Karaoke Forums

Had a gig Saturday night at a country club - corporate party = usually boring. Broke out my karaoke and the party rocked.

However, I was attempting using an employee to DJ for the 1st time ever in case I ever needed a backup. This guy showed up 1 hour late to load the equipment. Was in a T-shirt when the guests arrived like it was no big deal (I pay for a tux). Then he left the stage 3 times during a 3 hour show and songs ended with no one on stage= dead sound. When confronted about him getting paid to do this- his reply was "So- you're getting paid too".
Needless to say I let the night finish out because I did not want to make a scene at the party - but I won't be using this guy again.

Does anyone have a suggestion on employees and using a set of standards - such as not leaving the stage, not helping yourself to the buffett, no flirting etc?... Or am I taking this all to seriously?

I'm a bit of a perfectionist.

Thanks for helping me keep this professional and profitable

Put your hired employees on a contract...
and put all expectations in writing.. and consequences also. once hired they have to read the contract and have a right to refuse.. .. no drug users.. random testing, no media pirates, if you are as peticular as I am.. they gotta do it by the letter in the law..

I now have 11 kj's on call 5 with thier own systems. 6 use ours.

It's a beautiful world. And they get paid extremely well too!

_________________
Brian D.
(BHB)

When they're up there, they're representing your company.

T-shirt??? OMG! No F'n way!!(Said as a outside person, not a business owner!)

I agree with Brian.

No handshake deals. Before they work for you, they must be trained, and go thru their training like they're serious. You take this seriously... so should they! Otherwise, no more!

Personally, I'm sitting here thinking of the bad impression he gave your company. While the others might not have noticed, nothing about this guy really JUMPED OUT positively... and believe me, they'll remember the lack of a good show!

The first DJ companies I hooked up with a nice training program. The trainee would do a couple of gigs with the owner (at a reduced trainee pay rate) or with one of the most experienced DJs. This was done AFTER an interview which included going over their conduct rules, they include: no smoking, drugs or alcohol while on duty, attire, contacting the client in advance to review the agenda, overtime, client contract terms and provisions, punctuality, profanity, securing equipment, emergency procedures, etc. Very professional and worthwhile - many applicants don't make it through to the OJT portion of the hiring process. While each DJ has their own unique personality and the like, it also enables the company to maintain a standard clients can rely on. Their rules and philosophy have had a lasting affect on my approach to my own business as well as subcontract work for others.

Hobnobbing with guests was not on the list when I started, but has since been added. I heard a DJ was asked to dance with a guest and that caused a big dispute with her date and others, ending up in the police being called and the DJ arrested, followed by a lawsuit against him and the company. Of course the person who started it changed her story. Very messy. I always turned down those opportunities (including the invites to post-reception parties) anyway, and the trouble that he had just reaffirmed to me this is the right thing to do. The owner called each DJ to discuss the matter and then followed up with a letter.

I think if you're adding someone to even a karaoke/bar schedule, it would be really important to establish some do's and don'ts like these. Smoking and alcohol (within reason) might be okay, but there are issues with protecting equipment, profanity, attire, rotation/bribes, etc. They're representing you and your reputation is on the line.

_________________
Sounds Great! Entertainment
Bartlett, Illinois