I just received this "Entertainer Contract". Do you see anything wrong?

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I am pretty much okay with most of their "demands"
except for the dress code...
especially if there are NO GUESTS in the building at the time
except for the load out time...
the description of the load in geography is kinda vague

but my problem is...
wouldn't this be better handled by a casual phone call from the manager?
I'd think a friendly conversation could eliminate most of their problems
and certainly come across a lot more friendly.
they obviously have dealt with some real bad entertainers in their time.
sounds like they are making it legally binding so they can screw somebody out of some extra cash.
I mean...what IF it takes you longer than 15 minutes to load out?
are you arrested?
 
Ausumm said:
I am pretty much okay with most of their "demands"
except for the dress code...
especially if there are NO GUESTS in the building at the time
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What if there are guests in the building at the time...but they are not guests for your event?
What if a potential client is looking at the site wanting to book for a later date?
 
soundinmotiondj said:
What if there are guests in the building at the time...but they are not guests for your event?
What if a potential client is looking at the site wanting to book for a later date?
Click to expand...

very good point!
if that is their concern, I would abide by their rule.
personally, I dont dress like a slob when I set up...
but I refuse to ruin a good pair of khaki's!

I guess it depends on the layout of that particular hall.
most places around here only do one wedding at a time
and you can easily load in and set up without being "seen"
 
Ruben:

The only problem I would see here is if the client is asking for a setup that would take longer than 45 minutes to tear down. In that case I would contact the venue and inform them. If they balk at it, the next call would be to the client.

Since my setup takes less than 45 minutes to strike and load out, no problems for me.
 
Ausumm said:
but my problem is...
wouldn't this be better handled by a casual phone call from the manager?
I'd think a friendly conversation could eliminate most of their problems
and certainly come across a lot more friendly.
they obviously have dealt with some real bad entertainers in their time.
sounds like they are making it legally binding so they can screw somebody out of some extra cash.
I mean...what IF it takes you longer than 15 minutes to load out?
are you arrested?
Click to expand...

Many of the venues we work require our client to pay a fee for having their staff present for our load in/out times. Sometimes they have a single individual who must be present from the time we have access to the time either we leave, their replacement arrives or the event starts.

Many of the venues we work have many events at some stage of the process at any given time and the only way for them to make sure they have addressed these issues with each entertainment act is to have a general guideline printed and issued for every event. They probably have a stock list for a variety of types of events they host; meetings, conferences, etc.

Timelines are important for busy venues. My respect for their planning and accomodation is important. My respect for my clients and their budget is important. In order for the previous to happen, a few things need to be addressed in advance. No big deal. It's all of us working together to make an event happen without interfering or intruding on other events in progress nearby. It's not about screwing anybody.
 
soundinmotiondj said:
What if there are guests in the building at the time...but they are not guests for your event?
What if a potential client is looking at the site wanting to book for a later date?
Click to expand...

They should have the sense not to make an appointment with a potential client to show the place at that time, plain and simple. They place may be in somewhat of a disarray.
 
Sorry Canute I disagree. Many venues enhance the visits allowing a client to picture the place as if it is being prepared for them and also gives them an idea of how others are decorating and also perhaps see something they have overlooked. I have booked several events from these visitors as the see me setting up or already setup for my event. I attempt to look the best even when taping down a cable.
 
Jon Tuck said:
as if it is being prepared
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Maybe certain states and cities do things different. Lots of venues here have their spaces dressed up 24/7 ready to be seen. Anyways, all I know is that I am not wearing a damn Tux to setup equipment. They are not going to show off at my expense. I hope the balloon delivery people also wear Tuxes. How silly!
 
Actually, the most advantageous time to show an upscale venue to a prospective client is when the venue is dressed for an upscale event.

People love eye candy. What better way to sell a fantasy wedding party than show prospects the best your house can offer them? Without all the trimmings and decorations, it's just another rental venue.
 
Exactly right. Most people aren't as adept at visualization and conceptualization and have a hard time, if its even possible for them at all, superimposing their vision (if they even really know what THAT IS at any given time) onto a blank canvas.

Adding the dimension of a decorated or dressed up venue is what it takes in a lot of cases to drive it home - even if its not YOUR color scheme and your centerpieces, those cogs start turning once they are stimulated.

And for the fairer sex (yes, generalizing here) - the emotional aspect is tapped into at this point as well. Which in the end, is what its about.
 
Canute your being silly

did you order more than Ricks Rockit? The form didnt once say you had to wear a tux. Lets be serious it said appropriate wear. Until one talks to the venue we will only be guessing and possibly would find we are all appropriate in what we set up in. Unless its open toed sandals grubby jeans and a moth eaten tank top.:sqwink:
ahoustondj said:
Maybe certain states and cities do things different. Lots of venues here have their spaces dressed up 24/7 ready to be seen. Anyways, all I know is that I am not wearing a damn Tux to setup equipment. They are not going to show off at my expense. I hope the balloon delivery people also wear Tuxes. How silly!
Click to expand...
 
Jon Tuck said:
did you order more than Ricks Rockit? The form didnt once say you had to wear a tux. Lets be serious it said appropriate wear. Until one talks to the venue we will only be guessing and possibly would find we are all appropriate in what we set up in. Unless its open toed sandals grubby jeans and a moth eaten tank top.:sqwink:
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I always dress nice but for the sake of argument, one should wear clothes condusive to the job at hand. Loading and unloading gear is considered "manual labor (Sweaty stuff)" at that time that is what you are, a laborer. Setting up is like an electrician/electronics installation, blue collar wear. DJing is a professional skill and the wear should be conducive to the event. With that being said I will dress the appropriate part. I do not wear blue jeans, T-shirts or sneakers anyway. I have played in dumps to very fine venues and nobody cared what I arrived in to setup. Maybe its a regional thing, we are more liberal in Texas I guess!

Maybe the folks at that venue need to order some of rick's brew, then they won't be coming up with those silly policies.
 
ahoustondj said:
...one should wear clothes condusive to the job at hand. Loading and unloading gear is considered "manual labor (Sweaty stuff)" at that time that is what you are, a laborer. Setting up is like an electrician/electronics installation, blue collar wear. DJing is a professional skill and the wear should be conducive to the event.
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Nicely put. I think along those same lines when figuring out my own hourly compensation when figuring my rates in my job-cost-analysis. I don't pay myself the same per-hour for loading and paperwork as I do for performing. Each part of the event sees me allotting a certain dollar-amount per hour.

Don't want to derail the thread here [so please don't do so based on this post] but I just thought it was cool to see someone else thinking along those lines... :sqcool:

To stay on-topic though - yes - it is silly to think you could/should wear semi-formal or better to set up.
 
Sounds To Go said:
To stay on-topic though - yes - it is silly to think you could/should wear semi-formal or better to set up.
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I agree. But, as a counter point, the ballroom setup staff at my event last month were wearing formal pants, tux shirts with bow ties and waist coats - and still wheeling in 10ft tables, setting chairs, putting down dance floor, and pushing in the bar carts. That was at least as much manual labor as I was doing...and I was not wearing a jacket. :sqerr:
 
soundinmotiondj said:
I agree. But, as a counter point, the ballroom setup staff at my event last month were wearing formal pants, tux shirts with bow ties and waist coats - and still wheeling in 10ft tables, setting chairs, putting down dance floor, and pushing in the bar carts. That was at least as much manual labor as I was doing...and I was not wearing a jacket. :sqerr:
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I am an independent contractor. I do not follow what other people do, because I work for myself. Nobody dictates to me what I should do concerning my own business.

Are you telling me then, that if you are walking in a line with 50 people before you and they all step into poop, that you will too?
 
Valerie Ruste said:
Many of the venues we work require our client to pay a fee for having their staff present for our load in/out times. It's all of us working together to make an event happen without interfering or intruding on other events in progress nearby. It's not about screwing anybody.
Click to expand...

point taken!
in 28-years I have never seen a "contract" with a venue!
and have never been asked (or required) to dress any-certin-way to load in!
so I guess I'm being overly critical of something I have not experienced.

we only have one hall in my area that even attemps to read me the riot act.
and it's mostly about ending EXACTLY when contracted to end.
these idiots actually installed a kill switch in the kitchen...
that cuts the power at the outlet we plug into!
:sqembarrassed:
 
Ausumm said:
these idiots actually installed a kill switch in the kitchen...
that cuts the power at the outlet we plug into!
:sqembarrassed:
Click to expand...

And when they hit it and damage your equipment, what happens? Suppose their clock was wrong?

I'd blackball the place.
 
GoodKnightDJ said:
And when they hit it and damage your equipment, what happens? Suppose their clock was wrong?
I'd blackball the place.
Click to expand...

It only happened to me once.
right in the middle of playing "NA NA NA KISS HIM GOODBYE"
as I was waving goodbye to guests who were putting on their coats.
had no equipment damage.
but I understand PLENTY of DJ's bitched about it...
especially since they never gave us any advanced warning.
now, if we would have ignored their warning...I could almost understand.

btw
same place that used to charge the b/g an extra $300 if they arrived late for dinner.
 
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