"Holy S**T!"

jokerswild said:

It all falls under the old Supply vs. Demand argument.... for example:

When ND plays at home here in South Bend all hotel nightly rates double and triple and also minimum number of nights stay increases as well.... why? Because the demand is there when 50,000 plus fans come to town..... it's a limited time engagement with limited availability...

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I'll disagree --- they're looking to make a killing on these events because the rest of the year, they're only filling 1/3 of the hotel. These events keep them floating the rest of the year.

Randy A said:

I'll disagree --- they're looking to make a killing on these events because the rest of the year, they're only filling 1/3 of the hotel. These events keep them floating the rest of the year.

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Nope I can say with complete certainty since I work for one of those hotels that, that is not true.

Sure for 3 months during holiday season we are slower.... but come March the business traveler's are back out on the roads and it is no sweat for us to be sold out or at least 80% booked Sun thru Thurs. Special Event Weekends are just iceing on the cake for us to top the year off.

jokerswild said:

Ron: I have to disagree with you.... going out to dinner is not out of the ordinary nor does it cause high demand for a restaurants services or food....

It all falls under the old Supply vs. Demand argument.... for example:

When ND plays at home here in South Bend all hotel nightly rates double and triple and also minimum number of nights stay increases as well.... why? Because the demand is there when 50,000 plus fans come to town..... it's a limited time engagement with limited availability...

Same goes for special nights such as NYE.... rates on specialty rooms go up as well.

Entertainment for that night should go up as well because demand is much higher then.... even bars and clubs that normally don't have entertainment are looking for entertainers..... and most of them are charging entrance fees for their patrons....

So, why wouldn't a DJ charge more for that one night limited engagement than what they charge every other day..... I tell you why demand.

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I think you're missing the point and since no one can answer the questions as to who these clients are we aren't going to get anywhere.

A hotel booking a NYE party is going to charge a lot more for tickets and pay a higher price for entertainment, no problem with that at all. I'm sure they booked the entertainment ahead of time. But, the neighborhood family group planning a get together at the Elks hall for NYE is most likely not going to pay $1500 for entertainment. A family group who decided to throw a last minute party at a local hall will not dish out $1500 just for entertainment. A local bar who want to have something special for their good patrons. The people who drink there regularly. A place where a beer might cost about $3, is not going to put out $1500 for entertainment.

Now these places have a choice, either find someone willing to play music for them at a decent price or turn on the juke box. There is and will always be DJ's who are willing to play on NYE at their local hangout for free beer and $300-$500. Those types of DJ's do not have any impact on those who can easily make $1500 on NYE. Should these people all go without because they're not willing to play for the higher cost DJ just so the higher cost DJ can feel better about themselves? I think not.

If I was called for a hotel NYE function I would expect at least $1500. I don't care when they ask me. If Suzy called me for a family and friends NYE party at the Vets club I would gladly find them a DJ that would do it for around $400-$600. Some people tonight will dine at the Ritz while others will enjoy a Big Mac. It's just the way the world works.

No I don't think I missed your point at all Ron.

While I don't think anyone would pay $1500 for entertainment on NYE, I do think charging more than you normally charge for a special event that occurs only once a year and causes demand to be higher is perfectly ok.....

For example in my area I am pulling between 400 to 600.00 for a wedding event why is it so outrageous to charge a few dollars more.... say between 600 to 900.00.

I agree depending on your area and market $1500.00 is high. But, for the sake of this topic that number is arbitrary and means little to the overall discussion.

Let's not get stuck on what we individually charge for special event dates....

My point was very simple.... high demand dates demand higher pricing is it so wrong to capitalize on a date that we all know is popular?

We won't do New Year's Eve unless we are well paid. After years of putting up with drunks and the drunken attitudes, if the pay isn't there then it's just not worth it. I'd rather be at home with my wife and kids and in the safety of our own home.

thats why I tell all concerned that since no one else will be wanting to work on that night I have a set rate (and I have charged the same for the last 10 years)

so there is NO way that if I get a night off I can PARTY

trouble is some companies that have had me before always fight to have me again
be it NYE or anytime....

we are doing several parties tonight.

2 are big hall parties

2 are smaller hall parties

1 bar

1 is at Dave and busters. i am djing for 2 hours after their murder mystery dinner theater. they also gave me 6 tickets for the dinner and murder mystery.

we certainly charge more for NYE, but none of these events are over $1,200, only the 2 big hall parties.

Well after all this bickering NYE is over. Who here is that much richer after last night and who is a bit poorer and a lot hung over?

For a small party of about 50 people I have a wonderful time. The night just flew by. In the crowd was a DJ who had did the same party for the past two years. I don't know why he didn't do it this year but let me just say I reminding him why I am who I am. I even had a women, at the end of the night thank me for a wonderful time. She said last year was a bit dull, although the DJ tried what he could the party just had no energy. Not like this years party, she said. I told her "last years DJ is sitting over there". She turned 3 shades of red. Don't get me wrong, this DJ is a nice guy but it shows people that we are all different in our ability.

So, after a great evening I'm $700 richer + a $75 dollar tip and handed out some cards. For me it sure beat sitting at home with a house full of my daughters friends having their own party. I would have been watching TV all night.

We all have different reasons for what we do and charge what we charge. I understand why someone would ask for extra money from what they normally charge and I understand why certain groups wouldn't pay it.

So I now put this thread behind me in 2008 where it belongs. I hope everyone, whether you worked, went out to celebrate, or just stayed home and enjoyed some peace, that you all had a wonderful New Years.

I had 2 gigs booked for last night one cancelled several days ago so the only thing I got out of it was the deposit. The other I had one of my guys lined up for so I stayed at home (which is where I really wanted to be anyway.

So the answer is............... I stayed at home and made $350 for one gig and $100 for the other and never left my couch!

mine was perfect. I got to DJ AND spend the evening with my wife. My wife never comes to gigs, but tickets for the murder mystery thing were included, so we did that and invited a few friends. so they hung during the 2 hours I dj'd.

I had a NYE Wedding booked for several months where I charged over $1000. They got a few of my add ons which actually brought the price over 1K. At the same time, a local organization rented a sound system for $250 for the night. Got that contact through the Chamber. Without the Wedding, I could have just as easily been the sound guy for that event for a few extra $$$$. But honestly, with my current financial situation, I'd have played a bar easy for $500 or even a bit less. I would have kept the set up simple as possible though.

Chuck The DJ said:

I'm saying this in the kindest way,,,,, those of you who charge more for last second events are stupid.

In this economy and as slow as it has been for a lot of people, and IF you are full time, to get a call for an event tonight and blow it off it just plain stupid IMHO.

I guess if you don't NEED the money and are so secure with your finances that you can blow it off, that's cool.

In this case, I would have asked what his budget was, then I would take or leave the gig.

You could have said something like::::::::

Normally my price is $2000.00, but to tell you the truth I would rather be out having a great time at your bar than sitting home watching that dumb ball drop. So what is your budget for tonight?

If the guy comes back and says $300.00 well sure, I'd rather stay at home also, but if he said, well, I could do $1000.00...

and I'm really stunned if you would turn down $1,000 at this day and age. But again, if you are part time, it's easier to do.

And for the record, I had 1 call for NYE, I quoted my normals rate of $800.00 for for hours and the gig didn't happen,,, it was through one of my agents.

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I'm saying this in the kindest way,,, those of you who charge less to those that place so little value on what we do, that they wait till the last minute to get desperation/bottom feeder rates, are damaging your market for legitimate, legal professional businessmen. Not to mention you are validating the horrible perception some consumers have of our industry/craft/business...

Chuck,

What you are proposing and endorsing is that your truly valuable clients, the client's that respect your craft, plan accordingly, and willingly pay your, hopefully, justifiable rates should be penalized for their responsibility.

What would your explanation be if a valuable, regular, and full fee client called and inquired into why they paid more than Bob's Booze Barn?

If your answer is not based on and/or from the inquirer's perspective, no answer will suffice.

How would you react if your neighbor was having a gathering and forgot to mow his yard and as your yard man, Chopper, that you pay $50 to mow your lawn, is cutting your lawn, your neighbor approaches your yard man and offers him $25 to mow his similar yard and Chopper accepts the lower fee? Would you not feel taken advantage of or, at the very least, like you had overpaid? That is how your valued clients feel when they learn of your wishy washy pricing schedule. Even if they never realize how you have overcharged them, it still smacks of unfair practices.

If you can't honor your rates, who the hell would?

And why not $300? What possible explanation could placate a last minute shopper's resistance to larger and larger discounts? He already knows, based on your own discounting practices, that your full rate is nonsense and has no incentive to pay more than his own pre-misconceived notions.

djrox said:

I'm saying this in the kindest way,,, those of you who charge less to those that place so little value on what we do, that they wait till the last minute to get desperation/bottom feeder rates, are damaging your market for legitimate, legal professional businessmen. Not to mention you are validating the horrible perception some consumers have of our industry/craft/business...

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HMMMMMM! tell that to any other business that drops the prices on their goods and/or services the day before Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. etc.! They do it to sell a product or service that has not sold or filled before the holiday!

djrox said:

What you are proposing and endorsing is that your truly valuable clients, the client's that respect your craft, plan accordingly, and willingly pay your, hopefully, justifiable rates should be penalized for their responsibility.

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If the date isn't booked in advance I would say the "prospective client" wasn't interested in the date to begin with so how would they have been penalized?

djrox said:

What would your explanation be if a valuable, regular, and full fee client called and inquired into why they paid more than Bob's Booze Barn?

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See above! If a valuable, regular and full fee client had wanted the date Chuck wouldn't be doing Bob's Booze Barn in the first place, why would they call after the fact and want to know anything?

djrox said:

If your answer is not based on and/or from the inquirer's perspective, no answer will suffice.

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See the above two answers

djrox said:

How would you react if your neighbor was having a gathering and forgot to mow his yard and as your yard man, Chopper, that you pay $50 to mow your lawn, is cutting your lawn, your neighbor approaches your yard man and offers him $25 to mow his similar yard and Chopper accepts the lower fee? Would you not feel taken advantage of or, at the very least, like you had overpaid? That is how your valued clients feel when they learn of your wishy washy pricing schedule. Even if they never realize how you have overcharged them, it still smacks of unfair practices.

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Not a problem he can cut his rate based on the fact that he doesn't have the extra load and haul for my neighbor's yard it makes perfect sense to me having worked in the construction/excavating business for many years I have seen it done and have done it many times.

You are also not fully reading what Chuck said.... He is basing it on carrying a lot less setup for a bar and that would also include a lot less planning and prep time than a full on PP.

djrox said:

If you can't honor your rates, who the hell would?

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who said you have to have ONE rate!

djrox said:

And why not $300? What possible explanation could placate a last minute shopper's resistance to larger and larger discounts? He already knows, based on your own discounting practices, that your full rate is nonsense and has no incentive to pay more than his own pre-misconceived notions.

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So what is your regular job? do you get $1000 a day or better from that?

Rox,
I'm saying this in the kindness way as well. I understand what Chuck is saying and agree with him.

You are assuming that these people calling at the last minute had planned this all along just to get a cheaper priced DJ. Could they not have decided at the last minute that they've found some extra cash and decided to hire a DJ? You're also assuming that everyone can and should afford the same high prices for entertainment. Bob's Burger Barn might only spend $300 on a special night since his burgers only cost $8. The higher priced events are charging over $200 a ticket and can afford $1500 for a DJ. Just as there are DJ's who will charge $1500, there are DJ's who will charge $300 and be happy. There are landscapers who will charge $100 to cut your grass and there are those who will charge $25. Which one do you expect to be more dependable and provide a better service. With my lawn $25 would be fine.

From what I hear of most who did not work NYE and someone was to call them last minute, they would charge much more than normal just to show these people they should have called sooner. That's ego talking. Even if their rates are increased do to the demand of the night (which I understand) then why aren't they working? I would guess that they aren't in as much demand as they think. So it could be said that a client making a last minute call might know they are going to end up with a DJ who wasn't in much demand for NYE and that maybe they want to work.

I see it no different than a store selling an item that is in high demand because of limited supply. If you want the item before anyone else you're willing to play top dollar for it. Once the rush is over and anyone who is going to buy has, what do you do with the leftovers. You either discount them to sell or they just sit and watch TV. So I know if I wait until after Christmas I can possibly buy an item for less than before Christmas. Knowing full well that the item may or may not be there. Depends on how important the item is to me. That's assuming that most DJ's are alike and since this discussion is only about price and not value or personal attention I would say this fits.

How would you react if your neighbor was having a gathering and forgot to mow his yard and as your yard man, Chopper, that you pay $50 to mow your lawn, is cutting your lawn, your neighbor approaches your yard man and offers him $25 to mow his similar yard and Chopper accepts the lower fee? Would you not feel taken advantage of or, at the very least, like you had overpaid? That is how your valued clients feel when they learn of your wishy washy pricing schedule. Even if they never realize how you have overcharged them, it still smacks of unfair practices.

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As the homeowner you have an option. Pay Chopper the higher price knowing that he will cut my lawn on the day I hire him for. That he doesn't put it off for days while he takes care of everyone else. Or, I'll pay him less in the hopes that he is passing by the neighborhood and can fit me in or I'll just have to wait when it's convenient for him. After all it's only grass.

The post office does the same thing. You can pay for Parcel Post or Priority Mail. Parcel Post if cheaper and if it's a busy mail day your package may not be delivered on time. Priority is more expensive and will get mailed out before a Parcel post package will. Pay more money and it will be delivered even sooner. It all depends on how important it is to you. We could go on all day but every business has the same issues.

There will always be those who will take last minute jobs at less than most of us would expect. That's never going to change. But if those who make the big money are trying to compare themselves to the cheaper DJ's based on price good luck.

This is way to much thinking for me.:sqerr:

Ron & Thunder,

As was mine so is yours, merely opinion.

I would rather defend my pricing policy than that proposed by Chuck and, apparently, supported by others. Please note, I did not suggest such practices should be outlawed or prohibited, simply offered a perspective other than the one offered. Regardless of what our opinions may be, discounting has a negative effect on market pricing, Econ 101.

Discounting by retail merchant's is substantially different than service professionals.


Thuder,

My earnings information is nunya but with salary and benifits, it's closer to that than $50/hr. Regardless, the service I provide my M-F employer is not the same as the service I provide my entertainment business clients and are, therefore, not comparable.

But imagine defending the contradictory and tenuous position I'd be in if my FT employer learned that I was providing the same service to a different employer for less? If you are worse less for one, you are worth less for all.

Your mileage apparently differs.

We shall both survive.

$1000 a day at my day job! I wouldn't be charging anything to DJ from time to time!

Holy Sh**t that is roughly $270,000 a year...... Man what do you do for a living? You have most average doctors and lawyers beat!

$50 an hour is $400 a day $1000 a day is $125 an hour! You Go boy!

If people can demand $1,500 or more for a NYE gig and get it.....Good for them.

If not, Have fun sitting on the couch while i'm out having fun and making money.

I really do understand why some of you veterans set your rates so high,
After doing NYE for so many years, it does get old being away from the significant other every year.....

But, to me it's how i choose to make my money, And if i get a call from one of my bar's, I sure as hell ain't gonna let some other DJ on my turf if i can help it.

Sure, i'm not gonna try to charge them $1,000 for one night.....
I look at my income at the end of the year from that establishment....

I will not give up my bread and butter just to be greedy for 1 night.