Events Cancelling...............AGAIN

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I am SO ready to be on the other side of COVID!
2 cancellations.....
1 so far… but not because of restrictions or anything in our country… the brides family was from Israel and they are no longer allowed to come to the USA, which is a restriction israel put in place, and a big issue with the bride. My events for tomorrow and NYE are still a go.
 
The cancellations are due to both being nervous about spreading COVID.
I deal mostly with weddings, and I know most venues here are not being as kind about cancellations anymore. Since we have no restrictions in place, venues are not allowing postponements or cancellations simply because of fear. Things are Much different this time around I feel.
 
none since october...bookings are slow though, inquiries are slow.
I'll blame the holidays for the time being...
My bookings were VERY strong in November with 10 events booked (avg is closer to 4 a month), and while bookings were a bit slower in December with only 3, the inquiries have really increased with 10 inquiries in the last 3 weeks. A few have already scheduled consultations for after the new year. So while it slowed peoples decision making timeframe, people are still researching. It seems that many of these couples are trying to beat the rush of holiday engagements, and so that they don't lose their date of interest. 9 out of 10 of those December inquiries are for 2023.
 
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I've gotten 5 fishing inquiries - no date, no venue.
I'm waiting on deposits from 3 more weddings - 2 aren't responding to emails.
And a decision from a HS reunion.
Waiting on a basketball league for a date as well...for 3 weeks now.

Do you quote prices if they don't have a date set?
Do you charge the same year round and fri/sat (so hence it won't matter).
If it's for 22 or 23, is the price the same?

If the response is "I can't quote a price without more info" and some other DJ does...will they call you back?
 
I've gotten 5 fishing inquiries - no date, no venue.
I'm waiting on deposits from 3 more weddings - 2 aren't responding to emails.
And a decision from a HS reunion.
Waiting on a basketball league for a date as well...for 3 weeks now.

Do you quote prices if they don't have a date set?
Do you charge the same year round and fri/sat (so hence it won't matter).
If it's for 22 or 23, is the price the same?

If the response is "I can't quote a price without more info" and some other DJ does...will they call you back?
My pricing is the same regardless of year (once I increase it it’s the new price for all future events, until I change it again). My pricing catalog also has info on pricing minimums for certain dates that makes it relatively straightforward. So while my price is $2750 starting, the price sheet will say a minimum of $$$$ will be required for fri-sun during specified periods.

there isn’t really a situation where I can’t give a quote, unless there is distance involved and logistical aspects. But for any event in NJ, eastern pa, and most of NY and DE, it’s just a standard email response with my pricing catalog, pictures, and videos, as well as a brief description of my approach to successful weddings.

Honestly, i never understood why pricing is such a difficult and touchy thing for DJ’s.
 
Honestly, i never understood why pricing is such a difficult and touchy thing for DJ’s.

Because they don't want to lose sales, and that is often because they are not really that in demand, and probably only have less than 30 inquiries per year. I'm more public/open than ever with my pricing. I just got rid of our top wedding package on our website, and now just offer two packages and now am trying a "Concierge Sound System Rental" option. It went over well for a couple of holiday parties this year so we will see if any wedding couples want to go that route.

I have a recent inquiry for 9/17. Waiting to hear back from them. 9/24 was booked about a month ago. I don't hold much hope for booking anything else between now and end of March/early April considering Howard and Baltimore counties just started their mask mandates for indoors. Baltimore City has had it for a while now. D.C. has it, PG, Moco, and some other counties in MD have the mandate too. Those mandates will basically cause anyone who was considering throwing an event this winter, but had not booked a venue yet to cancel their plans.
 
Because they don't want to lose sales, and that is often because they are not really that in demand, and probably only have less than 30 inquiries per year.
I could understand that 5yrs ago... but right now, couples won't even bother going through all the hassle to get basic pricing, when 5 other vendors got it to them within 24hrs. My sister's wedding planning was very eye opening. I didn't really get involved in any way, other than to make recommendations on photographers/videographers.

When it came to venue, photographers, videographers and limo services... she ONLY scheduled consultations with vendors who gave her pricing up front. She's VERY busy and often traveling, and didn't have time to waste on people who she wasn't sure were in her price range or not, especially since she had enough options to choose from who she was satisfied with the quality of work and had provided pricing up front. Seeing how she approached things in real time was very interesting to say the least. I also noticed that the vendors she chose, none of them were because of who gave the best price. None of the ones she chose were in any way acting like a sales person. In fact the photographer she chose, was about $1000 more, but her reasoning was because "it's like he was reading my mind with what I was hoping to hear, and I feel like I could trust him to get it right". Same with the venues... she gave better feedback with the venues that she felt she could trust more, rather than the one's who tried to be pushy for her business and tried to give her "special deals" and talked about all the options they offer. The venue she chose gave her a catalog of add-ons and said feel free to review them, let us know if you have any questions, and no pressure to book them today, as long as we know by the time you select your final menu.

Things have changed.
 
I could understand that 5yrs ago... but right now, couples won't even bother going through all the hassle to get basic pricing, when 5 other vendors got it to them within 24hrs. My sister's wedding planning was very eye opening. I didn't really get involved in any way, other than to make recommendations on photographers/videographers.

When it came to venue, photographers, videographers and limo services... she ONLY scheduled consultations with vendors who gave her pricing up front. She's VERY busy and often traveling, and didn't have time to waste on people who she wasn't sure were in her price range or not, especially since she had enough options to choose from who she was satisfied with the quality of work and had provided pricing up front. Seeing how she approached things in real time was very interesting to say the least. I also noticed that the vendors she chose, none of them were because of who gave the best price. None of the ones she chose were in any way acting like a sales person. In fact the photographer she chose, was about $1000 more, but her reasoning was because "it's like he was reading my mind with what I was hoping to hear, and I feel like I could trust him to get it right". Same with the venues... she gave better feedback with the venues that she felt she could trust more, rather than the one's who tried to be pushy for her business and tried to give her "special deals" and talked about all the options they offer. The venue she chose gave her a catalog of add-ons and said feel free to review them, let us know if you have any questions, and no pressure to book them today, as long as we know by the time you select your final menu.

Things have changed.


This is why I don't go chasing down inquiries. There are still these programs out there for instance the sales program that Joe Bunn sells on Face book that claim that you need to reach out to inquiries with 6+ email follow up contacts even when they are ghosting you. I don't have the time to do that, and I'm not going to automate that either. I will reach out ONCE. If they don't respond, I simply move on. If they were really interested, they will reach out when they are ready, and really shouldn't need endless follow ups and reminders from vendors.
 
This is why I don't go chasing down inquiries. There are still these programs out there for instance the sales program that Joe Bunn sells on Face book that claim that you need to reach out to inquiries with 6+ email follow up contacts even when they are ghosting you. I don't have the time to do that, and I'm not going to automate that either. I will reach out ONCE. If they don't respond, I simply move on. If they were really interested, they will reach out when they are ready, and really shouldn't need endless follow ups and reminders from vendors.
So that 6+ follow ups is a tried and true study that would be recommended, if the leads were non referral based. It’s a good approach for those that do ad generated leads, bridal shows, and other lead generation services. Those leads come in blind and need the most nurturing. It is a strategy that is taught in real estate for cold call leads or leads generated through Zillow… the need for 6 “touches”. Could be email, text, a generic email blast that goes out to all leads etc (especially if you have a massive email list from all the leads you accumulate). To keep you fresh in their mind as they go through the research phase.

However, if many of your leads are direct referral that approach isn’t as necessary. Perhaps one or two follow ups or touched to see their continued interest, but beyond that it won’t affect your results.
 
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This is why I don't go chasing down inquiries. There are still these programs out there for instance the sales program that Joe Bunn sells on Face book that claim that you need to reach out to inquiries with 6+ email follow up contacts even when they are ghosting you. I don't have the time to do that, and I'm not going to automate that either. I will reach out ONCE. If they don't respond, I simply move on. If they were really interested, they will reach out when they are ready, and really shouldn't need endless follow ups and reminders from vendors.
I learned a valuable lesson. Don't keep bugging people with calls, texts and emails. If you do that they get annoyed and will not want to deal with you. If you keep bugging them it makes you look desperate. Maybe try contacting them 3 times at the most. Some are just plain busy doing other things besides planning for their event and then others are looking for vendors to do their event so they will get back to you when they can. Also if you do decide to contact them more then once space things out so it doesn't seem like you're pestering them.

I have a possible event next month I'm supposed to do that just might cancel due to the numbers so called going up. I have to wait and see what they decide. Ugh! Nothing I can do but hope for the best.
 
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I learned a valuable lesson. Don't keep bugging people with calls, texts and emails. If you do that they get annoyed and will not want to deal with you. If you keep bugging them it makes you look desperate. Maybe try contacting them 3 times at the most. Some are just plain busy doing other things besides planning for their event and then others are looking for vendors to do their event so they will get back to you when they can. Also if you do decide to contact them more then once space things out so it doesn't seem like you're pestering them.

I have a possible event next month I'm supposed to do that just might cancel due to the numbers so called going up. I have to wait and see what they decide. Ugh! Nothing I can do but hope for the best.

I use to send out 3 follow up emails, and if I had their phone number I would leave a voice mail message to all inquiries! Being honest here. The last time I reeled a prospect back in from doing 3 email follow ups/1 phone call method was probably back in 2014. After well over 100 prospects of doing this method since then, nobody bothered to reach back out. Either they were never a serious shopper or my price was simply out of their budget, or they chose to ghost me once they received a lower price. That is how I look at it. Today, I usually delete the inquiry and their emails once it reaches 60 days old and they did not book. I usually follow up with just a single email about 1 week after my last email to them. I only call someone if they scheduled a phone call with me, OR they called me and left a voice mail, and I am calling them back.

I also work another job so I don't really spend much time on the sales end of booking DJ events any more. I have stream lined pricing and sales as best as I can to make it easy for me. The ones that want to book and move forward will do so.
 
that's my feeling, but like he said - people are busy now - and follow ups often book. They get busy and forget.

This is why I don't go chasing down inquiries. There are still these programs out there for instance the sales program that Joe Bunn sells on Face book that claim that you need to reach out to inquiries with 6+ email follow up contacts even when they are ghosting you. I don't have the time to do that, and I'm not going to automate that either. I will reach out ONCE. If they don't respond, I simply move on. If they were really interested, they will reach out when they are ready, and really shouldn't need endless follow ups and reminders from vendors.
 
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... but right now, couples won't even bother going through all the hassle to get basic pricing, when 5 other vendors got it to them within 24hrs.

I can typically get people a price quote in the very first conversation, but that's rarely necessary anymore. Most calls I receive now are not from people shopping around - they are from people who are going to hire irrespective of the cost.

I have no such "base price" for anything I do. I might want $4k tomorrow for something I did yesterday for $2k
 
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Honestly, i never understood why pricing is such a difficult and touchy thing for DJ’s.
It's very simple, most DJs don't think. They never think about what their value or what they are charging vs their responsibility. They have never asked themselves, "I wonder why this photographer is getting paid so much more than me, when I have to work so hard and provide so much for the penury fee that I charge?" Since most single-ops want to be like multi-ops and multi-ops want the customer to think that they are a single op, they are just living in confusion and price is at the center of it all.

To run a legit Mobile DJ operation, the DJ has to be a legit operation, master marketing & promotions, Sales, and provide the entertainment service. I'll say this again, one needs a degree in the 4 vital functions of our profession and most Mobile DJs have no clue of what they are doing.
 
I can typically get people a price quote in the very first conversation, but that's rarely necessary anymore. Most calls I receive now are not from people shopping around - they are from people who are going to hire irrespective of the cost.

I have no such "base price" for anything I do. I might want $4k tomorrow for something I did yesterday for $2k
But those are your customers where you can take that approach. The original topic brought up by Ricky seems more to do with cold leads who are just searching online. Those require different nurturing
 
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But those are your customers where you can take that approach. The original topic brought up by Ricky seems more to do with cold leads who are just searching online. Those require different nurturing
Please stop responding to his post until he can show us work he has done in the present and not the past.