Ha Ha, A Call I had earlier this evening

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

The phone rang around 8.00pm. On answering it, before I had a chance to say 'hello', the voice on the other end said...
"Is that Shake the make high quality discos?"
"Er..it's actually Shakermaker Promotions but yes, how can I help you?" I asked.
"Do you do discos then?" said the voice

Not trying to be funny or anything as I didn't want to appear rude, I replied with "Well, yes, how can I help you?"
The reply was then "I would like to book a disco for my great aunty"
"Ok" I replied..."and what date would you be looking at?"
"She's 87" said the voice
"That's not a problem" I replied, "We can cater for everyone"

Within about 1 minute of answering the phone I realised that it was someone mucking about but I wasn't 100% sure so I went along with it as much as I could and started asking questions to try and catch them out.

"Can I take your name please?" I asked
"Why do you need my name?" said the voice, "the disco won't be for me"
"I'll need your name because I will need to know who I am sending the booking form to when it comes to booking the disco for you" I replied.
"Well my name is BILL !!" shouted the voice, and then it went quiet for a second...
"Er, hello..? Are you still there?" I asked...it was still quiet so I went to put the phone down but I heard the voice shouting just before I put it down.
"Mr Shakermaker, if you did my aunties disco, would you be able to bring pizza?" asked the voice

I chuckled to myself realising that my instincts were right so I asked the question...
"Excuse me Bill but are you serious?" I asked
"I am very serious" said the voice..."I'm a very serious person now would you be able to bring pizza?"
"Apologies Bill" I said, "but I am a DJ not a caterer so I would suggest that you arrange pizzas with a local company or bring them yourselves"
"Well that's not really good enough is it?" said the voice, "my aunty will be disappointed as she likes Pizza"
"Before we go any further Bill, could you tell me the date that you are after for the disco" I asked
"Could you hold on a second please?" said the voice, and it went muffled for about 10 seconds before he came back on and said "Er yes..it's October 8th"
"So that's a monday then" I replied..."are you sure that's the right date?"
"What's wrong with a monday then?" said the voice.."Don't you DJ's work on mondays?"

It was then that I decided to go all out and I replied with the following -
"Bill, if that is your name, you obviously have nothing better to do this evening so I am going to end this call now"
"I am totally serious" said the voice..."why are you ending this call?"
"I am ending the call because it is a prank call and I am unable to help you because I am booked on that date" I said
"What about the tuesday?" he replied
"Nope Booked"
"Wednesday?"
"Nope I am booked up every day and every night until 2010" I replied (I'm not!).."Now stop mucking around and do something better with your time ok"
"But I enjoy annoying people" he said..."and you're funny"
"Sorry I haven't got time for this" I replied, "Did you know that I can report you and get you prosecuted for making calls like this?" I asked

Then the phone went dead.

I checked 1471 straight away and low and behold the number was on the phone. I left it about 30 minutes and then rang it back.
A different voice answered and I expained the situation. This time it was a woman speaking.
"Hello, sorry to bother you but my name is Gary and I am calling from Shakermaker Promotions Disco Entertainment. I received a call from this number earlier this evening and the call was a prank call with someone mucking about. I don't mean to be funny but if I receive any more calls of this nature then I will report the number. I have made a note of it" I said.

The woman on the other end could not apologise enough and seemed very embarassed. She asked me to hold on and I could hear her shouting in the background. She then came back on and told me that her son was going to apologise to me. A sniffling voice that was barely audible came on and muttered that they were very sorry and it wouldn't happen again.

It makes you think though doesn't it. I can usually suss people out within seconds but on the end of a phone line you just don't know straight away and it's really hard not to be too rude as it could just be legit one day. I must admit that I don't really get many prank calls (I better not now after writing this guys!!) so I wasn't too sure how to deal with it but I hope I handled it properly. I am sure that when I first started out as a business and I was seen by other companies as the 'new kid on the scene' when my advertising went out, that I received some prank enquiries as people probably wanted to suss me out.

Has anyone had anything like this happen?
More importantly, has anyone had something like it happen and it has actually been legit but you've made a fool of yourself thinking that it was a prank call?

Interesting.

[rob1963]

Hiya Shakermaker,

Sounds like you're getting all the fun & games lately, what with hoodies in your van & now a prank call.

I can honestly say I've never had a prank call.

I've had some of those dodgy emails, though...the ones which start something like "Good day my friend. I hope your business is good. I am looking for a DJ for my daughter's birthday and should like to employ your services..."

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I haven't had that yet but yes, it does seem like I am having one of those 'wacky' periods at the moment. I try not to let it get to me.

[Larry B Entertainment]

Shakermaker, you certainly tell some indepth stories lol....

I have never had any such phone calls either but get the dodgy emails from time to time and if im in the mood i will go along with it then tell them what they can do with their emails.

[wensleydale]

"Nope I am booked up every day and every night until 2010" I replied (I'm not!).."

Thanks for pointing out that you aren't booked until 2010.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

I think that you handled the situation very well.You kind of thought that it was a prank call but went along with it untill your patience ran out.Maybe next time you will get the booking?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Key2]

what with hoodies in your van & now a prank call.

I can honestly say I've never had a prank call.


Ah ha! maybe it WAS the hoodies. Could have been taking a little revenge.

:eek:

[DMX Will]

Hiya Shakermaker,


That's Mr Shaker the Make to you :P

I've never had a dodgy phone call....and my number has been splashed around on all our Club Night Flyers and advertising....I also work at a secondry school...so all the kids at the Club Nights know who I am....and still don't prank the "I.T. geek" lol.

[rob1963]

I've never had a dodgy phone call....

Me neither...

...although I've MADE a fair few!

:D :D :D

[Dragonfly]

"hello .. operator ...... is Buzby there?" :rolleyes: :D :D

http://tv.cream.org/specialreport/bringthemback/images/buzbypic.gif

[Vectis]

Hey Shaker, got a few spare quid? (http://info.easypizza.com/franchise/index.html)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I may tell some 'indepth' stories...what's wrong with that? I thought this one was quiet interesting and worthy of a forum thread but I didn't expect to see some of the comments that I have done so far that are almost taking the waz.
Nevermind eh, I'll either cut them down in the future or not post at all and just read the forum threads like I have been doing.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I may tell some 'indepth' stories...what's wrong with that? I thought this one was quiet interesting and worthy of a forum thread but I didn't expect to see some of the comments that I have done so far that are almost taking the waz.
Nevermind eh, I'll either cut them down in the future or not post at all and just read the forum threads like I have been doing.

All posts are worthy of a forum thread, but just because someone makes a funny or unwanted comment, it doesn't mean you have to not post anymore.

This happens time and time again I'm afraid and will continue to happen 'cos of the very nature of forums.

No-one is having a pop at you Shaker, so don't worry and please continue to post and enjoy the forum.

I'm afraid, that sometimes you need to be a little bit more thick skinned on here. :)

[Vectis]

Hey Shaker, got a few spare quid? (http://info.easypizza.com/franchise/index.html)

No pop intended :o

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Apologies guys, a bit fragile this morning as it was a night out last night and it involved lots of lager and a few makers marks too.
Ignore me!
Cheers
G

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Group hug time.:thumbsup:

[CRAZY K]

Apologies guys, a bit fragile this morning as it was a night out last night and it involved lots of lager and a few makers marks too.
Ignore me!
Cheers
G

Keep em coming--I thought it was very funny!

What you can do---my trick--is to say hang on Ill pass you over to my brother who specialises in Pizzas --then put on a different voice and take the .... out the guy:D :D :D

CRAZY K

[djsteve10]

I haven't had a prank call to date, Just alot of those scam emails which i think most of you guys got

[Tom]

I may tell some 'indepth' stories...what's wrong with that? I thought this one was quiet interesting and worthy of a forum thread but I didn't expect to see some of the comments that I have done so far that are almost taking the waz.
Nevermind eh, I'll either cut them down in the future or not post at all and just read the forum threads like I have been doing.

please dont. i like them. gives me a chance to read somthing proper and not somthing thats a few lines long.


no offence to anyone. :attn:

[DJWoodie]

Not quiet the same, but I regularly (about once a month) get a call which, when I answer just says 'Congratulations(in an annoying American twang), you have won an all expnses trip to Florida............'

Ok, here we go again. Press 9 to hear more. So I always do press 9. Then a nice friendly chap answers with 'Good day sir, thanks for responding, who am I talking with?'

And I always answer with ' My name is Detective Inspector Jenkins from the Metropolitan Police. You have called New Scotland Yard police station ( no such place, New Scotland Yard is MP's headquaters).

Phone always goes dead.


Mmmmmmmm. Does that mean I didn't win?

1471 thgrows up a number like 01758 000 0000 which, if you ring back doesn't exist. How do they do that?

Edit... sorry guys. Just realised I was trawling the old threads. Duh. Didn't mean to rake up the past. LOL.:bang:

[rob1963]

Not quiet the same, but I regularly (about once a month) get a call which, when I answer just says 'Congratulations(in an annoying American twang), you have won an all expnses trip to Florida............'

Ok, here we go again. Press 9 to hear more. So I always do press 9. Then a nice friendly chap answers with 'Good day sir, thanks for responding, who am I talking with?'

And I always answer with ' My name is Detective Inspector Jenkins from the Metropolitan Police. You have called New Scotland Yard police station ( no such place, New Scotland Yard is MP's headquaters).

Phone always goes dead.

Mmmmmmmm. Does that eman I didn't win?

1481 thgrows up a number like 01758 000 0000 which, if you ring back doesn't exist. How do they do that?

Edit... sorry guys. Just realised I was trawling the old threads. Duh. Didn't mean to rake up the past. LOL.:bang:

Woody,

I thought you were going for the record for the oldest thread brought back to life!

As the thread was started one year and four months ago, I reckon you'd be the clear winner!

:D

[Pe7e]

I've not had one quite the same as yours, but I've had several from the 'opposition' checking me out. Regarding the other point, I have had a genuine call that I thought was a wind up at the time, (non DJ related) A few years ago I was called early morning by a researcher for C4's the 'Big Breakfast Show' I told her to stop f:Censored: me about, I don't have the time, and put the phone down :eek: A few moments later, the phone went again, same voice said I'm not f:Censored: you about, call C4 and ask for Ms xxxxxx on ext xxx, I did and it was absolutley genuine, resulting in an almost free 20 second national TV advert. Sometimes you do hit the jackpot.

[CRAZY K]

Hi all,

The phone rang around 8.00pm. On answering it, before I had a chance to say 'hello', the voice on the other end said...
"Is that Shake the make high quality discos?"
"Er..it's actually Shakermaker Promotions but yes, how can I help you?" I asked.
"Do you do discos then?" said the voice

Not trying to be funny or anything as I didn't want to appear rude, I replied with "Well, yes, how can I help you?"
The reply was then "I would like to book a disco for my great aunty"
"Ok" I replied..."and what date would you be looking at?"
"She's 87" said the voice
"That's not a problem" I replied, "We can cater for everyone"

Within about 1 minute of answering the phone I realised that it was someone mucking about but I wasn't 100% sure so I went along with it as much as I could and started asking questions to try and catch them out.

"Can I take your name please?" I asked
"Why do you need my name?" said the voice, "the disco won't be for me"
"I'll need your name because I will need to know who I am sending the booking form to when it comes to booking the disco for you" I replied.
"Well my name is BILL !!" shouted the voice, and then it went quiet for a second...
"Er, hello..? Are you still there?" I asked...it was still quiet so I went to put the phone down but I heard the voice shouting just before I put it down.
"Mr Shakermaker, if you did my aunties disco, would you be able to bring pizza?" asked the voice

I chuckled to myself realising that my instincts were right so I asked the question...
"Excuse me Bill but are you serious?" I asked
"I am very serious" said the voice..."I'm a very serious person now would you be able to bring pizza?"
"Apologies Bill" I said, "but I am a DJ not a caterer so I would suggest that you arrange pizzas with a local company or bring them yourselves"
"Well that's not really good enough is it?" said the voice, "my aunty will be disappointed as she likes Pizza"
"Before we go any further Bill, could you tell me the date that you are after for the disco" I asked
"Could you hold on a second please?" said the voice, and it went muffled for about 10 seconds before he came back on and said "Er yes..it's October 8th"
"So that's a monday then" I replied..."are you sure that's the right date?"
"What's wrong with a monday then?" said the voice.."Don't you DJ's work on mondays?"

It was then that I decided to go all out and I replied with the following -
"Bill, if that is your name, you obviously have nothing better to do this evening so I am going to end this call now"
"I am totally serious" said the voice..."why are you ending this call?"
"I am ending the call because it is a prank call and I am unable to help you because I am booked on that date" I said
"What about the tuesday?" he replied
"Nope Booked"
"Wednesday?"
"Nope I am booked up every day and every night until 2010" I replied (I'm not!).."Now stop mucking around and do something better with your time ok"
"But I enjoy annoying people" he said..."and you're funny"
"Sorry I haven't got time for this" I replied, "Did you know that I can report you and get you prosecuted for making calls like this?" I asked

Then the phone went dead.

I checked 1471 straight away and low and behold the number was on the phone. I left it about 30 minutes and then rang it back.
A different voice answered and I expained the situation. This time it was a woman speaking.
"Hello, sorry to bother you but my name is Gary and I am calling from Shakermaker Promotions Disco Entertainment. I received a call from this number earlier this evening and the call was a prank call with someone mucking about. I don't mean to be funny but if I receive any more calls of this nature then I will report the number. I have made a note of it" I said.

The woman on the other end could not apologise enough and seemed very embarassed. She asked me to hold on and I could hear her shouting in the background. She then came back on and told me that her son was going to apologise to me. A sniffling voice that was barely audible came on and muttered that they were very sorry and it wouldn't happen again.

It makes you think though doesn't it. I can usually suss people out within seconds but on the end of a phone line you just don't know straight away and it's really hard not to be too rude as it could just be legit one day. I must admit that I don't really get many prank calls (I better not now after writing this guys!!) so I wasn't too sure how to deal with it but I hope I handled it properly. I am sure that when I first started out as a business and I was seen by other companies as the 'new kid on the scene' when my advertising went out, that I received some prank enquiries as people probably wanted to suss me out.

Has anyone had anything like this happen?
More importantly, has anyone had something like it happen and it has actually been legit but you've made a fool of yourself thinking that it was a prank call?

Interesting.

Your very laid back Gary--after REALISING its a wind up I would probably use the old classics--

1 Place the phone very close to music that might be playing on the radio or TV then turn it up to max volume :D :D :D

or

2. Say --theres a fault on the line--can you hear it? then put the phone down--if it rings again immediately leave for the answerphone then delete message.

I did get bounced a few years ago--some **** rang me and said could I ring
xxxxxxxx in the same office as this person wanted a Barn Dance Caller for their Wedding

==they didnt:mad:

CRAZY K

[SC Events]

I have had a couple of prank calls.

One of them was 50/50 wether it was a prank or genuine. They gave me they're name and address with a date and venue. - They also gave me a telephone number

So I rang the venue and they said no booking had been take for the day they wanted.

I rang the number back and surprise surprise it was one of my cousin's mates! - What a :Censored:

Scott.

[gaza]

Not quiet the same, but I regularly (about once a month) get a call which, when I answer just says 'Congratulations(in an annoying American twang), you have won an all expnses trip to Florida............'

Ok, here we go again. Press 9 to hear more. So I always do press 9. Then a nice friendly chap answers with 'Good day sir, thanks for responding, who am I talking with?'

And I always answer with ' My name is Detective Inspector Jenkins from the Metropolitan Police. You have called New Scotland Yard police station ( no such place, New Scotland Yard is MP's headquaters).

Phone always goes dead.


Mmmmmmmm. Does that mean I didn't win?

1471 thgrows up a number like 01758 000 0000 which, if you ring back doesn't exist. How do they do that?

Edit... sorry guys. Just realised I was trawling the old threads. Duh. Didn't mean to rake up the past. LOL.:bang:


New scotland yard does have police in there, i have installed a few copiers in there.

The polititions are in the building on milbank ( been there ) oposite houses of paliment ( put copiers in there to ).

[DJWoodie]

You may be right gazza. I assumed that NSY was just the headquarters.

[DazzyD]

Good to see that you didn't stop the good tales though, Gary! :)

[nigelwright7557]

But I always provide pizza for my clients !

[Larry B Entertainment]

I've not had one quite the same as yours, but I've had several from the 'opposition' checking me out. Regarding the other point, I have had a genuine call that I thought was a wind up at the time, (non DJ related) A few years ago I was called early morning by a researcher for C4's the 'Big Breakfast Show' I told her to stop f:Censored: me about, I don't have the time, and put the phone down :eek: A few moments later, the phone went again, same voice said I'm not f:Censored: you about, call C4 and ask for Ms xxxxxx on ext xxx, I did and it was absolutley genuine, resulting in an almost free 20 second national TV advert. Sometimes you do hit the jackpot.


Reading this reminded me of a phone call i recieved myself.......
I had a call a few months ago from the producer of 'Wife Swap' asking if i would be interested in taking part in the new series. Could have been a wind up but i wouldnt have been interested anyway because of the little detail that im not married ;)

But then again they must do calls like this to get the contestants so could well have been genuine.

[DazzyD]

Reading this reminded me of a phone call i recieved myself.......
I had a call a few months ago from the producer of 'Wife Swap' asking if i would be interested in taking part in the new series. Could have been a wind up but i wouldnt have been interested anyway because of the little detail that im not married ;)

But then again they must do calls like this to get the contestants so could well have been genuine.

Unless you're famous and your agent gets a call then I'm pretty sure that you have to apply to be on these tv shows.

I can't imagine them just ringing people up out of the blue asking if they fancy being on the show!!!

[Corabar Steve]

Unless you're famous and your agent gets a call then I'm pretty sure that you have to apply to be on these tv shows.

I can't imagine them just ringing people up out of the blue asking if they fancy being on the show!!!

Actually some of them do just that, especially in the case of a new show that nobody's heard of.

[DazzyD]

Actually some of them do just that, especially in the case of a new show that nobody's heard of.

With new shows maybe but Rocket said that he had this call "a few months ago" and Wife Swap has been around for years (I remember my dad and mam watching it when I lived at home years ago). For this show you definitely have to apply. See:

http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/W/wifeswap/apply.html