Bad Customer Experience at a Club...Did I Do Something Wrong?

[DJ Sunshine]

Hey DJTT,

I had a bit of a unique customer interaction that may have impacted me negatively. I'm wondering how you guys would have handled it, as I'm sure we've all had something similar happen at one time or another.

I was booked to open an EDM Thursday at a new club in the downtown area. I got to the club and set up and was playing by about 10:15. I was playing a lot of electro and about halfway through the event planner came up and told me to go full power for a bit. I smashed the bejesus out of the place, perhaps a little more than I should have. At 11:15 I play a few trap tracks to get the transition smooth and set the mood for the next guy who is doing a trap set. We do the DJ transition shuffle smoothly, and I'm off the decks. I pack my stuff up into my backpack and go to the bar to get a beer. I got multiple compliments on my set and am chilling out watching the guy spin trap, when this REALLY drunk girl comes up to me. Here's where it gets interesting.

She's going on incoherently about how awesome I was and how awesome what I do is, and how I'm going to be famous (I think this was what she was saying, it was some broken-ass sentences mixed with slurring). This wasn't my first time DJing at a club by any means, so I have my standard protocol for dealings with drunk patrons. I nodded, smiled, and said thank you a bunch. When I tried to go up to the booth to ask the event planner something, she wouldn't let me go up there, saying something along the lines of "you're too good, don't talk with them." Again, this was the gist of what I think she was trying to say. So finally I say, "I'm sorry, I have to go up there," and turn around to head up to the booth. At this point, Mrs. Jim Beam grabs the handle on top of my backpack and yanks it back towards her, throwing me back and knocking me backpack-first into a wall. HARD. I thought my laptop was done. I flip my shit, and ask her what the hell she's doing. I go get the bouncer and he escorts her out. I find out that the chick was one of the event owners friends, and it kinda put a bad vibe on an otherwise good night. I'm afraid it turned off the event planner from booking me in the future. Did I do the right thing here, or should I have reacted differently?

TL;DR: chick came up and almost broke my laptop, I got her kicked out. She was the promoter's friend, and I'm worried I won't get booked again

[Drade]

Hey DJTT,

I had a bit of a unique customer interaction that may have impacted me negatively. I'm wondering how you guys would have handled it, as I'm sure we've all had something similar happen at one time or another.

I was booked to open an EDM Thursday at a new club in the downtown area. I got to the club and set up and was playing by about 10:15. I was playing a lot of electro and about halfway through the event planner came up and told me to go full power for a bit. I smashed the bejesus out of the place, perhaps a little more than I should have. At 11:15 I play a few trap tracks to get the transition smooth and set the mood for the next guy who is doing a trap set. We do the DJ transition shuffle smoothly, and I'm off the decks. I pack my stuff up into my backpack and go to the bar to get a beer. I got multiple compliments on my set and am chilling out watching the guy spin trap, when this REALLY drunk girl comes up to me. Here's where it gets interesting.

She's going on incoherently about how awesome I was and how awesome what I do is, and how I'm going to be famous (I think this was what she was saying, it was some broken-ass sentences mixed with slurring). This wasn't my first time DJing at a club by any means, so I have my standard protocol for dealings with drunk patrons. I nodded, smiled, and said thank you a bunch. When I tried to go up to the booth to ask the event planner something, she wouldn't let me go up there, saying something along the lines of "you're too good, don't talk with them." Again, this was the gist of what I think she was trying to say. So finally I say, "I'm sorry, I have to go up there," and turn around to head up to the booth. At this point, Mrs. Jim Beam grabs the handle on top of my backpack and yanks it back towards her, throwing me back and knocking me backpack-first into a wall. HARD. I thought my laptop was done. I flip my shit, and ask her what the hell she's doing. I go get the bouncer and he escorts her out. I find out that the chick was one of the event owners friends, and it kinda put a bad vibe on an otherwise good night. I'm afraid it turned off the event planner from booking me in the future. Did I do the right thing here, or should I have reacted differently?

TL;DR: chick came up and almost broke my laptop, I got her kicked out. She was the promoter's friend, and I'm worried I won't get booked again

Explain to the promoter what happened and he should understand, possibly even talk to the woman while shes sober and apologize if you feel its necessary. Be professional about it.

In all honesty tho I would have backhanded her.

[djchriswoods.co.uk]

If she was as drunk as you say, the event promoter was probably aware already...I wouldnt worry about it too much.

[julamy0109]

Go out of your way to explain your side of the story and apologize if needed. If the promoter is bright, he'll understand your side. If he's just an asshole and think that you were wrong from A to Z, I would say to not even try to get booked by him ever again.

I would have reacted the same way. I've had to deal with drunk customers (I'm a bartender, it happens often) and I got to the point that I had to scream to a blackout drunk after closing time to "get out of my fucking bar or I'm fucking getting you out of here my fucking self and you're not fucking gonna like it" or something like that. I told my boss the story the next morning and before she could say a word, I apologized for over-reacting but explained that I was scared (a 20 years old girl, alone in a bar trying to kick a drunk 40 years old guy out...who wouldn't be afraid). She told me to not be sorry and that she would have reacted the same way (I got lucky lol). Be the mature one, when everyone is sober, it's a lot easier to explain and understand.

[deevey]

If she was as drunk as you say, the event promoter was probably aware already...I wouldnt worry about it too much.

I'm sure the promoter knows how plastered she was, and its probably happened before. They should realize the bouncers wouldn't throw her out for no reason and if she was in any fit state to complain I'm sure it would have been done within 2 minutes of being thrown out via txt and been let back in.

[johney]

you did nothing wrong, just reasonably explain it to the promoter

[Nick V]

You probably did her a favor. Sounds like it was a good time for her to go home.

[manchild]

You probably did her a favor. Sounds like it was a good time for her to go home.

Agreed. I'm sure everyone else noticed this as well. I wouldn't worry bout it, not like you did anything wrong......if they don't book u again cause of it (doubt it) then it's whatev honestly

[BestLegsinHD]

don't sweat it. promoter "friends" are rarely ever friends.

[the_bastet]

Exactly. If she was really that tight with the promoter, the bouncer would not have escorted her out so easily bruv. You're in the clear. Next time learn to shrug off fat chicks that want the D. Theyre all trouble.