I'm appalled...

[PropellerHeadCase]

From Hitched:


Hey upcoming brides to be!

I finally married my sweetheart in August :) best day of my life.
We just had ONE big hitch the whole day that sadly still saddens me.

Our DJ was TERRIBLE. Our DJ we booked couldn't make it and without us knowing sent someone else. He was awful - didn't have a clue what we wanted, showed up late to set up so we had little time to talk to him. All those tiny details we'd arranged with the inital DJ we certainly had no time go over again so special songs we'd planned didn't get played.. He pretty much played horrible tacky music the entire night (including songs that we'd put on a short "please please don't play" list) and when asked why said he didn't care.

Thankfully we had a wedding party who did get up and dance for the most part, not as much as we hoped. We also had karaoke as a special suprise, when my husband asked to sing, he was told to wait an hour and a half!!!
Awful!

We complained and the initial DJ was nice however he sent out e-mail to the replacement and we were subjected to some nasty e-mails telling us pretty much we knew nothing and didn't buy him a drink.

I'd love to splash that nasty mans name and company name all over the internet, maybe it'd be therapy and I could get over the bitterness about it. But i have the most wonderful husband now, and no matter what I'm trying not to let a nasty rude man wreck the wonderful memories from that day.

I just want to advise all the brides to be, that you know what, we let him walk all over us, and we shouldn't. It IS you day, YOU are paying them, don't let DJ's ruin it ( or anyone who you're booking for your day)
If you are sick of Gary Glitter I hope you have the guts to tell that DJ STOP PLAYING IT!!!! ;)

I wish we had. And when you are sending those e-mails to your DJ's requesting they don't play silly songs you hate, just remember its for a reason or you'll end up with what we got!!!"


What I think is worst is that she doesn't seem to hold the original DJ in anyway responsible.

Thoughts?

[TonyB]

I used to think that incidents like this were few and far between but I have heard more and more stories lately of DJ's letting people down, not turning up, turning up late, being scruffily dressed, being rude, not playing music they were asked to and ruining functions.

It seems an up hill battle to try and improve the image of the DJ when there are DJ's around that behave like this.

They are not all "beer money" boys either. Some do everything by the book, have PAT, PLI, send confirmation in writing then let their clients down on the day.

[Ricesnaps]

From Hitched:




What I think is worst is that she doesn't seem to hold the original DJ in anyway responsible.

Thoughts?

So how did you reply?

[Dillmiester]

Wow, she must be *EXPLETIVE REMOVED* off to bother posting that on a forum. Or hasnt got anything better to do and likes a good moan. Not sure which...
Why did the first DJ sub contract, maybe he was ill. At least she got a disco which by the sounds of it wasnt so bad as people were dancing.
There are some shocking DJ's around and some Nightmare brides.

[spin mobile disco]

Well not in any way defending but surely a substitutuion is better than no DJ at all. Mind you not telling them of the substitution is a faux par.
Unless its a crisis being late is very rude. I always turn up nearly an hour before I need to set up normally. And in the past this has meant:
1. I am always on hand when needed.
2. If I do get caught in traffic / breakdown etc I have a bit of leway to get it sorted.
3. Have time to work out where im going, how to do it and chat with staff about anything I should need to know (fire doors , best access, power points, sound limiter etc)

Many a time at a wedding I have been forced to play a full set playlist with no one dancing. But as its the bride and groom who pay me and its their list I play it. I will sometimes try to talk them out of some of it to let me work the crowd but always add ' if you don't like it just tell me and ill rervert back'

She doesnt say where she is from is this a UK DJ or from New Zealand?
At least I know it isnt me lol I dont do Karaoke..

I must admit I cover short notice for a lot of DJ's from the forums and locally. And it can be a problem when you turn up and they say things like 'you have our playlist yeah' and you have to reply ' no sorry did you send one' Normally I just give them a copy of my song index and ask them to have a flip through or give me an idea of their tastes if I didnt get it.

[Steve 'B']

To be honest, I think what was done to the lady and her husband was no way fair. Personally, I would have not paid any money and sorted it direct with the person who took the booking. I am sure he knew the the DJ he was sending would do a pants job. In part I would also blame the bookers (bride and groom). I bet any money they went for the cheap option. As I have always said, you get what you pay for in this world. I always get the DJ doing the job to speak direct with the customer a week before the gig. That way they can have a good chin wag and things llike this would not happen.

[Ricesnaps]

This is an interesting one for me.

As some of you know I am moving towards a multi DJ operation over the next year and already have a couple of gigs booked where someone else is working for me. However, i think it's really key here to be clear from the start that the client is booking a company and not an individual. This may not be what happened here, but the worry I have with what I am planning to do is that whoever I send to work on my behalf carries my reputation with them.

So far I have only used someone I know well and trust to do as good a job as I do. I think in this case it is certainly the booked DJ's fault (and not the guy who did it). It's such a shame that the bride seems to take everything out on the DJ who actually turned up.

As the DJ who couldn't make it, I'm guessing I would be furious that the guy I sent made me look really bad, but equally it does sound as if the DJ that was sent wasn't suitable and or very unprepared for the event.

[discomobiledj]

I get the impression that the bride didn't blame the original dj that she booked. Why not? Was he not the one at fault?

If that had happened to me, and I am arranging my own wedding, I think I would be pretty peeved off if the dj didn't turn up that I had booked and sent someone else who I had never spoken to before, and knew nothing about the songs that had to be played etc.

I think she should name and shame both dj's, why rant like that and then not mention names?

[CRAZY K]

To be honest, I think what was done to the lady and her husband was no way fair. Personally, I would have not paid any money and sorted it direct with the person who took the booking. I am sure he knew the the DJ he was sending would do a pants job. In part I would also blame the bookers (bride and groom). I bet any money they went for the cheap option. As I have always said, you get what you pay for in this world. I always get the DJ doing the job to speak direct with the customer a week before the gig. That way they can have a good chin wag and things llike this would not happen.

You beat me to it Steve.

People are obsessed with price--

Well not everyone---

I dont do many Weddings but I always---

Insist on a playlist or as per this Saturday get a short one---then e mail a playlist from the last Wedding or so and say these tracks went down well--are there any you dont like?

Speak on the phone a week or two beforehand to give the customer confidence that they are being thought about.

Arrive about 2 hours beforehand--as per Spins points TO RELAX THEM SO THEY DONT THINK ----GAWD WHERES THE DJ ????

Ask the B and G to constantly interact with me ( if necessary ) during the evening especially if certain requests off their list are wanted--this works well I find.

Have the playlist ready to show guests who roll up and ask for requests--this is what the B and G want---would you like one of these?

Taking a professional approach and giving customer service is the key--I have had no problems with customers working this way--personally--others work differently.

Certainly I think the customers need to be a bit more careful to start with rather than accepting the first cheap quote--I actively encourage recommendations and even live viewings--although a lot of people often butt out of appointments:D

Im amazed Matt ( Spin ) people not dancing to selected tracks--unless the music is wrong for the guests--its not unknown to have miserable guests who dont want to join in with anything of course!

Although we dont offer the personal interview/ meeting we do offer plenty of customer care.

The sort of Disco that passes on work without a playlist that has been prepared taking probably hours of the clients time are COWBOYS--I make no aplologies for that comment--no excuses are acceptable- unless dead of course:eek:

Yee-ha!

CRAZY K

[discomobiledj]

I do think this is the problem when you get disco's with pre defined playlists being asked for, I had one where someone came upto me and asked for Shakira - Hips Don't Lie, I had to tell them that I was to follow a strict playlist that was given to me by the groom and they would have to ask him if they could have it played.

[CRAZY K]

This is an interesting one for me.

As some of you know I am moving towards a multi DJ operation over the next year and already have a couple of gigs booked where someone else is working for me. However, i think it's really key here to be clear from the start that the client is booking a company and not an individual. This may not be what happened here, but the worry I have with what I am planning to do is that whoever I send to work on my behalf carries my reputation with them.

So far I have only used someone I know well and trust to do as good a job as I do. I think in this case it is certainly the booked DJ's fault (and not the guy who did it). It's such a shame that the bride seems to take everything out on the DJ who actually turned up.

As the DJ who couldn't make it, I'm guessing I would be furious that the guy I sent made me look really bad, but equally it does sound as if the DJ that was sent wasn't suitable and or very unprepared for the event.

Hang on Matt---wouldnt you take it out on the bloke that ruined your Wedding Reception?

If he has no skill at DJing for Weddings---he should not be there at all!!!!

He shouldnt be a DJ at all--yes I know anyone can be a DJ:eek:

Never mind who sent him--doesnt matter much--its too late--although I would have a pop at them i agree--

If a plumber screwed up in your home---you wouldnt accept the excuse--well I dont know anything about water systems---ok so why do you call yourself a plumber then???

As regards your own situation, long as the clients playlist is sorted and you are happy with the DJ then all will be fine--its choosing someone with the skill needed that counts.


CRAZY K

[rob1963]

I had one where someone came upto me and asked for Shakira - Hips Don't Lie, I had to tell them that I was to follow a strict playlist that was given to me by the groom and they would have to ask him if they could have it played.

That's one of the reasons I don't accept playlists (by playlists i mean rigid lists of ALL the songs to be played AND the exact order to play them in).

When people come up with requests, you either have to flatly refuse - due to having a playlist, or ask them to check with the groom if it's ok to play...

...and I'm sure the last thing a groom needs on his wedding day is a load of guests going up & asking him if the DJ can play this song or that song!

[PropellerHeadCase]

So how did you reply?

As a DJ I find that whole state of affairs appalling.

Not just the replacement, either, I think the original DJ left you well and truly high and dry by being less than thorough with his vetting of his choice of replacement and failing to brief the replacement appropriately - and it sounds suspiciously like he got a better-paying gig elsewhere.

I always have an emailable short-list of all the songs for all of my clients' functions, wedding or otherwise, and that's both the do- and don't-play lists. So in the absolute worst case (car accident en route) my wife could get the necessary info to a replacement before heading to wherever I am. I also tend to have a CD with the 20 most important songs of the night as a back up to my normal archive, so if the replacement DJ has time to stop by and pick up a duplicate of that they will have the first dance and main requests, guaranteed.

Many DJs that I know have these or similar back-up processes in place and a thorough network of reliable replacements should the worst happen. To be fair, a near-fatal car accident would be an acceptable excuse for not maybe doing all things possible to find a good replacement at short notice, but anything short of that can be worked around, one way or another.

[discomobiledj]

...and I'm sure the last thing a groom needs on his wedding day is a load of guests going up & asking him if the DJ can play this song or that song!

He had already got married in Thailand....the "reception" was so the family could meet her, if you know what I mean!

[rob1963]

It's not easy to comment on this situation without knowing the full facts.

It might be that the original DJ who they booked was ill or had a serious family crisis at the last minute making it impossible for him to do the gig.

Maybe the other DJs he knew were not available, and so he started ringing around discos from the local paper or yellow pages until he found one that could cover the gig.

At least he DID get someone else to cover the gig, rather than just not turning up and making no effort to sort out an alternative DJ.

The bride states that the DJ turned up late...it's possible that's because he was doing the gig with only a couple of hours notice.

She also said that people were dancing, so he couldn't have been THAT bad.

[Ricesnaps]

Hang on Matt---wouldnt you take it out on the bloke that ruined your Wedding Reception?

If he has no skill at DJing for Weddings---he should not be there at all!!!!

He shouldnt be a DJ at all--yes I know anyone can be a DJ:eek:

Never mind who sent him--doesnt matter much--its too late--although I would have a pop at them i agree--

If a plumber screwed up in your home---you wouldnt accept the excuse--well I dont know anything about water systems---ok so why do you call yourself a plumber then???

As regards your own situation, long as the clients playlist is sorted and you are happy with the DJ then all will be fine--its choosing someone with the skill needed that counts.


CRAZY K

Sorry Alan,

Completely wrong. The agreement (without us knowing anything else) the bride and groom had was with the original DJ they booked. They certainly didn'y book the guy they had, he was supplied last minute by the person they had the contract with.

If I booked a plumber and his mate came over and flooded my house, I would be taking the plumber I called to court in the first instance as my arrangement was with him.

It is completely unfair on the poor DJ who did do this wedding. It actually doesn't matter how good or bad he is, in any other situation, you would probably have turned the "supplier" away unless you were confident they were any good - a gas man turns up who's not Corgi and it's on your bike. At a wedding it's a little more difficult isn't it?

[CRAZY K]

Sorry Alan,

Completely wrong. The agreement (without us knowing anything else) the bride and groom had was with the original DJ they booked. They certainly didn'y book the guy they had, he was supplied last minute by the person they had the contract with.

If I booked a plumber and his mate came over and flooded my house, I would be taking the plumber I called to court in the first instance as my arrangement was with him.

It is completely unfair on the poor DJ who did do this wedding. It actually doesn't matter how good or bad he is, in any other situation, you would probably have turned the "supplier" away unless you were confident they were any good - a gas man turns up who's not Corgi and it's on your bike. At a wedding it's a little more difficult isn't it?

I just think people who offer themselves in any paid capacity as being DJ, Plumber, Builder or whatever should be competent to do the job---irrespective of whether they are direct, subcontract or whatever.

I know we dont know the truth here--but as a general rule whilst you are correct in saying the original DJ should carry the responsibility--the man on the job should still be competent and if not then I blame him just as much for wasting peoples time and in this case ruining someones Wedding---we are told?

Rob, playlists--learn to work with them if you have to--rigid lists I agree are not much fun ALTHOUGH the last one I worked with was an OUTSTANDING SUCCESS.

Another night two weeks ago had a playlist with some tracks ive never played including ( according to my Disco Music adviser Rice) some Funky House.

I started off with some Party for the parents, then cheese and mainstream from the list --I never got onto the tracks I wasnt too sure about---with requests for Wacko jacko as well they enjoyed it so much the evening was over quite quickly, full floor almost the whole night for Disco.

CHEESE CHEESE CHEESE

Must away, playlist for Saturday to check out:D

CRAZY K

[Sam]

it's sad when someone thinks back over their wedding day and just thinks about how bad the disco was..

I'm not defending it but I would expect that there is a high chance she is blowing it our of proportion... you know.. the old chestnut where if your eped off with something.. you pick up on all the points and make it sound totally s***.

Just things like turning up late: How late? Maybe he was told to be there then? Maybe the B&G thought they ahd said one time but ahd actually said the other.... it happens!

[Vectis]

...and I'm sure the last thing a groom needs on his wedding day is a load of guests going up & asking him if the DJ can play this song or that song!

... which is why at my client meeting I always ask them to nominate a 'significant other' so that we don't bother them with pettiness on the night. Usually ends up being a best man or bridesmaid.

[Corabar Entertainment]

In our early days we used to do some work for one particular 'agent' (I know there are a couple of you on here who also know this particular 'gentleman' and so know what I'm talking about).

He never declared himself to be an agent and told everyone that he was going to do their gig. If they were lucky, they got a phone call from him the night before to say that he couldn't now be their DJ as something else had come up. However, more often than not, he wouldn't bother telling them anything at all and it was a surprise to them when someone else turned up and this immediately set the client against the poor DJ who was there to do the job.... not knowing what had gone on previously.

In addition, the jobs weren't passed on until the last minute (usually the night before) and the information passed was scant to say the least.... or sometimes just plain WRONG (He even gave us the wrong names for the Bride & Groom once!!!!).

It's a sad case, but some people operate in this way on a regular basis.

In this particular instance, we don't know why the original DJ didn't turn up. True, he at least found someone else who could attend - but he obviously didn't pass on the B&G's likes, dislikes, requests, etc. He may have been useless, or it may just be that he wasn't tailoring the show to the B&G's previously stated wishes..... one man's meat is another man's poison as they say!

[Have a disco]

now where have I met this story before LOL. I have covered many bookings for many a client with the same ole jabber and ended up stuck without B & G special song thankfully these days they are few and far thanks to most B & G's bringing there own special tunes on a disc just incase???

[Vectis]

most B & G's bringing there own special tunes on a disc just incase???

I have to say I'm not surprised in £50 disco land.

I've NEVER had a punter bring their 'special tunes just in case'. Sure, the odd guest bringing me something he/she thinks I might not have 'because it's rare' or 'it's a special mix'.

[rob1963]

I've NEVER had a punter bring their 'special tunes just in case'. Sure, the odd guest bringing me something he/she thinks I might not have 'because it's rare' or 'it's a special mix'.

I completely agree.

[BrightLights]

I have to say I'm not surprised in £50 disco land.

I've NEVER had a punter bring their 'special tunes just in case'. Sure, the odd guest bringing me something he/she thinks I might not have 'because it's rare' or 'it's a special mix'.

I'm always wary of people giving me CDs on the night - drunk people have a habit of losing things, and the last thing they'd remember doing would be giving it to me...

[PropellerHeadCase]

...and the last thing they'd remember doing would be giving it to me...

Ooo err - you're a knock out, then?