not sure what to charge for prom

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T

T-Bone

New DJ
Dec 10, 2006
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Princeton, NJ
t-bonedj.com
I got a request the other day for an event.

Type of Event: High School Prom
Event Date: Friday, June 1, 2007

Duration: 5:00 hours
Guests: More than 350


Additional Notes:
We have a class of about 750 kids. We are also interested in an intelligent light system and video screen if provided. Thank you for your time,
Melissa

Now I"ve never done an event of this size. Nor have I ever done a prom. I am however confident I can handle this type of event. We have a intelligent light show but we may ned to rent a sub or two for this size evnt. Its about a 40 minute drive from me. They mention video screens but Im not sure what they want them for I will find out if they want music videos thats no problem we can do that as we have our vj system almost finished but we'd still have to rent the screen and projector. So here's my question.

What would you charge for this event, and what would you add if they wanted VJing during the event.
 
T-Bone, have you discussed their budget? See what they are willing to dish out for DJ services. It's a start :)

Of course without getting into a "you must charge xyz" war, remember to charge what you feel you are worth.

I'm feeling anywhere between 1,000 - 1,500 for a full vj&dj rig, plus the additional mileage required. Remember to factor in rentals into your price.
 
thats about what I was thinking but I'm not sure what to put should they not need the VJIng.

Is it ok to just ask them their budget?
 
Well T-Bone I would be very swave about asking, i would just initially focus your first part of the phone going over any add ons or what they expected, what they have done in the past years, any special songs... then ask what their budget is. Their response can greatly help you decide your price and what they are expecting, even if they don't flat out tell ya :) (note hesitations, or exact figures)
 
I was just thinking about school events this afternoon. They always seem to want so much - the rooms they choose to use REQUIRE a LOT of audio - but they NEVER seem to have the moeny to pay for any of it.

I recomend that you treat this like a wedding, schedule a discovery meeting to document their wants, needs and what they have to spend. Get a clear picture of the event that you can build out your plan and figure out your costs.

This process works in your favor for a few reasons -

1 - They take some ownership in the night's success and give you their vision
2 - Your proposal is EXACTLY what they want to call the winner.
3 - The time they give you for this meeting and waiting a few days for a price makes them feel like they made an investment in you already.... Not going through and hiring you would be a waste.
 
I found that schools are not like booking anything else...

I would talk to them and say something like "Aloha (your greeting may change LOL) Yes I am open on your date and it sounds like it's going to be a great time. I do have a couple of packages that would suit your needs. Tell me, what kind of budget are you trying to work within so I can give you the most for your money"

They will usually say something like around XYZ $... so then you have to think quick and go from there. Finding out what they want to spend is important. They may say something like $400.00 and you can say "Mahalo (again, your responce may vary LOL) for the call but in that price range I don't have anything that will be good for your Prom"

You may even want to throw in that my basic package starts at $700.00 or whatever and that doesn'tr include the intel lights...

You gotta work them..

One other thing, just to make this post longer than it needs to be :) remember something, if, like you said you have never done a show like this but you think that you can handle it. That's all great and I'm assuming that you have done teen events before, if not, you may want to re-think even doing this Prom. There is more to it than having the music and the lights.

There are two events that I feel are the most important, Weddings and Proms. You can't re-do either one. If you blow it for whatever reason (and I am not saying that you will) think about that. It is one of the things that I keep in my head. I remember my prom. I remember the band blowing out the power and sitting on the floor in the dark untill someone figured out how to flip that stupid breaker.... Those are NOT the kind of memories that you want to make.

Okay,,, I'm stepping off my soapbox now and going back to the arcade..... zap, pow, zoom, wham.....
 
From one Chuck to another, I agree with all of what you say... except one little difference - and it is minor - but we all have to do our "first one" of everything we choose to do...... I say, go gung ho, but do your homework!

( which is almost exactly what you are saying Chuck, but I wanted to encourage a smidge more. :sqwink: )
 
Aloha Chuck :) Sorry I didn't mean to come off as disencouraging... and you are right, we all do have a first time, I reember mine, 1968,,, oh wait,, not that first time?? LOL

Ok,, yes I do even remember my first prom that I DJ'd,,, but I meant that as long as someone has done other teen events that's cool,,, but I don't think that you should make your first teen event a prom.... but I'm thinking that this is not the case..

so I'm blowing smoke outa my..... oh wait, I'm suppose to be at the arcade........ zing, woop, whap, kazam!!
 
thanks for the replies I will contact her and find out there budget as suggested I will take into account your advice as well chuck. This is not my first teen event I have done plenty of this(sweet 16s, school events, house parties, grad parties). I will definitely do my homework on this one and you can expect a few more threads of questions before this event. Again Thanks for the help I will post later to tell you how things go.
 
how high is the property tax in that town?
what demographic are the kids? affluent etc.

without knowing your market its hard to advise. My guess is anywhere from a grand on up for that show....but that's kansas pricing.

I do a little school in the woods for the 3rd year for $800.00 because that is the most they can spend....75 kids come.

350 +
now your talkin' more opportunity.
 
I would sincerely recommend charging based on the service you deliver; that encompasses the overall experience (equipment, talent). Charging based on their proposed budget or other area jocks is not an accurate or realistic measure. What are your expenses....what is your investment for the long and short term (time, advertising, business expenses, etc). Pricing yourself based on opportunity will not keep you in business for long.
 
I have to agree with the one with the big gig rig up above .. If they want quality they have to pay for it. I no longer listen to the this is our budget b/s. This is what you want so this is what I charge end of story.
Most schools in the NJ area will spend top dollar for a great show.
 
DJ JohnThe1 said:
I have to agree with the one with the big gig rig up above .. If they want quality they have to pay for it. I no longer listen to the this is our budget b/s. This is what you want so this is what I charge end of story.
Most schools in the NJ area will spend top dollar for a great show.
Click to expand...

John,
Yes, schools who want will pay. Sometimes it takes them a year to figure out how to afford....but they will come. To charge what is available, whether high or low, is destructive to the industry. Schools become unwilling to listen to new ideas or change because the last DJ to come to their school promised the world, took all of their budget, yet was no different than the one before. We need to have the integrity to ask what we determine to be a fair price (based on investments, not what the next guy is charging or how much a group has in the budget). We need to have the integrity to say "If you can't afford to pay $X, we can't afford to come". We need to have the integrity to say whether you have 30 kids or 3000, our price is $X. The take-all-you-can-ilk-out-of-the-client mentality is more destructive than most give credit for.
 
I agree,, I think it is most important to give them their money's worth... If they tell you that they have a budget of $1000 and that's a good startiung point, but you have to make sure that you can be worth that $1000.00

I used to have DJs tell me all the time that they wanted to charge more just because everyone said they should, well you have to be worth what you charge, not just charge what you think you can get away with.

Schools can be a very loyal client, more so than a wedding client or even the refferals that you may get at a wedding.

Schools can have 4, 5 or more dances a year so keeping them happy and working with them can be a GREAT source of income all year long and help fill up those Friday nights...
 
Ok, I talked to the school and they seemed fine with my prices. I am now schedualed for a "presentation" next wednesday. I have never done an actual presentation with my gear before but I have any idea of how it'll go. Any advice from the experts though?
 
do you mean that you have to go set up your gear, or just show it to them? I don't understand, sorry
 
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