Getting stiffed on a gig...

They paid me a week later! Big thanks to Donovan Komac for having me on this show :)
Check my daily snapchat: tinyurl.com/CJS...
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[@Gkh_lx]

the lighting looked great, you hope you do get paid!

[@christianjackson]

+Guy's Sound and Light got paid about a week after. actually faster than most normal clients haha. just not what was agreed on ;)

[@policeboy1288]

Here in 2019 and it's still insane.

[@ithinkmynameismoo5e]

Just a heads up, that lock is crap. Those can be picked really quickly. It's unlikely to happen but still just a warning since it's protecting thousands of dollars of equipment.

[@christianjackson]

+ithinkmynameismoose thx! yeah just random one I had in my car.

[@imark7777777]

It's also worth adding that if you back up to a wall it's kind of hard to get to the door for some reason which strengthens your security a little bit. Are you perhaps recommending Puck lock I hope I got the name right from locks picking lawyer?

[@jopamusic]

Contracts my man. A meeting and a signature is what you need. Every single time! You do amazing work man. You DESERVE to get paid for your services.

[@jopamusic]

+djjopa PS. do you give lessons? I got gear need some intel...

[@christianjackson]

+djjopa problem with contracts for small gigs like this is that enforcing them costs enough time and resources that it almost isn't worth it considering how few clients actually don't pay me. On larger gigs absolutely.

[@scotts.8972]

Could you do more MA onPC videos.... Explaining how you setup your pages, and how you run stuff.

[@jameszanghi3564]

these vids are actually really nice. with all the shots and angles, it looks like your putting alot of work in to these. Nice Job! super cool

[@isettech]

The MA2 has been way out of my price range for a long time. For those starting out, multi universe can be done on a PC using software that supports Artnet or Streaming ACN as the interfaces for DMX over Ethernet are facing serious price competition from the DIY Christmas lighting people. For some of my gigs, I run a single Ethernet instead of multiple DMX cables to the stage as the cable is much less expensive and can be distributed with a 10/100 Ethernet switch instead of an expensive DMX optical splitter. A switch provides isolation with transformers instead of optical, so it still provides the ground loop protection for much lower cost. I have a full 6 universe setup for under $300. The software use can use MIDI, Joysticks, etc for inputs, so there is no shortage of control surfaces for buttons and sliders if you wish to add them. Touch screen and dual monitors is supported. A visualizer is supported for doing light design. For smaller shows, I use QLC+ with Multicast Streaming ACN over Ethernet to a router to provide DHCP and a DMX bridge from a Christmas lights DIY site for transition to 6 full universes of DMX. Software is free. Router and DMX bridge is under $200 combined including a case to build it into. The router box and DMX bridge is about the size of a shoebox. Easy to park at the base of a truss or other out of the way location. For some locations, without good cable access to the stage, it can run Ethernet over the Wifi if wifi is not congested at the venue. Don't trust this at larger venues as congestion can cause glitches.

[@matthewbohn765]

You’re far nicer than I am. I the first time someone told me they couldn’t pay me, I stopped packing and called the police. They paid me in full before I left. The promoter was fired and the owner apologized for everything. Now I just make sure to get a deposit to hold that date, and I’m paid in full before I even hit play.

[@GringitoRecordz]

This shouldn't be a problem if you have a good contract. We always require full payment the night of the event or sooner. The way our booking process works is they hire us, we send them a contract, they send us back the signed contract with the deposit check which saved their date and then before the end of the night of the event they pay the remaining balance. I would never trust a new promotor without a legal contract guaranteeing payment the night of the event. Especially EDM shows because they are known to flop and then people dont get paid. The only time people havnt paid us on time has been college events put on by students. Sometimes they forget to pay you and then you dont receive it for weeks but as soon as you threaten to tell their dean they didnt pay a legal contract they send it right away lol

[@mikel9567]

I was an EMT in Seattle for several years. Did many responses and stand-by's at place. Sketchy as hell venue. I still work as an EMT part time only now I do strictly special events and sporting events. I can't tell you how many events I work, where I am required by insurance and law to be on site for the event to take place and they try to stiff us. Not fun getting stiffed, glad they made it right for you.

[@brianholland2916]

I've been a dj since 99 and enjoy learning more about lighting thru your videos

[@DawnHub666]

When u were in the club controlling the lights head on - I can definitely tell your good at the job and the software is A1, coz when it builds then drops to a kick and a growl, and u get a build up with lights then a flash on the growl then the beat kicks in on the 2 and all the fast lights, strobes and lazors start - i really see how it all comes together. I can really see how a lighting guy also has to understand the music. Maybe more than the sound engineer in a way. I mean they hav to understand levels and such. But a lighting guy really has to know how music and rythym work inside out, just like a DJ. Having been a DJ for 20 years, Im amazed i havnt even thought once about how the lighting is controlled and what the guys would be like - I just totally took it for granted, so its amazing to see this point of view. Jeesus, Raves would be terrible without a decent light guy -- Well done mate. Great Video.

[@giga898]

Had to take someone to small claims once. Didn't pay me nor answered my emails and I gave them over a month to do so. Normally wouldn't care too much but it was fairly big and the promoter was a jerk throughout the whole process. Took the contract to the county courthouse and they did the rest, took like 20 minutes to file. Ended up getting paid after two months in legal hell

[@DayNNyteDJs]

Wow man, you took that pretty lightly. I always get paid prior or I am not there.

[@anthonykinney28]

Please upload more videos. Congratulations on 100,000 thousands subscribers

[@ENIGMVTIK]

I half expected a squeaky-toy sound from that funky hammer of yours.

[@MixwellEventsOrlandPark]

Great job. Show looked amazing. I hope you get paid dinner than later. Keep up the amazing and inspiring work.

[@DawnHub666]

this is fascinating - Never seen anything deep into lighting controlling before - Cool - So ur a DJ and a lighting controller -- U hav the beast jobs senpai

[@BayAreaEventDesigns]

wonderful video great vlog I love the whole aspect of the behind the scenes and just your daily activity before and after the gig it was so really cool I love it thank you so much Christian you're such a great guy you've been a great help to me and many others I totally look up to you I hope one day I can come out and party with you love your music matter fact I'm going to give you a huge shout-out for all those lighting enthusiast out there like myself thank you again take care I wish you the best of success

[@Pauldjreadman]

First time I have come across a behind the scenes of a rig set up. I bet you were knackered carrying that heavy gear in and out without no help.

[@freelifeproductions]

hate it when that happends. but it turns out good most of the time. sometimes promoters that just start just don't have the money to pay everybody at the time.

[@jonathancook4022]

I usually say 'Pay deposit 4 weeks prior, or min 24hours prior to event if its a last minute booking, then remaining payment before doors open. That way, I have leverage. Exceptions include regular customers, like yourself, and Schools, who almost always end up paying every 2 or 4 weeks along with other payment runs.

[@D0CT0RS0UL]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Christian !.. Hopefully you did get paid...

[@djsimonshow3682]

Always get paid up front , no pay no play.

[@andrewmurtagh5065]

Dude, that's completely unfair, you put so much time and effort into that gig and to come out without proper pay, is just unacceptable. To be honest it has happened to me before on a lighting gig. Since I'm only 16 they said it is experience for the future to get out of paying me. Hope you get paid man. All the best 😄

[@christianjackson]

+Andrew Murtagh thanks! I think i will be paid. we'll see

[@andrewmurtagh5065]

You deserve it, that gig looked class!

[@carver7585]

When you're running a show like this do you use looks or cue stacks or both? Seems like there would be a lot of bumping and fast pace stuff that would make cue stacks a bit harder?

[@dj2big]

I won’t get out of bed unless I’m paid in full before the gig

[@varok011]

that's the nature of the promoter / club business. I got out of that bussines years ago, the social market and corporate scene pays really well and for the most part on time.

[@jaec6986]

Hi Christian, thanks for letting us look into all the hard work that goes behind the scene, it really sucks that they didnt pay you. Seattle weather looks amazing right now lol, I visited my friends in Seattle recently and went clubbing at Q club. We all had a great time.\Keep up the good work man, I always look forward to your videos. Jae

[@BobSmith1980.]

You have an awesome attitude about things and that is good to see.

[@DuyNguyen-hm8kk]

how long did it take you to program that show?.. did you use the console setup you made with the Grandma2 on pc?

[@tagged69]

how much would you say, everything that you setup cost?

[@dantonliam]

Show looks great man...what lasers are you running?

[@deang93]

Hi Christian, Do you have any involvement with the laser aspect of the show? Do you ever program them in your shows or are they always separate?

[@christianjackson]

+deang93 I do not have any training or experience with lasers

[@latinobazaar]

This is why I now demand half payment before I unload my gear.

[@aholder4471]

How in the world do you stay fresh at those super long Marathon Music Festival events? Do you have a camper on site that you sleep in or camping or hotel? Would love to know. I've been helping an LD trying to learn the ropes myself and I know sometimes whenever we do music festivals we pull some crazy hours and sleep comes at an absolute top priority when you can get it LOL.

[@osullivanalex]

Scuse me, I have a question, how to fade a fixture independently in a cue ? thanks !!

[@jordanwaeles]

love this kind of gig log and the lights were lovely! I also would like to know what kind of price we're looking at...

[@ander5332]

What are you a light designer or a ligtht technique??

[@dfig19787]

Dude your video are so koo your gear is a dream keep up the hard work.

[@realisticbro]

Damn Bro ur light show is nothing less than spectacular!! Love the vids!!!

[@DJALEXBROWN]

Just wondering what is your like career description? Production company, do you work for a production company....?

[@lorenm4015]

So awesome, straight hustling!

[@JakobWinterborne]

technimatic night vision background song when he was loading the truck.. was not fucking expecting that on this video... big ups

[@rnproductions5306]

How are you crowd scanning with those lasers?

[@TheLommLPs]

What camera did you use?

[@thronee_]

love the lighting, be careful you doxxed yourself with that package

[@ledsdanceentertainment3650]

great setup man! We really like it!

[@joshspehar]

What software were you using when you were at home??

[@christianjackson]

+Josh Spehar MA2 onpc

[@DERTYHOODSTAR]

Is that all your equipment?

[@christianjackson]

+Alexander Alvarado like 95%

[@carver7585]

Can you share what you'd charge for a gig of this type/size? I'm really curious to costs for the night. Also, do you get your primary income from gigs or renting out equipment? Just seems like it would be scary living gig to gig like that, but I like in a small area so maybe it's easier to find work in Seattle. Thanks for sharing

[@kaggez]

if you don't want pin truss... then. what are you gonna buy then?

[@christianjackson]

+kaggez bolt / endplate truss

[@ohbor]

how much did you end up paying for those photos? I'm just starting to shoot festivals, so would be handy to know. love the vids bro.

[@DJTEDDY507]

I'm actually surprised that you own such a big production company besides just doing DJ. That's a great set up for stage lighting. You need to do more tutorials on how to set up that lighting. Anyhow, with clients like this you need to have a contract. Put everything in writing. Trust me, big companies get paid when they provide services.

[@akajvlogs7180]

You should put the moving headsat the front of the dj booth

[@madsatchel]

What software was that you were using that had the graphic representation of your lights?

[@christianjackson]

+Wesley Arnold MA3D

[@djtecthreat]

I know this video is old, KZbin algorithms and all pushed it to the top of my suggestions. Hope you got paid eventually! Also, what lasers are those?

[@imark7777777]

I like to look at it this way at least you learned something and it's not a loss you have this nice video after all, I'm glad that they finally paid I'll be at some of it.

[@justinoswalt8047]

The Promotor should have enough to cover costs before the event even happens, be it out of pocket or loan. Poor promotion.

[@imani828]

Excuse the ignorance but, so your a DJ/ freelance Light Designer/ hardware broker?

[@alanphillips4734]

Christian, been through this quite a few times, EDM promoters (small timers) are the worst here in Australia for sketchy shit, generally they are insolvent and won't admit they can't pay you, oh well.... Straight to court with them

[@PeteR-ll8cw]

Awesome vid mate! Could you tell me what camera you use? Amazing quality

[@christianjackson]

+Piotr Rudnicki canon g7x

[@PeteR-ll8cw]

+Christian Jackson thanks a lot mate! Have a good day:)

[@ShayDeCastro]

Aw man I used to live in south seattle and had to deal with that drawbridge bs all the time.

[@duaneantor9157]

No signed contract?

[@tenderZeitGeist]

I started to watch your videos, when I began to learn some basics for DJing. So that is something I value highly. But to use Technimatic in you videos put the final nail into the coffin. Take my sub and keep it up.

[@DjDuilioPV]

Great job. Show looked Excellent . I hope you get Paid . Thanks for the video ..!!!

[@TheLEDscientist]

for the truss, buy a copper hamer, pin truss is the best

[@nerdom1610]

going back and watching your older stuff is really fun during this time of no shows! hopefully you don't live in that apartment anymore lol, you kinda leak your address here

[@conninixwissen]

Using the same dip-switch calculator ^^

[@XtremeTechYT]

+derconni Same for me as well ;D

[@ericgolpe]

Which is it?

[@djlee1743]

are those elation moving heads?

[@oh_hey_its_skirt_time]

Eduardo Jimenez Yes, the spots are, so I assume the beams are too.

[@haribopapi6334]

Is that Washington state? on 1st ave in the beginning?

[@christianjackson]

+Hernan Ramirez Seattle

[@haribopapi6334]

+Christian Jackson nice man! I live in Seattle as well doing sound, and lighting!

[@camohere3762]

how did you mount the 5r on the vertical truss?

[@christianjackson]

straps

[@Cylume.]

Filthy business practices.

[@kay8312]

just discovered your channel. great stuff!!

[@christianjackson]

+Shivam Sharma welcome!

[@GangiFilms]

bruh you got the hussle

[@ChristianGreschel]

Hi I have been watching your videos quite a bit lately. Saw this one pop up on my youtube main feed. I go by the name CR33P and am a multigenre dj. Interested to know the pizza place you stopped at. Traveling out there soon and was looking for decent places to eat. Also i totally agree you should have gotten paid for that gig. especially since you deliberately recorded how you set it up and did all the work before hand. like that is tons of work to be done and no one should ever be snubbed for that!

[@ChumlyPage]

This is what I do for my job as a stagehand

[@TheMrAngrytoes]

lol i know all about the feet hurting and tired as fuck. i pull triple duty at festivals during the summer. i help set up lights/hazers etc, i help stack subs, i help load bands in/out and i run projectors. all on top of working a regular 9-5.

[@byEnjoiHD]

So are you a freelance lighting designer that sub hires the gear from another AV company?

[@christianjackson]

+Sam I own 95% of the gear I used on this show

[@byEnjoiHD]

+Christian Jackson Cool, so what you call your 'shop' is just a place where you store your gear? (pardon my ignorance I work in the AV industry in the UK and just curious how it all works over the pond) Another question I have is how much is the union culture in America integrated in the events industry? In the UK we tend to just get shit done and then take a break but I hear from people who have been over to America on gigs that you guys religiously take your 15 minute breaks no matter what. And also if your there to do rigging, you only do the rigging. You don't help out the stage builders or the video guys even if helping them will allow you to get on with what you're suppose to be doing. The concept that 'I'm not helping because it's not my job'. Could you shed some light on these things? Love the videos though Christian, really happy I found your channel.

[@aerobicpanther]

Sam I know it's been over 2 years but I hope that this helps. I can't say, for events and shows, what it's like with unions, but I've worked with and talked a decent amount of people who have worked as non-union and one person who was a union worker. The non- union workers have all said the union people will do only what they are there to do because they are just dicks or because if they do something outside their contract they and mess it up and cause damage, they would be responsible and their union contract wouldn't cover any damage outside of their work. For example a bunch of lighting is set and the main power just needs to be plugged into the wall but the guy who's supposed to plug it in isn't there.amd everybody is union. Nobody else will plug it in and they will all wait until the one whose job it is to plug it in gets there.

[@Dj_rueboi]

dam bro..your light and sound sets are amazing...i have about 25k in on dj gear, you must be in the 250k plus lol

[@taxijackmusic]

song name on the loading time lapse?

[@tenderZeitGeist]

Technimatic - Night Vision

[@DalesBadBug]

the fact that in 2016,Seattle looks equally as shitty as it did after these riots (here in 2020) boggles my mind a bit.

[@christianjackson]

its been that way as long as I've been here

[@brikstik3442]

Wait so first off. Did you do this whole load in and gig yourself? And then not even get paid? What the heck

[@northwestaudio]

Super Glad this worked out

[@jelmerroskam156]

what gopro mount are u using?

[@connorrussell3176]

+Jelmer Roskam jo man kdacht al dat k je foto zag in de reacties xDD

[@jelmerroskam156]

haha lekker connor

[@camsvisualmedia7638]

what is the title of the job you do ?

[@christianjackson]

I do a few different things. Lighting design/programming/operating is my main gig. But I also do some production management things.

[@enriquevidal9700]

what's that program?? 4:58

[@AvantDj]

Ma2 and ma3D

[@SmallParticleWaves]

Do you work without any kind of a written statement or short contract with the "promoter"??? You should secure your time, money and health! ALWAYS keep some kind of strong "argumentation" for becoming your right... Great job in your Vids!! Thanks a lot...

[@redlinepe3461]

love your work and videos

[@morrisonentertainment845]

I would love to come and help out some to see how you do things.

[@RGTelesound]

The Promoter takes all the risk of loosing money on a show. Too many times they try to screw the production co. out of money. Hope you got paid, now get some sleep!

[@zayinconde8971]

Why dont you make them sign a contract before hand, Shit i wont even start setting up until i have the money in my hand.

[@neweraess]

dude im sorry.. i know what your going through.. i spent like 17-20 hours on a gig.. setting up, operating, tearing down and when it came down to the last min when u expect payment.. the guy avoids you like he has more important shit to do.. you were the show.. thats your gear that was set up in their venue.. 'pay me for my time i took out of the day for YOUR event!! thats why i request pay up front.. dont take chances anymore and you shouldnt either..

[@louprimo6062]

You could use a helper..... would make things go much easier.

[@KTRowYourBoat]

I don't think you should assume you are not going to get paid for a gig... I wouldn't be able to live if I did that.

[@bentelashley]

Why do clients do that 😡

[@MBVid1]

I see an NSI MLC-16!

[@benbarnett1430]

8:47 Absolute banger

[@djlights3957]

yeah i been there a few times.

[@Sebastian__.]

Been there been stiffed on a gig.