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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Times are Tough

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I've been playing the same venue for the past two years every Friday and Saturday night. (Minus the mobile gig, mostly weddings, that I schedule from time to time) Its a local bar, small in comparison to most. Regardless of size we held our own and I used to be able to get that place rockin. Here lately, we have suffered quite a drastic decline in business. I make less money working there than most DJ's do, and in my entire two years there I never asked for a raise. I hold a full time day job so the money isn't a real issue, it was nice to play my music in front of a crowd, score some free drinks, and put a lil cash in my pocket. But today the owner calls me and wants to cut my pay because he isn't ringing up enough money. I told him I am already working for less than anybody else will and I'm not going any lower. I continued to tell him that lowering my price isn't going to bring him any more business, so thats a bad solution. I also have been telling him for months that it would be helpful if he hired someone to clean the place up. He also cut out our bouncers to save money stating he could provide security himself. But he doesn't show up until 11:30. When he does show up noone likes to be around him because he carries a chip on his shoulder and a piss-poor attitude. Maybe this post is nothing more than getting this off my chest so I apologize if I'm wasting forum space. I tried talking to my girlfriend about it but lately I'm noticing she thinks the world revolves around her, so I didn't find any closure there. I'm confused as to whether I should stick to my guns or cave to keep my gig. Jobs are hard to find right now. If you read this, thank you, writing it has helped relieve the stress. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I'm glad I have VDJ, it's made me a better DJ and this forum has now helped my personal life as well as my business. Thanks guys. Some of you have become like friends to me, even though we've never met.
 
Posted Wed 10 Dec 08 @ 2:06 pm
Hi M8.

I'm sorry to hear that you are having problems with this club, Things are really tough at the moment with pubs & clubs and most of them as you know are shutting. This is a really sad time for everybody, what I would say is this? keep playing the venue and see what happens this manager or owner has a big problem and he needs to sort himself out and his staff problems. As a DJ we are the ones that the managers usually cut the wages as we get more than the average person, as you say taking another cut in wages is not going to help the situation. Does the club have drinks promotion nights as this can also help to bring in those few extra people. Not having any security staff on also is a BIG problem as i think you need them if you have a late License I maybe wrong. I play at a members club quite frequent and that the music has to stop at 12pm because we have no security staff. Keep your chin up and stay as long as you can i hope things turn out for you.

Happy Christmas
 
what I normally do for a club owner is this. offer him to cut your wages and you offer to cut your performance due to the cut in salary. now you start getting sloppy during your mixes, cut the sound completely off for announcements, etc. once the owner sees your lack of performance compared to your previous talent and asks you why you are putting on less of a show, just answer him that money talks. he's paying you for your services....less money = less service.

At least that's what I would do anyhow
 
hate to say it, but unless you can find a way of pulling the owners cranial structure from his rectum, it just might be time to bail and move on to other venues.
i've "been there, done that" with where i am now and the only thing that kept me there was a complete change in management that turned the place around, and back into the party place it was before.
 
Very common for this to happen in small venues, it's very narrow minded and will not solve the problem. In times like this the venue owners have to try harded, your boss is just trying to take the piss. If I was you I would leave, you have a day job anyway, it's sad but better than been pushed and it won't do anything for your rep to end up playing to 3 people. Oh and buy the way it will be all your fault that it's dead and have nothing to do with the reccession. Just my experience from this type of thing. Charlie
 
man that sucks... and there is hardly ever a good solution for the DJ except moving on..
True... if business continue go bad.... and trust me.. it is global.... then you may very well be blamed for the dwindling crowd...(but things are tight everywhere).

If you go.. then you lose an income... and that little extra cash to make things roll over..... very sticky situation. Regular gigs are preferred by many over being mobile since it keeps a certain cash flow. Doing both in itself is a blessing

Also good to see that you have a steady 9 to 5. At least that makes you independent enough to analyze the situation carefully


However.. the decision is yours..... not an easy one to make..... I have been burnt twice by tv stations. not club this time around... because in the first.. I was a suck up...... (did not pay off). In the next I held my price during negotiations.. (and still no pay off). Even though... in both cases it would have garnered a great part of the watching population and put them way above the competition.

But you have to be pro-active... Now I am iin the process of putting out the program myself on other tv stations and seeking sponsors from the same interests they were minus.. the middle man..

Sometimes a Job (bible guy not... the work) situation.... brings you through your struggles.....you can only hope that at the end of it there is a silver lining... But you have to stay strong
 
Moving on is now my only option. Owner called today, and since I didn't budge he told me I could come pick my equipment up anytime. Arrogant asshole said it like he was doing me some kind of favor that I could get it whenever I want to. Everything said above is correct. I'm going to miss the steady work for a few reasons. The set income, the fact that without hesitation I can tell my friends and new fans this is where I play all the time, the fact that the other bartendars have become like family to me. My first boss told me your not a DJ until you get fired from a gig, and this is not the first time I've been fired, I'm sure we all can agree to that. This one hurt though because I put two years in this place. I came out of pocket for alot of equipment for this place. Mind you its all coming with me. The funny part is my girlfriends mothers birthday is tommorow and mine is on Saturday. I had two big parties planned and I'm going to tell this owner after I get my gear out how many people will be going to the next one now. How you going to fire me on two days notice two weeks before Christmas? Thats why this is bothering me. The way he went about it makes me hope he gets whats coming to him and I don't like being that guy. I feel spiteful right now, and I know if and when I move onto something better that feeling will go away but until then I feel like a scrooge all of a sudden. Nothing worse than a sad DJ. I'm supposed to be the party, not the party pooper.
 
one - DON'T feel sorry for yourself in the least! this guy is gonna find out that no one worth having in that bar is gonna want to work for him, and he cant do it all himself

two - take a deep breath and think about how you really feel to be not there. the last place i quit, oh those many years ago, was such a pain in the ass to work at that i realized just how much better i felt not to be working there. which led directly to me being where i am for the last 11 years, and being one of the highest paid dj's in the area.

three - put out the word! both about the owner, and about you being free to take other gigs. you might have been one of the lowest paid dj's, but that doesnt mean you gonna stay that way. and sometimes (not always, but sometimes..) being the lowest paid leads to more money if you can show the prospective employers you're worth it.

keep the faith, you'll get there
 
yes keep the faith.. mon... we will be rooting for you
 
Dude, I know exactly how you feel... being spiteful and everything. My last place I was at for 3 years and put everything I had to make the place what it is now. BAM!!! without warning just a gut feeling, I got that call that I being traded to the minors. It took me about 3 weaks ( mostly because I wasn't looking too hard ) to find another place. My new location doesn't have the crowd like last one but I landed both Friday and Saturday and every special event / holidays. Turns out that it was a blessing that I got fired. Turns out that I got hired based on my reputation and professionalism.

Moral: Yes, it hurts at the beginning but keep poking your nose out there. Start networking with other DJs and something will come along.

From the words of the great prophet: " You can't keep the good DJs down " ... AMAHM
 


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