That would be like a mechanic posting his prices on his website without knowing/seeing exactly what is wrong with the car.
I gotta know some details first. I can give them a "Starting rate" or a ballpark figure, but what about all the extra details? .....Or do you have a one price fits all..unlimited hours service? (a "$599 DJ that will do it all for unlimited time") .......YIKES!!!!!!!!!
This may work well if you are a lower priced DJ that markets to prospects that are looking for the competitive rates, or you don't have the sales skills to explain what separates you from the kid with 3 months DJing experience.
If you charge a premium for your services based on: your experience, your DJ/MC skills, the equipment you bring, Etc. You may scare people away by posting your rates online...unless they know WHY & what makes you different from the DJ that has about 3 months experience. In most cases, this needs to be explained to them and you need to know all the facts about their event.
Questions to ask before quoting a price:
Ceremony?
Where is the ceremony? onsite or at a different location? (been there, done that)
Cocktail music needed in a remote area?
What's the travel distance?
How many hours needed?
Are there stairs involved?
Unloading area close to event? ..or do I have to wheel my gear by hand for 2 miles.
Is there parking available, or do I have to pay to park in a garage?
How many guests? Do I need to bring extra equipment?
Do they want video? lighting? uplighting?
Is there electricity at the ceremony location or do I need to provide a generator/ battery pack?
Do I have to arrive early to set up & come back later?
Etc. Etc.
Actually a mechanic has a book that they simply look at to give a price for a given job. It tells them the amount of time it will take to do an RR of that particular part.
Your analogy is wrong in so many ways here.
A bride calls you and tells you, who, what, when, where, how long and how many! So you already have ALL the details to price the job!
Just as if your transmission went out on your car, you would call your mechanic and tell him where the car was, what type of car it is, and that the transmission has taken a dump, he will be able to give you an exact quote in less than 3 minutes time! If he can't you need to call another mechanic!
Just like if the DJ can't give a qoute the client should be finding another DJ (and most do)!
I sure hope you are kidding about the unlimited time! Does anybody ever offer that?
My rate covers 6 hours for dinner, formals and open dancing anything more is over time so that is covered! Ceromony system is a seperate price but that is covered in the who, what, when, where, how many! I have never had a bride who wanted sound at the ceromony NOT ask me about it in the initial phone call!
Ceromony, power is required to be within 20 feet of setup area 20 amp circuit or better, reception requires (2) 20 amp circuits within 20 feet of setup area! Everytime I have done a gig requiring a generator that was the second thing brought up by the client!
If the event is taking place where vehicles can not get to (which is covered in the where) then they are doing it without a caterer, florist, tables, chairs etc. so the system will be a Fender Passport!
Lighting is also covered in the what! There is a seperate charge for lighting, so that is covered in the initial phone call!
Travel is covered as well under the where, any distance over 40 miles is $1 per mile over that 40!
Stairs are covered as well, as in $10 per step extra! (I just don't do stairs)
My day is taken anyway regardless of having to setup early and coming back later!
These things can all be easily covered in a phone call and can just as easily be addressed on a website pricing schedule!
