Weddings Brides wanting different/hard to find music

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Agreed Jon.

How does one ever expand there collection if you won't buy anything but "hits"??

I'm gonna bite my lip on this....
 
At some point in time, all may reach the line in the sand. To buy (again) or not to buy (again).

In those early days, over 25,000 45s and 3,000 albums were purchased because that was the only way to get music.

Then came cassettes. More expense for the same music that was already purchased on records.

Then came CDs. More expense for the same music that was already purchased on records and tapes.

Then came MP3s. More expense for the same music that was already purchased on records, then tapes, then CDs.

Now video and here we friggin go again. Labels have zinged me three times for the same track in three media formats, now a fourth? And I can't sell any of it off for the need to prove I physically own the stuff. Can you imagine how much storage space I'm going to recover when the "media yard sale" takes place?

Sorry, Charlie. They have tapped into my business pockets enough without having to add off-the-wall, obscure, track expense to boot.

Then again, if the track is that important for the client, most often they will already have it and would be thrilled to share.
 
Well, here's my take on the whole situation. If someone is paying you a professional fee (no specific amount, just a professional fee for your area), then you'd better be willing to go and buy the song.

As for working the price of a rare song into the price quote, shouldn't your rate already include that cost of doing business? On average Ducky and I spend $100 per wedding we book on music.

We had a bride who absolutley wanted a version of "Over the Rainbow" by IZ. Now I had no idea who this guy was, but we went and got the cd thinking we'd never use it again, but almost a year later we had a bride who wanted that same song again.

If Ducky and I relied only on the songs provided to us by music services, or what is mainstream, popular or on greatest hits, we'd never come across some of the rarities we play. This is just one way we make receptions unique, we'll play little known songs that are more perfect for the moment than the songs everyone has heard at every other reception.
 
Precisionpower said:
Agreed Jon.

How does one ever expand there collection if you won't buy anything but "hits"??

I'm gonna bite my lip on this....
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Believe me...I've got a ton of music...music that I've forgotten about because...you guessed it...I bought it for one person and never used it again. I'm not saying that I never purchase music...I do...but sometimes it can get out of hand...but this is just my opinion.
 
I'm sorry. In rereading my posts, it does give an erroneous impression of never lifting a finger to respond to a client need, which couldn't be any further from reality.

Perhaps, a little further explanation would be beneficial.

Currently, subscriptions to TM Century keep the collection very up-to-date. With the resident media collection described in an earlier post (25,000 45s, 3,000 33s, 56,000 tracks on CD, and now 10,000 vob video tracks) plus a monthly subscription to Napster, the potential need to ask a client for their media version is maybe once or twice a year, or, better put, once or twice per 50 weddings.

One such case is currently being dealt with. An Italian song is wanted by an obscure artist (which was seen on YouTube only), and I already have the song but done by two other different artists (neither having ever been played before).

Now. What if the CD version (about $25 from Amazon) turns out to be totally different than the version on YouTube and unacceptable to the client?

What if the version the client said they want turns out to be different than yours? Remember the madness with Shania Twain & Bryan White? Solo? Duet? With intro? Without Intro? Pop version? Country Version?

Seems more professional to play the right one then to guess.

I've asked the client to provide this specific artists and Italian track, which they have cheerfully agreed to do (but just in case, I pulled and remastered the audio from YouTube already, Another professional thing to do.)
 
DanBenoit said:
trafficgoo said:
that is neither hard to find or obscure. I have had no less then 10 brides request songs off the "Rock N Roll Wedding" in the last 2 months. It is a great album and available for $9.99 on iTunes.
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Is that the album by the Vitamin String Quartet, I have several of their albums works great for seating music and cocktail hour too.
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now we all know why it's best to get the song list WELL in advance.
fortunately, brides who request obscure songs
KNOW the songs are hard to find.
if they know it, they usually know where to get it
or have a copy already...
and if they know it's rare,
I have not had a problem with them paying for it!
(if I cannot find it)
 
Ausumm said:
fortunately, brides who request obscure songs
KNOW the songs are hard to find.
if they know it, they usually know where to get it
or have a copy already...
and if they know it's rare
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What I was trying to express earlier is that many times this isn't true, at least not anymore. They don't know how rare or hard to find something is. Conversely, they often also don't know, care, or appreciate how non-mainstream their requests are. Please do not mistake my frustrations here with being unwilling to re-invest into the success of their event - nothing could be further from the truth. I'm very dilligent in doing everything I can for them.

When misinformation is just a bittorrent away, and faulty ID3 tags are provided via confused users of Limewire, I'm not the only D.J. here who has experienced the bride who is convinced that she wants Frank Sinatra's version of a song that Frank Sinatra has never sung. I could certainly provide more examples of this phenomenon. Among the negative side effects of the proliferation of illegal downloading is the lack of respect for what is or isn't rare. And what does and doesn't actually exist.
 
trafficgoo said:
MBM said:
I've just never had anyone request it before now. I usually have requests for the music that most everyone knows...usually with lyrics. It could be a geographic thing too.
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It's okay...I'd never heard of them before this thread. I took a listen on Youtube and I still won't add them to my music collection, unless of course, a client wants them. Aside from that, I can do without them - and so can my ears. :rofl:
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trafficgoo said:
Is it just me or is anyone else having this situation? I've had more brides wanting music for ceremonies that I don't have or can't find. It seems like everyone is trying to be different but many want anywhere from 5 to 10 songs that I'll most likely never use again. I do whatever I can to make a bride happy but sometimes it's tough. I'm now having some of them provide the hard to find songs for me and they seem to be good with it.
It feels tacky to do this but how do you handle it?
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If you can't find it anywhere why can't you ask them to supply the music for you? Most of my brides bring those hard to find songs when I can't find it on either Itunes or amazon. Who cares if it's tacky! It will be far worse not playing it for her.
 
Steve Sharp said:
When misinformation is just a bittorrent away, and faulty ID3 tags are provided via confused users of Limewire, I'm not the only D.J. here who has experienced the bride who is convinced that she wants Frank Sinatra's version of a song that Frank Sinatra has never sung.
Click to expand...

Amen to that.
 
Had a bride once insist she saw an all acoustic version of "It's your love" by Tim & Faith... Sure enough she ended up rpoviding it.

I did end up buying the import version of "Come on Over" by Shania for another one to get the non-duet version of "From This Moment On."
 
I know for our wedding we we are going to want a lot of Christian music, a lot of crooners, a little country, and a little punk

We will provide what they don't have.

:)

Mike
 
I will only grumble at this stage...... all ill say is, put my head in the sand

this will go on and on and you guys have no idea
as soon as someone comes up and ask for a song thats gone, deleted or obscure
you will try and get it

no wonder you have so many problems

I have said above whats in my contracts to help me if i cant find songs

you could be sued if you dont get what they ask for and no one has done it yet
but when they find out they can they will 200% watch out is all i will say

I am done with this crap over and over
 
I have a clause in my contract as well to cover acquisition of music not in my library:

9. A completed EVENT PLANNER form (or written equivalent) must be received from the Client at LEAST two weeks prior to the event in order for special musical or other program material desired or requested to be included in the performance at the event. With or without the aid of a completed EVENT PLANNER form (or written equivalent), DJ shall attempt to play the requests of the Client and their guests; however, shall not be held responsible if certain selections are unavailable. In the event that the DJ’s musical library does not include special requests made in the EVENT PLANNER form, every reasonable effort will be made by DJ to acquire specific material for the performance at no charge to the Client*, provided the EVENT PLANNER was returned to DJ in a timely manner as defined above. *In most all cases, special musical or other program material will be acquired at no expense to the Client unless otherwise specified. In such cases, client will be notified prior to the acquisition of said materials, and applicable charges will be agreed upon before proceeding. In the event that the requested materials cannot be procured, DJ shall not be held responsible. Client’s/guest’s musical material may be included in the performance at the sole discretion of the DJ; however, DJ assumes no responsibility or liability for the quality, playability, or lack thereof, of the material(s) provided.
 
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