fatkatzdj
I believe I mention that I got scouted a couple of weeks ago by an owner of a club. Just so happens that I've been wanting to get into this location for years. I stopped trying in the past year due to the direction they went musically and unsavory clientel. Well, I guess they got tired of the police and fire dept spending alot of time there and made a business decision to change before it got to late. This is where I come into play.
I talked to them a couple of weeks ago and told them what was required of me coming there. ( dresscode, lighting, music change over, and free will to play music style as needed and pay ). Both owners agreed. They invite me in to chat with the second owner Saturday night to get a feel of things. Just so happens they had a Temp DJ there setting up who is a know local club DJ. He looked at me like I was flirting with his girlfriend. The owner didn't introduce me or anything. He just took over the space as if the dj was not there. The whole night the DJ would make his mixes and when he thought he did something special he would look at me as if to say " you got served " LOL
Man, I got there around 9:00pm and they wanted me to stay for a good portion of the night. They introduced me to every high end manager and gave me an open bar. I stayed there until about 12:30 because the party didn't kick in until around 11:00pm. The whole time I was there they did everything to butter me up. They constantly check in with me to see if I had any thoughts.
Now, the kicker is this place is in direct competition with my current location who has treated me with respect. Theres only a mile difference location. They wanted what I produce at my current location. My current location would not hire me for both Fri and Sat nights because they don't want the same style on both nights but the crowd wants me there for both and keep asking for me to take over.
Should I tell the current location whats going on or is it not there concern since they did not want me of the extra night and they had two years to hire me for both nights. However, They do hire me to do all special events and holidays.
Thoughts -
I talked to them a couple of weeks ago and told them what was required of me coming there. ( dresscode, lighting, music change over, and free will to play music style as needed and pay ). Both owners agreed. They invite me in to chat with the second owner Saturday night to get a feel of things. Just so happens they had a Temp DJ there setting up who is a know local club DJ. He looked at me like I was flirting with his girlfriend. The owner didn't introduce me or anything. He just took over the space as if the dj was not there. The whole night the DJ would make his mixes and when he thought he did something special he would look at me as if to say " you got served " LOL
Man, I got there around 9:00pm and they wanted me to stay for a good portion of the night. They introduced me to every high end manager and gave me an open bar. I stayed there until about 12:30 because the party didn't kick in until around 11:00pm. The whole time I was there they did everything to butter me up. They constantly check in with me to see if I had any thoughts.
Now, the kicker is this place is in direct competition with my current location who has treated me with respect. Theres only a mile difference location. They wanted what I produce at my current location. My current location would not hire me for both Fri and Sat nights because they don't want the same style on both nights but the crowd wants me there for both and keep asking for me to take over.
Should I tell the current location whats going on or is it not there concern since they did not want me of the extra night and they had two years to hire me for both nights. However, They do hire me to do all special events and holidays.
Thoughts -
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 11:44 am
DJ-ALF
I would stay where I am, only if the money is better, gear, overall look of that club etc. It is hard decision, but you must know that owners are always trying to steal DJ's from competition. If your old club gets low on visitors or even closed, owner at new club can be 2 faced and lower your paycheck, bug you about music style or even fire you so you must be careful.
I talk from experience, DJ for 15 years.
I talk from experience, DJ for 15 years.
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 12:52 pm
fatkatzdj
The thing is I will be staying in my current position Friday nights and Doing Saturday at new location. So two different nights with competing and stress " COMPETING " locations. I know I would draw about half crowd away from this place at least maybe for a short time.
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 1:10 pm
A Man and His Music
Wow, this sounds familiar to me. I do not need to tell you this can go either way, but I will try to stay on the positive side. In reality, all you owe your current club, is the courtesy of a heads up. I just like to let you know that club..... has offered me a position on ...night. This will not affect my night here, as I have informed them that I have a commitment for that night here, and plan on honoring that commitment. I am in negotiations with them, because this will address some of my financial obligations. As you are aware, this has been a concern of mine for the past 2 years. I will keep you informed of any developments, but as I have stated, this will not affect my position here on ....night, because I like it here, and have no plans on leaving. Now this can be in writing or verbal, (depends on the relationship you have with the owners), and does not have to be this formal, but the message needs to get out.
Now the dark side. You need to be very careful of the other club. I do not need to tell you how fickle club owners are. This offer could be a godsend, and work out for you very well. However, it will not work out for either club, if they continue to lose business, when you are at the other club. If on the other hand, they have a DJ that has great skills, and a different style on the nights you are not there, they can both prosper. This is a long shot, because it is what they perceive that counts, not the facts. Your present club may get all huffy, and think you are disloyal, (this is not the case), and say puck you. All I want you to do is be prepared for anything. In the end, you will still come out on the positive side, even if you have to take a few lumps. Great DJs always get hired.
Now the dark side. You need to be very careful of the other club. I do not need to tell you how fickle club owners are. This offer could be a godsend, and work out for you very well. However, it will not work out for either club, if they continue to lose business, when you are at the other club. If on the other hand, they have a DJ that has great skills, and a different style on the nights you are not there, they can both prosper. This is a long shot, because it is what they perceive that counts, not the facts. Your present club may get all huffy, and think you are disloyal, (this is not the case), and say puck you. All I want you to do is be prepared for anything. In the end, you will still come out on the positive side, even if you have to take a few lumps. Great DJs always get hired.
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 1:12 pm
A Man and His Music
fatkatzdj wrote :
stress " COMPETING " locations.
OK, you see how I tried to be positive in my previous post? Well forget that shit. The real deal is, a great deal of the crowd may hate you, and not follow you to the other club. You know they have heard about all the police activity there also. You do not know the full status of this other club. It could be up for sale, getting ready to lose it's liquor license, or a number of things. Club owners are not the most honest guys I have known. Actually, they are a bunch of lying scum, and this comes from 41 years of experience. Now just like anything else, I am sure there are a few honorable owners, but let's keep it real. You can not serve two masters at the same time, no matter how hard you try. By the way, I know you are not perfect, so what happens when you say the other clubs name over the mic one night? Trust me, you will.
The best you can hope for is, your present club offers you the other night. This is what you should be looking for anyway. At least you know who you are dealing with.
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 1:35 pm
fatkatzdj
That's funny you mentioned that... I thought about that Saturday night when I was at the location.
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 1:46 pm
Tear Em 'Up
Its the devil you know vs. the devil you don't, Fat. Then again you do have financial obligations like Rick pointed out. ALF and Rick are both correct about club owners being people to keep on the "trust at your own risk" list. But, in the end, honesty is always the best policy. That way if it does go tits up you can at least remind everyone of that, and retain your integrity.
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 2:10 pm
dj-e-lectric
A couple questions you need to ask...is the extra pay, respect, etc enough to make up for the years of loyalty (and pay) from your current club and if either club (or both) decides to axe you because of the competition from the other club how easy is it for you (in reality not your ego talking) to get another gig to replace them in a reasonably short term?
I had a situation in Colorado Springs in 2001-2002 when I came to work for club "A" that was dying, I revived them in only 3 months while killing the competitor in the process. Club "B" hired me away with twice the pay and an upfront bonus check for $2000, signed a contract outlining my pay and shifts and stipulating I could not work for club "A" on any other nights while working for them. Club "B" wanted me to start in 2 weeks and gave their current Dj 2 weeks notice that they were moving him to their other club. When I gave my 2 weeks notice to club "A", they promply let me go so I had a nice little 2 week paid vacation....well during the time I was on vacation most of the customers went back to club "B" anyway because my replacement at club "a" was god awful so when I showed up for work at my new employer they promply told me they didn't need me anymore, gave me 4 weeks pay (the stipulated buy out in my contract) and sent me on my way. Club "A" was so pissed they would not hire me back, and I did not know the owner of club "B" owned almost all the other clubs in town that had Djs so I couldn't work anywhere else in town. I ended up with what was essentially 8 weeks worth of pay for a 2 week vacation and then no job to go back to..............lesson learned, whenever switching jobs make sure you have options if it backfires!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a situation in Colorado Springs in 2001-2002 when I came to work for club "A" that was dying, I revived them in only 3 months while killing the competitor in the process. Club "B" hired me away with twice the pay and an upfront bonus check for $2000, signed a contract outlining my pay and shifts and stipulating I could not work for club "A" on any other nights while working for them. Club "B" wanted me to start in 2 weeks and gave their current Dj 2 weeks notice that they were moving him to their other club. When I gave my 2 weeks notice to club "A", they promply let me go so I had a nice little 2 week paid vacation....well during the time I was on vacation most of the customers went back to club "B" anyway because my replacement at club "a" was god awful so when I showed up for work at my new employer they promply told me they didn't need me anymore, gave me 4 weeks pay (the stipulated buy out in my contract) and sent me on my way. Club "A" was so pissed they would not hire me back, and I did not know the owner of club "B" owned almost all the other clubs in town that had Djs so I couldn't work anywhere else in town. I ended up with what was essentially 8 weeks worth of pay for a 2 week vacation and then no job to go back to..............lesson learned, whenever switching jobs make sure you have options if it backfires!!!!!!!!!!!
发表时间 Mon 19 May 08 @ 9:00 pm