DJ Ricardo Patiño vs. DJ Adan Mijares

I just returned from our wedding in Cabo, and feel the need to give some feedback for all you brides out there trying to plan a destination wedding. 

Aside from the groom and the location (we chose the insanely perfect Cabo del Sol golf club - more on this in another post), the music was one of the most important elements to our reception.  So much so that we even considered bringing a DJ from Chicago, but ultimately decided against it based on cost.  We originally met with Adan Mijares because he had done a friend's wedding in Cabo, and seemed to be one of the two popular DJs in town (the other being DJ Ricardo Patiño).  Working with DJ Mijares was difficult from the start.  The response time to Emails was slow and sometimes non-existent.  When he did reply, he gave us the high pressure sell.  After meeting with DJ Mijares the 3rd week of Dec. 2012, he seemed to understand our musical taste, so we decided to move forward and made a verbal commitment to sign his contract upon receipt.  We and asked for him to forward his contract to us via Email since he forgot to bring one to our meeting, but it never came.  I assumed this was due to the holidays, and his usual slow response time, so thought nothing of it.  However, the day after New Year's Eve (10 days after our verbal confirmation), the wedding coordinator we hired on the same trip reached out to him, and he told her he booked another event which obviously gained him more money.  He never informed us that he did so, and had she not reached out, we may have ended up with no time to book a DJ.  

Sadly, I noticed (after Googling him) that many brides had a similar experience with DJ Mijares flaking out on them: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/71747/nightmare-dj-mijares-flaked-on-our-6-11-11-wedding

Rachel from Infinity weddings to the rescue (infinity-cabo.com more on this later, she is an angel).  She immediately recommended DJ Ricardo Patiño.  This was the 3rd recommendation for this DJ from Cabo locals, and I wish we had listened from the start.  Working with DJ Ricardo was night and day to DJ Mijares.  He is extremely professional, friendly and helpful.   He replied to our questions immediately, and gave me a sense of calm.  He was WONDERFUL from the business aspect, and then blew our minds on the music side.  Our music was PERFECT.  He also did the up-lighting for our venue, and it was breathtaking.  He was so in tune with our requests, and our dance floor was packed from start to finish.  The funniest part is that my maid of honor requested he play a song from our "Do Not Play" list for the end of her speech, and he was so dedicated to that list that he initially refused, showing her our wishes.  It took a LOT of coaxing for her to get him to do it, and I'm sure he was nervous about it, but it was absolutely fine for the last 20 seconds of her speech.

I know how hard it is to plan a destination wedding, trusting in vendors based on other people's experiences and reviews, so I simply had to let you all know.  If you are trying to decide between DJ. Ricardo and DJ Mijares, there is no question.  DJ Ricardo Patino hands down.

I have been in contact with DJ Ricardo and he is very responsive. Its a good thing you wrote this review because its recent and I have  been deciding between both of them. may I ask what the charges were for both DJ per hour?? thanks for this review.

Congrats!

Originally Posted by kbyrne2707 

I just returned from our wedding in Cabo, and feel the need to give some feedback for all you brides out there trying to plan a destination wedding. 

 

Aside from the groom and the location (we chose the insanely perfect Cabo del Sol golf club - more on this in another post), the music was one of the most important elements to our reception.  So much so that we even considered bringing a DJ from Chicago, but ultimately decided against it based on cost.  We originally met with Adan Mijares because he had done a friend's wedding in Cabo, and seemed to be one of the two popular DJs in town (the other being DJ Ricardo Patiño).  Working with DJ Mijares was difficult from the start.  The response time to Emails was slow and sometimes non-existent.  When he did reply, he gave us the high pressure sell.  After meeting with DJ Mijares the 3rd week of Dec. 2012, he seemed to understand our musical taste, so we decided to move forward and made a verbal commitment to sign his contract upon receipt.  We and asked for him to forward his contract to us via Email since he forgot to bring one to our meeting, but it never came.  I assumed this was due to the holidays, and his usual slow response time, so thought nothing of it.  However, the day after New Year's Eve (10 days after our verbal confirmation), the wedding coordinator we hired on the same trip reached out to him, and he told her he booked another event which obviously gained him more money.  He never informed us that he did so, and had she not reached out, we may have ended up with no time to book a DJ.  

 

Sadly, I noticed (after Googling him) that many brides had a similar experience with DJ Mijares flaking out on them: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/71747/nightmare-dj-mijares-flaked-on-our-6-11-11-wedding

 

Rachel from Infinity weddings to the rescue (infinity-cabo.com more on this later, she is an angel).  She immediately recommended DJ Ricardo Patiño.  This was the 3rd recommendation for this DJ from Cabo locals, and I wish we had listened from the start.  Working with DJ Ricardo was night and day to DJ Mijares.  He is extremely professional, friendly and helpful.   He replied to our questions immediately, and gave me a sense of calm.  He was WONDERFUL from the business aspect, and then blew our minds on the music side.  Our music was PERFECT.  He also did the up-lighting for our venue, and it was breathtaking.  He was so in tune with our requests, and our dance floor was packed from start to finish.  The funniest part is that my maid of honor requested he play a song from our "Do Not Play" list for the end of her speech, and he was so dedicated to that list that he initially refused, showing her our wishes.  It took a LOT of coaxing for her to get him to do it, and I'm sure he was nervous about it, but it was absolutely fine for the last 20 seconds of her speech.

 

I know how hard it is to plan a destination wedding, trusting in vendors based on other people's experiences and reviews, so I simply had to let you all know.  If you are trying to decide between DJ. Ricardo and DJ Mijares, there is no question.  DJ Ricardo Patino hands down.

Dear Brides To Be

The Best Dj In Cabo is Ricardo Patiño I know him for more than 10 Years Here are the Links:

www.djsystem.com.mx

www.djricardo.mx

Best Regards
 

Hi Johanna,

Sorry for the delayed reply.  Thanks you!

DJ. Mijares asked for $225, but when my friend told me they paid him $180, we asked him to come down.  We agreed upon $200/hr.  He then took another job that likely paid him more.  DJ Ricardo's rate was always $200/hr.  I cannot recommend him enough.

It looks like you are trying to use a package at Dreams, but if you need any other vendors.  I had some great ones.  I highly recommend:

Guitar: Arturo Sotomeyer (http://www.arturosotomayor.com/)

I hope this helps!

-Kat

Hello Kat / Kbyrne2707,

I hope you are well, I am DJ Mijares my account is not currently working so I got a chance to reply from this account.

I received a few emails from clients and coworkers mentioning there was a disappointed bride posting on the forum so I decided to take a look, honestly I was impressed that you had written this post, which was obviously done with the intention of harming my work and reputation, you have also posted a link to a review that happened a few years ago where I did accept that it had been my mistake, but if you read the reply below that post you would've noticed that I made it up for that bride and at the end she was a happy client. 

In your case I feel I didn't make any mistakes neither was I unprofessional, I replied to all your emails on time, I was very clear to you about my contract and deposit policies to hold the date from the beginning to the end. 

I have been part of this forum for a long time and I think its a great tool for all brides and grooms to meet people that are in their same situation, compare venues, vendors, talk about their experiences etc, as long as it is used properly.

In every situation there are two sides of a story, below you will find the dates in which I received your emails and the dates when I replied. I have the emails that can prove it in case there is doubt. 

Here are the facts:

August 21st 2012 email sent from Kat to Dj Mijares: You mentioning someone had recommended you my services and you wanted to know if I was available on April 27th, 2013.

August 22nd 2012 Dj Mijares reply: explaining that I already had the date booked but one of my partners could provide the service for you.

Aug 22, 2012 Kat: asked if I was personally available for April 26th, that the music was a very important part of your wedding and that you were considering bringing your own Dj from Chicago.

Aug 22nd, 2012 Dj Mijares: I replied saying I was available for April 26 and I would be happy to work for you I also sent my rates, the equipment I included and in case you needed I also offered my guitar service and lighting, I mentioned I had some packages in case you decided to hire many of my services.

Same date different emails: I sent you some of my new demos that were not on my webpage, you mentioned you were not receiving them so I sent them from my hotmail account.

Aug 23rd 2012 Kat: confirmed you had received the demos and that you were currently traveling and that you would know more after you met with Cabo venues, you mentioned you would reach out soon.

Kat Aug 29th, 2012: mentioned she was back in Chicago after looking at Cabo wedding venues and that April 26th 2013 would not work with your 1st choice for wedding venue Cabo del Sol and you asked if I was available May 3rd 2013.

Dj Mijares Aug 29, 2012: I replied I was available.

Kat Aug 29th, 2012: said that was great and that hopefully you would confirm the date within a week but again you mentioned you were trying to decide wether to use your "friend/professional Dj from Chicago or pay for a Cabo DJ" you asked if my rates were negotiable.

Dj Mijares Aug 28th, 2012: I said yes depending on the number of hours and the services you hire.

Kat Aug 29th, 2012: asked if I could send my hourly rate for the different number of hours.

Dj Mijares Sept 3rd, 2012: I sent you my fees for Dj service, guitar, led lights and robotic lights.

Kat Sept 4th, 2012: asked if I could send you my package fees and a sample of the contract that I send to my clients.

Dj Mijares Sept 4th, 2012: I sent you my packages and the sample contract attached.

Kat Sept 4th, 2012: mentioned she did not received the attached contract.

Dj Mijares Sept 5th, 2012: I sent the contract from my hotmail account.

Kat Sept 20th, 2012: mentioned she was about to sign contract with Cabo del Sol next week and that you would be ready to look at vendors contract, you mentioned some of the info in the contract (hours, venue) were not correct.

Dj Mijares Sept 20th, 2012: I replied that the information in the contract would be changed and that was just the contract sample that you had requested to see, I was also very clear that once you decided to hire me and confirm my services I "would need to a 50% deposit and a signed contract to hold the date for you" 

Kat Oct 14th, 2012: apologized she had not replied to my previous email and mentioned she would be interested in listening to some of my guitar demos as she had already spoken to someone else about this service and hadn't realized I provided this service as well, you mentioned you would like to sign your preferred vendor contracts to hold the date but that first you needed to finalize and make other decisions first, you asked if I would be willing to tentativly hold the date for you without contract or deposit and in case someone else requested the date to let you know first, "meaning give us the opportunity to pay your deposit first if someone else requests the same date"

Same day different email: You asked if you could pay with credit card. 

DJ Mijares Oct 14th, 2012: I explained I had guitar demos on my webpage and I offered that service during the ceremony and cocktail hour and I could learn any specific song request that you had. I also mentioned you could pay me with credit card and that "I could only hold the date for you with a signed contract and deposit, that was my policy to all my clients"

Kat Nov 12th, 2012: I received an email mentioning you were planning to come to Cabo on Dec 14th, 2012 to meet with potential vendors/ sign contracts for your wedding on May 3rd 2013 and if I was available to meet with you sometime that weekend.

Dj Mijares Nov 12th, 2012: I replied I had a wedding on Sat 15th but I could meet with you Friday or Sunday just let me know what time. 

Kat Nov 15th 2012: You replied just let me know if afternoon or early evening is better, just trying to play around other appointments.

Kat Nov 19th, 2012: You were checking in because you were planning other appointments around ours and the recommendation was to work with me and not an assistant, you wanted to confirm day and time for the meeting.

Dj Mijares Nov 20th, 2012: I replied I would be there not my assistant on Friday at 6, please let know where?

Kat Nov 21st 2012: You replied asking where would be the best place to meet since you would like to listen to me play the guitar, or maybe I could just bring a demo to the meeting.

Dj Mijares Nov 21st, 2012: I replied we could meet at your hotel lobby and would bring my guitar.

Kat Nov 21st, 2012: You said that would be perfect and you gave me your hotel name.

Kat Dec 14th, 2012: You wrote you were in Cabo and confirmed the meeting.

Dj Mijares Dec 14th, 2012: I confirmed the meeting for today at 6 at your hotel.

During the meeting Dec 14, 2012: 

You listened to my Dj demos, I showed you photos from weddings where I had provided lighting service, I played guitar demos for you, etc... you explained you were still considering on bringing your Dj friend from Chicago and that you would make a decision soon and you would let me know. During the meeting I felt you were not sure of who you wanted to work with, you also called me by the name of one of my colleague DJ friends in Cabo by mistake which made me think you were also looking at other options, which is totally fine to compare and meet as many vendors as you need until you find the one you feel comfortable with.

So as you can see on previous emails to the meeting we never talked about bringing the finalized contract to the meeting, neither you gave me a deposit during the meeting to hold the date.

Days passed and I didn't hear from you, you didn't sent me an email confirming you wanted me to provide Dj service for your wedding, neither you ask for the contract or provide a deposit to hold the date......

Between the waiting period of time I received an email from a bride requesting my services for her wedding, she signed the contract and made the deposit.

Jan 2nd, 2013 Wedding Coordinator: Sent me an email informing me she would coordinate the wedding for Kat and she would like to re cap the service hours and rate.

Jan 2nd, 2013 Dj Mijares: I replied I had already sent my rates to Kat on previous emails, but I was no longer available to work for her wedding, I mentioned the Dj service could be provided by one of my partners in case she would like that.

I explained I never received an email from Kat confirming she wanted to work with me, neither a request to sign the contract or a deposit to hold the date after our meeting in December.

Jan 2nd 2013 Kat: Sent me an email mentioning her wedding coordinator had just informed her I had changed my mind and I was no longer available for her wedding and she was disappointed and was expecting to receive a contract from me.

Jan 3rd, 2013 Dj Mijares: I replied I had not changed my mind, I explained that during the meeting I felt she had doubts about hiring my services since she mentioned she was still thinking about bringing her own Dj from Chicago and that she never sent me an email after the meeting confirming she had made her decision to work with me, asking me for the contract neither she made a deposit to save the date. I apologized and I explained I had already signed a contract with another couple.

Jan 3rd, 2013 Kat: Replied that during the meeting she mentioned they were planning to hire me and I was supposed to send the contract, she didn't sent me an email to confirm my service after the meeting because she thought I was traveling to see family for the holidays and didnt wanted to pressure me. She mentioned she was very upset and asked if I could make things right.

I do not recall saying I would be traveling with family....  and receiving a confirmation email from someone that wants to work with me will never feel like pressure, even when I travel I try to take some time to answer my emails, call clients, etc.

I consider my self a professional person with years of experience and clients that can back up my work, this doesn't mean I am perfect and I don't make mistakes, but if I make a mistake I accept it and take full responsibility for it, I try to make it up to my client, but I don't think it is fair to accuse someone and lie about a situation just because things didn't end up the way we wanted.

I respect and appreciate all my clients, they all deserve the same attention and service this is why it doesn't matter if we have been exchanging emails for a week or two months, it doesn't matter if you represent more or less money, I work in a first come first serve basis, if you sign the contract first and make the deposit I guarantee I will be in your wedding doing my best to entertain you and your guests!!

Have a nice day,

Best Regards

Dj Mijares

Hi guys,

I have a question...I have quotes from both DJ Ricardo and DJ Mijares.  DJ Ricardo says that we give him a list for the playlist for the entire ceremony and reception.  But isn't at least 50% of being a DJ picking out the songs and knowing what songs people like to dance to?  It seems kind of insane to charge hundreds of dollars per hour to be a DJ when basically all you are doing is Emceeing and hitting play on a playlist someone else has created. 

Anyone have thoughts on this? 

Thanks!