How far would you go to get hired for an event? Inspired by Papa...read here what he's being asked to do just to get hired for a $300 event (good thread!) Our DJ Talk - DJ Help and Resources Chat! and post your thoughts.
How Far Would You Go?
- Thread starter DJ Ducky
- Start date
How far would I go? It all depends on the potential reward. I will go a lot farther for a $1500 event than I will for a $300 event.
I am not trying to say that I am above those or anything like that. If I couldn't book higher priced gigs, I'd look at those.
but, thankfully, we have enough more expensive gigs that we don't have to go out of our way for lower priced gigs.
I recently offered a significant discount for a 4 hour wedding on a friday in January. She asked if we could meet first..I said sure, she can come to me. Then she called back and wanted me to meet with the hall manager and coordinator before she booked. I declined. Not at that price. I offered her the regular price. Haven't heard back.
I am not trying to say that I am above those or anything like that. If I couldn't book higher priced gigs, I'd look at those.
but, thankfully, we have enough more expensive gigs that we don't have to go out of our way for lower priced gigs.
I recently offered a significant discount for a 4 hour wedding on a friday in January. She asked if we could meet first..I said sure, she can come to me. Then she called back and wanted me to meet with the hall manager and coordinator before she booked. I declined. Not at that price. I offered her the regular price. Haven't heard back.
G
Guest
Guest
How far will I go?
It depends on the risks and the rewards.
For example, I had a four hour birthday party in the community room at my apartment complex. The client was the administractive assistant for the rental agent. The community room is about 500 yards from apartment. The birthday party was the day after another event so I could keep the gera in the truck. The client offered to add access to the complex fitness center (a one time payment of $200 we had not invested yet and a very well stocked and little used center).
I did the event for $200.
I have not used the fitness center yet but plan to as part of my new years resolution. I have since done a pool party for her sister that works for another community and will be doing the holiday party for her sister's company as well and both for the regular price. Tamara (the client) also hands my card to other people that book the community center and I have booked several at the regular price (not bad for 500 yeards away).
The risks were few on this but the rewards seem to be many.
Another example... I had a guy inquire from me about a wedding at a ballroom about a mile from my apartment and on a Sunday afternoon; a ballroom I have been itching to get into for a while but has been "locked up" by another service. In the conversation with the potential client he asked for a quote and I quoted my regular price for a four hour wedding. He still opted for the interview so I met with him and his fiancee. When we got into the details I found it to be a wedding needing much less planning than usual and I also found that he did receive a quote from the other service but the other service never returned his phone calls. The quote he received from the other service (which he showed me) was a little more than 50% of what I quoted him but still over my cost of production. I matched it and I got it. After the wedding the banquet manager told me to set up an appointment with the guy that does their bookings. I did. He now recommends me as well as the other service and I have already booked some wedding there at my regular price in 2009. BTW, I got $500 for the original wedding.
The bottom line is that if I can see many potential rewards I will take the risk.
It depends on the risks and the rewards.
For example, I had a four hour birthday party in the community room at my apartment complex. The client was the administractive assistant for the rental agent. The community room is about 500 yards from apartment. The birthday party was the day after another event so I could keep the gera in the truck. The client offered to add access to the complex fitness center (a one time payment of $200 we had not invested yet and a very well stocked and little used center).
I did the event for $200.
I have not used the fitness center yet but plan to as part of my new years resolution. I have since done a pool party for her sister that works for another community and will be doing the holiday party for her sister's company as well and both for the regular price. Tamara (the client) also hands my card to other people that book the community center and I have booked several at the regular price (not bad for 500 yeards away).
The risks were few on this but the rewards seem to be many.
Another example... I had a guy inquire from me about a wedding at a ballroom about a mile from my apartment and on a Sunday afternoon; a ballroom I have been itching to get into for a while but has been "locked up" by another service. In the conversation with the potential client he asked for a quote and I quoted my regular price for a four hour wedding. He still opted for the interview so I met with him and his fiancee. When we got into the details I found it to be a wedding needing much less planning than usual and I also found that he did receive a quote from the other service but the other service never returned his phone calls. The quote he received from the other service (which he showed me) was a little more than 50% of what I quoted him but still over my cost of production. I matched it and I got it. After the wedding the banquet manager told me to set up an appointment with the guy that does their bookings. I did. He now recommends me as well as the other service and I have already booked some wedding there at my regular price in 2009. BTW, I got $500 for the original wedding.
The bottom line is that if I can see many potential rewards I will take the risk.
Let me just start by saying that money doesn't sway me one bit. I will never again compromise myself for money. There's always going to be some way to make a buck without being someone's lap dog.
If I were in Papa's situation, the brakes would have put on before now. (sounds fishy)
I provide a simple professional service which doesn't require much more than a phone call and a brief meeting. If a client wants services that I do not regularly (or care to) provide, we'll be parting ways.
*Every song I carry is printable from my website (no DJI widget)
*Anybody that actually knows about audio gear, doesn't need to see it.
*Anybody that doesn't actually know about audio gear, doesn't benefit from seeing it.
If I were in Papa's situation, the brakes would have put on before now. (sounds fishy)
I provide a simple professional service which doesn't require much more than a phone call and a brief meeting. If a client wants services that I do not regularly (or care to) provide, we'll be parting ways.
*Every song I carry is printable from my website (no DJI widget)
*Anybody that actually knows about audio gear, doesn't need to see it.
*Anybody that doesn't actually know about audio gear, doesn't benefit from seeing it.
I would go as far as asking, as I just happen to have coincidentally done this past Monday, how and why the potential client came up with that budget.
After getting the answer or not, I'd politely decline and offer no recommendation or referral as I do not know a single professional that I would recommend who can afford to work at that fee.
Recommending bottom feeders and wannabees can only hurt my business.
Not every desire warrants fulfilling.
I tried that, "All I have is $X" crap at a Guitar center and the salesman, after he was able to compose himself and stop laughing, finally told me he had to go rearrange the mark-a-lots- they use to make the LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEED signs.
After getting the answer or not, I'd politely decline and offer no recommendation or referral as I do not know a single professional that I would recommend who can afford to work at that fee.
Recommending bottom feeders and wannabees can only hurt my business.
Not every desire warrants fulfilling.
I tried that, "All I have is $X" crap at a Guitar center and the salesman, after he was able to compose himself and stop laughing, finally told me he had to go rearrange the mark-a-lots- they use to make the LOWEST PRICE GUARANTEED signs.
G
Guest
Guest
While I don't have a problem giving discount rates for Monday through Thursday, (those days are already heavily discounted) I do have a problem lowering my already low base rates for Friday, Saturday and Sunday! I won't lower rates for extras because they are going to require extra setup and breakdown down time.
I don't however discount the ideas put forward by Scott and GoodKnight, and if the same situation presented itself to me I would also do the same!
I don't however discount the ideas put forward by Scott and GoodKnight, and if the same situation presented itself to me I would also do the same!
Here's my answer:
If I was stuck in a miserable Day Job, where I had co-workers I didn't like-- and my boss was always threatening to fire me-- I would probably be just like "Papa."
I remember the last time I had a "Day Job" (almost 20 years ago) --- my days were spend daydreaming about the wonderful life I'd have being Self Employed.
Of course, being a stay-at-home Soccer Dad with a home business, wasn't all that great -- there were ups and downs. Lucky for us, the Mama was a good personal banker (in both her day job and managing OUR finances) and we were able to make it.
Having the luxury of two incomes, we were able to maintain a degree of aloofness about the gigs which always served us well in the long run.
FWIW: I would have told this prospect to "Take A Hike" on the first call.
If I was stuck in a miserable Day Job, where I had co-workers I didn't like-- and my boss was always threatening to fire me-- I would probably be just like "Papa."
I remember the last time I had a "Day Job" (almost 20 years ago) --- my days were spend daydreaming about the wonderful life I'd have being Self Employed.
Of course, being a stay-at-home Soccer Dad with a home business, wasn't all that great -- there were ups and downs. Lucky for us, the Mama was a good personal banker (in both her day job and managing OUR finances) and we were able to make it.
Having the luxury of two incomes, we were able to maintain a degree of aloofness about the gigs which always served us well in the long run.
FWIW: I would have told this prospect to "Take A Hike" on the first call.