Certain Saturdays this year I received no leads/inquries for. Others seemed like too much demand.

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DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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It's interesting how every year shapes up with the amount of potential work that comes in. I'm looking at my Old Leads folder, and there are some obvious SATURDAY dates that I did not have a single lead for this year.

Saturday 5/11 is perhaps the biggest one. ...It is Mother's Day weekend, BUT in almost every year in the past I always booked the 2nd Saturday in May. This year, not even a single lead came in.

Saturday July 13th and July 20th, I only had a single lead for each date this year. Zero direct inquiries.

August 17th, and 24th. Zero leads. August is typically slower, but I usually get a couple leads by now for these Saturdays in August.

Saturday September 14th. I only had 1 single inquiriy which was last year. Saturday September 7th. Also, only 1 inquiry for that date as well. Both are open.

Mean while,

Saturday October 5th, 12th, and 19th. Many, Many leads and inquiries for all 3 of these dates in my area. Saturday 9/21 also seemed to be a popular date. I booked it a year ago though. Saturday June 1st, and June 15th were also heavy demand dates this year. Saturday June 28th seems kind of popular as well.

I talked to my brother and sister, and they agree with the same dates being popular in demand dates this year. So, for us, it seems only 7 Saturday dates had a l ot of demand for this year. Every other date maybe just 1 or 2 inquired, and another lead or 2 online, or we saw nothing come in for it.

Of course New Years Eve, and a couple of Saturday in December will have some holiday party leads, and might end up being in demand, but too early to tell right now for those.

In your area, did you see different in demand dates? How many popular dates do you feel you had this year?
 
Yes, it's the same here. Some dates are popular, and I have to turn down lots of leads. Others, it's just crickets and no rhyme or reason. The confusing part is that those dates are never the same from year to year. All I know is to push-push-push on the promotion, answer the phone quickly, then try to book any that will book. If that means we have double or triples on a weekend, so be it.
 
Venues are usually THE driver, and many already would have something on Mother's Day, so likely many were not available for weddings. Not sure why August would be light ... I know many in the education field tend to marry in August.
 
For me in a small market in Northern California, I've been booked for September 28th for almost a year and have had to turn down at least 4 other inquiries on that date.

I dont have a 6/15 or 6/29 this year (maybe a last minute will drop in)
 
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Venues are usually THE driver, and many already would have something on Mother's Day, so likely many were not available for weddings. Not sure why August would be light ... I know many in the education field tend to marry in August.

August averages 1 wedding, and 1 party booking on average year after year. Last year I don't think I had a August wedding. This year I have 1 so far. No parties yet. ...August is a slow month in Maryland/DC area because most families go on vacation in August. July is usually 1 to 2 weddings, usually 2. First Saturday in July always books. Then usually I book the 3rd or 4th Saturday in July as well. 2nd weekend in July is almost always open.

Same goes for restuarants...Most restaurants are slow around here in August so they run "Restaurant Week" in August.
 
There's maybe one in September I didn't have an inquiry for but there's been a few dates if I had a dozen DJ's I still couldn't cover them all. August 3 was the most popular by far the 31st was close behind and I took that weekend off
 
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Around here June’s the big month. I have 14 events during this June. I must’ve turned down about 10 events for June 1st alone as well as number of inquiries for the 8th and 15th. May also has 10 events and is my second busiest month. Around here July and August slow down a tad since many go on vacations, with things picking back up in the fall. Personally I never had issues filling dates in the last 5 years, the challenge had been establishing minimum booking prices for such dates to make sure I maximized these busy seasons.
 
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Around here June’s the big month. I have 14 events during this June. I must’ve turned down about 10 events for June 1st alone as well as number of inquiries for the 8th and 15th. May also has 10 events and is my second busiest month. Around here July and August slow down a tad since many go on vacations, with things picking back up in the fall. Personally I never had issues filling dates in the last 5 years, the challenge had been establishing minimum booking prices for such dates to make sure I maximized these busy seasons.

June to September used to be the busy season here but not as much anymore it's more like July to November and then corporate parties in December. June is OK but nothing special
 
June to September used to be the busy season here but not as much anymore it's more like July to November and then corporate parties in December. June is OK but nothing special
Snow probably isn't gone before then way up there ...
 
Snow probably isn't gone before then way up there ...

I don't see how you guys do it. I wouldn't survive, trying to live in that fozen wasteland you guys call "the north". I'm already well into getting the pool in shape and using the A/C regularly. I'd far rather sweat than be cold.
 
It's a lovely 44 degrees right now with rain on the way today. Yesterday parts of Massachusetts got an inch of snow. No wonder brides don't want to get married in May up here.
 
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It's a lovely 44 degrees right now with rain on the way today. Yesterday parts of Massachusetts got an inch of snow. No wonder brides don't want to get married in May up here.

It's been in the 50 range all week here but I just seen pics of the northern part of the island and there's still lots of snow but they had 15 foot drifts over the winter too

What is too many inquiries/leads?

No such a thing
 
I have gigs booked three out of four weeks in September...
I have a holiday party and NYE booked in December....
and they were all booked late last year.

DJ gigs for the rest of the year are almost non existent.
 
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Speaking of booking weirdness, until this week, I've had the last 2 weekends in October open. Last night, I booked a photo+DJ for 10/19 and I sent out a contract for 10/26, DJ-only, a couple of days ago. Still waiting for that last one to pay. Man, I wish I could get some holes filled in for July/August. Kinda doubt it at this point.
 
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