For me my reputation is PRICELESS!
Kinda hard to have a reputation when you hardly ever perform.
For me my reputation is PRICELESS!
I don't disagree Danno.
Likewise...If a Vendor takes a long time to pay me I will let it be known to everybody moving forward...Another reason why I am not sub contracting with other DJ companies moving forward. I only work with Agents for now on. If another DJ company wants to book me, they are free to send their client my way, and I will book direct.
They had a ton of lawsuits against them. From DJs not getting paid for jobs and stiffing clients out of doing jobs keeping the money paid to them.
.... I put this in to protect my business so I don't get stiffed from a client. If I sigh a contract with a client my job is to be there to work for that client. Thank God I have never had a situation arise where I couldn't show up. The only thing that would make me a no show is either my mother dying the day of or if I got hospitalized the day of. So far so good. Just so you know I do have DJs who are friends of mine that are very good and if it were to come to that I could call one of them to see if they were available to cover the event for me. I had to add that in because I know someone would mention that and wonder if I have a backup plan just in case.
For me my reputation is PRICELESS!
These cases are 100% the DJ's fault. You guys are willing to fleece a client 30 or more days out but work for another company or an agency and get paid whenever.
The best rule of thumb is to take payment when you can get it. Don't ever turn down money.
What's there to laugh at ? It's about protecting your bottom line and that is getting paid the full amount of money due to you. I learned that lesson from having a few times of either getting paid part of the money or not at all .Thanks for the morning laugh.
Using the term "fleece" is a inflammatory and offensive. There's nothing wrong with doing basic business diligence, especially in this line of work. In terms of getting paid, you get paid where and when you can. If it's a one-off client, you'd better get your money up-front. If it's a repeat customer, then some people will find it acceptable to be paid, after the fact, in exchange for the work. Requiring payment up front from a one-off is in no way to "fleece" anyone.
My question is if you allow payment the day of how do you allow the client to pay ? By cc, check, money order or cash ?
Most of my clients pay by check, but I can accept credit cards too using Square. Cash is obviously, and always accepted as well. Are money orders still a thing?
I didn't think anyone here was that sensitive my apologies. Lets change "fleece" to "Collect up front" and keep the sentiment the same
The point was there are those that are willing to "collect up front" on a bride yet complain about having to wait to be paid form another DJ company or an agency for days or weeks. Why not "collect up front" there too?
I do agree with the never turn money down policy
Because when you agree to work with another DJ company, no matter if you stipulate or demand payments up front, they will operate how they normally conduct business. If they are a DJ company with a payment processing center that does their payroll...They will have the cut check from the payment processing center the next payroll date after the event. ...That is how ALL OF THEM operate. You are thinking that the other DJ companies are also Solo Ops like yourself. While there is a owner, they have their businesses set up just like a regular employer. One company does payroll on the 1st and 15th of each month, and that's it. ...If you did a job on the 15th or 16th...you would be waiting until the 1st of the next month for payroll, then because they held the check longer, you don't receive the check in the mail until after the 10th...And that is how the 3 week wait easily happens.
What sucks is they often get the check made, then let it sit in their office for days, or over a week before they actually drop the check in the mail.
Last year I worked a job through an agent that booked me at a Casino. It took me 5 1/2 weeks to get paid. Nothing I could do but wait on the agent. He had to bill the Casino AFTER I did the work, then it took forever for him to cut me a check. ...What would have been fair is if he could have written me a personal check, so I can get paid, and wait on the money from the Casino since he has been working with them for 15 years, you would think that would be fine right...he knows they are good for the money...I am the one who is worrying because I haven't dealt with them before? ...Nope....I guess the Agent doesn't have money just sitting around. This was also after he told me I would originally be paid by the 10th (10 days after the gig to allow time for payroll from the Casino).
There are many people out there who just don't conduct business in a fair, and professional manner. I'm busy enough at this point that I don't need to associate myself with people like that. Again, other DJ companies, and Agents I don't already have an established partnership with...they can send me their client to book direct. If they NEED me that much, then they will agree to doing that.
The point was there are those that are willing to "collect up front" on a bride yet complain about having to wait to be paid form another DJ company or an agency for days or weeks. Why not "collect up front" there too?
When I used to sub out gigs, after you did five gigs for me with zero issues I would pay up front if you wanted me to, up to 24 hours before the gig, On gigs with a deposit they were also paid a portion of the deposit when it was made
yet you ask your clients to trust you by making a deposit, you could be killed in a car accident on the way to a gig or abducted by aliens then what happens to their deposit or more importantly their eventI trust my DJs, but there is one main reason why I hold the deposit until the event date.
- If something were to happen to the DJ I booked, and I can't find a substitute, then I would need to refund that deposit. If I already paid a portion of the deposit to the DJ, then I would be out money if this situation arose.
Sure, it's rare, but anything could happen. My DJs know I will cut them a check the next day after the gig if they stop by my house the next day.
I collect prior to the event also, but if you think about it is it any different than the waiter asking you to pay after you've finished a mealDoesn't anyone have a form they use in conjunction with a credit card payment laying out the details of a payment schedule and once signed, gives you the OK to charge the card per said schedule?
I really disliked going to a client at the end of any event and waiting for a payment....awkward...