Can We Turn LOW BUDGET Clients Into Profit?

Proformance said:

What you've said here, is precisely what it means to be con-formative, not innovative. You are being defined by your most recent past customer (or perceived online ideal) rather than a sustainable future intention and design.

You are not in the driver's seat. Rather you have yielded that to the DJs and brides you emulate on line. Is that terrible? No. But it can ultimately deliver you to a destination for which you have packed no clothing or resources. What's "trending online" is a poor compass to follow.

It's an observation. I'm simply 30-40 years further down the road and I can tell you what this DJ "subscriber" plan looks like among the many DJs I see who have grown older and no wiser. Still following the same idols, still thinking they got the key to the city - and coming up short. They blame the customer of course for not seeing their true value. LOL.

Consider this: It is not unusual to charge $1,000. EXTRA for a given emcee - based solely on their age and looks. At the same time, I've been on the other side of the DJ booth to hear what these same buyers actually think qualitatively about the performer they insisted on. Tik Tok works great for this purpose, but it ultimately leads nowhere sustainable for the performer if this is the full breadth of their aspirations.

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Not innovative because I choose to share content online? Maybe I'm not following the direction you're bringing the conversation to... but I'm just solely focusing on the sharing of content online. It's the brides that are using social media as inspiration.

As far as what you suggested about charging $1000 extra for the MC... you're right you can! It's an excellent business model and many who value a dedicated mc whose out and about amognst the guests, will pay for it. Heck some will pay $5000 for an in demand/sought after MC.

But what I can also do is elevate the experience I provide, not the equipment... the attention to detail, execution, and demand (with the wonderful use of social media)... and charge more. Not a brag or showboating, but simply as a matter of fact, over the last 1.5yrs my price has gone up $500.

tunes4046 said:

I agree as a business plan follow trends is an expensive and poor long term choice, build your own brand that few others do and you’ll be more successful long term.
I have a good friend who’s been doing the same interaction wedding shtick for 30 plus years. He is a great host and entertain, but I would call him a great DJ, does everything. Tiny bicycle racing, scavenger hunts all kinds of stuff we would all consider tacky. His average gig is 2700 Very minimal audio and lighting gear . But is booked solid year round with a huge repeat referral clientele. He doesn’t follow any social media trends he built his own brand that no one does as well as he does.

In the end when he retires his business is only worth what the gear is worth, because without him there is no draw. He created a job for himself not a business

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I dont view sharing content as a trend. It's meeting couple's where they are... which happens to be online.

I've known 2 things since I went full time as a dj 15yrs ago:

1) my dj business is not going to be something I'm going to be able to sell when I'm done.
2) that I won't be able to do this forever... not even till normal retirement age. I projected by 55 I'd slow down remarkably and operate on the assumption that no one will want to book me beyond that age.

As a result of those 2 realizations, I knew I had to HEAVILY invest early, which I began doing in my early-mid-20's. Aside from my income in djing, I also have multiple real estate holdings and rental income, as well as a stock portfolio that without any further investments will likely hit the size needed to retire at 55. Of course, I have the ability to continue investing, and in fact do so to not only ensure the reaching of my goals but exceed them to better help my kids with any of their milestones (cars, weddings, homes, education, etc)

I make mention of that to provide some insight into my logic as to how I operate. This "safety" net has allowed me to operate my business the way I've wanted to... which is as a single op focusing on very specific events. I can fine tune the type of client i want, and as long as I work hard to show the value in what I charge, I can earn a solid income doing it my way. Others only know how to earn more by doing volume. I do 50 weddings. However to charge at this level, you do lose market share, and have to attract as many potential clients as possible to operate at this level... which again to bring it back full circle is why social media and sharing event content is so important. THAT'S where many are. You're not looking to do 50 weddings a year... and 60-70 total events, which is why you say you don't need social media content or a presence online. Word of mouth fills about 80-90% of the dates... but networks fade as they grow older... and you either fade out with them (which is what most do at 50+yrs old when they plan to exit the industry), or replenish them with new ones... which I do via people that find me on social media.

Proformance said:

He's an entertainer. So, yeah he can do the same schtick over and over just like Elvis and repeat the same performance for as long as audiences show up.

As I understood him, Taso is not an entertainer. He will handle the introductions, etc. for weddings, Quinces, Sweet 16, etc, but he's really all about the music and being the DJ. In the absence of a dance floor or a de-emphasized dance element - he's not stepping in as an interactive performer.

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I'm not an "entertainer". I manage the entire event... the timeline... the formalities... the behind the scenes organizor and communicator w/ all vendors. I will be on the dance floor for the formaltiies and gaining the guests attention. When I MC I consider my style as polished and professional w/ no gimmicks or "partcipation-style" interaction (you'll never hear me asks to guests to respond or do by a show of hands). But once the party starts I will not be engaging the dance floor as much... nor do the clients I attract want that. If you go to an edm festival or a jersey shore club there is no such thing as an mc. Someone out there dancing with the guests makes my couples cringe. They literally express how they don't want someone talking non stop or dancing with aunt sally. Will I hype things up and energize the crowd... yes... but only at the appropriate times and when necessary.

With that said... there is absolutely a role for dedicated MC's and many dj's NEED a dedicated MC as they're not able to handle all the details of an event... it's just not my clientele.

Lastly... I do 65-70 events a year... less than 5 are Sweet 16's, about another 5 school dances or proms and the rest weddings. So what I do is pretty much entirely dance party focused.

I wish I could remember when . . . .
You know, that date and time in history when being "misunderstood" became the standard response to a . . . lack of agreement? LOL.

Proformance said:

I wish I could remember when . . . .
You know, that date and time in history when being "misunderstood" became the standard response to a . . . lack of agreement? LOL.

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I agree with you on more than you think. But let's be very honest... we are not the same business. While your website may describe a wedding DJ, it isn’t designed to attract couples who are actively searching online. It functions as a online presence and a point of contact, not a lead-generation tool. That makes sense, because you don’t exclusively do weddings, and DJing weddings likely isn’t your primary revenue stream. Your income is probably driven by broader event solutions like AV and lighting for galas or fundraisers, corporate and networking events that repeat annually, or mitzvahs that require MCs, dancers, and production. That type of work is planner-based and repeat-client based, where a strong social presence simply isn’t necessary.

I’m a wedding DJ. Many of the DJs I network with are wedding-focused and charge anywhere from $1,750 to $8,000+ just to DJ a wedding. Our opinions are shaped by what actually sustains that level of business. Honestly, only here do I see such a disconnect from the mainstream wedding-DJ mindset. And if someone is truly doing $5k just to DJ a reception w no lighting, no add-ons, 40+ times a year, and no social media presence at all... I’m genuinely all ears.

Markets matter too. In places like Miami, DC, or LA, planners often control access, and DJs rely heavily on them. In NJ/Philly and many similar markets, couples are booking vendors directly, often without planners at all. Even at high-end venues doing 200–300 weddings a year, maybe 10–15% have a planner involved from day one. At more typical venues, it’s closer to 2–3%. Yes, day-of coordinators come in later, but they rarely influence the main vendor decisions. Venue's Preferred Vendor lists do exist, but couples know they’re pay-to-play and usually tied to large multi-ops offering cookie-cutter experiences.

So bringing it full circle... if you’re a wedding-focused DJ company, trying to reach couples where they actually are and how they actually search, a social media presence is necessary in most markets and for most budgets. And you can’t have an effective social presence without showcasing real events. There’s really no way around that.

djtaso said:

I agree with you on more than you think. But let's be very honest... we are not the same business. While your website may describe a wedding DJ, it isn’t designed to attract couples who are actively searching online.

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The DJ site is just a placeholder intended to make my phone number searchable. I have production client's and DJ businesses that still associate me with DJ events. (Unless it's relatives or youth groups I'm unlikely to take DJ gigs. I don't want them anymore.) I'm more likley to tricking out large tents or other facilities, not entertaining as a DJ.

I will likely sell my last remaining Roland controller by the end of the summer unless one of the younger students I mentor is interested in turning either ProformanceDJ or Proformance Media into something of their own.

I'm getting close to retirement age and while I'm not going to retire, I will join a larger production house. I've turned down a project the past two years for a pair of Hollywood A-lister's but I'm hoping to join that crew if it goes forward again this summer since the event is in a place I've never been, but would like visit. I'd have to be there for two weeks or more, so I could find time to also do some sight seeing, and recreation.

This is the point I was trying to get across, and it's one I learned by doing two decades of rental and support services to Disc Jockey's aside from my own DJ operation. I'm familar with a lot of different DJs and types of DJ businesses - and one thing that became very clear is that most DJs are later to the party than they know with respect to aging out of the profile they hold of themselves. Social media exacerbates that issue, because it's so easy to find an echo chamber.

Have a plan, and formulate it now, not later.

Let me ask this question again for all those who are here. What is your definition of a low budget client?

sonic-vision said:

Any client in the state of New Jeresy that doesn't hire Taso.

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Don't blow up Taso's ego bigger than it is. LOL.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

Let me ask this question again for all those who are here. What is your definition of a low budget client?

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A client who doesn’t have the budget for the average cost of a DJ in their local area, in my area from what I can gather as far as weddings that would be in the $1200 range, there are less expensive DJ’s and more expensive, you pretty much get what you pay for

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

Let me ask this question again for all those who are here. What is your definition of a low budget client?

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it's not really an opinion... "low budget" is typically those that want to spend below the average. What makes the actual number different, is that every area has a different avg. In NJ we're closer to $1750-2000 being an avg that a couple spends on a wedding DJ (all in). My avg wedding is closer to $4500 so yes, that is higher than avg. Is it high high end... no since there are others who go bigger on productions and can get entertainment budgets that are 10k plus with video walls and lots of subcontracted aspects, but the profit margins are completely different so Idk if I put that in the same basket as a solo op dj.

I'm genuinely surprised that if you love doing this so much, why not just join an actual company or partner up with others. Roadies literally make more than you do per event with no major responsibilities. I pay my guys $250-$400 just to help me set up equipment or watch the photo booth.

djtaso said:

it's not really an opinion... "low budget" is typically those that want to spend below the average. What makes the actual number different, is that every area has a different avg. In NJ we're closer to $1750-2000 being an avg that a couple spends on a wedding DJ (all in). My avg wedding is closer to $4500 so yes, that is higher than avg. Is it high high end... no since there are others who go bigger on productions and can get entertainment budgets that are 10k plus with video walls and lots of subcontracted aspects, but the profit margins are completely different so Idk if I put that in the same basket as a solo op dj.

I'm genuinely surprised that if you love doing this so much, why not just join an actual company or partner up with others. Roadies literally make more than you do per event with no major responsibilities. I pay my guys $250-$400 just to help me set up equipment or watch the photo booth.

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He has way to big of an ego to work for someone, and my guess is because he only has a couple of genres he wants to play that are no where near relevant with today gigs. He would never be hired anyway

It amazes me that he asks so many questions about money but constantly talks about free or very cheap gigs that he actually does

When I asked that question I was thinking of a potential client. Let me setup some scenarios. There are people out there when looking to book a DJ they are only looking to spend $500 and that's it. Regardless of the type of event. No matter how good your presentation is trying to get the potential client to spend more money. Some only see a DJ as someone who will just be playing music for the event. They can't see anything else besides the DJ playing music.

There are those who wouldn't have a problem with doing an event for that price. There are those who would cut the conversation short once they find out that's all they want to pay.

Let me double the price a potential client wants to pay to book a DJ. There are those who would easily agree to do the event for 1K and again those who wouldn't even consider doing an event for that price because they built their business to the point that they don't have to settle for that small amount of money to do an event. While others would be glad to do the event for that price.

Then there are those potential clients who can easily afford to pay much more than 1K to book a DJ to do an event for them. As I have said before price alone doesn't tell how good or bad a DJ is. The DJ willing to do an event for $500 might be better than the DJ charging double or 3 times that price. It's all about each individual DJ and what they will accept for a price and what they will not.

Please keep in mind I never mentioned the type of event a potential client is looking to do an event. Also it's really about how good you are at selling your services to a potential client for the price you want them to pay.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

When I asked that question I was thinking of a potential client. Let me setup some scenarios. There are people out there when looking to book a DJ they are only looking to spend $500 and that's it. Regardless of the type of event. No matter how good your presentation is trying to get the potential client to spend more money. Some only see a DJ as someone who will just be playing music for the event. They can't see anything else besides the DJ playing music.

There are those who wouldn't have a problem with doing an event for that price. There are those who would cut the conversation short once they find out that's all they want to pay.

Let me double the price a potential client wants to pay to book a DJ. There are those who would easily agree to do the event for 1K and again those who wouldn't even consider doing an event for that price because they built their business to the point that they don't have to settle for that small amount of money to do an event. While others would be glad to do the event for that price.

Then there are those potential clients who can easily afford to pay much more than 1K to book a DJ to do an event for them. As I have said before price alone doesn't tell how good or bad a DJ is. The DJ willing to do an event for $500 might be better than the DJ charging double or 3 times that price. It's all about each individual DJ and what they will accept for a price and what they will not.

Please keep in mind I never mentioned the type of event a potential client is looking to do an event. Also it's really about how good you are at selling your services to a potential client for the price you want them to pay.

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But those clients have no business interacting with me. I’ve done my job to position myself in the market and convey my positioning to those that are searching. It’s not only the quality of the work that I showcase that says, this doesn’t look average… I also put price on my site as well. And should hypothetically someone contact me via phone or directly without going to my site, I have no issue giving a starting price with minimal info beyond date and location.

With that said, you have never properly conveyed your positioning in the market. You make up prices as you go. You do not have a set price structure and therefore no one knows if you’re $200 or $750. So one day you’ll gladly do an event for $200 but the next day you get upset bc you want to charge $500 and the person is not willing to do so. You call them cheap, but it’s your fault for not doing a better job at conveying what your value is and what the value you bring to the table costs.

You also have this consistent habit of saying “what the client is willing to pay”…. NO! YOU name the price… not them
Bottom line… For rhe most part, it’s not the customer, it’s the business that’s the issue.

djtaso said:

But those clients have no business interacting with me. I’ve done my job to position myself in the market and convey my positioning to those that are searching. It’s not only the quality of the work that I showcase that says, this doesn’t look average… I also put price on my site as well. And should hypothetically someone contact me via phone or directly without going to my site, I have no issue giving a starting price with minimal info beyond date and location.

With that said, you have never properly conveyed your positioning in the market. You make up prices as you go. You do not have a set price structure and therefore no one knows if you’re $200 or $750. So one day you’ll gladly do an event for $200 but the next day you get upset bc you want to charge $500 and the person is not willing to do so. You call them cheap, but it’s your fault for not doing a better job at conveying what your value is and what the value you bring to the table costs.

You also have this consistent habit of saying “what the client is willing to pay”…. NO! YOU name the price… not them
Bottom line… For rhe most part, it’s not the customer, it’s the business that’s the issue.

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I agree with you except for one thing. I don't call a potential client who doesn't want to pay $500 for us to do an event cheap. That's their choice and they have that right. I have the right to refuse doing an event for them.

Here's where it's really at. There are DJs who do this full time and don't have another source of income. To them they have to treat it like a job. They have to work a certain amount of events for a certain amount of money to maintain their lifestyle. There are those who have a mortgage, car note, vehicle insurance, electricity bill, phone bill and food bill so they can have food to eat. So they can't afford to do an for a price that won't allow them to maintain their lifestyle.

The thing in such a case they have to be able to consistently show potential clients why they are worth the price they quote a potential client and they need a certain amount of events to do in a given time to keep up with the way they are living.

Myself I have 2 sources of income and don't have to depend on the DJ business to maintain my livelihood. So I might be able to do an event for $500 if I choose to. That doesn't mean I will automatically do the event. I may or I may not.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

I agree with you except for one thing. I don't call a potential client who doesn't want to pay $500 for us to do an event cheap. That's their choice and they have that right. I have the right to refuse doing an event for them.

Here's where it's really at. There are DJs who do this full time and don't have another source of income. To them they have to treat it like a job. They have to work a certain amount of events for a certain amount of money to maintain their lifestyle. There are those who have a mortgage, car note, vehicle insurance, electricity bill, phone bill and food bill so they can have food to eat. So they can't afford to do an for a price that won't allow them to maintain their lifestyle.

The thing in such a case they have to be able to consistently show potential clients why they are worth the price they quote a potential client and they need a certain amount of events to do in a given time to keep up with the way they are living.

Myself I have 2 sources of income and don't have to depend on the DJ business to maintain my livelihood. So I might be able to do an event for $500 if I choose to. That doesn't mean I will automatically do the event. I may or I may not.

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Yet you do many events for free or a just put something in an envelope,
Your problem is you are not consistent in your pricing.

tunes4046 said:

Yet you do many events for free or a just put something in an envelope,
Your problem is you are not consistent in your pricing.

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I agree.

tunes4046 said:

Yet you do many events for free or a just put something in an envelope,
Your problem is you are not consistent in your pricing.

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Sorry I made a mistake. I don't know about doing a bunch of free gigs. Maybe to you it's free because of the price I might do an event for.

sonic-vision said:

May as well be free! I think you must about be the only person that asks what do you want to pay me. You have devalued yourself to a point you are worthless.

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Wrong. What I have done is give a quote and what has happened is some have agreed to the price I quote and some don't. I leave room for negotiations at times. If we're not too far apart I may agree to do the event.