How much time do you put into an event?

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How much time do you dedicate to your events?

  • 4 to 6 hours

    Votes: 11 100.0%
  • 7 to 8 hours

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 9 to 10 hours

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 11 to 20 hours

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 21 to 30 hours

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 31 to 40 hours

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Over 40 hours

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    11
G

Guest

Guest
For me, it depends on the event. We have Classic Service, Gold Service, and Signature Service. Here's the breakdown:

Classic Service:

Consultation - 4
Timeline/Agenda Development - 3
Finialization of Details - 8
Pre-Reception Coordination - 2
Event Preparation, Travel, Set Up, and Strike - 8
Event Performance - 4
Total: 29

Gold Service:
Consultation - 4
Timeline/Agenda Development - 3
Finialization of Details - 8
Pre-Reception Coordination - 2
Event Preparation, Travel, Set Up, and Strike - 8
Additional Staff Production Assistant - 14
Photo Montage - 2
Event Performance - 6
Total: 47

Signature Service:
Consultation - 4
Timeline/Agenda Development - 3
Finialization of Details - 8
Custom Introductions and/or Love Story - 4
Custom Recordings - 4
Photo Montage - 2
Pre-Reception Coordination - 2
Event Preparation, Travel, Set Up, and Strike - 8
Additional Staff Production Assistant - 14
Event Performance - 6
Total: 55
 
Tom, right on!

It DOES depend on how much the client is $$ for us. If you are charging $500 for a wedding and the client insists on you all meeting 4-5 times, you lost your ass!

If you spend $1000++, we can meet 2-3-4 times. Less than $500, email or 1 call.
 
Background: I charge extra for lights, because I DO NOT LIKE the "hassle". I do not charge extra for extra consultations, because it has never been an issue.

Education: A fellow was telling me that he DOES NOT charge extra for certain lights because it helps him do his job better.

Premise: If something helps you do your job better, then you should not charge extra; nevertheless, I still charge extra for lights because I don't think they actually help me--my smile is bright enough. See? :sqlaugh:

Questions: Why do you feel like you've lost your ass if you don't charge extra for multiple consultations? Do you think multiple consultations are a hassle? Do you NOT think that multiple consultations can help you do your job better?
 
In some cases its the numbers game as far as consultations. If you have say 4 new consults a week and then each of them want a additional consult or two in the future times the next four new consults during the next week, now you have eight then times additional consults it becomes a snowball of consults piling up in the future. Eventually it becomes a Avalanche. Time then becomes money. If you have the luxury of a small amount of gigs in your future this would not be a concern. But then again most of you knew this right? Putting up some sort of light show at each event is a one time thing for each event. No avalanche and it does enhance movement on the dancefloor. A tool only having to be used one time for setup.
 
I'll answer emails and phone calls whenever possible. I don't place a limit. Personal consults? I used to met EVERY client before a gig.These days I only meet weddings and possibly a more involved sweet 16. I will meet a non wedding client before a gig if they ask but I don't offer it myself.

That's a benefit of not having a multitude of gigs.
 
I put 7,,, that includes the 4 hours for the gig..

I would bet it is less most of the time because the agents do most of the work...
 
Education: A fellow was telling me that he DOES NOT charge extra for certain lights because it helps him do his job better.

In case you didn't guess, the fellow was Ed.
 
Maximum 6 hours on an average gig. I dont get a lot of hand holders. I do one meeting see what they want,tell them what I can do (generally its what they want) and move on. I advise them my phone and email are always open to them to contact me with any changes or questions but most of the time Its only a confirmation and rundown the week of the event to make sure we are on the same page and were off and running

There are some Ive never met face to face before the gig it was all done by email and/or phone it always seems to work out well
 
Consultation - 4
Timeline/Agenda Development - 3
Finialization of Details - 8
Pre-Reception Coordination - 2

Tom

Do you really put 17 hours in to planning? What would you talk about in a 4 hr consultation?

Im not being sarcastic or nasty but I dont think I put 17 hours in to all the receptions planning I did last year combined. My average consultation lasts less than 1/2 hour and all of them were successful last year.

I actually did 2 weddings this year where I never met the B&G face to face just by Email and one with email and one phone call

I dunno mabye I am doing something wrong I just dont understand the need
 
Jeff:

The four hours is cumulative. I do consultations by phone, face-to-face, and e-mail. It is what you make of it.
 
I know some DJs who ask not only about the party, but personal stuff so they can make it more personalized. They can even use the info when talking on the mic.

Where the B&G met, 1st date, fave things to do and so on. Those take longer than, ok, when do you want to cut the cake...
 
I have twice the amount of time during travel, setup, playtime and load out because I almost always work with an assistant (my wife). So just to leave the house for a 4 hour event, I have 2 hours setup x2, 4 hours play time x2, 1/2 hour load out x2 and lets say 1/2 hour travel each way x2, I believe that thats about 15 hours and I haven't even done the consult or any prep.

Consults are about an hour long, takes about an hour to prep the paperwork and go to the post office, another 2-4 to intros and love story and at least another hour for any other extras that we give.

And I just thought about the time to hook up the trailer, load the trailer and stop at the gas station, unload the trailer, unhook the trailer and put it away.
That takes over an hour because its a half hour to hookup and load.
 
I still find 17 hours to plan a 4 to 6 hour event alot but if you can sell it and it works for you thats all that counts
 
Hi All,

I noticed no one thouched on this yet so I will.

Goodknight,

I am going to put in a simple guess here and say your top service brings in $2500 for the event.

At 55 hours to the gig that means you are making about $45 an hour for your time involvement per gig. if you are talking $1500 the take is $27 an hour.

I can generally from booking to completion get in with 10 to 12 hours total. (I use a planner that is sent to the clients and then perhaps a face to face which runs 1/2 to 1 1/2 hours). For an $800 to $1000 gig that means an hourly return for my time of $80 to $84.

The rest of my week is taken up with $300 per 4 hour bar gigs which have a total time involvement of less than 6 hours per. Translates into $50 an hour.

So for the same time involvement you put into one wedding for a return of $45 an hour, I can pull down $57 an hour or $3130 for the same time investment.

The plus is I don't need an assistant so that is money that stays in my pocket as well.
 
Well horn swaggled Yes it is! LOL

I thought something smelled funny in here, it must have been the crackers! ;>)
 
Steve:

First welcome.

Second, what I didn't say is I actually like doing all the planning. So the time investment doesn't phase me.

Yes, I use the planner too. Plus, not all of the work on a single wedding is all at once. Much of it does happen two months or so from the date but most of it is spread over time.

Most of my weddings book 6 months to a year away.

The 55 hour event is the high-end and, really, top seller. It goes from $2500 to $3000 depending on additional special features.