Karaoke Forums

Since cloning myself is out of the question... How would you handle this situation?

I have received a phone call for a wedding reception.  THIS is the big one, the dream gig...  They want the regular wedding dances and stuff like that and then they want the rest of the night karaoke.  They have a family of karaoke singers and they want someone to crank up the music and provide 8 hours of entertainment.   They want it to sound good and they want it loud!  On top of that, they are offering good $$$$.

Now then, I have not given them a yes/no answer yet because on that VERY SAME DAY I have already promised my cousin that I would DJ his wedding....  FOR FREE!  Ouch!  What a kick in the pants.

I have one DJ that could possibly (stressing possibly) help me out, but I haven't even bought another system yet.  (Though this is the year that I planned on doing so.)

So do I turn down this chance of a lifetime or do I try to pull off both weddings?

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---wallyd

how desperate are you for cash and how close is the cousin to you?  in my situation, i'd explain to the cousin that i need the money, since i have no close cousins.   it's a bit easier for me because i could loan my cousin my second system to use free of charge if they wanted.

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All work and no play make Homer something something

Since you committed to your cousin's wedding first, that's the one you are morally and ethically to do.  As to the second one, subcontract it out to someone you trust who can do the job right.  Remember you can rent a sound system for the second job and in fact you can use it as a test for the second system you want.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Morally... I'm with TimberLea.  But I would definitely put this past the cousin.  You never know, he/she may totally understand especially if you have a way to set them up while still doing the paying gig.

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IRBent, but not broken!

Essentially u made a verbal contract with your cousin. You are now obligated to do0 his wedding. He has now made his plans and spent money based on your commitment. Many judges do enforce verbal contracts. Plus how badly do you want to create hate and discontent within your family that will NEVER be forgotten and WILL LAST FOREVER! Sorry but you have to pass the second wedding by. Refere it to someone else and next time dont make bad deals with family members. Give a discount if you have to but dont do your work for free. Better yet dont make business deals with family members. Anyway chalk it up  business expereince, dont mention the second gig to the cousin and do just go do the show and have a good time without whining about it.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

It would be a simple decision for me.....you have committed to your cousin and regardless if it is free or not you are obligated to follow through with it.

There will be other dream wedding gigs in your future.  :wave:

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FlipSide Karaoke
Scott

Moral obligation

Ethical obligation

Reputation obligation

Contractual obligation.

There are many hacks out there that will take the biggest money job and cancel other cemented obligations.   This makes you look bad and it puts a black eye on "us" as a whole.

I had a couple call me one week before their wedding, because some jerk backed out on them.     A wedding is a very big financial obligation for anyone today.    They require months of preparation and they are very time consuming.   Hall reservations, flowers, food, entertainment, travel plans, hotels, air fare.    Their will be at least one hundred people coming together for their big day.   Now, tell me why you want to ruin it?????

Nobody needs the money that bad.   If you did you would not have committed to your cousin for free.   So the money is not an excuse.     You are just looking for an excuse to make yourself justified in screwing your cousin, that's what it sounds like to me.    

Pretend you never heard about the other wedding.     It never happened.    Do your cousins wedding and never mention the other wedding to him.   Do not ruin his big day over you, trying to guilt him in to paying you as much as the other job was going to pay.

Be a stand up guy and do the right thing.     Money (GREED) is not the right answer here.    The last thing this wedding is about is you/your imaginary money needs.

Over a couple of years I have tried to advize peole on this forum about business and public relations but all have been met with strong objections as if karaoke as a private businesses were totally different and dog eat dog... Why is karaoke different than anything else If I was a contracter and was approached by a customer and I could not commit I woould recommend a reliable friend.. And then he would refer me to a good gig..

This is one good reason why one wants a good working relationship with all the Kj's and Dj's in the area and know their qualifications and system.. SO YOU CAN GIVE REFERELLS WITH CONFIDENCE...

Every body here is so concerned with legalities Go down to the city office and register your biusinees and pay taxes And maybe the other busineesses in town will recognixe you and support you.. Lets get real here... .

For the first time I totally agree with Bigdog   although I would rib my cousin a little bit.. I am from the old school My word is gold...

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Join The Karaokle Singers Social Network. Upload Your Music!!

OMG I agree with BD!

Don't be a hack and cancel out on your cousin.

i would talk to ur cousin, see what he/she thinks, then if not, take some of the profit u make on the other job to hire someone to do ur cousins party....both should be happy plus ur not working for free like u would have been if u had taken just ur cousins party....and if possable rent a pa...turn the sucker on, tell them its free singing for all, and leave...l..kkkkkkkkk....kinda ....sorta...Billy


how much money r we talking here? i heard u can buy a cousin pretty cheap...unless u slept with her....again kkkkkkkkkkk

To BIG DOG you listen!!

Again, your cousin wants YOU(Family member) not some other DJ. You must honor your committment to them(cousin and his new wife) and perfrom the gig as scheduled. Anything else makes u look underhanded and unethical--selling out your COUSINS WEDDING for what SOME MONEY???? Makes you look VERY UNDERHANDED and LOW CLASS. Just do the gig, get referrrals from the people at the party and get more future buisness from them. Think of it as a BUSINESS PROMOTION--maybe you can take a tax-write-off from it.  DO NOT approach them asking to be let out for a better offer.

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

thanx for all of the help guys...  always good to get ideas from unbiased parties!  Thanx millions!

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---wallyd

I'd get a signed reciept from your cousin for your services rendered(even tho free) and assign a $value along with the statement, services rendered, date, times and present it as a business promotional show. Have some cards and flyers availble to give to new prospective clients and then talk to your tax preparer and see if you can claim it as a business promotional expense.  

As to the flyers and cards at the wedding--theres nothing wrong with promoting your service to others at the party. Thats the whole point isnt it??

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"You know that I sing the Blues and I do not suffer fools. When I'm on that silver mic, it's gonna cut ya, just like a knife"-The SWINGCAT

Sounds all well and good until.....

There is a W.W.W. link to his business web site.    Someone that specializes in doing weddings as their major source of income and you are asking us what??????

And all you have just told us here, leads me to believe that you are not worth you weight in Dog Doo.   Even if we give you a cash deposit and have a signed contract with you.       IT MEANS NOTHING.  :shock:  :O



If you have the opportunity to make $25 more on someone elses wedding/party or event....You will screw me in a heartbeat.


One should think about such things, before broadcasting to the entire world, how you operate and then include for all to see, your web site link.    Makes me want to call anyone but you.........  :O  :asleep:

Hmmm...  I don't think you have an integrity problem (as others have more than insinuated) just because you asked how to solve a problem.  My sneaking suspicion is that you would have done your cousin's wedding, regardless of the other party, but just wanted to see if there might be other ways to handle the situation.

I have read through what everyone else has written, and I have a different approach.  This depends on how closely the two events are timed and how close they are geographically, but it might be food for thought:

You have promised to do your cousin's wedding, so do it, as promised--with a rented system, but YOU do it.  The 8 hours that the other party asked for is a LONG gig, and surely the two will overlap.  Have YOUR system set up at the paying party beforehand, and have someone you trust stand in for you at the paying party while you take care of your cousin.  (discuss this with your paying clients that you can't be there the whole time due to prior obligations, but that you will have someone there for them, and that you will try to make an appearance.)

This does several things:  It maintains your integrity with your family, it allows you to do two shows, it helps out the other person who stands in for you (they make a few bucks, too), it helps you establish a reputation with potential clients because you were able to solve a problem for them on short notice...

Dang, Danny, you ARE good! That solution sounds feasible, honorable and profitable!

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[glow=darkorchid]Musica delenit bestiam feram[/glow]

So Wally.. Have you figured what you are going to do yet??  I was just curious...

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Will sing or fish for food!!I'm not quite right!!

First question we ask when we get a call for a gig is THE DATE.  

If we are booked....... and we can recommend to another business with cofidence, we do ....... but...... we are booked!!  


If you wanna survive in this business...... you must be honorable.  Stick to your word.  Gigs come and go ...... your reputation is yours FOREVER.

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[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]