Didnt get paid

[karaokeshalexis]

:cuss Hey everyone, I was just wondering if any of you have had this problem, I did a bar on Friday night, I used to do it every Friday, anyway, last Friday was different, I went to get paid, and the owner of the bar refused to pay me, I brought a big crowd into the bar and I always do. But for some reason he decided he didnt want to pay me, and there was nothing I could do about it, there was also about 5 employees in there earlier trying to get checks and he wouldnt pay them either, anyway, my question is this, I want to start doing contracts that the bars have to sign b4 I agree to do the show, anyone have any ideas on what I should put in the contract, or how I should write it up, any help would be very appreciated, I don't want something like this to happen agian, also, is there any way I can get my money from that S.O.B? Thanks much for your input :confuzzed

[Glen Millar]

Sue the bum.

If he is not paying employees, there is a VERY good chance he is going down...or under.

Launch a civil suit immediately.

[karaokeshalexis]

Do I have to have a contract with him though, He usually paid me cash I wouldnt take his checks

[Wolfie]

Glen could be right -- the bar owner may be planning to skip town.

It happens. Dover's most popular watering hole, Froggy's shut down on New Year's Day. The owner left town and hasn't been seen since. None of the vendors were paid. That's liquor suppliers, the landlord, food deliveries, the NYE band -- you name it. I'm guessing he planned this caper in advance. He grabbed the NYE till and high-tailed it out of town.

In this old dog's humble opinion it's the vendors' own damn fault. They should have required payment for services/goods rendered up front. I've been in this business long enough to know better than to trust anyone, especially bar managers. Bar managers don't like to sign entertainment agreements. That's why I don't do the bars anymore. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Of course you should have a signed contract. You should also be paid for your services in advance. Back when I was doing the local bars I specified that my pay would be in my hands upon arrival. When I walked in the door I expected to be handed a pay envelope before one single thing was loaded in. No pay, no DJ. If they didn't have my paycheck ready when I arrived I got back in my truck and went home. That's the way it was. I didn't wait 'til the end of the night to get paid and I didn't listen to any BS.

If you'd like a copy of our service agreement, feel free to email us at fred@nwedj.com. I'll be happy to pass it along. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

I hope it helps.

[karaokeshalexis]

Thanks for the input wolfie, alot of the bars I play at thinks since they know me they can slack on payment, I let them know that if I don't see a check I won't play, I don't know why I changed the rules that night. That should teach me for trusting them gosh darn bar managers lol :krazy