Final Payment Quandry

[Cap]

DJ Donny I've been 14 days for final payment for years however thanks to the wisdom of folks like you, I've gone now to 45 days. I also changed my Completed Form due date to 45 days so that hopefully, they'll come in togther.

A local fellow DJ made a comment at a local meeting last night that since he began getting the final payment 30 days in advance, he's had less micro-managing, bitchy, demanding, last minute mind changing clients. That's reason enough for me!

[Wolfie]

True.

Most clients will RTFC (read the contract) and make payment in full before the engagement.

Several of our local DJ buddies have started requiring 50% of the total as a retainer with the remaining balance to be paid 30 days before the engagement. When you think about it, it's not too much to ask.

For the sake of professional business practice I don't recommend accepting payment on the date of the engagement. There are simply too many things going on during the wedding day. The last thing a B&G need to be concerned with is last-moment vendor payments.

I hope it helps.

[STREIKER]

IN RESPONSE TO JIM'S SITUATION:

I HAVE BEEN IN THE MOBILE DJ BUSINESS FOR 40 YEARS NOW. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE ONLY HAD A CHECK RETURNED TO ME 4 TIMES. (PRETTY GOOD AVERAGE.) IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY POLICY TO COLLECT THE BALANCE AT THE FUNCTION. IN MY CONTRACT IT STATES THAT I AM TO BE PAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERFORMANCE, BUT I NEVER PRESS THE ISSUE. SOME OF THE TIME (10%) THEY GO AHEAD AND INCLUDE A NICE TIP. IF MY DJ'S OR MYSELF FEEL THAT THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM WE GO AHEAD AND ASK FOR THE CHECK EARLIER. I HAVE HAD CLIENTS EXPRESS THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE A SONG THAT THEY REQUESTED 0N THE SPOT (OUTSIDE OF THEIR PRE-REQUEST LIST) THEY MAY NOT PAY. AT THIS POINT WE REQUEST THAT PAYMENT BE MADE AT THAT MOMENT. IF THEY REFUSE, WE THEN POINT OUT THAT THE CONTRACT REQUIRES PAYMENT TO BE MADE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERFORMANCE. IF THEY REFUSE TO PAY UNTIL THE END OF THE NIGHT....THE MUSIC GOES SILENT. MAN, DO THEY GET THAT CHECK TO US FAST. WE ARE NEVER RUDE IN THESE SITUATIONS AND WE KILL THEM WITH POLITNESS AND PROFESSIONALISM.

SOMETIMES I WISH THAT I WOULD HAVE MORE CHECKS BOUNCE OR STOP PAYMENTS ISSUED. (IN 40 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER HAD A STOP PAYMENT PUT ON A CHECK.) WE ALL HAVE BOUNCED AT LEAST ONE CHECK IN OUR LIFE AND THERE MAY BE A LEGIT REASON THAT THIS HAPPENS AND IN TWO OF THE FOUR OCCASIONS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED, THE CLIENT WAS EMBARASSED AND VERY REGRETFUL AND THEY NOT ONLY PAID THE RETURN CHECK CHARGE BUT ADDED A NICE CHUNCK FOR MY TROUBLE. WHEN A CLIENT REFUSES TO MAKE A CHECK GOOD, I TAKE THEM TO COURT. IN MANY STATES YOU CAN REQUEST UP TO 4 TO 5 TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE ORIGINAL CHECK. THE TWO TIMES THAT I HAVE HAD TO GO TO COURT THE JUDGE GAVE ME THE MAXIMUM JUDGEMENT. SO.....RECEIVING A BOUNCED CHECK CAN BE VERY PROFITABLE.

STREIKER

STREIKER'S MOBILE MUSIC MACHINES
ST. LOUIS, MO

[Dj IceMan]

Hello all ... I am not new to the Biz but work for a couple of companies in Australia

now one Company I worked for has yet to pay me on two shows, here is why.. which when you read will laugh so much as to fall off the chair....

I did a wedding that I had all organized from start to finish and the times was set 7pm to 12am ( I set up during the day as the club is open early - here its ok to do that..) anyway I arrived at 6:40 as everything was ready except 1x cd case I take with me with my special songs in it and the rest are locked up in the managers office so no one can touch it

so as I arrive at 6:40 thinking great loads of time to get the other cases out of the office to start, well the MC raced me in telling me I am 1x hour late!!!! what!!!! the contract is 7pm to 12am no calls the night before - none before the event none since I arranged it all and I rang twice in the last week to ask them ANY CHANGES ??? None they said!!

so now they are refusing to pay the boss and now the boss wont pay me - what can I do there...

the other one (Wait for it) is I was told that because I had a fault with a CD that THEY Supplied (Burnt of course) that there was 30-40seconds of DEAD Air they refuse to pay the bill

I said to the boss thats CRAP about that why should I be blamed for something out of MY hands I warned them that burnt CD's may not work and (whats the use no one listens even the boss) so I am dealing with another company that I tell them I get paid BEFORE the show or I dont work for them... learn by my mistakes by the way that if the boss wants to get left broke I am NOT

I now tell people I either work for or Clients hire me its 21days final payment is due take it or leave it

thanks

[leatherneck]

The way I have always done it is:

$250 deposit due upon signing a contract, the balance is due no later than 7 days before the event.

::knock on Wood, I have never had a problem::

everyone has got there own system I guess