Official 'Certify Your Disc
Jockey' Document On Mediation (Complaint) Services
July 2012
With special appreciation to
the Canadian Disc Jockey Association (CDJA) for sharing their Mediation
documentation and giving us permission to adapt it to suit the needs of 'Certify Your Disc Jockey'.
PREAMBLE:
Becoming a 'Certified Disc Jockey' requires DJs to agree to 10 (ten)
standards, as outlined on the website, to sign a legally binding addendum with a client, and to meet the 'standards' to the client's satisfaction . EACH AND EVERY TIME a DJ performs, he or she is required to meet these same standards to their client's satisfaction. The standards may be provided within a DJ's written contract, or as an attached ADDENDUM they along with their client sign, to be a part of their legally binding written contract with their clients. Members demonstrate a desire to conduct their
respective businesses professionally, and to a higher standard of quality and
ethics than others in the industry may choose to do.
While standards do help ensure
consumers are protected, they do not replace a business’ need to invest in
their education, training and experience.
There are many professional Disc Jockey associations that provide training
opportunities and seminars to their members, and there are many direct
educational opportunities as well. So
while you should ensure your Disc Jockey agrees to, signs and attaches the ADDENDUM, it is equally or more important to consider their experience
and training.
Membership is also available to Professional DJs that follow this practice on a constant basis. There is no cost, and all that is required is to place the logo and link on their business DJ website. Problems or challenges involving a member with another
Member, a non-member, our customers, or any staff, related to the Hospitality
Industry that we meet will become the sole purpose of this document.
In Appendix A of our formal document, we have listed ten
at our members are expected to meet. We
suggest that our clients PRINT OUT Appendix A, and have their respective Disc Jockey
sign the document and include it with their written contract.
In Appendix B of our formal document, we have listed examples of infractions where the mediation process may be available. These transgressions represent some of the conditions that we feel weaken the Certified-Disc-Jockey Network’s efforts to build a strong, vibrant, organization of professionals.
In Appendix B of our formal document, we have listed examples of infractions where the mediation process may be available. These transgressions represent some of the conditions that we feel weaken the Certified-Disc-Jockey Network’s efforts to build a strong, vibrant, organization of professionals.
Conduct and Ethics:
The Hearing Process This is the program
that will assist any member who needs a framework of steps to follow in order
to protect his/her membership position from the tribunal of peers who will
examine the complaint.
Preliminary Stage:
Mediation
When
you have a complaint to be filed, there is a process that the claimant should
follow before any other major actions are put into effect. These initial steps
are put there to try to avert a protracted series of actions that can be
circumnavigated by simple, common-sense interactions between the two factions
that are at "odds" with one another. Please consider these options
before you initiate the final procedures that will consume larger amounts of
time and energy from busy Peers or Administrators!
A.
Call the company (individual,
owner, representative, etc.) who is the central figure in your complaint.
Explain to him/her what your issue is and provide him/her with a full
description of the problem. This would include the date, host(s) name(s),
location, witnesses (this includes venue personnel), and how it pertains to the
contract that you signed with that business. Remain calm but firm, and be
open-minded enough to realize that the person to whom you're speaking may not
have answers for you at that moment. Allow that person to seek out the
corroborating (or opposing) information from the performer and get back to you
within a reasonable time frame (as per agreement).
B.
Expect that return call to take place on time, and if not, call
again to get an answer. Another waiting period may ensue (due to business
pressures) but this should not happen a third time! The owner/representative
should provide you with the DJs story and then talk to you about "Effects
and Consequences" of the problem between you and his/her business. This is
the point in time when cooler heads and serious intentions should prevail. Try
to reach an amicable settlement that is a compromise between both of you. The
owner/rep may handle the compromise himself or have the Disc Jockey settle the
score with you (and that's OK, because it may be a company policy). In any
case, through common concern and commitment, there is a good chance that
matters can be straightened out at this point.
C.
However, if communications break down and you're still not satisfied, then you can contact
the Certified-Disc-Jockey Network directly, to intercede on your behalf. He (or
his designate) will become a Mediator in the case. As a Mediator, we will not
take sides or make judgments for either contestant. The arbitrator's duty
is to "keep both parties talking and working towards a
resolution." Do not expect the Mediator to make a ruling on either
person's claim. The solution MUST come from the two factions.
D.
If the Mediator cannot keep the parties discussing the matter and the claimant
still wants to carry the matter further, then the accuser can formally lodge
the complaint to the Certified-Disc-Jockey Network as a "PROCESS
ACTION." The Certified-Disc-Jockey Network will then "red flag"
the member's file and then inform both parties of the Intent to enact the
Code's staged grievance procedures.
E.
The claimant will submit all pertinent documentation, witness materials and
event data to
the Certified-Disc-Jockey Network by written means within 7 days of
Advisement of Intent. We will start the PROCESS as described below and
inform the defendant of the claimant's rights to enact the code's HEARING
PROCESS.
APPENDIX A:
Certify Your Disc Jockey - ADDENDUM (Professional Wedding Disc Jockey & Emcee Standards):
APPENDIX B:
EXAMPLES
OF VIOLATIONS UNDER THE CODE
By
no means do the following situations act as a finite list of ethical problems
or grievances that could be lodged by a complainant in relation to the ten
standards as documented on printable Appendix A (separate document).
1.
Available to help, full time;
2.
Only use professional series equipment that is suited
for the event;
3.
Bring backup equipment to every event (not a call away);
4.
Use licensed music (i.e. AVLA licensed or record
company/ artist compensated);
5.
Liability insured, and can prove it;
6.
Experience DJing and Emceeing weddings;
7.
Have a business website with contact information;
8.
No hidden expenses.
A warm meal is appreciated but is not a requirement. Expenses are fully disclosed and included in
the written contract;
9.
Never drink alcohol on the job; and
10. The Disc Jockey you
hire is the Disc Jockey who will perform at your event.
1.
Available to help,
full-time. Your DJ answers your email or phone call and
informs you that he/she will call you back when they return to their office in
two days. The two days pass, and no call
so you call again, and are informed again that they are unable to speak but
they will call you back as soon as possible.
Days pass again, and still no return call. This is an example of NOT being available
full-time to help.
2.
Only use professional
series equipment that is suited for the event.
Your DJ arrives and brings a plastic microphone that plugs into a ghetto
blaster, and informs you it is for speeches. This is an example of using
consumer instead of professional series equipment
3.
Bring backup
equipment to every event (not a call away).
Your DJ has an equipment failure, and the sound is interrupted. They did not bring backup equipment with them,
and you have to wait an hour for backup to arrive. This is an example of backup equipment not
being with them at the event.
4.
Use licensed music (i.e. AVLA licensed or record
company/ artist compensated). Your
DJ brings burned CDs, and does not have an AVLA license. After the event you requested to see documentation
that proves their music is AVLA licensed, but they are unable to produce it.
5.
Liability insured, and can prove it. Members of some professional DJ associations
are REQURIED to carry liability insurance.
Others may purchase their insurance on their own. Certified Your Disc Jockey - Network members are
required to be insured and prove it if asked to.
6.
Experience DJing and
Emceeing weddings. Your DJ arrives without a completed written
itinerary or information, and announces the cake cutting at the wrong time,
then plays the wrong song for the first dance and confuses the names of the
wedding party. That’s an example of what
happens if your DJ does not have experience DJing and/or Emceeing a wedding. Again, the Disc Jockey associations have
training programs, and there are many seminars in place to help Disc Jockeys.
7.
Have a business
website with contact information.
Your DJ provides you with a website link and asks that you fill out a
form online. But when you open the
website, the form is buried many pages deep, and when you submit it you just
get error messages. There is no email,
telephone number or address listed so you have to find the information
elsewhere. This is an example of NOT
having a professional business website.
8.
No hidden expenses.
A warm meal is appreciated but is not a requirement. Expenses are fully disclosed and included in
the written contract. Although your Disc Jockey did not discuss a
meal with you, when your guests are served your Disc Jockey asks the caterer for
a plate, even though you never discussed a meal being provided. This is a hidden expense, and although your
Disc Jockey may appreciate being provided with a warm meal, it should be
discussed ahead of time at a face-to-face meeting.
9.
Never drink alcohol
on the job. Your Disc Jockey accepts a beer from a guest,
hides behind his façade and drinks it.
You catch him drinking the beer and even manage to get a picture of him
drinking. This is an example of
drinking on the job and acting unprofessional.
10.
The Disc Jockey you hire
is the Disc Jockey who will perform at your event. You meet a professional Disc Jockey and get
along great. You believe the Disc Jockey
has the experience you were looking for and you hire based on their experience. Then an inexperienced Disc Jockey shows up
for your wedding reception and has no public speaking skills, limited training
and experience and your experience is less than you expected. This is It is an example of
‘bait-and-switch’.
The Certified Your Disc Jockey - Network takes these ten standards very seriously. We have determined the most professional way
to service our clients is to educate and empower them. This is why you are provided with a set of
ten professional Disc Jockey standards that should be included in your written contract, whether a part of the original contract, or as an additional document that is signed by the member and included as an attachment to the original contract.
While we strive for
100% satisfaction, there is always a possibility of discontent. Most if not all concerns can be directly
addressed and rectified by listening to both sides and gaining an understanding
of what was expected and what was delivered.
As we are dealing with professional Disc Jockeys, your satisfaction is
the number one priority.
Being able to resolve
differences can leave all parties satisfied.
But feelings can come into play as well, so if a mediator is required,
the objective is not only to ‘fix’ a problem, but also to help all parties
understand how each respective party is affected. We will endeavour
to keep an open mind, and to keep focused on a resolution between all affected
parties. Your patience and consideration
is very much appreciated.
TJD per
CertifyYourDJ.com
Special thanks to www.CDJA.ca for allowing us to borrow from
their Mediation documentation.
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