Archive for May, 2010

For some reason, this very phrase has followed me closely this week.  I’ve had loads of calls and e-mails from people who have booked DJ’s who for one reason or another have decided that they can’t DJ at their event any more and you know, whilst I welcome the extra business it absolutely annoys me to the core that there are guys out there who are letting people down like this.  I feel as though I have to bend over backwards to sort out their cock up when in fact it’s not my fault at all.  Not only for that reason though, it’s not doing a right lot for the general confidence in the mobile DJ profession.  Who remember’s A-Plus Entertainments when they were investigated by Watchdog?  If not do not worry, I have uploaded the very worrying video’s onto YouTube for you to watch below.

It’s no wonder A-Plus have reviews such as this…

We Booked A Childrens Entertainer for our terminally Ill daughters 3rd birthday party. He was very hard to get hold of once we had booked and did not turn up on the day. Do not book this Man.

Or…

I booked Aplus for my daughters 16th on 30/12/07. I paid my £50 deposit and apparantly Aplus called to speak with me but i was at work. They sent e-mails, pass words to get on the internet site. However 14 days i paid in full as was requested of me. Then it dawned on me that somethings not write as there were no more e-mails from them, nothing. Afew days later when i was speaking with a friend advising that i’m gonna have to book another disco. Is when she suddenly said that a disco was being investigated by Watchdog. Unbelievable, i felt so stupid. But hey we live and learn, this was a very expensive xmas as i had to fork out for 2 disco’s. At least the second booking turned up and i paid him at the end of the disco. I book a lot of things via the internet this has definitely put me off.

This appears to be happening, worryingly, more and more often.

So how do you avoid a “no show” ?  Quite simple.  When looking for entertainment no doubt you will get a massive range of prices.  If you get three or four quoting very similar prices and one that is temptingly so much cheaper, it’s cheap for a reason.  There’s every chance that  mr. cheapskate DJ will ring you up a few days before the party and cancel having gotten a better offer from someone else, or even not turn up at all!  Make sure you get a contract from your entertainer, speak to people he has worked for before but most of all, go with your gut instinct.  If you do not feel comfortable, do not book.  If you can’t get hold of them, do not book.  It’s worth spending a bit more to get someone you can contact, who provides a contract and has all of the correct insurances.

I will enjoy doing these parties because i’m a nice guy but I would REALLY like to meet the plonkers who cancel on these poor people and give them a jolly good thrashing!