Weddings $20,000.00 Wedding for $6,000.00

Fred, I understand what you're saying, but I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with ya.

We weren't there in any of these people's (B&G & Vendors) shoes and we can only speculate and infer what may or may not have happened.

Maybe part of the agreement with the B&G was that they didn't advertise the names of the the DJ and Photographer? It's possible. Again we don't know because we are not privy to their agreements that they made with each other.

Some markets are tougher to break into without "references" and that's what these vendors needed to jump-start their businesses.

I know of at least one photographer in this area that has done High School Senior photos for free, so they could add to their portfolio and gain references for that particular. Would we? Probably, if the situation was right and we wanted to.

Remember that no one forced either vendor to do what the B&G wanted.

Personally, I rather doubt that this is going to be a major issue for any of us. I mean how many people even watch GMA? There are always people that will be looking for deals and I doubt that this is going to start an avalanche of potential clients asking for freebies.

Fred Wright said:

It's just that I've done many a wedding in my time where my service was the reception budget. Some were in VFW houses, others were in very nice rental venues. They paid well for open bars. They paid well for the DJ company. To these clients, dancing and entertainment for their guests took priority over chair covers and other kitsch.

And another thing.... the B&Gs didn't invite every coworker and shirttail relative they knew. If you want to save on your wedding expenses, that's how it's done.

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Fred - Where in the hell do you FIND this kind of client?!?!?!?

The clients who know and understand what's TRULY important are really few and far between out here in my neck-o-da-woods

We're these vendors victims? Maybe. Did they make a bad business decision in the arrangement? Maybe.

Bottom line is nobody but them knows at the end of the day!

Let's all just be thankful we are far removed from the days when we would have thought we HAD to put ourselves in that kind of situation.

My daughter's getting married in July. Anyone want to expose themselves?

Fred Wright said:

Thanks for the offer, Rob... but I ain't into that kinda thang, if'n ya know what I mean.

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Who the hell is Rob?

Sorry guys but I got this little polish dude who likes to expose himself every chance he gets. A few packs of wine biscuit and he's happy. Besides you can't put a price on friendship. Actually his wife is the one who's coming, she just has to bring him along for the ride so why not use him.

Love ya man.

Reminds me of the time LA Fitness called me and asked me if I would do their grand opening for free.... you know, for exposure? Let's see.... a multi million dollar company asking me to work for free.... let's just say that I wasn't even particularly nice about it when I told them no.

Fred Wright said:

Easy. The hill country of Virginee was chock-full of 'em when I lived there. Steve Miller (Thunder) lives in the area. He'll tell ya much the same.

A prospect was much easier to work with back home. Even those who put on upscale weddings seemed to have an idea that an established DJ company isn't last on the priority list. These folks love to dance at parties.

We've seen much the same here in DE, though not as often lately due to this economic mess. We have folks from points North moving down here to escape the horrid taxes up there in Yankee Country. They know the value and importance of a DJ company.

When the wedding and reception are in the back yard, there's plenty of dough for a tent rental, a dance floor and a DJ company.

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Does everyone want to save money? The answer is YES!

Fred remembers the people of this area correctly but we are talking about people from this area, the ones born and bred here. These are the plain country folks who rent out the local VFW, firehall or hold their receptions in a big old barn on a farm, etc. these are the same people who's families do all the cooking for the reception make the decorations and sew their own chair covers. These are also the same folks who pay the DJ 25 to 50 percent of the wedding budget without batting an eye. These are the people who want the DJ and Photog to join in have a drink, eat the food, set back and enjoy the event with them.

Then there is the other side, the people who moved here from New Jersey and New York because the prices were lower here, who will spend $20,000 to $50,000 on their wedding and want the DJ to play for free or half or less than their asking price. These are the people who have the bagged (dry) tuna sandwich for you in the coat closet. These are the people who treat you as the hired help or house boy.

There are certainly ways to cut the cost and still have a fine wedding without having the DJ or Photog work for free. My wife and I just recently helped or son and his new wife with their wedding....... TOTAL cost including rehearsal dinner reception, Tuxes, wedding dress, Church and officiates (spanish minister and english minister) and the church less than $6,000. Chair covers made by the bride and her sisters $74 in material, silk table cloths 22 of them bought on ebay for less than $100, Lace table runners purchased at the Dollar store for $1 each, Harrisonburg Rescue Squad meeting hall $300, China, silverware and glassware for 200 purchased from Valley Trader for $320, flower arrangements done by bride and her sisters $200 including vases. Food for the reception purchased from Sam's Club and prepared by grooms uncles just under $300, bread prepared and baked by grooms aunts less than $30, Wedding cake made by Grooms Aunts less than $70, DJ for the reception $300 (one of my guys), Photog for the wedding JO (my wife) $0 (yes she did work for free) Classic Limo for the wedding party $100 (yes it's mine but I still paid my driver) Rehersal dinner (sit down) for 60 people at the Bavarian Chef restaurant $2,000, tour bus to transport rehersal dinner guest from Harrisonburg to Madison and back $700.

Estimated cost of this wedding if done by someone just writing checks $30,000, so yes it can be done on a budget if you are willing to work at it!

If someone I did not know asked me to DJ their wedding for free I would laugh in their face and say hey my fence needs painting will you come over and paint it for free? The DJ that played this wedding is a fool.

Still waiting for someone to ask me to do a free wedding.....So, when was this trend supposed to start happening?

I've done plenty of free weddings. It has to be for the right person or family member. My brothers and sisters kids weddings have all been done for free. Just as my sister has taken care of my families hair needs for free, my brother has done our taxes year after year for free, another brother supplies pastries and food for any occasion we need. I have cousins who now run the family bakery and do the same for us. We don't ask and we offer to pay but they very rarely take it unless I insist. This was how our fathers brought us up, to take care of each other. It's not about money but about taking care of one another as a family. And if a friend is close enough to call then family then they are taken care of as well.

about a month ago, I had a guy tell me that I should DJ his wedding for half price because there are a "ton" of people as his wedding that are going to be married within the next few years, so I will get a ton of business.

I said, "how would you like it for less than half price?" He said," That would be great."

No problem, we'll just sign the agreement at regular price, and you get $50 for every couple from your wedding that uses us. You might be able to get it for free, or possibly make money on this.

he hasn't called back.

Fred Wright said:

Easy. The hill country of Virginee was chock-full of 'em when I lived there. Steve Miller (Thunder) lives in the area. He'll tell ya much the same.

A prospect was much easier to work with back home. Even those who put on upscale weddings seemed to have an idea that an established DJ company isn't last on the priority list. These folks love to dance at parties.

We've seen much the same here in DE, though not as often lately due to this economic mess. We have folks from points North moving down here to escape the horrid taxes up there in Yankee Country. They know the value and importance of a DJ company.

When the wedding and reception are in the back yard, there's plenty of dough for a tent rental, a dance floor and a DJ company.

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Adding to what Fred has said, I have been booked on several weddings where the B&G didn't have a clue as to where the reception was going to take place or who the Caterer was going to be as the DJ was the first thing they booked.

I have done many weddings here that the DJ budget was 80% of total wedding budget the $200 VFW fee was second! Many of the weddings done in this area the catering is done by the familes themselves the money is spent on entertainment. I find that the DJ budget is much higher for VFW hall weddings with the "poor folks" (common folks) than it is for upscale hotel ballroom and vineyard weddings!