View Full Version : dj tipping question again
Big D
09-27-2004, 02:35 PM
Ok, I'll take that. However, I disagree, totally. You are not the Director you are the DJ. To repeat what Bridgette said "I think most DJs have a WAY overinflated opinion of how much they help us. "
And by the way, I opened every major club in Denver (Mile High Saloon, Diamond Cabaret and worked reopening of the old Mile High Saloon as PT's Gold Club) and, have worked at Men's Club in Dallas. So I do have large club experience.
Bridgette
09-27-2004, 02:47 PM
I can go into any club with any DJ and make money. Done it all over the US and in a couple other places too. Every DJ fancies himself the "director". LOL! The simple fact is, it doesn't take much skill, talent or smarts to be a decent DJ. It takes a slight bit to be a good one, but it still ain't worth more than 30 of my hard-earned dollars. I don't pay for ego.
BigGreenMnM
09-27-2004, 02:51 PM
dayummmmmmm!!!!!!
My girls must have it better then i thought!
Am i being to nice and attentive towards them???
Maybe i should raise the tip-out on them,or at least start treating them like ,what it seems from this topic post,all the rest of the dj's do out there,to include the big headed fuckers that post on this site.
Love ya guys,but from what i hear,we suck.
tampafldancer
09-27-2004, 02:53 PM
Who said i condoned anything? Im asking everyone on the board how to deal with the situation? My dj has not acted anywhere as horrible as the story you tell.
Just because he doesn't always play my songs doesnt make him a horrible dj, however i dont think he needs a 10 percent tip when im making over 700. (because he didnt help my show)
But when he does help my show, god knows he gets treated well by me.
GEEZ, i had no idea this topic would get so heated.. <sorry everyone>
lol
it is a very heated topic,not your fault.
This is why dj's have a problem with it.
"when im making over 700. (because he didnt help my show)"
Ok, i see what you are saying, and you are right. He's a great dj when he does work hard. But lately has been slacking bigtime and attitude and LOts more then not playing my songs.(which he always does no problem)
At this particular club i am sure that i pull in the majority all of the time, and thats why i pay extra attention to tip the dj 10 percent, and have been known to sometimes tip more.
I will continue to tip well. I think we have things worked out. When i say tip less then 10 percent, i was talking like 8 percent, and thats when he was not playing songs or type of music i requested, ignoring me, away from the booth more then half the time etc etc etc and not being the pleasant dj that he normally is.(8 percent would still be over 60 bucks) I realize this is now from "personal problems" he has been distracted, and its no big deal. Sometimes i do feel a little taken advantage of though i must admit, not that he did it, but im tipping out over 100 (which i have done more then 1/3 of the time i have worked there) and girls are throwing out less then 10 dollors (YEAH NO KIDDING, LESS THEN 10!!!) I guess i would feel much better if the girls were tipping him much better like they should be, then i wouldnt feel as if im "over-tipping"
Do you think you would have made 700 without him?? no
How many entertainers do you know who make 700 with a juke box?not many IMO
He is doing for you even if your not on the stage.Thats why when you do get on stage,maybe a few guys are sitting at perv row.
The show goes on while your signed out to lunch,VIP room,bathroom,etc.
Talk to the guy,find out whats up. i did, its cool now, thanks for the advice
Remember that he works for you,so get resonable answers to your concerns.Just keep in mind he has a format to follow,a show to run,and many entertainers to attend to.
I would hate to think you got an asshole in the dj booth,that sucks and makes going to work a pain in the ass.I would even hate more to think you have a great dj in the booth and you two have just crossed wires somewhere that can be easy to fix with just a 2 second conversation.
phillydj
09-27-2004, 02:55 PM
Funny...but all my buisness cards actualy read DIRECTOR of entertainment........hum...interesting. And I will agree with Polecat, bad DJs are what makes this conversation so head bangging, and they should be shot. We do help you, I could make a comment, but Im not going to an Ill leave it at that. And Tampa.....keep bringing the class.
tampafldancer
09-27-2004, 02:57 PM
oh, and i make more with this particular dj working my "show" then any other at the club. My dj in this particular instance, makes a difference.
Bridgette
09-27-2004, 03:03 PM
Well yeah, most DJs do suck. Most don't have the good sense god gave a goose. Most are in the biz to get laid. Most don't have the first clue how to run the show. Most are just yesmen to the manager/owner/whoever's wetting his willy that day. But by the same token, I don't ask for much. Put me on stage once at the beginning of the shift, then take me off rotation and you won't hear from me until it's time to get your $30. If it's a small club where stage-skipping isn't possible, let me show you the music I like and then play it for me - I can work with ya in a club that limits the format. And don't yap too much when I'm on stage please - no one, including the customers, wants to hear it; it DETRACTS from the show.
BigGreenMnM
09-27-2004, 03:08 PM
oh, and i make more with this particular dj working my "show" then any other at the club. My dj in this particular instance, makes a difference.
AHHHHHHHHH HA!!!!!!!!!!!
Thats the asshole im talking about!!!!!
Not the shitty dj's,the ones working for nachos and beer,and not the big headed fuckers,
But HIM!!!!!!!!!
That guy who you said makes a difference.
HE (or she) is the one you should have at the top of your tip list.
I personally think 10% is to much,but if you want to get close to it,all your going to do is encourage him to be the "difference"again.
phillydj
09-27-2004, 03:11 PM
Yeah, I get kindda pissy on this topic because well, I know Im good and I run with a good crowd for the most part. So to here "you dont do your jobs well enough for yadda yadda yadda", makes me defesive because I know me and my group do just that. I should look around at what these other clowns do but, I spen ENOUGH time in bars and dont realy want to spend my off days listening to guys who suck. See, I find it hard to believe that a dj would talk DOURING your set, dont get it. Im not in the biz to get laied, but I do know thoes that are and I cant stand them, its unprofessinal. I have never been a yes man, in fact Ive walked out of a club because the owner was talking out his ass on his idea of "music", (there is NOTHING wrong with Lucricia My Reflection on a busy sunday night). I don't know MnM, maybe its just worse out there than we know.......
BigGreenMnM
09-27-2004, 03:13 PM
And don't yap too much when I'm on stage please - no one, including the customers, wants to hear it; it DETRACTS from the show.
it may detract from your "show"within the "show",but its the grease on which your "show"enters the "show".
so shaadduppp already,we agree.
Big D
09-27-2004, 03:17 PM
Yea! What Bridgette said!
No really! I have had close relationships with every DJ that I worked with. I have never felt that a DJ is a jerk or not worth anything. Unless he is doing things to me deliberately that would affect my money which, in 18 years, never happened.
Have there been ones that were so much better than the others? you bet! (Dougie -RIP, Andrew, Rabbi, Sterling) so many I can't remember their names! The ones that were kaka usually didn't have a job very long because the DJ's for VCG stay around for awhile. They make good money off of the girls and make a great wage. I just don't think that any DJ should feel entitled to a certain amount of money from the girls. I never felt entitled to a certain amount of money. I had to work my butt off for it. Then, when the money was fantastic, I felt blessed. If I felt entitle the customers could smell it all over me and I wouldn't make a cent. Tipping is what it is. A tip. Thanks - see ya tomorrow night. Thats it!
Bridgette
09-27-2004, 03:20 PM
Ok BigG, I know there has to be SOME promotion from the DJ. But ya also gotta know when to just "shaaadddupp an' play da music". :biggrin: Ya shouldn't be yapping too much during ANY girl's set.
phillydj
09-27-2004, 03:24 PM
Like I said...for house girls....DOURING IT....no, thats YOUR time to shine. BUT some features WANT dj's to talk, some do, but some don't. So guys, next time you get annnoyed at talking when your favorite XXX star is up, understand she may have wanted it that way.
BigGreenMnM
09-27-2004, 03:25 PM
Ok BigG, I know there has to be SOME promotion from the DJ. But ya also gotta know when to just "shaaadddupp an' play da music". :biggrin: Ya shouldn't be yapping too much during ANY girl's set.
Again we agree.
but just so you know,the DJ has dibs on the first 10 seconds of your song and the last 10 seconds.
Anything after that had better be important chit,like" the building is on fire"or the dj is screwing up.
Besides,if i talk in the middle of the song,the girls start grabbing the money and their chit,they think the song is over.
Big D
09-27-2004, 03:30 PM
Shit! I'm sorry!!!! I love you man!!!!! All you DJ's!!!!
MUAH!
tampafldancer
09-27-2004, 03:38 PM
Ok BigG, I know there has to be SOME promotion from the DJ. But ya also gotta know when to just "shaaadddupp an' play da music". :biggrin: Ya shouldn't be yapping too much during ANY girl's set.
Again we agree.
but just so you know,the DJ has dibs on the first 10 seconds of your song and the last 10 seconds.
Anything after that had better be important chit,like" the building is on fire"or the dj is screwing up.
Besides,if i talk in the middle of the song,the girls start grabbing the money and their chit,they think the song is over.
lol, yea i start getting ready to leave when i hear the dj at the end of my third song.. lol!!
Katrine
09-27-2004, 04:43 PM
Well yeah, most DJs do suck. Most don't have the good sense god gave a goose. Most are in the biz to get laid. Most don't have the first clue how to run the show. Most are just yesmen to the manager/owner/whoever's wetting his willy that day. But by the same token, I don't ask for much. Put me on stage once at the beginning of the shift, then take me off rotation and you won't hear from me until it's time to get your $30. If it's a small club where stage-skipping isn't possible, let me show you the music I like and then play it for me - I can work with ya in a club that limits the format. And don't yap too much when I'm on stage please - no one, including the customers, wants to hear it; it DETRACTS from the show.
This is exactly all that I want. Also, if you are going to put me onstage at any point, please announce me AT LEAST when the girl before me begins the set although I would love to know 2 girls ahead of time. This allows me to finish my LD, get paid, check in with you Mr. DJ and choose my music if I am ALLOWED to by the DJ god that is you, and freshen up my makeup, etc.......
I've only worked in 2 clubs that didn't let me choose music but they let me choose genre and kept it stored in the computer or on little note cards. Pretty easy, one time deal. Then Mr. Creative fucking genius DJ, work your magic.
I don't care what music you play me as long as it isn't Rush. I'm not there to make $$$ off of stages. I hustle just fine on the floor for LD and VIP......
Katrine
09-27-2004, 04:45 PM
Once again, I have always liked every DJ I've worked with, or at least had a good working relationship with them, 0 problems. I always smiled and left $20-40 at the end of the night.
Mad props to my DJ's over the years! ;)
BigGreenMnM
09-27-2004, 05:26 PM
This is exactly all that I want. Also, if you are going to put me onstage at any point, please announce me AT LEAST when the girl before me begins the set although I would love to know 2 girls ahead of time. This allows me to finish my LD, get paid, check in with you Mr. DJ and choose my music if I am ALLOWED to by the DJ god that is you, and freshen up my makeup, etc.......
heheheheheheheh
I kinda like it when you call us gods.
Where i am,The girls are put on stand bye for there set on the song before they go up.Ya got 3 mins to get ready.Anything more would sound like this...
"One more song for her and her,and we have the lovely her standing bye,with her after that,and then her after that,followed by her."
I would suggest to all entertainers..
Know who you follow in the rotation.
Stop in the dj booth often for updates.
All I can give is a 3 min warning.You should already know when your close anyways.
I've only worked in 2 clubs that didn't let me choose music but they let me choose genre and kept it stored in the computer or on little note cards. Pretty easy, one time deal. Then Mr. Creative fucking genius DJ, work your magic.
<<<blushing>>>
Now your just trying to get on our good side.
(its working)
Yup,thats all we need,the genre that you want.
When you come running out of the back from the VIP,bathroom,or dressing room,we will know what kind of music you like already.Then we take your genre and match it up to the age or tempo of the crowd with music.
I don't care what music you play me as long as it isn't Rush. I'm not there to make $$$ off of stages. I hustle just fine on the floor for LD and VIP......
The stage is the club showing you off,then you get your lapdances from that.Its like an auction block of sorts.After you dance on stage,dont you then go to the highest bidder for lapdances????
and we agree on the rush thing.
Bridgette
09-27-2004, 06:06 PM
The DJs at my club announce the girl on stand by at the BEGINNING of the set, so we have TWO songs warning to: finish the dance we're doing, get dressed, get paid, freshen up a bit, and get to the stage. It's rather difficult to get to the stage on time if you're only given one song's warning and you've already started a dance for THAT song.
kitana
09-27-2004, 06:10 PM
I have ALWAYS tipped all my good D.J.'s 10% no matter if I made $100, or $1000 that night. I think it just common sense.
I mean you tip a waitress 15%, and she just gives your order to the cook and brings it to you. With a little more of course.
But seriously, why not give then 10%?! Theya re there to make money the same as you are. Granted, I have also given a D.J. only $1, as a tip before but he needed to be shot. (Long story)
Anyway I defend a good D.J., they wrok extremely hard for the money they do make.(the good ones anyway)
For all the girls who don't think they deserve what they get, you try being up in that booth for a night, see what you feel like you deserve after that, if you make it through a shift anyway. Cause believe me I have before, and it is NOT rainbows and puppy dogs!
D.J.'s make the mood of the club just right so optimum spenting is allowed then. Anyone who has ever had a crowd with 200+ guys all ready to leave should know this.
Sorry for the rant, but this is a very important thing to me, I feel that they earn every penny they get and sometimes more. (Mind you, only the good ones)
Just my :twocents:
Kitana
VenusGoddess
09-27-2004, 06:34 PM
It sounds like the dj needs to go Venus.
If girls are leaving because of him and people just cant seem to get through to him,its time for him to take a vacation.
In a case like this,you need to get the entertainers together and talk to the mgr or owner about it.
Wouldn't matter...he's a good friend of the top management and owner. :shrug: He's also been there for years.
If the other dj is so good,why isnt he working the prime shifts?
why is mr bitchy pants still there??
Mr. Bitchypants is working the prime shifts as noted above. Also, the other DJ is working a full-time job elsewhere (where he makes a lot of money, but not another SC) and is just using this as a supplement. I believe that he was offered the every other week opp, but passed it up as it conflicted with his other schedule.
phillydj
09-27-2004, 07:21 PM
The DJs at my club announce the girl on stand by at the BEGINNING of the set, so we have TWO songs warning to: finish the dance we're doing, get dressed, get paid, freshen up a bit, and get to the stage. It's rather difficult to get to the stage on time if you're only given one song's warning and you've already started a dance for THAT song.
Yeah, now I give a two song warnig, but befor it wasnt practical realy. By the time I was done clling all the names/stage names/ whatever I was winded,lol. But now its a little less so easier to do.
velvet
09-27-2004, 09:46 PM
here is my input. my club asks for 10%, most girls give that but there are the same few each night that dont. there are lots of us that go by that guideline and tip well every night. my dj isnt a talker nor is he a "shakedown" artist. he doesnt have a i'm the show mentality. he plays what we ask for. he also makes alot of money. sometimes more than the lazy girls. i dont begrudge him the money at all. because he is as described above. sometimes, even tho he and i are good friends, i want to skimp him but i dont because in the long run he is one of the best!!! not greedy but knows what he is worth
DJ_Duane
09-27-2004, 10:37 PM
Here is my point of view and I have been a DJ for a while.
DJs get pretty resentful when they feel they've done a good job that night and most dancers stiff them on the tip. You see a girl make a small fortune one night and she tips at, or below, the minimum. Hard not to get mad.
A DJ will, normally, take better care of the good tippers and treat the short-tippers with a bit of aloofness. You look after the ones who take care of you and brush-off the others.
Now, in your case, you're taking care of the DJ but he isnt returning the favor. He may be having a bit of "group anger" going-on here. He's mad at a lot of the girls, so he takes it out on all of them, including the good tippers. That makes no good sense from a DJ point-of-view.
My advice is to tactfully remind the DJ that you do, in fact, take care of him when you do well. Remind him that, when you do well, he does well by you.
He may take the hint and start to treat you better. If he doesnt, start to tip him the same percentage as every other girl and see if he notices the difference.
He might bitch at you about it, so remind him how he treated you when you did tip well. Tell him that he treated you the same as the girls who stiffed him, even though you took care of him. Then let him know that you start tipping at the same level as before, but that you want to be treated better from now on.
He may have some kind of personal problems going-on in his own life. Girlfriend/wife trouble, family issues, financial problems, etc. so, he may have been carrying it over to his work. Not professional, but understandable. Let him know that you caused none of those problems for him and that he wouldnt like it if you took your problems out on him.
Try and talk to the other girls about tipping the DJ better and let the DJ know that you are doing this. It might not increase his tips, but it shows him you are willing to take care of him and are trying to get the others to do the same.
That's the best advice I can give on no sleep, for now.
velvet
09-27-2004, 11:25 PM
Here is my point of view and I have been a DJ for a while.
DJs get pretty resentful when they feel they've done a good job that night and most dancers stiff them on the tip. You see a girl make a small fortune one night and she tips at, or below, the minimum. Hard not to get mad.
A DJ will, normally, take better care of the good tippers and treat the short-tippers with a bit of aloofness. You look after the ones who take care of you and brush-off the others.
agreed thats how my dj feels and i understand his pain. new girls and some vetrans dont understand that you take care of those that take care if you. now dont get me wrong if i make a grand i'm not giving 100... but i am a consitantly good tipper, thats what counts in the long run. this guy does not appreciate what you do for him. threin lies the problem. i got respect for being a fair tipper. this guy is being greedy and not giving you props for being good to him
velvet
09-27-2004, 11:38 PM
He may have some kind of personal problems going-on in his own life. Girlfriend/wife trouble, family issues, financial problems, etc. so, he may have been carrying it over to his work. Not professional, but understandable. Let him know that you caused none of those problems for him and that he wouldnt like it if you took your problems out on him.
sorry have to disagree with you there . NOT MY PROBLEM. if he is having personal problems suck it up just like we do. do you think we always come in with nothing on our mind? yea we do and guess what we do our job with out any pouting or excuses
Djoser
09-28-2004, 03:22 AM
If you never worked in a large club then you don't have HALF an idea what we go thru. Running 100 girls, six on main, 2 in vip(seperate rotation) OR three stages each with there OWN rotation, announcements made every 3 min, up times, showcases, skipping over girls last second(oh dont LET the GM catch less than 6 girls on stage or an empty stage), an in house feature show or two.....trust me, we earn every last dime of it. Its a headache and a half you can't pictue unless youve been there (but it is one I love).
I have worked in two clubs with about 70 girls at various times, one of them had two stages with separate rotations, sometimes 5 girls onstage at a time, feature shows, skipping over girls last second, and GMs on every kind of drug/power trip imagineable screaming at me because they are without their fix.
So I guess I can have about 70% an idea of what you go through. Maybe you deserve to make more than the dancers, and maybe you deserve more than 700$ a night--I haven't seen you, so I don't know. I'm willing to take your word for it.
But the fact remains, as I said before--the vast majority of DJs I have seen don't deserve it. Not by a long shot...
True to a point. I play what the CUSTOMERS want. Here's a novel concept for you...P.S. A proffesinal dancer should be able to dance to anything...BOTTOM LINE..... If you cant, then your not one
Not a novel concept to me. I haven't turned two clubs that were tax write-offs into profitable ventures in spite of the owner's wishes--and choice of psychopathic managers--by ignoring what the customers want. The key is pleasing the customers and getting the dancers to dance as well as they possibly can--at the same time. Much harder to do with 100 girls, I'm sure. But I have done it consistently with anywhere from 5-70 girls at a time.
A professional dancer can dance to anything, true--but she'll dance a lot better to something she actually likes. This is why the dancers who like me best are the ones who have been doing it for 8 years or so, and they love it when I can actually get them inspired--something most of them have given up on. And trust me, the customers sit right up and take notice.
VenusGoddess
09-28-2004, 06:35 AM
He may have some kind of personal problems going-on in his own life. Girlfriend/wife trouble, family issues, financial problems, etc. so, he may have been carrying it over to his work. Not professional, but understandable. Let him know that you caused none of those problems for him and that he wouldnt like it if you took your problems out on him.
sorry have to disagree with you there . NOT MY PROBLEM. if he is having personal problems suck it up just like we do. do you think we always come in with nothing on our mind? yea we do and guess what we do our job with out any pouting or excuses
OR...if we do, then we make less money...just like everybody with an attitude problem at a tipping-mandated job does.
MrChristopher
09-28-2004, 08:13 AM
And PhillyDJ has worked in a fantastic club and I wonder if he is actually Christopher ( one of the best in the biz) in disguise :detective: LOL !
nope, i'm christopher. thanks for the compliment, though. Philly_DJ is my evil twin, yes.... my shorter, hairier, spelling challenged, more tattooed evil twin, but an evil twin nonetheless. and who might you be?
Aleah
09-28-2004, 11:09 AM
We didn't have a percentage to tip ours but it was known he would get at least $10.00 from each girl which is nothing. If you asked him to play something for you, you would tip him more. We were lucky.
phillydj
09-28-2004, 11:14 AM
nope, i'm christopher. thanks for the compliment, though. Philly_DJ is my evil twin, yes.... my shorter, hairier, spelling challenged, more tattooed evil twin, but an evil twin nonetheless. and who might you be?
See......now I'm painted as some Robin Williams character with hirsutism, thanks there buddy,LOL. I'll take the shorter and spelling inept part but...........jesh.
MrChristopher
09-28-2004, 11:18 AM
go away, or i shall be forced to taunt you a second time.
phillydj
09-28-2004, 11:24 AM
Meh.....I fart in your general direction.