What would you do??

[Steve 'B']

I went for a meeting with a top hotel in my area and explained a little bit about what I do. On leaving I got a call from the manager saying 'we have a staff gig on Sunday 12th August and would like you to show us what you can do'. Obviously i wanted to impress the manager, so I went on to say 'oh of course, I know I can sort this no problem. Consider it booked (as it was a Sunday)'. Now got home later that day to find I have a full duel plasma show out on that date and they have specifically requested that I do this gig as they have seen me before.

Now before you lot say its my fault. I just want you to know that I am fully aware of this. I am looking for a get out of jail free card!! The staff party is only for 40 people only none of my DJ's want the responsability on there heads. I cant be in 2 places at once. Please advise ASAP!!:confused: :confused:

[Corabar Steve]

Up the creek springs to mind.

Sorry I can't be of any help, but I can't see a way out of this for you.

[BeerFunk]

Ooooh man, that is unfortunate... :(

If I was anywhere near you, I'd have helped you out, maybe someone else on here can help?

[rob1963]

I went for a meeting with a top hotel in my area and explained a little bit about what I do. On leaving I got a call from the manager saying 'we have a staff gig on Sunday 12th August and would like you to show us what you can do'. Obviously i wanted to impress the manager, so I went on to say 'oh of course, I know I can sort this no problem. Consider it booked (as it was a Sunday)'. Now got home later that day to find I have a full duel plasma show out on that date and they have specifically requested that I do this gig as they have seen me before.

Now before you lot say its my fault. I just want you to know that I am fully aware of this. I am looking for a get out of jail free card!! The staff party is only for 40 people only none of my DJ's want the responsability on there heads. I cant be in 2 places at once. Please advise ASAP!!:confused: :confused:

Steve,

Looking at this logically, you have to do the plasma show that was booked first, so you have two options.

Either you try & talk one of your guys into doing the gig, maybe with an added (financial) incentive...

...or you phone back the hotel to tell them that regretfully you won't be able to do their gig, as you've already got a booking which you'd forgotton about. Maybe you could also offer them something else to make up for it.

Personally, I'd rather go with the first option.

:)

[PropellerHeadCase]

Darned if you do, darned if you do the other, too.

A PDA with calendar, for future reference.

[BeerFunk]

Phoning the hotel, although probably the right thing to do, is surely going to end your chances with them!

[Corabar Steve]

2 bookings on a Sunday is pretty good though. Where's the hotel?

[flatliners]

get a good dj for the plasma show and ring them up the day before and say you have come down with a bug and you have sent a replacment dj and say to them you will knock some money of the bill for you not being there

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Do the Hotel gig.

It could lead to a lot more work.

Mercenary, I know, but that's what I'd do.

[rob1963]

Do the Hotel gig.

It could lead to a lot more work.

Mercenary, I know, but that's what I'd do.

Darren,

I think Steve should do the gig he's already committed to...

...then maybe the hotel will look online for other local discos...& ring ME!

:D

[Corabar Steve]

Darren,

I think Steve should do the gig he's already committed to...

...then maybe the hotel will look online for other local discos...& ring ME!

:D
Why don't you offer to do the gig for Steve?

[rob1963]

Why don't you offer to do the gig for Steve?

I was actually joking, Steve...I already work on Sunday nights.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Do the Hotel gig.

It could lead to a lot more work.

Mercenary, I know, but that's what I'd do.

How is that any different from taking a better paying gig? You know, the behaviour we all look down our noses at cowboys for?


I reckon fess up to the hotel, and offer one of your other DJs, maybe at a slightly reduced rate. If the Hotel is sensible they will see this as an opportunity to see what your second-string DJ is like.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

How is that any different from taking a better paying gig? You know, the behaviour we all look down our noses at cowboys for?




It's a lot different and a great business opportunity, and also a completely different situation from what you are talking about.

[BeerFunk]

How is that any different from taking a better paying gig? You know, the behaviour we all look down our noses at cowboys for?
It's not quite the same, there will be a DJ at both venues, no-one is being let down. The thing is, none of us know what his other DJs are like, so Steve is the only one who can call this one.

I reckon fess up to the hotel, and offer one of your other DJs, maybe at a slightly reduced rate. If the Hotel is sensible they will see this as an opportunity to see what your second-string DJ is like.
This is almost certainly the only real solution, but he has mentioned the other DJs aren't overly keen on the idea.

[Corabar Steve]

I reckon fess up to the hotel, and offer one of your other DJs, maybe at a slightly reduced rate. If the Hotel is sensible they will see this as an opportunity to see what your second-string DJ is like.


This is almost certainly the only real solution, but he has mentioned the other DJs aren't overly keen on the idea.

Indeed

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

No real businessmen here then.

Just people who want to be seen to do the right thing.

[Corabar Steve]

Just re-read this one
I reckon fess up to the hotel, and offer one of your other DJs, maybe at a slightly reduced rate. If the Hotel is sensible they will see this as an opportunity to see what your second-string DJ is like.
I don't think there should be a reduction in rate, simply point out that all the DJs you supply are of equal quality & what you get from one, you will get from the others.

I would say keep your integrity & do the job that was booked first.

[PropellerHeadCase]

No real businessmen here then.


That depends on whether you consider business and ethical behaviour to be mutually exclusive concepts.

[Dragonfly]

firstly I genuinely applaud Darren yet again for writing honest posts on this thread , with business head on and not I need to be a nice man head (the reason I will never be wealthy sadly)

secondly if you are a multi dj outfit then surely there will be times for the hotel that you personally cannot do a gig , and they are interested in your company as a supplier as much as anything , I am also sure that you have hand picked djs with similar expertise to yourself or at least similar work ethics so they will do a similar job to you.

I would do the original gig and maybe say to whoever takes on the hotel "theres x amount bonus in it if we get any repeat work from it or if its a good payer , you will be my first choice dj for that venue if I cannot do it sort of thing"

[PropellerHeadCase]

Yep, that works.

[theoloyla]

That depends on whether you consider business and ethical behaviour to be mutually exclusive concepts.
Well said Alan! Honesty is the only policy as well as being the best. If I make a mistake (and rest assured that I have made many over the years) I try to admit it as soon as possible, apologise and put it right. It may not make me rich but I sleep at night and like to think I have my integrity. Do what you promised to do first, apologise to the hotel for your oversight and try to get one of your other dj's to cover it. If they arent keen on doing an important gig for you on a Sunday night they cant be much in the way of team players can they?

[rob1963]

Do the Hotel gig.

It could lead to a lot more work.

Mercenary, I know, but that's what I'd do.

Wow Darren,

That's one of the most surprising things I've seen you write on this forum. I honestly expected you to give similar advice to me. You live & learn.



No real businessmen here then.

Just people who want to be seen to do the right thing.

Surely real businessmen don't just think about money, but customer service as well. Your answer suggests that it's more important to take the hotel gig because you might get more work from it, in other words more money. I've seen previous threads where people have said that when it becomes more about the money than anything else, it's time to pack it in.

On the subject of doing the right thing, if you DID take the hotel gig, would you be honest with the client who you'd previously promised to work for...by phoning them & saying that you could no longer do their function, as you'd been offered a gig on the same night by a hotel - which could lead to lots more bookings & lots more money for you?

Is the chance of getting more work REALLY that much more important than customer service to existing clients?

Not for me.

[rob1963]

Honesty is the only policy as well as being the best. If I make a mistake (and rest assured that I have made many over the years) I try to admit it as soon as possible, apologise and put it right. It may not make me rich but I sleep at night and like to think I have my integrity. Do what you promised to do first, apologise to the hotel for your oversight and try to get one of your other dj's to cover it. If they arent keen on doing an important gig for you on a Sunday night they cant be much in the way of team players can they?

Theo...I couldn't agree more.

:)

[CRAZY K]

Well said Alan! Honesty is the only policy as well as being the best. If I make a mistake (and rest assured that I have made many over the years) I try to admit it as soon as possible, apologise and put it right. It may not make me rich but I sleep at night and like to think I have my integrity. Do what you promised to do first, apologise to the hotel for your oversight and try to get one of your other dj's to cover it. If they arent keen on doing an important gig for you on a Sunday night they cant be much in the way of team players can they?

I go with Theo, why wont your DJs cover this?

Whats the problem--thats what you employ them to do.

Or is there a money problem here i.e. FREE BOOKING NO MONEY

If thats the case fair enough I would turn it down.

Its usually the MONEY in my experience that causes all the problems in this wonderful life :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[PropellerHeadCase]

Is the chance of getting more work REALLY that much more important than customer service to existing clients?

And it's a fact that keeping clients is cheaper and more lucrative than getting new clients.

[rob1963]

And it's a fact that keeping clients is cheaper and more lucrative than getting new clients.

Yes Al,

I remember being told that countless times when I had my daytime job.

My customer satisfaction rate of 99.75% is something I'm extremely proud of.

There's no way I'd let down an existing client for the chance to get some extra bookings from some hotel I have no history with...

...and I'm speaking as someone who DOESN'T have a day job!

[BeerFunk]

I would agree with Darren if not for one point... the original bookers had specified that only Steve do the gig, it was one of the conditions of the booking. I really don't think Steve can be anywhere else, so the hotel job should be entrusted with another DJ (after confirming with the hotel that this is OK)

[rob1963]

I would agree with Darren if not for one point... the original bookers had specified that only Steve do the gig, it was one of the conditions of the booking. I really don't think Steve can be anywhere else, so the hotel job should be entrusted with another DJ (after confirming with the hotel that this is OK)

:agree:

[spin mobile disco]

I would say out source it to another Dj who you know and trust. If you are running an agancy with several DJ's they will never know that he wasnt one of yours .And if they say they must have him again then outsource it again or say he's busy and put in a regular Dj.
That leaves you open for the other booking as normal.

[Excalibur]

It's a lot different and a great business opportunity, and also a completely different situation from what you are talking about.

Personally I think it's exactly the same as taking a better paid gig. I would send in one of your other DJ's to show the quality of your company. We actually picked up a big residency years ago by me ( at that time not the main man) going in and doing some work. Best of luck.

[ian8limelight]

I can see both the logic of doing your original job, and for doing the Hotel booking.

Call me sceptical, but is the staff party going to be the same kind of function that the Hotel wants you to perform at 'for real' ? What would the Hotel be doing for their Staff Party enertainment if you hadn't had the meeting with their manager ?

It might impress the Manager, you may get future work but what happened to the previous Hotel DJ ?

[Corabar Steve]

Call me sceptical, but is the staff party going to be the same kind of function that the Hotel wants you to perform at 'for real' ?

Indeed, The Bobsleigh staff Christmas party was nothing like either of us have done there for a client.

[Shaun]

If it were me, I'd call the hotel and apologise profusely for my mistake. I'd honour my original booking, but ask if there was a possibility of re-scheduling or performing at a future staff party.