Whats your thoughts

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Proformance said:
The time to assign a DJ is at the time the client calls, or visits. In fact if your staff is as experienced as you say, let them close the sale. If you call me about a school dance - hell yeah! I'm gonna recommend my college student to you. If you call me for a birthday party I'm gonna recommend the DJ closest to the age of your guest list. If you call about a wedding - I'd probably let you pick the guy you seem to click with.

This works like a charm because the client loves their DJ long before the event. If you match clients with DJs you garner something WAY beyond trust - you get camaraderie, that sense that we are all in this together. Your DJ can literally mispronounce the bride's name during the introductions and she's likely to laugh it off and let it slide, because this is HER disc jockey - not simply the guy who showed up.
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I almost completely agree with this - though I don't think I would let them close the sale. The performer would be the person they speak with from day 1 though. The customer will know during discussion who I think would be best fit (they can also tell me what they think). If they desire to move forward, then .. and only then, do discussions between the customer and the sub begin.

rickryan.com said:
Now as for assigning the DJ, yes, that's done immediately BUT I do not make that a part of the contract or involve the client as I want to maintain flexibility for later on, in case it makes more sense to switch people around, logistically-speaking. It also gives me protection in case somebody needs to bail, for whatever reason. While I know a lot of us think it's our sparkling personalities that make a party I view it, and couch it, as a service and I have a team assembled that will produce that service with excellence.

Now as for the camaraderie, you feel you accomplish that by pre-matching the DJ before the sale. If it works for you, great. My procedure of the phone call seems to work just as effectively at putting the Bride's mind at ease and making her comfortable with the person she's getting. I'll one up you though that if you introduce "the guy" too early in the process, your company gets lost in the process and the credit for the success of the party goes to "the guy" and your company name gets lost in the shuffle. That's when you get the referral call that's asking for "DJ X and I won't accept anyone else". It works against you in my opinion. I have a number of brides who have left glowing reviews where they're raving about how great my company is but can't seem to remember the actual name of the DJ I sent.
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RR, I understand your point of moving things around logistically - but I seriously believe that your clients will feel MUCH more comfortable if you established that relationship up front. I don't know of any multi op that puts the DJ's name in the contract. The contract remains between the company and the client .. however the sub is contacted and given that show and informed to start communication.

As a sub to a multi op, I can perform where need be .. but from the same aspect, let me work the event details - as I'm the one that will be there. I want to be prepared for the event .. not scrambling during the last week trying to get things done or understood. I want to know about the site .. and be prepared for it. In addition, if I'm booked for a mitzvah .. and you call today to flip all the shows around, you're now changing my approach .. and quite possibly my loadout. If there are certain requirements, must play / lighting / etc, now those also have to be moved around to the various people as well. If the events are separate times, you now may be interrupting things the dj had planned to do while he / she was not working (personal life). To top it off, the customer now has to deal with yet another new face. I understand emergencies happen - and events may have to be moved and covered .. but this should not be the norm. Anyone can flip a burger at BK .. or move around to mopping floors (fill in where need be). Give me some ownership in the process and I'll really shine. By letting me shine, I'm more inclined to work harder as well.

Vice Versa, if I'm the prime, I want the sub to have as much time to get as much information as they need. I want them to shine at the event. There's nothing like being a week out, put them in touch .. and they don't get along, or they have different ideas .. or whatever. The up front relationship takes care of this. They see what the performer has invested in them and vice versa. They see exactly what they will be getting. If they don't click, I have time to switch. This helps .. LOTS. The DJ also understands that the fee I'm paying includes them meeting with, discussing with and taking care of the customer. This includes a site visit. If you can't get your equipment in .. or use it, we WILL have a problem. Could there be events where you could flip flop DJ's and these issues are minimal? Sure. IMO, the odds work way more in your favor by creating that up front relationship .. and it cost you very little. In addition, you now have a 'history' with that customer. You have an actual relationship .. and not just a business deal for an event.

As for reviews, I want them to know the DJ who worked the show .. BY NAME. For all intents, that performer IS my business name at that event. I also want him / her to hand out my cards and say what business he / she is representing. I want my business name out there .. and the performers name. I want the customer and the audience to know that this person works for me. I want the customer and my DJ to bond. My performer, if he / she is being ethical, should bring ANY referrals back to me.

I also agree that YMMV. I can only speak from what I've seen .. sharing my opinions and thoughts. From my own personal aspect, I will always bring business to companies that invest in me. In some cases, these cost more .. but I feel I'm getting more. To me, this makes it worth it.

An analogy .. You are having computer issues and call Company A for assistance. Company A logs your ticket into the system and tells you a rep will be call you back asap .. which may turn into a tech today, a separate one tomorrow and another on the next day. Company B puts you in touch with the tech that will help until its done. How would you feel about each of these? Which will you call the next time there is an issue?

If you're ordering a cake for a very high level function .. are you just interested in the cake being there (don't care who makes it) or would you feel better if you had a connection / personal investment with who was making the cake?

The photog that you were working with .. how would you feel if he turned over the contact information 1 week out?

Again, YMMV .. just trying to show you some other angles.
 
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DJ Bobcat said:
When I hired people for the IT help desk, I had to pass on a few individuals with disabilities because they were not able to communicate clearly with my customers.
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Makes me thnk of 90% of the customer service calls I've been on.
Anyone else ever ask for another rep, because they could not get past their accent?
 
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Ausumm said:
Makes me thnk of 90% of the customer service calls I've been on.
Anyone else ever ask for another rep, because they could not get past their accent?
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I've certainly experienced the same situation. Even with people from the U.S., the English language is not always well spoken.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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I think we all have.

They say that the British Accent is the sexiest, followed by the Southern Belle. They should hire them for Tech Support lines.

:)
 
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ittigger said:
RR, I understand your point of moving things around logistically - but I seriously believe that your clients will feel MUCH more comfortable if you established that relationship up front. I don't know of any multi op that puts the DJ's name in the contract. The contract remains between the company and the client .. however the sub is contacted and given that show and informed to start communication.
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I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree here. My actual experience shows that my clients are entirely comfortable with my process. I'm not selling personalities, I'm selling a service and whenever I explain my staffing procedure it puts them entirely at ease and I've yet to have a single one say, "So who are you going to schedule for my event?" They don't care at that point and they don't want to think about it until it's time to finalize the details. If it didn't work, I'd change the process.

Now as for getting the DJ the info, they are contacted immediately for availability, then assigned to the account. Each week they get a reminder email that shows the gigs they're lined up for with links to the Online Planner for said event. They can check it any time they want and the only stipulation I have is that they are to call the client at least the week before, in order to go over the details and to make that personal connection. Maybe it works differently for others but this is working well and it maintains the maximum flexibility for me.
 
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rickryan.com said:
I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree here. My actual experience shows that my clients are entirely comfortable with my process. I'm not selling personalities, I'm selling a service and whenever I explain my staffing procedure it puts them entirely at ease and I've yet to have a single one say, "So who are you going to schedule for my event?" They don't care at that point and they don't want to think about it until it's time to finalize the details. If it didn't work, I'd change the process.

Now as for getting the DJ the info, they are contacted immediately for availability, then assigned to the account. Each week they get a reminder email that shows the gigs they're lined up for with links to the Online Planner for said event. They can check it any time they want and the only stipulation I have is that they are to call the client at least the week before, in order to go over the details and to make that personal connection. Maybe it works differently for others but this is working well and it maintains the maximum flexibility for me.
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And you are entitled to disagree. I'm basing my thoughts on actual experience as well. That said, everything doesn't work the same everywhere. Even locally, things work different. It's all based on you and how you do things best.
 
ittigger said:
And you are entitled to disagree. I'm basing my thoughts on actual experience as well. That said, everything doesn't work the same everywhere. Even locally, things work different. It's all based on you and how you do things best.
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For what it's worth, I don't think we're really far off in our beliefs. We both schedule the actual DJ as soon as possible, it's just that I don't ask my DJ to get in contact with the Bride until that final week, after she's filled out the Online Planner. It's fairly rare that a Bride even touches it until 2 weeks out so there's really nothing to even discuss at that point. I do believe strongly in communicating with the client and having a solid timeline in place for my folks to work from. "Fake it till you make it" just doesn't cut it in my opinion.
 
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rickryan.com said:
For what it's worth, I don't think we're really far off in our beliefs. We both schedule the actual DJ as soon as possible, it's just that I don't ask my DJ to get in contact with the Bride until that final week, after she's filled out the Online Planner. It's fairly rare that a Bride even touches it until 2 weeks out so there's really nothing to even discuss at that point. I do believe strongly in communicating with the client and having a solid timeline in place for my folks to work from. "Fake it till you make it" just doesn't cut it in my opinion.
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Agreed .. but I try to get the ball rolling up front. I try to be done with choices and planning no less than 4 weeks out (the sooner, the better IMO). I can deal with little changes here and there as need be .. but the bulk frame should be done. It doesn't always happen that way, but I push for it. I try to avoid the final week - as they are usually so much under stress from other angles, that I want to be the last of their worries. I'm also not inclined to be changing music 'just because' a week out.
 
You're all wrong .. spread your speakers and learn some art.
 
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ittigger said:
Agreed .. but I try to get the ball rolling up front. I try to be done with choices and planning no less than 4 weeks out (the sooner, the better IMO). I can deal with little changes here and there as need be .. but the bulk frame should be done. It doesn't always happen that way, but I push for it. I try to avoid the final week - as they are usually so much under stress from other angles, that I want to be the last of their worries. I'm also not inclined to be changing music 'just because' a week out.
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Well man, bravo to you if you can get Brides to get their part done that soon. I'd probably say 80% of the girls around here won't fill it out until maybe 10 days out. Of course, I don't push them either. I've had a rash of clients this past year that didn't even touch it and we had to get everything over the phone.
 
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rickryan.com said:
I've had a rash of clients this past year that didn't even touch it and we had to get everything over the phone.
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Yeah...I saw that happening more and more before I retired. I'm guessing the technology double sword effect is to blame.

The view that "what we do is not that tough or important"...and "my cousin could DJ my wedding" puts the priority of this industry down the line a bit.
 
Agreed - and that may be one reason I reach out and push - it helps emphasize how important it is.
 
rickryan.com said:
I'll one up you though that if you introduce "the guy" too early in the process, your company gets lost in the process and the credit for the success of the party goes to "the guy" and your company name gets lost in the shuffle. That's when you get the referral call that's asking for "DJ X and I won't accept anyone else". It works against you in my opinion. I have a number of brides who have left glowing reviews where they're raving about how great my company is but can't seem to remember the actual name of the DJ I sent.
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I'll one up you back - and let you know that if a DJ works an event for you that generates referrals and then finds out you are not giving them right of first refusal on all of that generated business - then that DJ won't be working for you for very long. If you want loyal DJs then you have to give them a stake in growing their own income. If your need to control gets in the way of the DJ advancing his career then he will soon be your competitor instead of your associate. Your company names is ALWAYS secondary to the name of the talent people want to work with.

Gigs are the real estate of entertainment. If your agents can't reap the benefits of their own good work through your office they will move to another or start brokering their own.
 
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Proformance said:
I'll one up you back - and let you know that if a DJ works an event for you that generates referrals and then finds out you are not giving them right of first refusal on all of that generated business - then that DJ won't be working for you for very long. If you want loyal DJs then you have to give them a stake in growing their own income. If your need to control gets in the way of the DJ advancing his career then he will soon be your competitor instead of your associate. Your company names is ALWAYS secondary to the name of the talent people want to work with.

Gigs are the real estate of entertainment. If your agents can't reap the benefits of their own good work through your office they will move to another or start brokering their own.
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Not sure how you're one upping me, I didn't say that. The least you could do is quote the proper person.

;)

Now that that's out of the way, I agree with you. If I'm generating leads for you, you should hopefully send that business my way. If I'm the prime and don't take care of you, then you'll probably walk. Please note that I said this earlier in this thread - Post #21 (letting your contractors take 'ownership' and have a stake in the event).

:D
 
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Did Houston get booted? He could be a headache at times, but maybe I missed something as far as him going across the line. I am a moderator in a live gaming room, and for the (AAWC) Axis and Allies World Club, electronic version of the old board game. Unless someone uses fowl language, or gets sexually explicit, I try and work with them. In ten years of doing moderator duty, I only banned one person.

I am not trying to be his attorney, he rubbed me wrong sometimes, but there were a couple in here that also tried to bait him all the time. I can't say there has been anyone in this forum I don't like, some are more helpful than others, some use the place for their own needs without adding much for others, and one I have never been able to understand (but he spends his time on another forum mostly now). :)
 
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