I decided I want to start using the lights we have at events we're doing.

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If clients are asking for you to lower your fee, there my be a good reason ? Money is tight or your not as good as you thought? Ego!!
Ton of gear?? How much work involved setting two speakers , controller ,Mic & laptop for your speaker jams ? Maybe 20 min. Tops?
Mixxy , you doing zoom again for NYE?
 
We shouldn't be asking about someone's budget if the purpose is to discern how much we can squeeze them for. That kind of inquiry is obvious to people and we will lose their trust as a result.

When we inquire about someone's budget it should be to discern the limits of production that will satisfy the client's goals. When I ask people to set a limit on cost it's because the event space and their enthusiasm are both boundless with possibility. It's not helpful to quote people a solution they could not possibly afford. Repeated downward revisions in the quote process can leave people with a sense of their business becoming less important to us. I want any quote I provide to be realistic with respect to the client's resources.

It works both ways. I was recently referred to someone and it quickly became obvious that it would cost over a $100,000 to achieve what they wanted. They had the money to do it however, I would be sub-contracting 90% of the infrastructure from a vendor who would themselves also subcontract 50% of their own portion. To simplify things and to avoid making myself 100% liable for what was a 10% interest I referred them to the other vendor who in turn hired me as their Tech.

It's equally important not to out step the client's resources as it is our own.
 
It's a matter of them disrespecting me and I need to be respected for the work I do. with this thing about changing prices? Do you keep doing an event for the same price or do you at times increase your price? I'm not talking a dramatic price increase, just one that if they feel I'm worth it they should have no problem with paying the increase. We've had it happen and that is a client thinks they will get the same quality from another DJ willing to do it for a cheaper price
I don’t need to be respected. I need to believe I’ve truly done everything in my power to earn a customer’s trust that I’ll provide what they are looking for. Respect often comes with that, but if I’ve done everything I can, I don’t take any offense if it’s not that important to them Or within their budget
i recently had a school ask us if we’d be willing to do events next year for 15% less than we have due to budget cuts. I said we can talk to see what things we could cut out. They said they weren’t willing to cut any services, but wanted a lower price for the same services. I said I understand, but am unable to do that and wished them well. If and when they do come back, they’ll get a quote based on the services requirements and our ability and willingness to provide it. I have no problem with them looking to save money. I’ll look for better prices on occasion. Why cant they? I don’t like to lose business but I don’t take it personally.
 
I don’t need to be respected.

I'm pretty sure that if you were treated disrespectfully you'd be right back here on the board to complain. Even I have my limits and have at least twice in the past 30 years walked off a job or 'fired' the customer.

Mix's comment is different because he is demanding 'deference ' rather than respect. He is drawing an arbitrary line in the sand and then placing his ego on that line.

i recently had a school ask us if we’d be willing to do events next year for 15% less than we have due to budget cuts.
That's a pretty small change given there's been no events for the last two years. You seem to be following Mix's recipe for 'respect.'
I might agree to the 15% cut for at least the next quarter or semester, and then reassess.

I had a lot of clients who like myself were seriously impacted by the shutdowns, unable to do business. If I'm serious about maintaining and growing my business than I have to be serious about my client's desire to maintain and grow their own. Recovery and mutual interest go hand in hand, and it's equally important just to have our work seen and recognized by others in the event business who can also further our goals.

I have a long time client whose business had to close due to the lock-downs. The performance venue with which they had a standing annual contract cancelled all future dates even as things were re-opening. I referred her to a local theater who's schedule had also been decimated while they were simultaneously undertaking a major renovation now nearly completed.

This is an exact quote from that client:

The theater has a sound system there...but they require to me use their sound guy...he's $350 per day. I'm assuming you are more than that and they won't allow anyone else to operate their system so you would be bringing in and setting up your system...but to be honest...my loyalty is to you and if you can do it...I would like to give you the business...

She KNOWS she has paid me 2 and 3 times that day rate every year for more than a decade, and yet she's willing to pay it again despite having a lower day rate from the theater's A1.

I told her I would do it for the same $350 she could have paid the theater, plus an additional $325 /day toward her prior balance (I had deferred an invoice owing to an event we did immediately before the lock-downs forced her to close her doors.)

I help her recover her business and she helps me recover mine. In addition, being recognized again for doing events in that theater it's manager approached me to say: "I know you've been here with other events and have a lot of resources; I really should have your card." So it's not just money - it's also reinforcing my presence in the local event scene with other vendors and venues who can also help to advance my business.

There was one conspicuous prior vendor who was NOT present (videographer) and this was a guy who substantially RAISED his rates post Covid in an attempt to make up for revenue lost during the lock-downs. He'll also never be back - because when this event moves back to it's original location - I'll be taking over that part of the production as well. With the event no longer scaled down I'll also be back to charging my original rates.

As Zig Zigler said: "You can get everything you want - if you're willing to find a way to help enough other people get what they want."
 
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If clients are asking for you to lower your fee, there my be a good reason ? Money is tight or your not as good as you thought? Ego!!
Ton of gear?? How much work involved setting two speakers , controller ,Mic & laptop for your speaker jams ? Maybe 20 min. Tops?
Mixxy , you doing zoom again for NYE?
Thus event is about raising money to pay for their convention and I know an event like this in the place it's in they aren't spending a lot of money to pay for the veI just learned nue. It's not an ego thing for me. It's just that I decided to not do the event for less then the amount they have to spend to have a DJ do it. In this case I will be using 2 tops for this event because that's all that's needed for that room. Other times we bring in a sub because it's what's needed to do the event right. One thing I don't allow anybody to tell me I'm not a good DJ. I'm good at the events I do and that's not an ego thing. I learned to not put myself down. I believe in me and what I do. I will also be using the new facade I bought at that event.
 
i think lighting adds to the event.
BUT it depends on the event.
outside in july? won't be dark enough to matter.

My next 2 weddings - one wants no dancing...so no lights. Yep, NO dancing, not even a first dance. they did opt for up lighting.
Other one gets dance lighting.

It's one extra thing to carry in...15 min if that to setup.
 
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I talked to the lady in charge of the senior center in Montclair, NJ and I will be there again on Monday December . 20th during the day for a Christmas party for the seniors. I'm taking a day off from my treatment that day. I was there yesterday and when I came in there to talk to the lady about doing the event, a bunch of people wanted to know if I was going to play? I told them no. In 2 weeks I told them. The lady thought I was there to play as well. I would never just show up to play. I know some will beat me up for doing this. That's alright. I'm doing it to feed my spirit, I get to play songs I normally wouldn't get to play at other events and it's just plain FUN! They know and love the music I play there. The other fun part is they don't bug you a lot. That really bothers me when people at an event keep bugging you and you can't concentrate on the job you're doing. At times I want to say do you want to take over? LOL. If not then I want to say go sit your ass down and let me do my job, you're not getting paid to do this I am.

I found out yesterday that the plan is to make improvements to the park including a bigger venue then the one they have now that will be able to hold 200 people. When the new place is complete, the old place will be torn down.
 
Idisagree that a DJs performance is not as important as a client trusting a DJ to do their event. The client can book a DJ they feel they can trust to do their event for them but if the DJs performance at the event is sub par or they suck, the client will not remember how they trusted that DJ to do their event.

Part of a client's trust, is that they TRUST that you will do a great job.
 
Idisagree that a DJs performance is not as important as a client trusting a DJ to do their event. The client can book a DJ they feel they can trust to do their event for them but if the DJs performance at the event is sub par or they suck, the client will not remember how they trusted that DJ to do their event.

Part of a client's trust, is that they TRUST that you will do a great job.
And

I get referrals because I'm consistently reliable, knowledgeable, and able to guide people through the whole event process - especially when the events are larger and more technically complicated. I present well, and can often identify important considerations about an event that they have overlooked.
 
That really bothers me when people at an event keep bugging you and you can't concentrate on the job you're doing. At times I want to say do you want to take over? LOL. If not then I want to say go sit your ass down and let me do my job, you're not getting paid to do this I am.

Well, THAT'S a great attitude to have. [SARCASM]
You DO realize that events are NEVER about what WE want.
You are being paid (??????) to make the CROWD happy.
 
One thing I don't allow anybody to tell me I'm not a good DJ. I'm good at the events I do and that's not an ego thing.

I remember a guy pointed his finger straight at me once and yelled: "You Suck!"

Although, he was standing on the front of the stage in just his underwear, and happen to yell at the exact moment the song went into a silent pause; which caught the full attention of everyone on the dance floor - especially since my mic was live.

I don't know what (if anything) the other drunk people in the room took from that moment, but I'm confident his credibility might have been suspect. :)
 
I'm pretty sure that if you were treated disrespectfully you'd be right back here on the board to complain. Even I have my limits and have at least twice in the past 30 years walked off a job or 'fired' the customer.

Mix's comment is different because he is demanding 'deference ' rather than respect. He is drawing an arbitrary line in the sand and then placing his ego on that line.


That's a pretty small change given there's been no events for the last two years. You seem to be following Mix's recipe for 'respect.'
I might agree to the 15% cut for at least the next quarter or semester, and then reassess.

I had a lot of clients who like myself were seriously impacted by the shutdowns, unable to do business. If I'm serious about maintaining and growing my business than I have to be serious about my client's desire to maintain and grow their own. Recovery and mutual interest go hand in hand, and it's equally important just to have our work seen and recognized by others in the event business who can also further our goals.

I have a long time client whose business had to close due to the lock-downs. The performance venue with which they had a standing annual contract cancelled all future dates even as things were re-opening. I referred her to a local theater who's schedule had also been decimated while they were simultaneously undertaking a major renovation now nearly completed.

This is an exact quote from that client:



She KNOWS she has paid me 2 and 3 times that day rate every year for more than a decade, and yet she's willing to pay it again despite having a lower day rate from the theater's A1.

I told her I would do it for the same $350 she could have paid the theater, plus an additional $325 /day toward her prior balance (I had deferred an invoice owing to an event we did immediately before the lock-downs forced her to close her doors.)

I help her recover her business and she helps me recover mine. In addition, being recognized again for doing events in that theater it's manager approached me to say: "I know you've been here with other events and have a lot of resources; I really should have your card." So it's not just money - it's also reinforcing my presence in the local event scene with other vendors and venues who can also help to advance my business.

There was one conspicuous prior vendor who was NOT present (videographer) and this was a guy who substantially RAISED his rates post Covid in an attempt to make up for revenue lost during the lock-downs. He'll also never be back - because when this event moves back to it's original location - I'll be taking over that part of the production as well. With the event no longer scaled down I'll also be back to charging my original rates.

As Zig Zigler said: "You can get everything you want - if you're willing to find a way to help enough other people get what they want."
No ego at all. It's not that I couldn't have agreed to do the event for a little less. I just wouldn't. They told me how much they had in their budget to get me to do the event and that's what I was sticking to. I didn't even give them a price quote when she asked how much do I charge. Please let me say this. It wassn't a ;ot of money to begin with, so it wouldn't have been a big discount. At most $50.