Payday

ittigger said:

Just out of curiosity - I'm pretty certain we all take deposits as far in advance as possible to guarantee the day of the show. When do you all collect the balance of the show? This might become an interesting discussion. Remember, there is no right or wrong - we each run it however we run it.

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I've always collected the day of the show.

No pissing match for me -- just my style of doing business

Final payment for music is 14 days prior to the event.

Final payment for photos or photo/DJ combo service is when we deliver their photos.

Event lighting TBD and will depend on what other services they book.

I was always a 30 Day prior to the event guy.... but have recently changed my tune. Not because clients weren't booking because of payment requirments but, because I wanted to build a more friendly way of doing business... so now like Rick I'm a day of.... if they choose to pay off before that's fine to... the language in my contract covers it either way.

I "pretty much" leave it up to the customer but they more than understand early in our discussions that if they wait "until the day of", then I only take cash and the button doesn't get pushed to "play" until the cash is in my hand. FWIW, I've only had one incident where it went to that point.

Most of my weddings are paid up fully, well in advance of the event...private parties vary...high school stuff is always when I get there.

I've also taken payments from B&G's for months leading up to their wedding....they couldn't do it all at once and/or didn't want to stress about it in the weeks leading up to the wedding.

ittigger said:

As people start chiming in - I wonder if this can turn into an intelligent debate about why you do what you do.

I too have always collected the day of the show. This has put me in a bad predicament before - the client ONLY has a credit card or something - and I had no way of accepting a credit card. The most recent (over the summer) was a bad check, which caused me some heartburn and a re-evaluation of how I accept payments. As of right now, I accept cash and CC only - but my terms are still on the day of the show.

Anyone experience problems collecting before the show? What if they don't pay - I understand your contract says you won't perform, so I'm not looking for an arguement - but at that party that they didn't pay you for, your name gets trashed and dragged through the mud. I haven't been in this predicament. Any thoughts?

No pissing match for me -- just my style of doing business

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So far, knock on wood, I've never had a problem collecting.... most have paid in advance as I had required in years past.... I can only think of one time I had to send out multiple reminders..... turned out they went on vacation....

As for method of payments accepted on site.... for me are limited to what they have on them... I can take Paypal if I have internet access... which I always do via my cell phone. I can take CC via my Squareup device. I can take check or money order and I even take that green stuff with all the dead presidents on them...

When my Entertainment Agency books me, the Client pays them before the event and they immediately send my portion to me. There was one exception last week because of last minute booking where the client handed me the Check at the event. I had them make it out to the E.A. and mailed it off to them yesterday. When they get it they will send me my portion.
For my own clients, 50% down at time of booking and the Balance on either the day of or prior to the event. Payment in full 4 months or more prior to the event will result in a 5% discount (Usually corporations take advantage of this option).

I'm a services rendered guy -- you pay after I have delivered the service. I can invoice you later if needed as well.

I run it as a business.

My current cash outlays, are based upon income 12 months ago -- not this weekend...

For weddings, I ask to collect 7 days prior to the event, but I dont press the issue. For parties, the contract says final payment can be made anytime up to the start of the event.

I have had a couple times I have not been paid until after the party is over, but it's not like I don't know where you live

I can only think of one time when I got stiffed for 30 mins of overtime. I invoiced them twice and still nothing.

I get the balance 2 weeks before the event. That way I have time to make sure the check is good. If they want to pay the day of the event it is CASH only and before I unload any equipment. Yes I have had several bad checks in the past.

Yes, I had one mom of a birthday girl, she did want to pay until after the event. This was a last minute booking. It started about 5 days before the event, the mom said she did not have the money at the time and could she pay on Friday. I said that would be fine but it would need be in cash. Well on Thursday the mom now wants to pay after the event. I was afraid if she did not have the money before that she would make something up after the event about not have the money with her or some other excuse, so I told her no and I did not do the event.

prodjay said:

I get the balance 2 weeks before the event. That way I have time to make sure the check is good. If they want to pay the day of the event it is CASH only and before I unload any equipment. Yes I have had several bad checks in the past.

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My policy too! I have only d 2 bad checks but either way you hate to be taken advantage of. I am not a "stickler" per se but I do stress the importance of paying 10 business days prior to start of event. With some of the private parties I do I MAY let them slide but then again I don't do that many anymore. I now do mostly weddings, schools and corporate shows where everything is the up and up.

Like you said, we all have our own ways of doing business. After 2 NSF funds checks with previous clients, I changed my policy. I no longer accept personal checks. Only cashiers/tellers checks, money orders or deposits made into my PayPal account.

My terms:

Upon agreement of the contracted fee for services, a NON-REFUNDABLE RETAINER of $200.00 is due no later than 14 days after PROVIDER’S CONTRACT send date in order to “hold” that date available unless otherwise noted and indicated by a specified due date on page three of the attached contract. Should retainer go unpaid by due date, PROVIDER retains the right to cancel date and open said date for booking by another CLIENT. The Balance of fee charged is due in full no later than (4) Four weeks prior to the event date unless otherwise noted and indicated by a specified due date on page three of the attached contract. Payment will ONLY be accepted by way of: BANK DRAFT, CASHIER’S or TELLER’S CHECK or CERTIFIED MONEY ORDER or COMPANY ACCOUNT CHECK, or PayPal Gateway via website.
PERSONAL CHECKS or ADVANCE CASH CHECKS DRAWN AGAINST A CREDIT CARD SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE RETURNED WITH A NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF SERVICE .(A check drawn on a Corporate Account is also sufficient) Payment should be made out to either Greg McLeese or Kickit Productions. Should Balance of contracted fee go “unpaid” by due date, “PROVIDER” reserves the right to cancel the date(s) in question.

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By specifying your contract terms, you retain control of when payment is due. Maybe things are different in your part of the country, but I like having control over payment terms and due dates. Personal checks are too easy to cancel. This is why I would much rather go the route of money orders or cashiers checks or the PayPal gateway on my website.

Granted, I know that it may sound as though I'm asking a lot from my customers, but the way I look at it, is if they really want to book me, they will abide by the terms set forth in my contract. I've actually never had any client complain about it.

Just my two cents.

SoftJock Rick said:

I've always collected the day of the show.

No pissing match for me -- just my style of doing business

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Ditto.

I don't want money for something I didn't do or provide. As long as I have a signed contract, we're good.

:tricool:




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We require the booking fee (either $100 or $150 depending) with the contract and then everything has to be paid up 7 days prior to their event. We also will let clients do payments if its easier for them.

We look at it like this, previous clients have told us its so much easier and less stressful for them to have everything paid ahead of time. The DJ for our wedding had the payment due at the event...just not fun to have to remember paying the vendors as well. We've also had clients forget about payment until we reminded them at the event and then they had to scramble to get the money together...it just wasn't worth it.