I was recently contacted by a promotions company / group that I had applied to some time ago. At first it all seemed good. When I first spoke to him I was supposed to come down to one of his spots in Manhattan and he was going to let me get on for a bit to kind of like audition me. I spoke to him last night and now he said that he just wants to take me around to the spots he promotes this Saturday. He said that he basically runs 3 promotions groups and is looking to start a fourth. The groups include DJ’s and a promotions team. They travel and throw these parties often having bigger names to be the main act and us just kind of opening to build our names. It all sounded OK, until he said that to get started I would have to pay a fee of $1000. So he said to come out this Saturday he’ll show me his events and give me the paperwork (contracts agreements) blah blah…
My question is… Is this normal for a promotions company to charge at first?
I could really use some understanding… I have been a DJ for 16 years an once almost had something going. I was on the radio for 6 years and was doing a lot of spots. I stopped for a bit for personal reasons by the time I came back my fire had burned out and I was left starting again. But then I had a radio show so I was getting calls with no help. Now I get nothing. So I never had to go this rout. Is this right?
Yeah that seems to me a bit much. I’m from the UK and agree with Chris that some agencies here charge around £100 which is about $60-$70.
This guy sounds like he wants you to fund the 4th promotion group. I’d be wary. But then again things maybe that little bit more expensive over your way.
Is there not anybody who uses this agency you can speak to?
It sounds like he wants to bring you on more as a working partner more than anything else. So it all depends on if you want to get involved on the promotion side of things as well.
Depends on how the contract is written up, that will give you full insight into what he’s planning on doing. And don’t be afraid to change anything in a contract! It’s not written in stone, it’s just a starting point.
thats what we call a bait and switch, once he has your money, he is gone.
dont trust that unless you contact the other groups and the people in it.
Your making him money… i dont see why you pay him to DJ.
I asked for the name of his company and he sent me a bunch of names. one was sensation white.
So, $1000 is a lot. In the past my show was my promoter so I never had to think about it. Now It’s like a whole new ball game.
I have a friend who’s a traveling DJ but she’s a but snippy and whn eveer I ask her about these things she get on some high horse and give me some long winded answer about nothing. So I really appreciate your help everyone.
Please feel free to keep offereing advice. I need it. Plus I don’t want to fund his opperations if its not going to benifit me directly. Sheesh… I just want to spin… Not through parties. lol..
(for some reason this didn’t post so I am sorry if this is a double)
I asked him for a name to his company and he gave me a bunch of names one of which was sensation White.
Thank you for all you help guys please keep it comming.
I feel kind of lost. Back in the day my show would get me all my gigs now I’m trying to get out there. I don’t want to through parties I just wanna spin… You know…
I mean if it could benifit me more directly I wouldn’t mind getting involved. But really I just love to DJ and thats all I want to do. I get pleanty of gigs here on LI. But I would love to grow… I mean that is the dream, right… lol…
any way thank you all so much. again keep it commung this is ver helpful
OK, Here’s the latest… This guy used to work at CBS Sports… He gave me his real name and I fasebooked him. Not to blow up his real name but his DJ name was Ren Roxy.
The dude who mentioned the partner thing was right. He wants me to be a partner in the 4th promotional group. I would get 10%. The cost is to promote me.
I used to work at CBS but in the radio division. I was the trafficking manager for CBS-AM (big news station in NYC also the home of the Yankee’s) Either way I still have ties there. they verified him as having worked there for many years.
I am still skeptical. But We are going to meet Saturday and he’s gonna take me around the city to his spots.
1000 for 10% is he putting in 9000 for the other 90%, is there any current contracts you are going to get money from. Has he got any assets for the company website, merchandise that sort of thing.
scamming you.
10% for promo group equals $1000?
This makes it a LEGAL scam, takes your $1000 and can legally support his company fake funds and never have pay outs.
i would like to see the promised projections to be