ComplaintsforJT Douglas Music

• Initial Complaint

  07/24/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  JT called the day of my event at 2:43 to confirm the event time was at 4p, and informed me they were not letting him go in and set up. So, I called the venue staff, and they informed me of how hostile and rude JT was being. I now completely understand why they were not letting him in prior to the start of our event. JT vented about how insulted he felt by the staff not allowing him in and being offensive to him. At 4:09pm the day of my event, JT canceled via text message saying, “I will be sending your money back I’m not going to be DJing at that place…. etc.” Per JT contract, if he cancels he is to refund the customer or find a DJ to replace him for the same cost. My event was June 15th; It has now been over a month of trying to work with this DJ about refunding me the amount paid for his services. Through the many conversations held with him via email, text, and phone call, he has proven to me once again how aggressive and agitated he gets when he doesn’t have his way. While away on our honeymoon, JT reached out to me (8 days after our event) and said, “I don’t feel good about what happened. I have decided to make payments back to you amounting $400.” Even though it was not the total amount we paid, we agreed to him paying us back through a gradual payment plan. We even informed him that he could keep the rest for the gas and so-called attempt he made to be at our event. JT constantly offended me (the customer) and showed his narcissistic personality: “I know you guys are young and probably nobody knows what professionalism even is but that’s why I have such high ratings for it on thumbtack”. On the day of the final payment (July 19th, 2023), I reminded JT to send us the last payment when he could. JT said, “I certainly will” and continued to rant on about the venue. The next day, I followed up with JT about not receiving his payment the day prior and he once again ranted on about how it was not his fault and that we were not getting another penny from him.

  Business response

  08/24/2023

  Having been in the entertainment business for over 15 years and a multiple year Top Pro on my booking forum (not easy to do) with over 200 5 star reviews, I have never had a single complaint filed against me with this or any other organization. I mention that to say that sometimes the client is simply wrong or directing their frustration inaccurately and sometimes THEY are the root cause of their own misfortune as is the case here.

  My response to this complaint is quite literally right in the text message information that client sent you. We had a contract, it clearly states that the deposit is kept once we book the event since I am removing myself from any other potential engagement even if it is far more profitable. I hold that date and arrive early to every event. Just as I did for this event as you will see from her text messages. Her invitation (that she also sent via text) clearly states her party started at 4pm. I arrived early (roughly 2:30) to set up and was literally standing IN THE LOBBY of the venue asking to set up so I could soundcheck and be ready for the arrival of the guests. You will also see from her texts that I made her aware with both text and phone call that I had arrived and she told me clearly the venue people would guide me in for any load in instructions. This was false. The venue people told me to leave and that I could not set up because she didn't have the venue until 4.

  There was no other event going on and staff was already there so clearly this would have been a great time to set up. As you can see from my final review on google of this venue (The District Clearwater) I was quite surprised having just driven almost 3 hours that I was being asked to leave. I showed the girl the text of the client's invitation that says the party starts at 4 and she looked rather perplexed and said "I need to hear it from the client herself". At this pointI contacted the client again and she told me right there on a phone call that she had bad service but would try to call the venue to tell them.

  I was sent back outside in the heat of the Florida sun (my van doesn't have AC when idling) and with much frustration waited there for 30 minutes. At a little after 3pm I tried to enter again since it was getting really close to the party start time (and was sure the client had sorted this out by now) and found that the rather rude venue staff had now locked the door. There was nothing I could do but come back at 4 which is highly irregular when the invite clearly states the event starts at 4 and the client knew I was there early to set up. I went and sat in an air conditioned restaurant around the corner and pulled up the venue on google to see if they had other negative experiences and not to my surprise they had. I left a review of how I was being treated and it was not a favorable one.

  When I got back at 4 (all if this is clear from our text correspondence and video from the venue) the owner met me at the door and stated that I could not come in until I removed my review. I am not even kidding. Apparent;y he felt I had no right to voice my displeasure and wanted to hold my client's event hostage until I took the review down. Even through all of this frustration I agreed to do it and as I turned to walk away to get my phone and remove the review (and try to set up amidst the crowd pouring in) he called after me in a condescending tone and said "oh, are we done talking. I wasn't done." And at that point I had made several attempts to gain entry to do my job while my client did absolutely nothing to assist. I was in for a 3 hour drive back having spent an entire day traveling and trying to get into the venue.

  Through all of this I did give the client the balance of their money back minus the deposit and it was with great hesitation because I tried and tried to complete my end of the contract and she may call it "ranting" about the venue because she is most likely one dimensional in her thinking but I call it explaining where the blame truly lies. It was obvious to me as I drove home that the client and the venue had not communicated with each other on her actual start time and certainly had not told ME when I could and couldn't set up. In my professional opinion, the DJ should not have to beg and make multiple attempts to set up and sound check when they are literally already standing right IN the venue.

  This complaint is completely misdirected and the venue should have restored the client monetarily and apparently made no attempt to do so. 

  Customer response

  08/24/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  1. No apology was ever made to me as the client from JT in regards to his actions and unprofessional communication to me as shown on the text messages. And still none today but instead pointing fingers at not just the venue but me as well. 

  2. The actions of JT towards the venue staff was the reason the venue staff was hesitating on allowing him in. Due to his actions and lack of proper communication he was asked to return at 4p by the venue staff. Based on the owner of the venue Hugo and some of my attended guests. The conversation held between Hugo and JT was heated and JT simply walked away cursing in mid conversation with Hugo. 
  

  3. JT is not a man of his word, by continuously changing his mind on what he felt was right to refund and his efforts he made. JT never has he sent me an invoice like he said he would. 

  4. I’d simple would be happy with having my complaint/review posted to warn others before they considering hiring him. 

  Sincerely,
  
  ***** *********

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