Client budget below your typical minimum on an open date you want to book. What do you likely do?

DJ Ricky B said:

You are quoting a client who came right out and said that they are looking to spend say no more than $500 or $600 for example, and your starting price is $1000 for example. The actual numbers don't matter, let's just say their budget is a few hundred dollars away from your minimum, or your typical starting price. What are you most likely to do if you want to book the date, and this is likely the last chance you will get to book this open date?

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Depends on how far away the date is, for $500 or $600 i wouldn’t be interested as my rates start closer to the 2k mark but I would consider a $1000 gig less than a couple months out

DJ Ricky B said:

You are quoting a client who came right out and said that they are looking to spend say no more than $500 or $600 for example, and your starting price is $1000 for example. The actual numbers don't matter, let's just say their budget is a few hundred dollars away from your minimum, or your typical starting price. What are you most likely to do if you want to book the date, and this is likely the last chance you will get to book this open date?

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If you do a proper job of conveying your price, especially by making it visible on your site and point of contact, there's no reason to even be dealing with this situation. By not putting price out there, it implies you're flexible and open to negotiation, and a matter of how low is one willing to work for to fill the date.

It for me really depends on how low is the potential clients budget. Some are ridiculously so low no way would I agree to do their event.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

It for me really depends on how low is the potential clients budget. Some are ridiculously so low no way would I agree to do their event.

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Just put something in an envelope seems like a pretty low price

Price is not the determining factor for me. It's just as important to be SEEN doing good and valuable work to create the demand that fosters worthwhile pay rates.

Too many DJs stagger thru their career barley working at all just because they let some arbitrary number decide their fate. As a result, when they do perform their shallow event experience often doesn't live up to the numerical hype and it leaves them right back where they started: few if any referrals and arguing over a random number.

DJ Ricky B said:

True to an extent. This depends on where the prospect came from.

Situation could be:

Corporate event, and a Caterer or other vendor referred you. Client did not look at your website. They called you directly. Their maximum budget came up during your conversation, Or they told you after you gave them a price quote.

YOU don't participate with internet leads, but the prospect could be a lead, and the event is on a open Saturday or perhaps a Friday that you still have open 1 or two months out. This prospect has obviously never looked at your website.

Essentially, it seems like you are in the "Automatically dismiss the lead because they are not your client" Camp. You would likely just tell them your starting price, and your price list is on your website, and have nothing more to say if it's a phone call to you. Or would you have a more in depth conversation with them, and try to convey why you are worth paying your price in order to book with you?

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We had this topic before. Because I put my price on my site, I'm bound to it in a way so my initial response will be to give the $2950 starting point (unless one of the reasons below). But truth is I get such few non website leads, and that is done by design. Go on instagram it says go to site for inquiries. On my site it says use contact form for inquiries. Even where my number/email is displayed it says please use contact page right next to it. On my facebook it says go to my site. Even my business cards are designed that way... my cards only list my website... no email no number. The ONLY way they'll call me is if someone gave them my number or if they went to google and clicked call now. Honestly speaking, 90% of the clients that call are ones that are in need for a last minute dj and just need a number and did no research, meaning they're likely from the get-go not qualified. I won't try to convey why I'm worth $3000+ if their budget is $1500. The only exception I find is a qualified referral thats calling more-so to find my availability and not price. People that want to spend in the higher price point typically will do their research... and if they did their research, they'll learn that in order to provide them with all relevant info, a formal inquiry on my site is the way to go.

The only discounts I give are as follows:
- Past client/nature of the referral
- Weekday/Winter event
- Less than 6 months out (this just happened with a last minute wedding in october 2024)
- Less than 3 months out, even bigger discount (and is an event I want to do)

Type of event plays no role.

In Taso's case I get why he wants as many people as possible visit his website. For the price he charges without people seeing evidence of what he can do at an event, there are those who might hesitate to pay him his price. He has a lot of great content on his website to show why he deserves to get paid what he does.

I think a good question would be what is your minimum price you charge to do an event? Of course there are those who won't agree with what some other DJ charges. Some will say that's too much or not enough. I say if it works for you fine.

Mix,
You’ve asked that question at least 300 times. For someone who charges so little for most of your gigs you are incredibly concerned about what others charge

If I need the money, I'll take the event (and hope they aren't a PITA). Last year I picked up a mobile DJ wedding at midnight, the night before the event (the DJ had double-booked himself). I got paid $500, the event was easy and the clients were thrilled (groom said I was better than the guy they booked originally).

It depends how far off we are from their budget, and also the circumstances. August is a slow month for me, and I'm also in the process of buying a home. So I was particularly motivated to fill an empty date recently. I told them where I would typically be and asked what they had been budgeting. We were about $500 off, but it is a venue I know super well and could accommodate that price point. I'm super unlikely to have booked the date otherwise.

Alternatively in the middle of a jam packed month where I've got 4-5 events on my calendar I have zero wiggle room and might even just try to push a wedding to an associate even if I could personally do it.

At 60 years old, I am not worried about the impact of taking a hit on my "reputation" for lowering my price. But at 60 years old, I am also more likely to pass on a gig that I am not comfortable with.

Ausumm said:

At 60 years old, I am not worried about the impact of taking a hit on my "reputation" for lowering my price. But at 60 years old, I am also more likely to pass on a gig that I am not comfortable with.

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I don’t perceive what I do with discounting as a decision factoring into my reputation, but rather making my business model successful. My website listing my prices is what allows me to stick to the script in a sense and not just give out random pricing or be quick to lower.

My pricing is based on the date not the event type. Call me for an event a year from now on a Saturday in May you’re gonna get the same price regardless of event. Call for a Friday in January, you’ll likely be getting a 10% discount or so. A wedding 4 months out will get a discount just like a grad party would. The chances of me being available though to get that discount (except a weekday event) are gonna be very slim. For example 60% of my 2025 is booked. Saturdays in all the prime months are just about gone. I have no reason to discount those dates this far out… just business…. Unless I want to start working even more dates.

At same time, you really have to know and be comfortable with your numbers. I’ve received 90 inquiries in the first 6 months of 2024. I’ve booked 43 of those. The majority of the remaining inquiries I turned down due to lack of availability (and yes some I did lose to price or logistics). So again I know I can hold off on lowering my price as I’ll have other options to pursue for that same date or to fill up my calendar to the level I need it to.

Ricky’s question should’ve included a timeframe of how far out the date of the event for this inquiry is, as that would yield the most accurate response.

DJ Ricky B said:

I did say "What are you most likely to do if you want to book the date, and this is likely the last chance you will get to book this open date?" Essentially, that means under 45 or maybe 60 days out unless there are any DJs who somehow have a continuous influx of inquiries for upcoming dates a few weeks out all the time.

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That’s not how you phrased it

Client budget below your typical minimum on an open date you want to book. What do you likely do?​

DJ Ricky B said:

I did say "What are you most likely to do if you want to book the date, and this is likely the last chance you will get to book this open date?" Essentially, that means under 45 or maybe 60 days out unless there are any DJs who somehow have a continuous influx of inquiries for upcoming dates a few weeks out all the time.

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It's definitely circumstantial. You say 45-60 days out... but I likely booked my last event for 2024 in May. Before that the last event I booked for 2024 was mid march. So to me last second is likely a different definition. Honestly a wedding booking me under 12 months out is the minority.

As tunes said... it's all in how it's phrased and the situation. I have May 10th 2025 open as the last Saturday remaiing for Spring 2025. I absolutely want that booked... but in no way from now am I getting off my price. Come november, if I still have it open and I get an inquiry... yeah I'll likely take 10% off to book it if that's what it takes. Maybe 15% if its a big package and still brings in the net profit I want.

djtaso said:

I don’t perceive what I do with discounting as a decision factoring into my reputation, but rather making my business model successful. My website listing my prices is what allows me to stick to the script in a sense and not just give out random pricing or be quick to lower.

My pricing is based on the date not the event type. Call me for an event a year from now on a Saturday in May you’re gonna get the same price regardless of event. Call for a Friday in January, you’ll likely be getting a 10% discount or so. A wedding 4 months out will get a discount just like a grad party would. The chances of me being available though to get that discount (except a weekday event) are gonna be very slim. For example 60% of my 2025 is booked. Saturdays in all the prime months are just about gone. I have no reason to discount those dates this far out… just business…. Unless I want to start working even more dates.

At same time, you really have to know and be comfortable with your numbers. I’ve received 90 inquiries in the first 6 months of 2024. I’ve booked 43 of those. The majority of the remaining inquiries I turned down due to lack of availability (and yes some I did lose to price or logistics). So again I know I can hold off on lowering my price as I’ll have other options to pursue for that same date or to fill up my calendar to the level I need it to.

Ricky’s question should’ve included a timeframe of how far out the date of the event for this inquiry is, as that would yield the most accurate response.

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What I'm saying is, some DJs won't reduce their price, because they don't want clients to recommend you as a "cheap" DJ. They want to avoid new clients expecting to get the same low price.
At this point in my career. I can afford to turn down gigs. Unlike you, this is not my main source of income.

tunes4046 said:

That’s not how you phrased it

Client budget below your typical minimum on an open date you want to book. What do you likely do?​

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Book it Dano.