Weddings Pricing on your web site?

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jabo said:
1. What are those of equal skill level and equipment to you charging? There are none
2. Are you as busy as you want to be at your price level? More, but it is helping me get out of debt.
3. Do you turn away an abundance of business? Yes, I refer to others.
4. What does your customer feedback tell you? You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Just like you don't believe the answers to numbers 1,2,3.
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I believe you. You wanted honest answers. Lying hurts no one but you.

So looking at that assessment I would say that you are probably undercharging a bit. Also, that you have a huge ego, but that is another point. You could probably raise your prices, stay just as busy, and make more per gig.

If those answers are honest I would say that you are actually underpriced for your area.

Mike
 
jabo said:
Here is my help to all of us, me included, if we get better at what we do we can charge more money to do it.

Here is my question to all of us, me included, what are we doing to get better at what we do?
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Getting better isn't the point of the thread.

You don't have to get better -- just post your prices on your website, and you will make billions :)


IMHO, you can put everything on a website (including prices), that will get you a booking, without ever picking up the phone. To me, this is a much better ROI, then wasting time trying to convince people over the phone, who are probably not in your price range.

Most DJs are not making use of the technology available, e.g. -- putting videos on their sites. I don't mean silly videos of a full dance floor, but videos of YOU performing, perhaps a video of you talking directly to the potential client.

I've found, through years in this industry, that a large portion of booking decisions are made on first impressions. In the "old days", there was no choice, but to speak to the person on the phone, or arrange a meeting.

These days, many people shop for things exclusively on the web, and that number is growing daily. So, why not use your interface to bring down your costs. Phone calls cost money to me -- every minute I'm on the phone, is one less minute I can actually be making money!


So basically, by weeding out people that will cost you money, you would in effect be making more money by not having to waste your time talking to them :)


I would suggest this:

Try putting together two different web pages -- one with prices, videos, photos (of you, not a dancefloor, or some bride no one knows) -- and one with just yer basic CALL NOW FOR SPECIAL PRICING FOR YER SPECIAL DAY BS (in other words, the typical DJ site).

Try running each of them for a given amount of time, and see how it works for you...
 
Esoteric said:
All service markets are the same in their basic forces and pricing structures.

Please, tell me how they are different?

You are partially right, a lot of bands would be hired, but also someone new would start a business (I know I would) and charge $2000 per gig and make a killing! And you know what? You couldn't stop me!

Mike
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And that is exactly why DJs are whining about not being able to charge more than X in their market. Too many average or below average DJs and lack of motivation to do what it takes to become better than those around you. I concede that you have effectively made my point. So you win.:sqerr:
 
SoftJock Rick said:
Getting better isn't the point of the thread.

You don't have to get better -- just post your prices on your website, and you will make billions :)


IMHO, you can put everything on a website (including prices), that will get you a booking, without ever picking up the phone. To me, this is a much better ROI, then wasting time trying to convince people over the phone, who are probably not in your price range.

Most DJs are not making use of the technology available, e.g. -- putting videos on their sites. I don't mean silly videos of a full dance floor, but videos of YOU performing, perhaps a video of you talking directly to the potential client.

I've found, through years in this industry, that a large portion of booking decisions are made on first impressions. In the "old days", there was no choice, but to speak to the person on the phone, or arrange a meeting.

These days, many people shop for things exclusively on the web, and that number is growing daily. So, why not use your interface to bring down your costs. Phone calls cost money to me -- every minute I'm on the phone, is one less minute I can actually be making money!


So basically, by weeding out people that will cost you money, you would in effect be making more money by not having to waste your time talking to them :)


I would suggest this:

Try putting together two different web pages -- one with prices, videos, photos (of you, not a dancefloor, or some bride no one knows) -- and one with just yer basic CALL NOW FOR SPECIAL PRICING FOR YER SPECIAL DAY BS (in other words, the typical DJ site).

Try running each of them for a given amount of time, and see how it works for you...
Click to expand...

I always wondered by DJs didn't put videos of their meetings, copies of their paperwork, etc on their website. I want to know what I am getting. That is why I hired the DJ I did.

Mike
 
jabo said:
And that is exactly why DJs are whining about not being able to charge more than X in their market. Too many average or below average DJs and lack of motivation to do what it takes to become better than those around you. I concede that you have effectively made my point. So you win.:sqerr:
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How do you know I would be an average or below average DJ and not take the time it takes to become better than those around me? I would do everything to become the best DJ in the US and STILL charge $2000. *lol*

I am one of the best in the area (I don't have the ego to say THE best) at moving light repairs, and I still charge 1/2 of my closest competitors!

But thank you for demonstrating that you do not understand basic economics.

Mike

PS You are missing my point entirely. And by the way, you sure do a lot of complaining and not much offering solutions. Pot? Meet kettle.
 
Rick, good thoughts on the video idea. We'll be looking into getting a camcorder at some point. We're working on getting some sort of gallery up on our website that would likely include our setup. Unfortunately, we don't have any good pictures of us. We're looking into that, too. On the plus side, a lot of our business comes from a local bridal show, where people get to meet us face-to-face. :)
 
Esoteric said:
I believe you. You wanted honest answers. Lying hurts no one but you.

So looking at that assessment I would say that you are probably undercharging a bit. Also, that you have a huge ego, but that is another point. You could probably raise your prices, stay just as busy, and make more per gig.

If those answers are honest I would say that you are actually underpriced for your area.

Mike
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But how could I be the highest priced dj in my area and be underpriced?????? I will tell you, it is not our area that is your biggest deterrent to making more money, it is our talent. However, it is much more fun to blame our area than it is to say that we aren't as good as we could be. I am not as good as I can be, I will get better as time goes on. I am willing to do what it takes to do so. I don't have a huge ego (although I don't have confidence issues and I do love to debate), compared to many of the DJs on these boards I suck. However, I have realized that if I do what it takes to do the things the others won't take the time to do I can charge more per event. Your ego is just as big as mine, we both think we have a point worth proving. That is why we are here. I don't have a problem with that.
 
And by the way, you sure do a lot of complaining and not much offering solutions. Pot? Meet kettle.
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I have repeatedly offered solutions as to how we can all make more money. Suck less, charge more.
 
jabo said:
I have repeatedly offered solutions as to how we can all make more money. Suck less, charge more.
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How about:

Reduce expenses, charge less, get more bookings = make more money :)

One does not always have to charge more, to make more... ;)
 
jabo said:
But how could I be the highest priced dj in my area and be underpriced?????? I will tell you, it is not our area that is your biggest deterrent to making more money, it is our talent. However, it is much more fun to blame our area than it is to say that we aren't as good as we could be. I am not as good as I can be, I will get better as time goes on. I am willing to do what it takes to do so. I don't have a huge ego (although I don't have confidence issues and I do love to debate), compared to many of the DJs on these boards I suck. However, I have realized that if I do what it takes to do the things the others won't take the time to do I can charge more per event. Your ego is just as big as mine, we both think we have a point worth proving. That is why we are here. I don't have a problem with that.
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Wow so you are the best DJ in the area, but you aren't as good as you can be? Everyone must really suck in your area. I am very good at what I do, but I am not presumptuous enough to say I am the best, even in my area. Top 5? Yes.

Yup, it is possible to be charging the most in your area and still be underpriced. If you are getting more bookings than you want, then you can raise your price (which will reduce bookings) and still get the amount of bookings you want.

Mike
 
Esoteric said:
I always wondered by DJs didn't put videos of their meetings, copies of their paperwork, etc on their website. I want to know what I am getting. That is why I hired the DJ I did.
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Which is exactly why my paperwork and forms ARE on my site:) I give them my forms at the first consult before they even hire me for exactly that reason - I base my pitch on tangibles, and letting them see the exact process I will use to get them where they want to be lets them see EXACTLY what they are getting for their money. People respect that, and respect you, and respond to it.

Holding everything hostage for a quote alienates and irritates a lot of folks, and rightfully so.

Just show me what you got - if it's compelling or in my price range, I will call - but if you don't make an effort to tell me what it is I will get, or even how much I am looking (even BALLPARK - just SOMETHING) to get it, I'm moving on, and even if I call you to get prices or more info, my walls are already up against an impending sales pitch, so as a service provider, when you foster that kind of "on the defensive" inquiry from a perspective client, all you are doing is creating barriers and raising defenses that weren't necessary, and could have been obliterated before they even called you.

When they call me, they are informed, and that empowers them and lowers a lot of defenses. I don't have to "convince them" why I charge what I do - they can see what they get, and it's evident. I don't presume or try to convince them that what I do is somehow "beyond" their grasp. I developed my site to put everything I do clearly WITHIN their grasp. If they dig what they see, or think I would be a good fit based on what they see, it's a done deal.

Don't treat them like "clients," treat them like people. Give them the information they are looking for, and even MORE than they were looking for. If its a fit, they will bite. If not, they are gone. Just the way it should be.
 
Update..

Just got back from the AMS convention. The general consensus is no pricing on the web site, but "do what you need to do to make a living"..No AMS Location has their pricing on their site. I did, I used too, I no longer do. No reason.

But now I have a better understanding on pricing packages. Hours,, what they mean and the brides point of view.

Already re-worked them!

More bookings, here we come!!
 
AlbanyAMS said:
Just got back from the AMS convention. The general consensus is no pricing on the web site, but "do what you need to do to make a living"..No AMS Location has their pricing on their site. I did, I used too, I no longer do. No reason.

But now I have a better understanding on pricing packages. Hours,, what they mean and the brides point of view.

Already re-worked them!

More bookings, here we come!!
Click to expand...

So, being one to put my money where my mouth is, I updated my website now, with pricing included (as best as I can).

Mike

www.esotericvisions.com
 
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