How much would you quote a potential client to do this wedding?

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

MIXMASTERMACHOM

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
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Here's the deal and I'm serious about this. Saturday we did an event where a person came up to us and got a business card. I found out later someone is getting married and that's why they wanted our card. I don't know anything else other then they were looking into how much it would cost to have the reception at the hotel where we were at Saturday and I heard them say they were looking at 200 people to attend this wedding.

Now our plan if we were to get this wedding was to bring the 2 Yamaha powered tops and matching subs. Controller with laptop a light set if they wanted that too. That's all the details I know so far. I don't know when the wedding is to take place or how many hours the reception is to take place. I have a thought in mind of the minimum price I would quote to do this wedding. I'll tell you later what that is. I just wanted to see what others would quote for a price to this potential client?
 
$250 per hour, minimum 3 hours. Simple math -- if people know what you charge, there's no haggling involved. Now, I'm not sure you would get that rate -- but settle on an hourly rate, and stick by it until you can get more.

The only time I deviate, if it's a place where I can make good tips -- like a titty bar, or one of the small bars down the street. I can usually come out of there with good money, and no equipment involved except my laptop.


Sit down, build a plan you think is feasible for your level of experience, and stick by it for a while. If you keep raising rates with nothing to add -- people won't use your services.
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Here's the deal and I'm serious about this. Saturday we did an event where a person came up to us and got a business card. I found out later someone is getting married and that's why they wanted our card. I don't know anything else other then they were looking into how much it would cost to have the reception at the hotel where we were at Saturday and I heard them say they were looking at 200 people to attend this wedding.

Now our plan if we were to get this wedding was to bring the 2 Yamaha powered tops and matching subs. Controller with laptop a light set if they wanted that too. That's all the details I know so far. I don't know when the wedding is to take place or how many hours the reception is to take place. I have a thought in mind of the minimum price I would quote to do this wedding. I'll tell you later what that is. I just wanted to see what others would quote for a price to this potential client?
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I shall not list an amount because you are again asking for what WE would charge. This is not about us. These discussions about planning have been about you. You can't match what we charge to what you do / charge, so knowing what we may charge is of little to no value to you. Your pricing is part of your plan. You base it on what YOU think it costs to do the job.

If you want us to add our opinions for what you are charging, then tell us your price and I'm sure some will add comments. You really need to get off this 'how much' thing. Who cares how much - it's worth nothing if you can't sell it. If I were you, my question would be 'How much does it cost Adrian to do this job?'.

Being that you said 'our' and 'we', I have to assume this means there will be at least 2 DJ's there - this cuts the pay in half yet again.

SoftJock Rick said:
Sit down, build a plan you think is feasible for your level of experience, and stick by it for a while.
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Totally agree.

Randy A said:
What kind of customer service do you offer with you weddings? Do you just set up and just DJ? Or, do you have a reception planner and facilitate everything?
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While this does matter, I'm thinking this would just complicate things at this point.
 
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If the person who took your card on Saturday was seriously interested in you, then you woul have already received that phone call. What shocks me is that you are planning on what to tell one single peosn who may call. Why do you not already have your wedding rates set for others who may call you that you do not know about?

Oh yes you never resonded back tot he thread you started about your illegal music not working properly.
 
Randy A said:
Tig ... I would like to understand what all he does for his clients at a wedding.
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I'm not disagreeing, I'm just trying to get him to focus on one thing at a time. He's like splattered paint .. err, splattered railroad ties - all over the place.
 
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ittigger said:
I'm not disagreeing, I'm just trying to get him to focus on one thing at a time. He's like splattered paint - all over the place.
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I was thinking more along the lines of a can dropping from a 10-story bldg. ;)

Seriously though, he needs to understand there is a definite pricing structure difference in a DJ who just shows up and plays the tunes or someone who caters to the customer service side of things. I know once I made the switch, I was able to command a higher fee.
 
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Randy A said:
I was thinking more along the lines of a can dropping for a 10-story bldg. ;)

Seriously though, he needs to understand there is a definite pricing structure difference in a DJ who just shows up and plays the tunes or someone who caters to the customer service side of things. I know once I made the switch, I was able to command a higher fee.
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Totally agree .. but until that plan comes into place, it will be nothing more than a can of splattered paint / off of a 10 story building. Pricing makes little difference if there's no plan. He definitely needs to understand different prices for different things but how does one understand that if there is no plan - and y'er all over the place?

You can tell him that trains carry freight, food and people to all these nice various destinations - and you can even tell him that some of them are fancy trains with really nice customer service and really nice stations / destinations. Without a plan for his tracks and stations, it will be difficult to come up with anything.
 
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First off, it's comical that someone taking your card is such a big deal that it triggers a discussion like this. That said, like Randy said, you've got to become more consistent and pre-think your pricing. My suggestion is take the rate you charged at this past event (which they will no doubt find out) and bump it a bit, maybe 50%. You know, like $50.
 
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ittigger said:
Totally agree .. but until that plan comes into place, it will be nothing more than a can of splattered paint / off of a 10 story building. Pricing makes little difference if there's no plan. He definitely needs to understand different prices for different things but how does one understand that if there is no plan - and y'er all over the place?

You can tell him that trains carry freight, food and people to all these nice various destinations - and you can even tell him that some of them are fancy trains with really nice customer service and really nice stations / destinations. Without a plan for his tracks and stations, it will be difficult to come up with anything.
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Don't start adding train analogies ... he's off track enough. :eek:
 
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My bad .. I thought we were trying to 'train' him.

:)

Seriously though, I used a train analogy earlier. I'm just trying to be consistent.
 
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my price $4,000

dont like it then




HAVE A NICE DAY!
 
If I lived in your neighborhood, had your reputation, had the same amount of experience, had the same equipment, brought the same lights, offered the same style of show, approached my business the same way, and worked as often as you did...
I could answer that question.

But we don't have any of those things in common,
and they are all details that make a difference in my prices versus your prices.
 
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The funny thing is when we get hired nobody ever asks how we DJ an event. It seems they are much more concerned about someone who knows how to put together and run the event and work with the other professionals. DJing the event is usually secondary to our beinging hired to run the show. I guess they figure if your successfull at this then you must be a good DJ already. I do think we do a high quality job on both ends. ) I have learned learn if you can put these two things together you will command a higher price just like has been stated.
 
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Sorry I shouldn't have made this thread. I didn't make it try to get ideas on what to charge judging from what others on here charge.

Now I do have a wedding planner form I can use. We did have a wedding where we couldn't use one. They just wanted us there to play the music. The MC took care of the other things that needed to be done.
 
I don't know about you or others, but if I am DJing a wedding & someone comes up & asks "How much do you charge?" or "How much would you charge me to do my wedding?" I politely hand them my card & ask that they call or email me the next day & we can set up a time to meet so I can find out all their needs & the logistics first. Every event is different.

I will NEVER talk price to guests at someone else's wedding. This is inconsiderate to my present clients.

I once had a guy that kept bugging/hounding me at a wedding for my prices. I soon found out he was another DJ.
If there's one thing I have no tolerence for is a mobile DJ who bothers another working DJ at an event.

You mention that someone else MCd the event? This must be a regional thing? In my 25+ yrs. I am the only one that DJs & MCs the events I do. That would truly be weird (at least for me) to have someone else MC it.
 
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Bill Kexel said:
You mention that someone else MCd the event? This must be a regional thing? In my 25+ yrs. I am the only one that DJs & MCs the events I do. That would truly be weird (at least for me) to have someone else MC it.
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My Dj at my wedding did not MC -- he just played music. The venue owner, who is a distant relative of mine, did all the MC'ing for like 50 years.

He was kind of like a Rat Pack/Sinatra sort of fellow -- very charismatic.

The DJ (most cases bands), were just the backing. So I don't think it's a regional thing. I always tried to emulate him, but I don't have that kind of charm, nor a voice that good. You take your cues from him -- sort of like a conductor.

-
 
Bill Kexel said:
I don't know about you or others, but if I am DJing a wedding & someone comes up & asks "How much do you charge?" or "How much would you charge me to do my wedding?" I politely hand them my card & ask that they call or email me the next day & we can set up a time to meet so I can find out all their needs & the logistics first. Every event is different.

I will NEVER talk price to guests at someone else's wedding. This is inconsiderate to my present clients.

I once had a guy that kept bugging/hounding me at a wedding for my prices. I soon found out he was another DJ.
If there's one thing I have no tolerence for is a mobile DJ who bothers another working DJ at an event.

You mention that someone else MCd the event? This must be a regional thing? In my 25+ yrs. I am the only one that DJs & MCs the events I do. That would truly be weird (at least for me) to have someone else MC it.
Click to expand...
The wedding was dealing with someone I know and it was his uncle who was getting married. So he took care of all the MCing. That's what they decided. We got paid. No biggie.
 
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