What percentage of your gigs involve an early set up?

[rob1963]

So...following on from a recent thread, what percentage of your gigs involve an early set up?

[Penfold42]

So...following on from a recent thread, what percentage of your gigs involve an early set up?

I took a leaf out of JamesH book......i now qoute for early set ups.
So i now offer a customer an early set up.........and they seem to like it.

Sorry - percentage about 50%......

[BeerFunk]

Not many to be honest, it's not usually convenient. The only gigs which may actually require it are weddings.

Oh, and I do take it into account when quoting, of course.

[rob1963]

Thanks penmare!

Interesting!

After reading a recent thread, I got the impression that my one early set up a year is much less than many people do, so it will be good to see how I compare.

:)

[Dragonfly]

over here the only battle I have with early set ups is venues , quite alot wont allow them due to there being something in the room before hand , not enough space as the disco goes where the top table is or they just plain cant be bothered with you until the evening.

[Sam]

depends on what gigs i get each year.
I prefer them because I'm not so rushed.

But sometimes not really conevenient... especially if i have been working at the theatre till 3am

[Cj_The_Dj]

i like to set up at about 12oclock to get it over with, but somtimes the place don't allow it becuse of secrity resons.

[Corabar Steve]

i like to set up at dinner get it over with but somting the place say they dont allow it becuse of secrity resons.

Please use a spell checker on your posts CJ I had to really concentrate to make sense of that.

[BeerFunk]

Just to clarify, when you say 'early setup', does that mean a morning setup, or setting up, going home and coming back? I assumed it was the latter.

[Cj_The_Dj]

Please use a spell checker on your posts CJ I had to really concentrate to make sense of that.

i am sorry about my spellings, i have tryed to download google spell checker but it won't work beacuse i am useing firefox. [well i think that the reoson]

[Have a disco]

I can really say in 20 years about 10-20% is about right but then again setting up disco's in several pubs during the day can break it down to about 5-10% as to make life easier

[rob1963]

Beerfunk,

It means when you set up much earlier than you need to, either in the morning, lunchtime or early afternoon...and then either go home or hang around until the evening.

[Larry B Entertainment]

i am sorry about my spellings, i have tryed to download google spell checker but it won't work beacuse i am useing firefox. [well i think that the reoson]

Yes, try not to make to mak to may spellinge erors :D

It should work on firefox ok if you have the latest version.

Anyway back to the topic in hand.

[Cj_The_Dj]

do you charge more for an erlier set-up.i never have

[rob1963]

Yes...but I only charge £30 extra for daytime set ups.

This is due to the fact that you are doubling your travelling time & expenses.

Luckily, I only usually do one a year.

[Penfold42]

do you charge more for an erlier set-up.i never have

Give them the option.........:)

[Cj_The_Dj]

i perfure to set up at 12 oclcok, so i can take my time not rush. so i can Make my rig look the best i can. also if any thing brakes i have time to fix the proble and bring my back up (i cant take 2 full set-ups to a gig)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

This (http://www.wikihow.com/Install-a-Spell-Checker-Into-Firefox) should help with your spelling then CJ.

[PropellerHeadCase]

About the only gigs I don't set up early for are 21sts and some other birthdays.

Setting up between 12 and 2pm is the norm for me. We have relatively few venues in Auckland that don't allow it (or for which there are physical space issues). I've said 80+%.

[robbiedj]

I've said 80+%.

The poll doesn't show this on my view.

Did it connect?


OK, it does now.

[theoloyla]

The two venues I do most weddings at - one I cant get into until the wedding breakfast is finished and the other has a separated area for the disco; so I can set up at leisure whilst they are having it. On occasions when I do set up early I do charge extra.

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Where possible i will always set up in the morning,that way i can enjoy the rest of my day and feel more relaxed going out to work.

[Ricesnaps]

I think the question is a little unhelpful.

Set up surely depends on the type of work that you do. If I was 80% village hall or hotel evening parties (30th's and the like), then to be quite honest what's the point? Head there an hour or so before the guests arrive and Bob's your uncle.

However, Weddings are completely different, my answer to the poll was 60-80% simply because that's about the amount of weddings I do. It's about offering something to the client, going that extra mile, making yourself that bit better than the next man (hey maybe that's my USP!) and to me that's absolutely vital at weddings (obviously just as important elsewhere, but you get the point).

[theoloyla]

I wish I could set up early at the venue where I do most of my work but it is not possible. I hate hurried set ups.

[Johnny]

Same as Theo, most of my gigs are in hotels and they do not let me in untill the wedding breakfast has finished.

So for me less than 10% in fact I can not remember the last time I had to set up early.

[PropellerHeadCase]

'Had to' or 'could'? Different mind-set.

[Vectis]

Weddings? About 75%.

Other stuff? About 10%.

[Sam]

i am sorry about my spellings, i have tryed to download google spell checker but it won't work beacuse i am useing firefox. [well i think that the reoson]

if it doesn't work just paste it in Word or a free program like Star office and check it there.

[Jiggles]

I use google bar in Firefox!

[Cj_The_Dj]

I use google bar in Firefox!

yep i got it now :D

[Jiggles]

yipee!!!!

[rob1963]

Interesting poll results.

Half the voters do an early set up for less than 10% of their clients, but
one of us does an early set up for more than 80% of their clients.

It's clear that most of us ask if a daytime set up is required, and when told no, we leave it at that.

However, If someone is doing early set ups for more than 80% of their clients, there is clearly some sort of "persuasion" going on...

...unless of course there is another reason which hadn't occurred to me...

[Shaun]

Depends what the definition of "early set-up" is?.

Where possible I like to be there a good few hours early, set-up, then leave for a bite to eat before I head back to start. That's my definition of an early set-up. Very rarely do I set-up in the morning, head home then return in the evening. I don't charge extra for early set-ups unless it's the latter.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Interesting poll results.

Half the voters do an early set up for less than 10% of their clients, but
one of us does an early set up for more than 80% of their clients.

It's clear that most of us ask if a daytime set up is required, and when told no, we leave it at that.

However, If someone is doing early set ups for more than 80% of their clients, there is clearly some sort of "persuasion" going on...

...unless of course there is another reason which hadn't occurred to me...



Depends what the definition of "early set-up" is?.

Where possible I like to be there a good few hours early, set-up, then leave for a bite to eat before I head back to start. That's my definition of an early set-up. Very rarely do I set-up in the morning, head home then return in the evening. I don't charge extra for early set-ups unless it's the latter.



About the only gigs I don't set up early for are 21sts and some other birthdays.

Setting up between 12 and 2pm is the norm for me. We have relatively few venues in Auckland that don't allow it (or for which there are physical space issues). I've said 80+%.


I just find setting up early much less stressful.

[spin mobile disco]

To be honest I dont do many early setups, mainly beacuse I am not asked. I do work with wedding coordinators when needed, speachmasters etc.
I do require payment for early setups as my insurance means I have to stay with gear and not leave unatended. As I can setup very early this means waiting around for quite a while and Ithink a charge is very fair in the curcumstances.

[rob1963]

I just find setting up early much less stressful.

Yes...less stressful for the beginning of the evening, but more stressful for the daytime...when you could otherwise be relaxing at home.

It's also a great way to double your travel expenses!

Apart from that, when you've done an early set up there are two options:

1) Hang around for hours on end until the evening...incredibly boring

2) Leave the gear & go home...which is very risky & probably invalidates your insurance

:rolleyes:

[Unnamed Disco]

If venues and security issues would allow I would do a morning setup for ALL gigs (even at no extra charge if need be).

I think it's great to walk in half hour before you start in nice, clean and ironed clothes and not sweaty from setup. Quick test, background music and off you go. Spot on :)

[djsteve10]

Alot of weddings that i cater for i cannot set up during the day as usually i am working in the same room as what the guests are having the wedding breakfast in, Usually the room has to be changed around, get rid of tables so i can go in, dancefloor down ect, sometimes i can do it if they are using another room for the wedding breakfast or they are dining elsewhere.

[BrightLights]

Very few. Your "one a year" doesn't sound unreasonable at all to me Rob.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Alot of weddings that i cater for i cannot set up during the day as usually i am working in the same room as what the guests are having the wedding breakfast in, Usually the room has to be changed around, get rid of tables so i can go in, dancefloor down ect

Yup, same here.

It does make me laugh, all these people posting that they don't want to be all sweaty and hot after they've set up. Why not ring the venue first and see if they can lend you a room to shower and change - I always do.

As long as they're not completely booked to the hilt, they normally oblige.

Most 4* Hotels will have a leisure centre anyway, where you could possibly change etc.

[djsteve10]

I always get changed after i have set up, When setting up i wear black combat trousers and a black t-shirt with my logos on it, Looks good and it is easier to move around in when setting up.

The last thing you want is to be setting up in your dinner suit!

[PropellerHeadCase]

Yup, same here.

It does make me laugh, all these people posting that they don't want to be all sweaty and hot after they've set up. Why not ring the venue first and see if they can lend you a room to shower and change - I always do.

As long as they're not completely booked to the hilt, they normally oblige.

Most 4* Hotels will have a leisure centre anyway, where you could possibly change etc.

In those instances where I am setting up in the evening it is generally just prior to starting so there's no time for such things. It's a case of finishing the set-up, change threads and start the music, oftentimes whilst finishing wiring the lights. I get the impression from most posts that would be the norm - little to no time for a 3S session.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

In those instances where I am setting up in the evening it is generally just prior to starting so there's no time for such things. It's a case of finishing the set-up, change threads and start the music, oftentimes whilst finishing wiring the lights. I get the impression from most posts that would be the norm - little to no time for a 3S session.

So you always start immediately after setting up then? You don't ever play background music?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You play background music before you start?



Before you start the disco 'proper' and you know very well what I mean.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I've just re-read Alan's post & there's nothing to suggest he meant otherwise

Steve

Let's not go down this route again. I was answering someone elses post and asking them a simple question. You are just playing word games again and getting involved with a post that was nothing to do with you.

Please just leave it.

[CRAZY K]

Yup, same here.

It does make me laugh, all these people posting that they don't want to be all sweaty and hot after they've set up. Why not ring the venue first and see if they can lend you a room to shower and change - I always do.

As long as they're not completely booked to the hilt, they normally oblige.

Most 4* Hotels will have a leisure centre anyway, where you could possibly change etc.

Next Sunday im playing in a small Village Hall outside Norwich doing a Wedding--maybe the gents toilets might be free for a change and shower:D

Related to this thread I spoke to the groom and agreed that its not worth getting there early enough for an early set up---as I charge more--im just going to take my stuff down the middle of the room--and up to the stage--this was his suggestion and he was quite happy with that.

May sound unprofessional to some--but in the rural areas its surprising the rapport you can build up with the guests at these times--cracking a few jokes and building a relationship to use later in the evening.

Its not all 4 star hotels and concealed set ups so the guests dont have to see the DJ lugging all the kit in---just depends on the gig--I did one of those a few weeks ago in the top rated Forest of Arden Hotel in Merden, Birmingham.

Guess its a question of what type of work comes your way---

CRAZY K

[PropellerHeadCase]

To clear up an earlier point:

It may be labour-intensive but I play different background music at every gig - geared to the slowies on the couple's play list that I suspect I won't play later and slow songs by artists that feature prominently amongst their requests plus a few fillers that seem like they will appeal to the oldies present (usually Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat 'King' Cole, Bobby Darin, etc.), on occasion I do put a CD on and let it play through (a best of Bublé that I compiled or a shop-bought love songs comp I have) and could do that to go and change, but generally if I'm setting up just prior to starting it's because tables have been dropped to make room for the dance floor which means that either dessert has finished, or is being served buffet style whilst I'm setting up... either way Bride's and Groom's are often ready to go once I'm set up.

*breathe*

Yes, once I go lap-top I can create a play list of those same songs, but as I'm still on CD...