Good Gig, Bad Gig.

I really enjoy reading these, thanks to those who write them regularly.

I had an interesting one, the job was a 31st birthday, booked 3 weeks ago, around 30 miles away, all confirmed etc.

I arrive at the venue in good time, to see a 70s Bedford van/horsebox outside, and ancient equipment being loading in. So I park up and go and have a word with the guy who's unloading.

Yep you guessed it, he was the other disco that the woman booked at the same time as me. He apparently lives in the same village and has done all her family functions for the last decade.

He was most suprised to see me, but said that she had done similar to him in the past, booking events and then him turn up to find nobody at the venue and the party not on.

He was a nice enough chap and was already half set up, so I let him continue to set up his circa 1985 disco, complete with a wire mess quite unlike anything I have ever seen and made the trip back home.

Needless to say, the invoice for the night, complete with copies of proof of booking are in the post to the client.

There really should be a name and shame log for these people, double bookers, last minute cancellers, people who mess you about, generally bad clients to work for.

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Originally Posted by Retrodisco

I really enjoy reading these, thanks to those who write them regularly.

I had an interesting one, the job was a 31st birthday, booked 3 weeks ago, around 30 miles away, all confirmed etc.

I arrive at the venue in good time, to see a 70s Bedford van/horsebox outside, and ancient equipment being loading in. So I park up and go and have a word with the guy who's unloading.

Yep you guessed it, he was the other disco that the woman booked at the same time as me. He apparently lives in the same village and has done all her family functions for the last decade.

He was most suprised to see me, but said that she had done similar to him in the past, booking events and then him turn up to find nobody at the venue and the party not on.

He was a nice enough chap and was already half set up, so I let him continue to set up his circa 1985 disco, complete with a wire mess quite unlike anything I have ever seen and made the trip back home.

Needless to say, the invoice for the night, complete with copies of proof of booking are in the post to the client.

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I would've waited and spoken to the client, I definitely wouldn’t have taken his word for anything. Hopefully you at least recorded your arrival with the venue.

Apart from that it’s a good example of where proper contracts, deposits and full payment in advance have their advantages.

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Originally Posted by funkymook

I would've waited and spoken to the client, I definitely wouldn’t have taken his word for anything. Hopefully you at least recorded your arrival with the venue.

Apart from that it’s a good example of where proper contracts, deposits and full payment in advance have their advantages.

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I too would have stayed. Perhaps the Lady actually wanted you to do the gig, and this chap had assumed that he was the " Chosen One ". If you've turned up, taken one look, and walked away, I'd question whether you yourself have broken the contract. :confused: You turned up, but didn't actually offer to play.

I would urge everyone to turn up at each gig with all paperwork ( PAT docs, PLI docs, Contracts, and perhaps relevant emails ) in a folder, so there's no " he said, she said " going on. Having these at your fingertips doesn't half strengthen your bargaining power.

She'd opened the venue and let him in.

I've got it all in writing so she has little leg to stand on. 'Sorry I forgot to cancel' isn't going to save her from payment.

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Originally Posted by Attack the Dance Floor

There really should be a name and shame log for these people, double bookers, last minute cancellers, people who mess you about, generally bad clients to work for.

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By doing that you'd be opening yourself up to a strong possibility of litigation. Get better at vetting your clients & put measures in place so if you do get messed around you aren't left out of pocket.

Do your terms and conditions state if you turn up to find another DJ you will just leave? This guy might not have been as he said. I personally would have went in and offered to set up and play and advised if not I would invoke the cancellation terms in the contract. I'm now considering adding something about double booking and turning up to find another DJ set up.

Same here!
I think if I was in the same situation I would have made sure I'd seen the customer first of all and let them know I was there and ready to start setting up.
If they had signed the booking form then they'd be breaching the terms & conditions because in reality if they'd told you to go as it was sorted then they'd be cancelling you.

I agree. As she hadn't seen you, she could just say you didn't show. She never actually cancelled.

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Originally Posted by musicology

I agree. As she hadn't seen you, she could just say you didn't show. She never actually cancelled.

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I've pics of myself at the venue and the other DJ's already set up.