I have worked a new sports bar every Sunday since January. It's been pretty slow but it is building. And I have been giving the owner a price break every night. Well last night he tells me he may be quitting once football season starts. Because the home team has a few Sunday night TV games.
So now all of my hard work and lost income could be going down the drain.
I gave him a price break to help him out which in turn will help me when the crowd gets bigger and I charge full money.
I'm pissed because now I won't get a chance to recoup the price break money. Basically I gave him a break for nothing. The only loser is going to be me.
The question now is how long do you give bar owners a price break before you charge full money?
Do you think I have been wrong in trying to help him this long?
Giving a new bar a price break.
Generally most bar owners are cheap and when you even mention raising the price by even $10 they balk and start looking for another KJ to do the job for even less than what you are charging. That said I just recently got a $10 a night raise for my Wednesday and Thursday shows at the same bar. So I only lost $30 when they gave my Friday night gig to a Straight out DJ. I'm actually amazed that he is still there because his history of not playing requests follows him from bar to bar.
A DJ that doesn't play requests can't be very popular for too long. However I have a DJ friend that has been doing it for 25 years, and if a person requests a song that is going to screw up what he has "going on" with the crowd, it may not be played. So DJs do have a "show" and each is different. If they have the place hopping and everyone is dancing and someone wants to play a slow song in the middle of all that. LOL
Unlike KJs that have to play what every singer wants to sing. DJs develope a distinct style of spinning. And they work the crowds different than we do.
Back to my guy, he wants to cater to the football crowd for the few games that will be played on Sunday night. So the karaoke crowd that has been coming faithfully will be shoved to the side. I hate sports bars.....
Just so happens that my newest job is a sports bar. I know I said I would never do it again....Ahhhgggg The only reason I did take it is because it's a Wednesday that should be pretty safe from sports related activity. So now I have to cut them a break to get the party started and hope they don't quit after a month. They quit the last KJ for not being crowd friendly.
Unlike KJs that have to play what every singer wants to sing. DJs develope a distinct style of spinning. And they work the crowds different than we do.
Back to my guy, he wants to cater to the football crowd for the few games that will be played on Sunday night. So the karaoke crowd that has been coming faithfully will be shoved to the side. I hate sports bars.....
Just so happens that my newest job is a sports bar. I know I said I would never do it again....Ahhhgggg The only reason I did take it is because it's a Wednesday that should be pretty safe from sports related activity. So now I have to cut them a break to get the party started and hope they don't quit after a month. They quit the last KJ for not being crowd friendly.
I never use a written contract. My contracts are a verbal deal. You hire me and I assume I am working the job every week until you or I decide to quit.
A written contract can be used against you also. What if you can not show up on the designated night because of an illness or a mechanical problem with your vehicle? Would you want the bar to sue you for the lost potential income for that night? They would have that right.
I have uncontracted jobs that are very long lived. One is 14 years and another over 8. I just show up every week and they pay me. There have been times when they or I or both have agreed not to do the show for weather related or other reasons. I & they lose money either way. But they have never said they want me to pay them for lost income regardless of who initiated the cancelation.
My new sports bar told me at the end of the first night they may hold up the start of karaoke on hockey nights.
I told them my feelings about the loyalty of the karaoke crowds and the unfairness to them to cater to people that will only be in the bar on a hockey night. The karaoke people come and they don't care what's on TV. They understood my position but whether they comply is another story that I will find out once hockey season starts.
Karaoke is a steady weekly income not a once in a while during the season income. If I was a bar owner I would cater to the steady weekly income everytime.
As far as a price break. I never really feel it's my fault if there is a small crowd. I never want to actually part with any of my hard earned money. But I also understand that if the bar doesn't make enough money they may close or stop having karaoke. I have always been a share the wealth kinda guy. It's part of my business reputation and a good way to keep them liking me. But I still would rather take home full money EVERY night no matter the size of the crowd.
A written contract can be used against you also. What if you can not show up on the designated night because of an illness or a mechanical problem with your vehicle? Would you want the bar to sue you for the lost potential income for that night? They would have that right.
I have uncontracted jobs that are very long lived. One is 14 years and another over 8. I just show up every week and they pay me. There have been times when they or I or both have agreed not to do the show for weather related or other reasons. I & they lose money either way. But they have never said they want me to pay them for lost income regardless of who initiated the cancelation.
My new sports bar told me at the end of the first night they may hold up the start of karaoke on hockey nights.
I told them my feelings about the loyalty of the karaoke crowds and the unfairness to them to cater to people that will only be in the bar on a hockey night. The karaoke people come and they don't care what's on TV. They understood my position but whether they comply is another story that I will find out once hockey season starts.Karaoke is a steady weekly income not a once in a while during the season income. If I was a bar owner I would cater to the steady weekly income everytime.
As far as a price break. I never really feel it's my fault if there is a small crowd. I never want to actually part with any of my hard earned money. But I also understand that if the bar doesn't make enough money they may close or stop having karaoke. I have always been a share the wealth kinda guy. It's part of my business reputation and a good way to keep them liking me. But I still would rather take home full money EVERY night no matter the size of the crowd.
Bigdog, I'm assuming then that you don't do private gigs? For the benefit of everyone here, if you're doing a private show I would never walk into it without a contract. Especially weddings or other once in a lifetime type events, if anything goes wrong you want to have your commitments and liability specifically called out.
For recurring bar gigs, I don't usually go with a contact, but for one-off events (festivals, parties, etc) I always have a contract and I almost always get a deposit (there are some rare exceptions).
For recurring bar gigs, I don't usually go with a contact, but for one-off events (festivals, parties, etc) I always have a contract and I almost always get a deposit (there are some rare exceptions).
I have never used a written contract in 15 years. Right or wrong. I have done weddings, anniversary parties, class reunions.... All that said, I really don't care if I ever do any of those ever again.
Today with weddings costing $15,000 and up, your financial obligation and liability is really increasing.
2 things can ruin a wedding.
Bad food and a bad DJ/KJ.
If you ruin or they claim you ruined their wedding can you afford to re emburse anyone $15,000 or more? For a $1000 (if that) gig.....
You know they will include the entire cost for everything.
I have never required a down payment for any event. My word is my bond. If I put it on my calender, I will be there.
If you back out of a wedding and you have a written contract you could have to pay for the entire wedding. It works both ways.
A verbal agreement is still considered a binding contract. I know it then becomes your word against theirs.
A written contract for anything is the best policy. I just never required it.
Today with weddings costing $15,000 and up, your financial obligation and liability is really increasing.
2 things can ruin a wedding.
Bad food and a bad DJ/KJ.
If you ruin or they claim you ruined their wedding can you afford to re emburse anyone $15,000 or more? For a $1000 (if that) gig.....
You know they will include the entire cost for everything.
I have never required a down payment for any event. My word is my bond. If I put it on my calender, I will be there.
If you back out of a wedding and you have a written contract you could have to pay for the entire wedding. It works both ways.
A verbal agreement is still considered a binding contract. I know it then becomes your word against theirs.
A written contract for anything is the best policy. I just never required it.
Legal precident is extremely clear, the KJ/DJ is only liable for the cost of service as long as you're intelligent enough to include the statement in the contract. This has been tried in court before. They can't sue you for the cost of the wedding or even dammages if you back out. The down-payment is my protection. If I'm giving up a prime spot on a Saturday night to be at your event, I'm going to have money in hand in case you back out to help defray the cost to me for shows that I could have booked instead that night.
The only way they can come after you for anything above and beyond your fees is if you actually cause damage to the wedding (i.e. knock the cake on the floor, start a fire, etc). This is what we all have liability insurance for (ewww, some here don't have liability insurance huh?).
The only way they can come after you for anything above and beyond your fees is if you actually cause damage to the wedding (i.e. knock the cake on the floor, start a fire, etc). This is what we all have liability insurance for (ewww, some here don't have liability insurance huh?).
