to could watch the match. They knew beforehand that the 'party' wouldn't really start until after the match was over and so worked around it..... they actually worked pretty well because they weren't trying to get all the guests to do something else instead when they didn't want to.


What a sad sad sad country (world even) we live in. I'm convinced that there is a football gene or something, that works along the lines of schizophrenia. FFS it is only a *&^%ing game, and we've had video recording since the 70's. If they were my friends who couldn't come to MY wedding and ignore the football, I'd realise they weren't true friends and tell them to eff off as they are not invited.

It's something that really gets my goat, this football takes over life thing, I just feel like beating it out of them.

I have no problem with people folowing sport ar any other interest, but when it comes above EVERYTHING else, most of which is far more important or constructive then ARRRGGGHHHHH :bang: :bang: :bang:

Thank you for listening :D

[Corabar Steve]

How do you know?

Have you got a footy team in Scotland? :confused: :D

2 words & some numbers for ya, 1978 World Cup (& no, I don't give a toss if Wales qualified or not) :d

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Steve, just read the thread you linked to and all I can say is that you used the right adjective when you titled the topic 'Nightmare'. Blimey, that WAS a bad one.

I had a similar one about 2 years ago when I was working for someone else and you'll know exactly where I mean. It was the town hall in Reading above the 3B's bar. Yes, there was a lift but it was still quite a walk to it and then another fair old walk to the actual room where we were going to be set up. The staff weren't overly helpful, in fact it seemed to be just one old bloke on his own (who reminded me of Uncle Albert out of Only Fools and Horses!)...The lift was very small too and the parking was all double yellows outside. Luckily there were 2 of us so we took turns waiting by the van and parked it on the path right outside the exit doors.

You done any there Steve?

I have...

I didn't know there was a lift though, but there was loads of stairs, although nice wide ones.

I had a parking permit, so I could unload and had pre-arranged a parking space with the bride and groom.

I do remember packing away at around 11:30pm and being in the middle of lots of drunken louts out on the town and wishing I was at home in front of the TV with a beer.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Oh yes, how could I forget afterwards!? We were quite lucky actually. It was a mates wedding and the idea was that it started early (6pm) and finished early (10pm). We were away a lot quicker although it was quite tricky dodging the idiots out on the town. We were back, unloaded and on the beers by 11pm!

[theoloyla]

I have had the misfortune to do gigs in sports clubs where you cant get access until about ten minutes before the function is booked. Some stewards have crazy notions about how long it takes to set up a disco or how heavy it is.

[Falling Frog]

This i why the rugby club I regularly play only accept events on Friday nights as during the day on Friday there is nothing on!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

..yes, and that's a good idea. The stewards there obviously know their stuff but the one in the club where I am from is obviously obnoxious or worried about upsetting his regulars or he is a money grabber and the customer does'nt matter!

I've just had a real episode at one of the golf clubs in my town (I won't say which one) but they were not very helpful at all. I had arranged with them to set up at 3pm today for tonights Ice Hockey Team awards. I get there at spot on 3pm and the place has about 50 people in it already.
"Sorry mate" says the steward..."The Seniors have just finished, you'll have to wait for them to finish up"
"Fair enough" I say, "How long do you think that will be?" I ask
"Who knows?" he says

I wait around for about half an hour and then go to the bar to speak to the steward. As I do so, I am approached by a young guy who obviously works there too..."Excuse me mate" he says.."You can't come in here with Jeans and Trainers on"
"I'm waiting to set up for tonights function" I reply and he ignores me...Now I am getting agitated big time. I am getting dodgy looks from the 'seniors' probably because I am not a face that they recognise.

I'll try and cut this story short but after about another 30 minute wait, the steward asks them to move away from where I will need to set up and reluctantly they do so but only to some tables about 10ft away. I've managed to get the van round the back (after being told to stay off the grass...D'oh..I'm not silly mate!) and I start to bring in the gear up the slope and into where I need to set up.

As soon as one of the guys sees me bring in one of my JBL's on my trolley, he jumps out of his seat and approaches me straight away..."Oi young man" he says angrily..."Don't you be blasting out your (insert swear word) music just yet as we are trying to talk!"
I keep my cool and simply reply.."Excuse me, firstly would you mind not swearing at me and secondly, when I am finished setting up I will need to soundcheck and when I do that I will inform you that I am going to do it ok"

The guy grumbles and goes back to his table.
Finally, after a while, I am set up..I go over to the table and inform them all that I will be doing a quick soundcheck for 30 seconds maximum.
I really felt like putting something heavy and in yer face on but I didn't. I stuck on the first track of the first CD that I picked up which was 'Dreadlock Holiday' by 10CC.
After 30 seconds I stop it and then I get "Oi..keep it going we like this one" I ignore them all and power down everything.

The guy from before who swore at me gets back up and comes over..."Do you have Running Bear?" he asks
"Dunno mate" I reply..."Sorry but I am busy and can't hang around here all day, I have stuff to do" ( I knew that he would know I was having a dig at him).
"Well...you aint very (insert swear word here) good are you!!!" he says "I aint going to one of your (yes, another swear word here too) discos!"

"I don't specialise in OAP Discos" I replied and then left.

Golf clubs....especially this one are so clique, it's unbelievable. It's almost masonic. I know the score, I know about the dress code, I'm not stupid but I was setting up a disco for a private event. Right now I am pretty angry. It took me double the time to set up and now I have a couple of hours before I have to go back. No matter what the function is, I always dress smartly in trousers and a shirt and tie (which is something I hate but I try to be professional) but I almost feel like going in my jeans with all of my tattoos on show etc just to see if they let me in etc etc... Of course I won't do that but I feel like it. I just want to get it all done and dusted now which isn't the fault of the people that have booked me, it's the idiots at the venue that they have booked for their event.

[Have a disco]

Have done Golf, Footie & Rugby clubs in my time as a DJ / Disco owner. todate most I have attended were quiet reasonable, of course at those really busy times in the season, can be a nightmare like the FA cup, world cup etc etc are or can be a right pain in the rear. I have meet the most obnoxius stewards even members but in the end I usually win no matter how snobbish or forthrite they get. Around here most discos are the gods or they the clubs get no bookings for discos the club becomes a problem then they get no disco (basically they are sent to coventry) til they learn...

[Dragonfly]

from my experience rugby clubs are cool just drunk n rowdy but largely good humoured football clubs drunk rowdy and full of their own self importance and got hit at a golf club.... at not with lolol so dont like them lol.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Well, I've just got in and I can say that the night was great!! Not a golfer in sight just loads of very pretty women and drunk Ice hockey players (mainly Canadian).
Got there for 7.15pm to a packed venue having pre-meal drinks. They took their seats at 8pm and by the time the awards and then the raffle were done it was gone 10.30pm so I had an hour and a half of playing time. Packed dancefloor and song of the night was definitely 'Jump Around' by The House of Pain.
The steward who was there tonight was impressed and asked for a card...I think I'll send someone else there next time if possible. The best thing to come out of it though was an enquiry for a wedding in a months time who took all my details down and will confirm in the morning, plus the Supporters Club now want me to do all of their events when the season starts again in September.
So, even though it was a bit of a wind up day today, it all ended up good...now I'm off to bed!

[Silver]

..yes, and that's a good idea. The stewards there obviously know their stuff but the one in the club where I am from is obviously obnoxious or worried about upsetting his regulars or he is a money grabber and the customer does'nt matter!

I've just had a real episode at one of the golf clubs in my town (I won't say which one) but they were not very helpful at all. I had arranged with them to set up at 3pm today for tonights Ice Hockey Team awards. I get there at spot on 3pm and the place has about 50 people in it already.
"Sorry mate" says the steward..."The Seniors have just finished, you'll have to wait for them to finish up"
"Fair enough" I say, "How long do you think that will be?" I ask
"Who knows?" he says

I wait around for about half an hour and then go to the bar to speak to the steward. As I do so, I am approached by a young guy who obviously works there too..."Excuse me mate" he says.."You can't come in here with Jeans and Trainers on"
"I'm waiting to set up for tonights function" I reply and he ignores me...Now I am getting agitated big time. I am getting dodgy looks from the 'seniors' probably because I am not a face that they recognise.

I'll try and cut this story short but after about another 30 minute wait, the steward asks them to move away from where I will need to set up and reluctantly they do so but only to some tables about 10ft away. I've managed to get the van round the back (after being told to stay off the grass...D'oh..I'm not silly mate!) and I start to bring in the gear up the slope and into where I need to set up.

As soon as one of the guys sees me bring in one of my JBL's on my trolley, he jumps out of his seat and approaches me straight away..."Oi young man" he says angrily..."Don't you be blasting out your (insert swear word) music just yet as we are trying to talk!"
I keep my cool and simply reply.."Excuse me, firstly would you mind not swearing at me and secondly, when I am finished setting up I will need to soundcheck and when I do that I will inform you that I am going to do it ok"

The guy grumbles and goes back to his table.
Finally, after a while, I am set up..I go over to the table and inform them all that I will be doing a quick soundcheck for 30 seconds maximum.
I really felt like putting something heavy and in yer face on but I didn't. I stuck on the first track of the first CD that I picked up which was 'Dreadlock Holiday' by 10CC.
After 30 seconds I stop it and then I get "Oi..keep it going we like this one" I ignore them all and power down everything.

The guy from before who swore at me gets back up and comes over..."Do you have Running Bear?" he asks
"Dunno mate" I reply..."Sorry but I am busy and can't hang around here all day, I have stuff to do" ( I knew that he would know I was having a dig at him).
"Well...you aint very (insert swear word here) good are you!!!" he says "I aint going to one of your (yes, another swear word here too) discos!"

"I don't specialise in OAP Discos" I replied and then left.

Golf clubs....especially this one are so clique, it's unbelievable. It's almost masonic. I know the score, I know about the dress code, I'm not stupid but I was setting up a disco for a private event. Right now I am pretty angry. It took me double the time to set up and now I have a couple of hours before I have to go back. No matter what the function is, I always dress smartly in trousers and a shirt and tie (which is something I hate but I try to be professional) but I almost feel like going in my jeans with all of my tattoos on show etc just to see if they let me in etc etc... Of course I won't do that but I feel like it. I just want to get it all done and dusted now which isn't the fault of the people that have booked me, it's the idiots at the venue that they have booked for their event.

Oh great, you've really cheered me up now, I've a 60's night to do next Saturday at a local golf club. It's one of the 'poshest' ones around, you know £2000 a year green fees. HELP!!!! http://planetsmilies.net/sport-smiley-5543.gif http://planetsmilies.net/violent-smiley-1755.gif

[PropellerHeadCase]

As soon as one of the guys sees me bring in one of my JBL's on my trolley, he jumps out of his seat and approaches me straight away..."Oi young man" he says angrily..."Don't you be blasting out your (insert swear word) music just yet as we are trying to talk!"
I keep my cool and simply reply.."Excuse me, firstly would you mind not swearing at me and secondly, when I am finished setting up I will need to soundcheck and when I do that I will inform you that I am going to do it ok"

Yeah, I get that, or, being a long-haired individual, when I turn up to do DJ a wedding I get many looks askance - from the older folks particularly...

It's really funny watching them relax when the first track I play when I take over the background music is Nat 'King' Cole or Nina Simone.


Random tangent:

Duck's quacks do echo, it's an urban myth that they don't.