this saturday i had a gig with a few good friends at a venue that we've spun at a couple of times before. the venue was closed down for a month (due to the owner not having a liquor license) and had a "grand re-opening" in which i was supposed to book the night. the place is NOT a club; it's a small cocktail lounge, max capacity 20-30 people or so, but we throw parties there every other saturday and another group throws down every friday. this night wasn't any different from any other, we had the place comfortably full for the majority of the night.

at the end as we were done packing up i asked the owner "how the night went" (i.e. "i'm ready to leave, i'd like to get paid") to which the owner responded,

"well here's the deal. we've been closed for a month. i can't pay you. i tell you what, you have a $30 bar tab, i'll give you $20, so give me $10 and we'll call it even."
"that's unacceptable."
"well how much would you expect to get paid?"
"three different dj acts, i would like at the very least $20 per act. $60."
"i can't do that. first of all, i've been closed for a month, most of the people that showed up were "my people", and i'm only here to take care of you. i can pay you and you alone, you have to deal with whoever else you bring yourself."
"well, not to be an asshole, but I can't split $20 between four people, especially since you refused to give any of the DJs free drinks (except myself). and furthermore, we bring all of the equipment (speakers, mixer, decks, records) ourselves and we have some DJs drive 3+ hours just to spin in milwaukee."
"unfortunately, you ARE being an asshole, and i could care less who you bring to DJ. it all sounds the same to me. the people on friday don't get paid a dime. i'll pay your bar tab and give you $20. that's $50."

at this point i reluctantly accept, tell him to call if he wants the gigs to continue in a professional manner, and leave.

am i wrong for being a prick in this situation? the guy has tried doing bullshit like this before.. i don't care about how much i'm getting paid, my main concern is that the other DJs get something for their time/travel expense. i just feel that for the work and effort that all of us put in to throwing the night together (including flyers/promotion and the like), that there should be some sort of monetary reimbursement, especially since we risk our equipment (as well as the hassle of having to hook everything up). and in my opinion, if we were to do this for free, we might as well throw house parties instead.

i guess the main thing i'm concerned about is that i don't want to be taken advantage of, i would do it for free but if he's profiting off of our talent/work then he should reciprocate. AT LEAST with free drinks. opinions?

also, it was established from the beginning (before we had even gotten the gig) that each DJ would be paid $30, + free drinks (within reason). but our first gig's turnout was.. not good, so he didn't pay us that much. every other time was paid though: no free drinks, and $20 instead.

what exactly did you do that you think you might be wrong, or might be acting like a prick??

you just accepted whatever crap he said and walked off.

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I'd say you're not doing anything wrong. Actually I think you've done it just right. Agreements are made to satisfy both parties. If one does not hold up to his end of the bargain then you shouldn't bother wasting your time on them.

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quote:

If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

quote:

Originally posted by smakmagik what exactly did you do that you think you might be wrong, or might be acting like a prick?? you just accepted whatever crap he said and walked off.

pretty much told him his original idea for "payment" (or lack thereof) was bullshit. i figure if i piss the guy off, i get nothing. might as well.. "cut the losses" so to speak. why, you would've handled it differently?

Handled it perfectly IMO.

Nate - you really shouldn't worry about this. Fuck Mike, and fuck Lemon.

I really have no desire to put any effort into playing there again - the guy is an ass and I'd have no problem telling him so if I ever run into him again.

At the end of the day, there's no reason I should have caught more of a buzz from two beers at home than I did off of 6 drinks we paid 5 bucks a piece for.

You did everything right - if he calls, my recommendation is not to answer.

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last minute disco dot net

The hard trodden road of the bar DJ.

First up, Oral contract is not worth the paper it's written on if you catch my drift. Unless you get it in writing there is nothing you can do about it.

Secondly, a full bar isn't any use if people are not drinking. A bar owner would generally be happier if everyone was legless having spent all their money to get to that state and no music.

You probably need to establish a different type of a agreement with him.

In fairness I agree, he does sound like he is changing the deal as it goes but this is what bar owners do the world over pretty much. But you have to realise that it's your job to get people in who will party, not just bench warmers.

Although, just the fact that a bar gets shut down for not having a liquer licence gives you some idea about the operation.

Seriously though, with regards to the other DJs, I can in part see why he wants to deal with you. He's basically saying that, you can bring who the hell you like but he's not giving you extra for it.

I would be prepared to put money on the fact that if you approach him now you will be placed in the scenario that you have to acheive x amount of sales or he will get someone else in. He will also tell you that he likes you "but it's business you see".

In answer to your question, you havn't been a dick. You just called it as you saw it. Nothing wrong in that and it's better to speak up than be silent in this type of situation.

Don't get me wrong, there are bar owners out there who really understand the DJ culture and then there are those who think they do and then of course those who don't care.

You just have to work out how much the expereince of DJing out is worth to you, and can this be the means to an end. When dealing with promoters and Club/Bar owners you have to see the big picture. When trying to get your next gig it always looks better if you are playing somewhere already, it packs a bit more punch than just handing over a demo.

That said, don't beat yourself up over this, chances are this guy has been a dick before, and will most likely be one again. You did the right thing bro.

Cheers
Nem

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The problem is that no matter who he has in there, he's not going to last. And he's not going to bring anyone else in - he really doesn't care whether or not he has DJ's or just plays CD's behind the bar - his main concern is making sure every bar slut there sees his two second appearance in Resevoir Dogs and has enough coke to do, nothing more.

Again, Nate - this isn't worth it. There are plenty of other opportunities out there - this guy is a douche, plain and simple, and this place isn't for us.

No advice anyone on the internet can give you will compare with the experience of actually having been there time and time again - and I'm telling you right now, the best thing you could possibly do is tell Mike to fuck off.

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last minute disco dot net

i always here about this kinda stuff happening to locals everywhere...


why don't people try and collect their payment sometime during the middle of the night? then if you don't get what was agreed upon you basically straight up kill the music and start packing up lol...

From the sound of it he seems like he simply cannot be trusted. You did the right thing, Nate. If I were in your shoes I'd stop doing business with him. Nem's right, it does help to get gigs when you're already spinning out somewhere but if you're spinning at a place like that then, in my opinion, it's certainly not worth staying there.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT The problem is that no matter who he has in there, he's not going to last. And he's not going to bring anyone else in - he really doesn't care whether or not he has DJ's or just plays CD's behind the bar - his main concern is making sure every bar slut there sees his two second appearance in Resevoir Dogs and has enough coke to do, nothing more. Again, Nate - this isn't worth it. There are plenty of other opportunities out there - this guy is a douche, plain and simple, and this place isn't for us. No advice anyone on the internet can give you will compare with the experience of actually having been there time and time again - and I'm telling you right now, the best thing you could possibly do is tell Mike to fuck off.

Agreed, first hand experience is always best. You should probably listen to the man in this case.

DJs the world over a used to getting screwed anyways, but it's always nice to be kissed before hand. This sounds like too much agro especially if it's happened before. Besides if he's a Coke head, best leave, they are prone to irrational behavior and delusions of grandure.
That's one drug I have never understood, almost everyone I encounter turns into a complete self absorbed arse hole...

Cheers
Nem

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