Tip the DJ Commercials

[kitkat]

what you claim you are not "in it" to do

I knew that phrase would catch people up as soon as I read it.

I'd like to come to Adam's defense and put a few words in his mouth that he told me, in hopes that it'll clarify his intent correctly.



He's not in it for the money, he said, but at the same time, he feels that it does take something to take time out of his night religiously once a week and not get to dance most of the night so everyone else can dance.



Does that help, Lawrence?
Did I represent your thoughts correctly, Adam?

[fredo]

Lawrence doesn't seem to care about the intent, mostly, it seems like anyway, he just wants to assert his opinion. And that opinion is loud and clear already: don't do "Tip the DJ" commercials".

Honestly, if its novelty runs out and people start ignoring them the same they do the live announcements, oh well-- it was a good experiment, and maybe helped get him a few extra bucks for his DJ efforts. I don't see the need to get feathers all ruffled over whether or not he's listening to opposing opinions.

[Lawrence]

Lawrence doesn't seem to care about the intent, mostly, it seems like anyway, he just wants to assert his opinion. And that opinion is loud and clear already: don't do "Tip the DJ" commercials".

Honestly, if its novelty runs out and people start ignoring them the same they do the live announcements, oh well-- it was a good experiment, and maybe helped get him a few extra bucks for his DJ efforts. I don't see the need to get feathers all ruffled over whether or not he's listening to opposing opinions.

The intent only makes it more hypocritical. "I'm not in it for the money, but I'm going to do something that nobody else in the entire Swing DJ world does (and that everyone else thinks is a bad idea) so I can get as much money as I can. And it works!!!" I understand KitKat's clarification and would have less of a problem if he had put it that way, but that's not what the guy wrote.


But, moreover, the reason I actually am responding again is to clarify (again) that my feathers are completely UNruffled. I'm not pissed, offended, or huffy about it, and have clarified before that if I came off that way, then I didn't mean to do so. It's just an odd thing, and we're just talkin here, but every time he posts he digs himself deeper and shows even more what a bad idea it is.

To be clear, he's not ripping ME off, and if people give him $10,000 in tips each night, then more power to him. I would be jealous, not critical. But if he just squeezes a few extra bucks and pisses people off in the meantime, then I'm not jealous at all. I suspect he's annoying far more people who are quiet about it, but if I'm correct or if I am mistaken, it still doesn't affect me.

[fredo]

I suspect he's annoying far more people who are quiet about it...

[kitkat]

I understand KitKat's clarification and would have less of a problem if he had put it that way, but that's not what the guy wrote.

But it's been clarified, for Pete's sake, so get over your "more of a problem" from this point forward, please!

[Lindyguy]

what you claim you are not "in it" to do

I knew that phrase would catch people up as soon as I read it.

I'd like to come to Adam's defense and put a few words in his mouth that he told me, in hopes that it'll clarify his intent correctly.



He's not in it for the money, he said, but at the same time, he feels that it does take something to take time out of his night religiously once a week and not get to dance most of the night so everyone else can dance.



Does that help, Lawrence?
Did I represent your thoughts correctly, Adam?

This is like saying, "I'm not in it for the money but I want to be paid."

Again, I say, nothing wrong with making money, especially doing something you like to do. But when you use that phrase in this context, you are trying to have your cake and eat it, too. You can claim piety over those who disdainfully make money DJing while then making money at it yourself. It doesn't matter whether you spend your earnings on a bar tab, sneakers or a quilt. I think the real point is that the bar established their rules (no cover) and it was accepted at that time. The DJs knew this going into the gig.

That being said, they know their market better than the rest of us, so they can do what their market will bear. I think it's clear from the rest of the posters that this is something that wouldn't be done in other markets. So, we let Adam know our opinions, which he solicited. He listened and made a decision based on those opinions and what he knows about his market. But just don't say you're not in it for the money and then solicit tips. Whether you mean to or not, you come off quite hypocritical.

[Haydn]

I listened to three commercials that Adam (Mystere88) emailed me, and I was impressed. I still think I would prefer an evening that didn't have these commercials, but they certainly sounded short, fun and to the point - and professionally produced.

Incidentally, Adam, I saw on the calendar advertising your Thursday nights in Milwaukee that there is a charge for lessons - is there any scope for giving the DJ some of this money?

[Mystere88]

I can see where I may be hypocritical without realizing it, and thats why I'm very appreciative of the comments made.

I've been thinking about this issue a bit while driving around this past week. I guess after being successfully self employed for over 4 years, as a independent music teacher and musician, and as an entrepreneur, I've embraced the phrase:

"I'm available, but never free."

Where and When I can make a dollar sharing my knowledge and talents, I will, and do. I don't have a regular paycheck, I don't have a normal day job, anything and everything helps in its ways.

I do pursue getting tips as a DJ because it helps me out. I'm normally able to buy a week's groceries with what I make. I DJ once a month because it lets the regular people have a night off, it lets me play a different style and sound, and offers a terribly needed variety to our scene. I have a blast, and its worth my time.

I find the ideal that if I get paid to do something, then I should be professional about doing it. I don't mean to say no one else is professional in this crowd, please don't go off that way.

I love DJing, and if I didn't make a single tip in a night, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I find a tip for the DJ a nice way that people can show their appreciation. When I say I'm not in it for the money, I probably think differently than most. If I'm in something for the money that means I'm in it to pay rent, the idea of making a livable income.

I am currently pursuing to set up my own Swing Night, and take extremely seriously the idea that I must make money doing so, or the rewards will never compensate the work involved. I've had to accept these facts as I've grown into my own businessman. Its what I have to do in order to make a living.

I've tossed this around with some other DJs in the region, and their opinions are mixed as much as this group. Some don't care because it allows their personal reign to rule- since they don't get paid, they play what they want, etc. . . Some are shocked that someone out there is making a little $ from spinning, and others sit down the middle.

I DJed this past weeked in Chicago, and made no claim nor no balk at the notion no tips or money would be transferred for my services. I had a great time and was thrilled to get to be part of the exchange.

Obviously, this changes from venue to venue, and I've simply shared with you (plural) what is available from our venue.

[Lawrence]

I can see where I may be hypocritical without realizing it, and thats why I'm very appreciative of the comments made.

I've been thinking about this issue a bit while driving around this past week. I guess after being successfully self employed for over 4 years, as a independent music teacher and musician, and as an entrepreneur, I've embraced the phrase:

"I'm available, but never free."

If you think that is a retort, then we're engaging in two separate arguments. I have no problem with being "available but never free." I, in particular, am probably one of the fiercest capitalists of all the Swing DJs you will ever meet, and I CRINGE at the socialist presumptions that it is greedy, underhanded, and evil to want to be paid for doing something that you do well.

I just suggest that you get paid up-front and not interrupt your DJ sets with commercials. And if you come asking for advice about an idea, get the advice to that it is a bad idea, and you say you are going to do it anyway, don't be surprised if people are going to consider it a bit odd that you even asked the question in the first place.

[Eyeball]

I'm all for sharing the goodstuff, but when the enterprise gpes commercial, the loot should be doled out to all involved.

[remysun]

In SE Michigan, we're more concerned about our venues than the DJs. The venues can be lost, so if we're asking anybody to tip, it's usually to the bartender or waitress. The cover pays the rent, but if dancing's the draw for a commercial venue, it's negotiable whether or not the instructor and/or DJ gets a cut.

I think salsa has more say in that regard.

[Lawrence]

In SE Michigan, we're more concerned about our venues than the DJs. The venues can be lost, so if we're asking anybody to tip, it's usually to the bartender or waitress. The cover pays the rent, but if dancing's the draw for a commercial venue, it's negotiable whether or not the instructor and/or DJ gets a cut.

That is a really good point I had not considered, especially for bar-type venues. Dancers are notoriously bad tippers and bad customers for bartenders, and if the venue owner sees dancers tipping the DJ and not his/her own employees, that will come off poorly.

[Lars]

That's another announcement that we regularly make, "buy a beverage and remember to tip your bartender". We also make announcements for drink specials, other up-coming events at the venue.

[Lawrence]

That's another announcement that we regularly make, "buy a beverage and remember to tip your bartender". We also make announcements for drink specials, other up-coming events at the venue.

Do you guys play any music?

(yes, I'm kidding....)

[Mystere88]

Do you guys play any music?

Yes, in between drinks we fit a few songs in.