Two competing clubs and me in the middle!

[DocSavage]

Well this is an interesting predicament. I have two clubs who are interested in my services. Both Surface and the Daylight Lounge are interested in having me come in and do live visuals for them.

The way things are broken up, I 'can' do Daylight on Friday and Surface on Saturday. Daylight would rather have me Fri-Sat, but Surface is only interested in the Saturday night.

Neither of them is too hot about the idea of me splitting between the two competing clubs. But I don't want to ditch Surface for Daylight because 1)Surface booked me first 2)Surface is bigger 3)Surface has easier hours 4)Surface isn't run by the mob. On the other hand, Daylight 1)plays better music, 2)pays more, and 3)is interested in booking me two nights a week as opposed to surface's one.

So what should I do???

Ryan

[eXhale]

Hmmm interesting situation, I think the most important would be to keep a good contact with both clubs, so if you choose one, at least take the time to explain the other, because if they "hate" you, it won't be any good. I mean, there aren't thousands of clubs in your area I guess?

One thing you could do is try to find a (good) VJ on your area who would replace you on one club (preferably, the second one who contacted you, that would make more sense?). Don't wait for the club to search another one, do it yourself that way the club will be happy that you cared about their situation. Or maybe, even better, a VJ who is NOT in your area (a guest VJ), that way you are sure this VJ won't "steal" you future gigs.

I might be available if the club can pay the flight from Switzerland to Canada ;) LOL


PS: Raise your prices too :jump:

[complexvisuals]

I had the same dilema. My solution, I bought a new computer, and hired someone. I know its not the same as having you there but it keeps everyone happy.

And when you do turn up to check how he/she is getting on, management always treat you better than before cos now you are a businessman, not a nerd with a load of movies.

The hardest part is finding someone who is good enough to do the job, and then you have to worry about them taking the job from you!!

Just my way of doing things

Cian

[rossco]

easy doc

just read about your problem, don't know if this will help with all the questions you have but my first thoughts are this:

I don't know how you operate in terms of live work, do you play any loops that you like, or do you have specific visuals for each club?

If you tailor your visuals to a specific night it may help to appease the rival clubs, that is to say, whilst this is a relativly new medium of performance promoters often think of VJ's as an add on to the night, to them it is something extra to pull in the punters.

Untill we are at a stage where Visuals get as much recognition as Djs, it is neccessary (I think) to make something that adds to the overall ambience of the event. So by creating bespoke visuals you can please each club and give them something that the other doesn't have, whilst at the same time pushing visuals as a 'INTEGRAL' part of the club/dance scene.

The end result ... Bepoke visuals for every club+lots of work for you+creation of demand for VJ's in every club = a happy coexistance of DJ's, VJ'S, promoters and Punters!

hope this helps

peace, love and parties

[MoRpH]

Yeah I'm with X on this one... form a crew... do both and split the cash :)

It will help with your business skills and keep you in good with both clubs. Also it might be good to rotate with the other person which club you do that way they don't get too attached to that person @ the venue and try to cut you out..... also try to get in someone that is trust worthy and interested in keeping the CREW together... it will @least work in the short term, and personally I doubt if the situation will last that long with the state of flux in the entertainment industry one will come out on top.

[elbows]

The mob would put me off, but then I dont know if such connections are inevitable in the modern world of clubs? Understandably not something people talk about much, which leaves me none the wiser and prone to let my imagination run wild in this respect! Paranoia!!!

[DocSavage]

I actually ran a club for a mob over the summer back in my seedy teenage years (all of two years ago) so I'm not exactly excited about the prospects of working for unstable people again.

But as a quick update on what I'm doing, I've put my request forward to Surface for 200$ for saturday or 150 a night and at the same time am going into the Daylight (the mob one) on Friday for a trial run. Basically I'm gonna leverage myself between the two of them and see what the bidding gets up to.

Ryan

[MoRpH]

Hmmm sounds good, I bet one will fold make sure you stick with the one that gets the crowds and gives you some cred.

[murph]

my advice, wherever you do it, don't do it both nights a week, every friggin week, talk about a shortcut to burnout!

[jesse]

Especially for the at ammount of money. I get tired doing shows for $700 twice a month let alone $150-200 eight times a month!

:: jesse
Subliminal Imaging

[DocSavage]

I'm still at Surface on saturdays, doing regular DJing gigs as well, and doing occasional friday night events.

For Canada Day I'm probably going to be working 4 nights in a row from 10-6am and djing 3 times from 7-9 as well.

Craziness.