Anyone's Prices Being Affected By Rising Cost Of Gas?

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ahoustondj said:
Steve, Just for conversation sake. Do you think I drill it in their heads or itemize everything before giving a Total? I ask the pertinent questions first. Date, Time & Duration, Amount of people, Lighting or No Lighting, Location/Venue etc.?

I give them a quote pending a visit to the Venue (At this time I determine load in access, Load in time and load out time, amount of equipment needed etc. etc.)after which time they get an actual figure. What is there to not like about that method. Clients know they are paying for exactly what they want and not being overcharged for things they don't need.

I also know that some Clients don't like Package Prices but YMMV!
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Like I said, everyone needs to figure it out for themselves. My point is as long as it's reasonable and explainable, there's nothing wrong with adding it to a contract. Price of gas goes up 10 cents, you suck it up .. a reasonable expectation and it should be in your cost basis. Fix it next time around. You have a gig 3 hours away. price it as an add-on .. I don't think anyone expects someone to drive that far normally (excepting maybe Val in SD).

I'm only offering options to think about and discuss.. there is no one right way. But I was a consulting services manager and had to build services pricing models and experience says that customers prefer price lists, unless a job really is custom, and it would be hard to say that for MOST gigs (always an exception). If total pricing works for you, wonderful.
 
Valerie Hicks said:
6mpg. Events range typically from 70 miles to 650 miles away (one way). Occasionally further. Mileage matters to us!
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Val I think you are the one of the few on here that mileage could be a make or break issue. I am fully aware of how to run a business and profitability....etc...etc....etc... have done it for years. But some of the bickering I see here.....wow.....if you are either that hard up or that f'n greedy you should be ashamed to call yourself a pro. If an extra $5 - $20 in overhead caused you wig out and make you want to raise your rates by $50 to $200 might as well rename you company BP Sound. If you have a good sound business with a good business plan minor and to most of us this is pretty minor, fluctuations in operating cost should be able to be absorbed.... If you are to the point they can't, then yes it probably time you raise your rates a bit.


Again Val I do feel for you.....If funds allow it might be time for a new tractor....I know the ones my company runs can get up to 15 mpg.....
 
I agree with you on that badblood. We can absorb gas fluctuations, even at $5 per gallon, and not have to panic. Now if they stay there, we'll have to adjust. I'm certainly not going to write into my contract that the customer will owe more if gas goes up, or anything ridiculous like that. I don't understand the logic of an increase of 10x the cost increase either.
 
Lets address the crucial question:

Is it reasonable to add a "fuel surcharge" provision in your contract that gives you the right to add a surcharge over and above the already stated price on the contract, collectible at the event, if in fact the price of gas increases substantial between the time the contract is signed and the event takes place?

Val- I'm assuming mileage rates are factored in at the time of contract signing?
 
I take everything into consideration when quoting a price. I adjust prices up and down depending on the circumstances. For St. Patrick's Day I am doing a Gig at a Sports Bar about 1/2 a mile from my home. One of the first things I told the owner is that his location from where I am is to his benefit. Why? Because my time is cut down considerably. My strike time plus 3 minutes travel is all I need. Load in is a breeze. Setup is so near the front door that I don't need the cart.

There are some venues in Houston that I charge an automatic $100.00 or more, because the access is very difficult. The more difficult the access, the more time consuming it becomes. To me my time is money so I have to be duly compensated. The distance to me is not governed by the Gas prices as they are the consumed time. With the traffic as it is in Houston, if one values their time, it is a determining factor in pricing.
 
ahoustondj said:
To me my time is money so I have to be duly compensated. The distance to me is not governed by the Gas prices as they are the consumed time.
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And that is the crux of it. Gas mileage is an issue, albeit a small one, but time is bigger one. A gig 30 mi farther than your "norm" for most people only costs $15 or so in additional gas, probably easily absorbed, but it costs an hour of additional time of whatever you value yourself at. I've seen many here state they have a "waiting" charge at an event (usually in the $100 range) for 2 events for a customer separated by some time period (say the ceremony and then a later reception). If that is chargeable, why wouldn't an additional hour+ in travel be?

I don't do any of these as my gigs are all within a 30 mi. radius (only a few family events that I did for free were longer), so I've never charged for these, but it's a small section in the contract if needed. However, someone who treats this in true business fashion needs to factor these in (they are costs whether you charge for them or not). One should always know the impact of any variable.
 
I can understand the time thing, but not the nickel and diming on gas...


For example (back to math for a moment):

Let's say I charge $250 per hour, for basically anything I do.

Your event:

4 hours play time = $1000

If you insist on meeting me, and it takes an hour -- just do the math, and add the additional $250.

I'm a programmer by nature, but will do almost anything for $250 per hour. Hell, I'll clean your floors and toilets for $250 an hour, and bring my own beer :D



Hourly pricing is very simple, and most cavemen can understand it :)
 
I agree on nickel and dimeing.. But I think anyone needs to be aware of the costs. If you do "standard pricing", say $650 for a 4 hr event, you have to make a whole lot of assumptions as to what's going in. You can absorb to a point. If you do hourly pricing, then fine, but I don't think most DJs price that way.

Bottom line, know your costs, all of them, and make your pricing work for you ...
 
SoftJock Rick said:
Let's see if I got this right -- I like math :)


25 mile radius equal free -- included in CODB.

If I'm 30 miles away, you will charge me an extra $30. 30 miles from your home, to the venue.

If yer gas guzzler gets only 10 mpg, and there are only 10 extra miles involved (round trip), then your extra gas cost is say $4 at current prices. But you will add on an additional $26 for what?

Please expound...
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I dont put my mileage 'policy' on my website, or discuss it with the client. I ask where the event is being held and the travel cost is added in to the quote, accordingly. Bottom line, I make it well worth my time to travel for gigs...because I DO NOT like to travel for gigs AND its damn expensive to travel these days. If the cost is a deterrent for them, fine by me.
 
Let me get this straight just for conversation sake

Client calls i ask all the pertinent information to come up with a non committed quote until I visit the facility at which time I will give you a set quote.

Facility is located 60 miles away so I drive to the site to determine load in time and load out time then contact the client several days later to give them my set quote

I discover after doing all of this they went with a DJ that gave them a quote on the phone on the initial call.

Do I have it right?

Good Luck on YMMV.
 
That's why he's the professional. ;)

Cesar said:
Let me get this straight just for conversation sake

Client calls i ask all the pertinent information to come up with a non committed quote until I visit the facility at which time I will give you a set quote.

Facility is located 60 miles away so I drive to the site to determine load in time and load out time then contact the client several days later to give them my set quote

I discover after doing all of this they went with a DJ that gave them a quote on the phone on the initial call.

Do I have it right?

Good Luck on YMMV.
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Cesar said:
Let me get this straight just for conversation sake

Client calls i ask all the pertinent information to come up with a non committed quote until I visit the facility at which time I will give you a set quote.

Facility is located 60 miles away so I drive to the site to determine load in time and load out time then contact the client several days later to give them my set quote

I discover after doing all of this they went with a DJ that gave them a quote on the phone on the initial call.

Do I have it right?

Good Luck on YMMV.
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I think you are referring to me without my quote but I will answer anyway. Short answer is "Yes". I do not loose the prospect because I have to visit the venue. My initial quote is based on everything that is told to me. If when I visit the venue things are not as stated, then the quote is revised.
There is going to be a venue visit anyway, so why not then before the quote!

If you are one of those DJs who wait until the day of the event to appear and be TOLD where to setup (Usually in a lil corner) then that may be your cup of tea, not mine! I am not going to have a client tell me it is a small party for 100 people only to find out I needed to charge for a larger system.
 
What wording in your contract allows for you to revise a signed contract?

Why would someone sign a contract if it is not a done deal?

Why would someone give a deposit for a deal that is not confirmed?

Congratulations on finding people that work with your style of business operations.
 
common sense tells us a lot, if its a Hotel Ballroom its usually a long load in, certain country clubs are as well, I can price an event usually after talking with the client, and they are ready to sign or close the deal without the venue visit, the other dj may just say yeah Ive been there and it will be $$$,
 
Cesar said:
What wording in your contract allows for you to revise a signed contract? No wording, its was conveyed verbally.

Why would someone sign a contract if it is not a done deal? Whoever said I gave them anything to sign. Go back and read, Quote "I give them a quote pending a visit to the Venue (At this time I determine load in access, Load in time and load out time, amount of equipment needed etc. etc.)after which time they get an actual figure."

Why would someone give a deposit for a deal that is not confirmed? Where is deposit mentioned?

Congratulations on finding people that work with your style of business operations. They are here. You will also be surprised to know that a good majority of my Gigs are done without Contracts,we have agreements. In Texas, a verbal agreement can stand up in the Court.
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Some answers above in Red. BTW I do not have Contracts. I have Agreements. My Agreement, when used, is a one page deal. I am not selling Real Estate so I don't need the lengthy Contracts some DJs used. My Clients are not interested in what color shirt and what brand of shoes i am wearing! ;)
 
JPDJSC50 said:
common sense tells us a lot, if its a Hotel Ballroom its usually a long load in, certain country clubs are as well, I can price an event usually after talking with the client, and they are ready to sign or close the deal without the venue visit, the other dj may just say yeah Ive been there and it will be $$$,
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Not all Hotel Ballrooms are a long load in. There are many Hotels with multiple entrances to facilitate the flow of guests to that particular Ballroom. Of course if I have been there before then I will "probably" know the layout but I always go and stake out my setup area anyway because room design may change.
 
I get the whole time is money thing....... A lot of companies and people have been paying for my time for many, many years. You think DJ's are expensive.....step into the world of my day job! I also know that you can't account for every minute of the day.

Just no way, no how. You also can't bill for every second involved in a project. Most professions that bill hourly do so with a base price usually based on the first 30 minutes....now heres the catch.....there's a one hour minimum.....then per hour...using 15 minute increments with a 50% differental.....1 hour 2 minutes is 1 hour 15 minutes.....1 hour 20 minutes is still 1 hour 15 minutes. This is basicly the same for all the service companies I have worked for...all the way to Ambercrombie Oil....

Can you book an event over the phone......Venue sight unseen..... Of course...... You have a general idea of what it takes to set your gear up.... You also have a decent idea of what it might take if you have to haul it a bit..... The whole....well it took and additional 6 minutes to drive and when I got there I was in total shock, didn't know what to do because I had to drag my gear an extra 40 yards and there were 4 steps.... Oh whoa is me... My suggestion is to call your mommy or maybe a wambulance.... If you have never been to the venue and they want an answer quick over the phone...quote worst case scenario... not that hard if you have done it before. Contact the venue.....let them know that you will be there early the day of the event...... I tell them I need a 8' by 15' area to set up in adjacent to the end of the dance floor, facing the seating of the audience. That usually suffices. I can make minor adjustments once I get there. If not.....go with what I have to deal with, and make notes of what needs to be changed for the next time I am at that venue. I really do get this rigid perfect world scenario everyone keeps complaining about it they dont' get. I mean seriously.....If your system has good tonal quality ( not going to matter much if you have to put the speakers 2 ft closure than you usually do), everyone can hear you when you announce, and you play the music everyone wants to dance to.....as I have said time and time again.....the clients will be happy.....you will get payed...and you will get referals.... Next time if there is a next time after you incessant complaining about the photographer, your placement, your contract etc..etc..etc... and in general your f'n p#$$y hurts you will know down to a few minutes about the venue and how much time it will take you to do your next set up.

If a contractor is going to construct a building...he can't go look at it first... He has to take the information presented to him...aka blue prints, spec sheets,....etc.. and figure out how much it going to cost... He has to know what it takes to do task A and task B, time, labor, and materials..... He can't go look at it first then build it.

I would imagine that all here know how long it takes to put their gear together....can use google maps.... I mean seriously..... Dj'ing is usually a one shot a day thing..... you don't have to Dj gig A, tear down, travel, set up Dj gig B, the repeat for gig C. There are a few instances where there are multiple gigs...but rare.... Leave 30 minutes early if you are unsure about the gig.... You weren't getting paid to sit on your a$$ and watch Jersey Shore anyway. Why try to bill the client for that.

GRRRRR..... Rant done......
 
Badblood,
I know your statement above was directed to no one in particular. However, sometimes it isn't that easy as you have stated. If one does not do a site visit beforehand, there is a possibility that when one arrives there might be issues which could cause delays. I have read and heard about DJs arriving and there was literally no space left for them to setup. By the time they find someone to rearrange the tables chairs etc time is ticking away. If they were to start the music late because of this, nobody thinks of blaming anyone else other than the DJ.

I personally don't have anything against Photographers, Florists, Caterers etc. I can work with them and I do work with them. Contrary to what many may think based on my prior posts throughout the years, it is not an adversarial thing between the other vendors and me. I just have to be assertive enough so that they see I am not going to be pushed around. They have their job to do and so do I.

As for me, if I had a small setup like most wedding DJs do, maybe I won't mind so much. However, when I arrive at a venue, I don't want to be faced with someone handing me a two conductor 18ga extension cord coming from a power strip as my source of AC power. This is why a venue visit is so important. Once the Client and Venue are informed as to my setup and power requirements the monkey is on their back.

Showing up on the day of the event and hoping for the best in my opinion is NOT being fully prepared. One is short changing the client with that kind of approach. When one does DJing on a Full Time basis as a true Business, one tends to make and execute decisions that ultimately are geared to ensure success of said business. Pre-planning is one of those decisions. It shows to the client that you care and they are paying you for more than just showing up on the day and playing music.
 
Did you have your coffee already this morning? ;)


ahoustondj said:
Badblood,
I know your statement above was directed to no one in particular. However, sometimes it isn't that easy as you have stated. If one does not do a site visit beforehand, there is a possibility that when one arrives there might be issues which could cause delays. I have read and heard about DJs arriving and there was literally no space left for them to setup. By the time they find someone to rearrange the tables chairs etc time is ticking away. If they were to start the music late because of this, nobody thinks of blaming anyone else other than the DJ.

I personally don't have anything against Photographers, Florists, Caterers etc. I can work with them and I do work with them. Contrary to what many may think based on my prior posts throughout the years, it is not an adversarial thing between the other vendors and me. I just have to be assertive enough so that they see I am not going to be pushed around. They have their job to do and so do I.

As for me, if I had a small setup like most wedding DJs do, maybe I won't mind so much. However, when I arrive at a venue, I don't want to be faced with someone handing me a two conductor 18ga extension cord coming from a power strip as my source of AC power. This is why a venue visit is so important. Once the Client and Venue are informed as to my setup and power requirements the monkey is on their back.

Showing up on the day of the event and hoping for the best in my opinion is NOT being fully prepared. One is short changing the client with that kind of approach. When one does DJing on a Full Time basis as a true Business, one tends to make and execute decisions that ultimately are geared to ensure success of said business. Pre-planning is one of those decisions. It shows to the client that you care and they are paying you for more than just showing up on the day and playing music.
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