I'm a little fustrated right now with business.

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
MIXMASTERMACHOM

MIXMASTERMACHOM

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
17,387
2,810
68
I fought with myself if I should make this thread or not because it's me making this thread and the backlash it could bring me. We do have some upcoming gigs in the future. Please don't turn this thread into me just being only a good bar DJ.

I got a phone call the other day about a bride needing a DJ to do her wedding. The first obvious question was how much do you charge? I got some details for her wedding. It is to be in Montclair, NJ on August 3rd. The ceremony and reception are to be in the same place. She needed music for the ceremony. The whole thing was to be 5 hours. A half hour for the ceremony and the rest is the reception. So I gave her what I considered a good price. Since the ceremony and reception are to be in the same place I told her it would cost $650.00 to book us for her wedding. I got her email and sent her something.

A couple of days went by and I decided to call her to see if she received the email. She said she did. She then went on to tell me her fiance had a friend he knew that would do her wedding. I don't know if that's true or not. I just think she wasn't expecting me to say that much. I don't know but it seems like some just want you to practically give your services away. It gets sicking at times. I know some just will say simply move on.

I don't have a choice. Just wanted to vent. Now I did mention to my partner how we need to come up with a bottom line price point for different types of events we do. I mentioned this to him yesterday because we have been all over the place with prices. Now it's time to set bottom linne prices for the different events we do and not cave in. Don't go below that price point. It's time to re coupe the money I spent on the latest gear I bought. Of course it won't be all at once but over the next few months I should be able to say that gear I invested my money in is now making me a profit. I'm in the process right now of coming up with the formula for prices.

I want to take my time with this and not just be in a mad rush to set prices. I want to think things through carefully. I want the prices to be at a point where potential clients won't think the price is too high. Yet fair to us for the service we provide.
 
Amazing. The real answer is that after she recieved your email she figured out you are not worth the $650.00 you quoted. Postt he email you sent her without editing it and that will give us the answer as to why you did not get the job.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
oh boy here we go YET Again!!!
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I fought with myself if I should make this thread or not because it's me making this thread and the backlash it could bring me. We do have some upcoming gigs in the future. Please don't turn this thread into me just being only a good bar DJ.

I got a phone call the other day about a bride needing a DJ to do her wedding. The first obvious question was how much do you charge? I got some details for her wedding. It is to be in Montclair, NJ on August 3rd. The ceremony and reception are to be in the same place. She needed music for the ceremony. The whole thing was to be 5 hours. A half hour for the ceremony and the rest is the reception. So I gave her what I considered a good price. Since the ceremony and reception are to be in the same place I told her it would cost $650.00 to book us for her wedding. I got her email and sent her something.

A couple of days went by and I decided to call her to see if she received the email. She said she did. She then went on to tell me her fiance had a friend he knew that would do her wedding. I don't know if that's true or not. I just think she wasn't expecting me to say that much. I don't know but it seems like some just want you to practically give your services away. It gets sicking at times. I know some just will say simply move on.

I don't have a choice. Just wanted to vent. Now I did mention to my partner how we need to come up with a bottom line price point for different types of events we do. I mentioned this to him yesterday because we have been all over the place with prices. Now it's time to set bottom linne prices for the different events we do and not cave in. Don't go below that price point. It's time to re coupe the money I spent on the latest gear I bought. Of course it won't be all at once but over the next few months I should be able to say that gear I invested my money in is now making me a profit. I'm in the process right now of coming up with the formula for prices.

I want to take my time with this and not just be in a mad rush to set prices. I want to think things through carefully. I want the prices to be at a point where potential clients won't think the price is too high. Yet fair to us for the service we provide.
Click to expand...

Mix .. if you plan to make this a "business", then things like this should be expected. Since close rates on things will hover around 10-20% while you ramp up, you will lose 80-90% of the clients you meet .. just the way it goes. You will need to figure out how to build a pipeline of opportunities so the 10-20% you get are sufficient.

You do not have much of a portfolio of events to hang your hat on, so you are merely a commodity right now, and a fairly unknown one at that. You need to build a business plan, and I know offers to help were given a while back and I don't know if they are still on the table, but building a prospecting pipeline is key.

It could also be the way you presented the information or answered their questions. If their first question is "how much", the first answer should not be a price, but a dialog to help them understand all the things that would go into a quote and WHY those are important. If they left feeling all you bring is some music being played, then price will always be the lead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 12 people
steve149 said:
Mix .. if you plan to make this a "business", then things like this should be expected. Since close rates on things will hover around 10-20% while you ramp up, you will lose 80-90% of the clients you meet .. just the way it goes. You will need to figure out how to build a pipeline of opportunities so the 10-20% you get are sufficient.

You do not have much of a portfolio of events to hang your hat on, so you are merely a commodity right now, and a fairly unknown one at that. You need to build a business plan, and I know offers to help were given a while back and I don't know if they are still on the table, but building a prospecting pipeline is key.

It could also be the way you presented the information or answered their questions. If their first question is "how much", the first answer should not be a price, but a dialog to help them understand all the things that would go into a quote and WHY those are important. If they left feeling all you bring is some music being played, then price will always be the lead.
Click to expand...
10-20% is a damn low closing average for someone in business. Where did you get those figures? You must mean responses to general advertising methods. Closing is selling. Closing is when you have a qualified prospect about to make a decision to buy and it is the presenters job to sell. At the averages you stated, he would then have to talk to 10-20 people for him to get 1-2 Bookings which means on average100-200 people would first have to be interested before he qualifies 10 - 20 for a potential sale.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
ahoustondj said:
10-20% is a damn low closing average for someone in business. Where did you get those figures? You must mean responses to general advertising methods. Closing is selling. Closing is when you have a qualified prospect about to make a decision to buy and it is the presenters job to sell. At the averages you stated, he would then have to talk to 10-20 people for him to get 1-2 Bookings which means on average100-200 people would first have to be interested before he qualifies 10 - 20 for a potential sale.
Click to expand...

Not for a business in ramp up or an unprospected territory. Having been in a sales environment for 30+ years, 10% is good if you have no base to work from. And yes, I mean 10% of a total effort. If you are moving up the sales chain, the closing rate gets better.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 5 people
I'm staying out of this one. I need to put my ego to the side and just listen for now. Or should I say just read for now and don't post a thing.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
steve149 said:
Mix .. if you plan to make this a "business", then things like this should be expected. Since close rates on things will hover around 10-20% while you ramp up, you will lose 80-90% of the clients you meet .. just the way it goes. You will need to figure out how to build a pipeline of opportunities so the 10-20% you get are sufficient.

You do not have much of a portfolio of events to hang your hat on, so you are merely a commodity right now, and a fairly unknown one at that. You need to build a business plan, and I know offers to help were given a while back and I don't know if they are still on the table, but building a prospecting pipeline is key.

It could also be the way you presented the information or answered their questions. If their first question is "how much", the first answer should not be a price, but a dialog to help them understand all the things that would go into a quote and WHY those are important. If they left feeling all you bring is some music being played, then price will always be the lead.
Click to expand...

Mix, Get reviews and post them to your website and to someplace like weddingwire. I think we have 33 on wedding wire and 51 on our site and about another 7 we have not posted on our site as of yet. When a bride can see an honest post by a past client (and sometimes we post their photo as well). That goes a long ways for brides to see that you offer a quality service. Most of the time when we get hired they came to our site or from weddingwire. Already knowing that we where not cheap but that our clients loved us and found great worth in our services. I know people give you alot of **** and I do understand. You need better clients, its a funny thing if people think your good but your cheap in your price then the question will be why and not why is he so expensive. Raise your Game and raise your price.

This year we raised our prices by 100 dollars my wife was pretty scared we also raised our prices on some of our upgrades. Our clients have not blinked and some are Doctors, nurses, IT gurus, collage grads and everything you could want. People call not knowing what they really want or need. If they have the money and they can see you can help them then you will get the job. I know you take alot of crap and I really try and stay away from that. I can also see how you have changed in the last few year and I do see the growth. "RAISE YOUR GAME" and raise your price. ) For me I always thank God because I know the blessing are from him. :)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
SoftJock Rick said:
Price rollback at Wally Mart :)

Honestly, nobody in their right mind believes these "testimonials". Pure BS, usually written by the person who wants to make a sale.

Used car salesman.
Click to expand...

Dead wrong! A combination of good reviews and positive FB comments on a business page have made s huge difference in my business. They practically sell things for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
Randy A said:
Dead wrong! A combination of good reviews and positive FB comments on a business page have made s huge difference in my business. They practically sell things for me.
Click to expand...

Facebook comments carry a bit of weight as the individuals can be tracked back to. Simple quotes, especially on conglomerating sites, tend to have less impact. I know a car wash in my town that was giving out free car washes to those that posted a positive review on Yelp and another site. YMMV
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
One thing that has worked for me is to meet face to face with the prospect before talking costs. If they are willing to meet they are willing to book.
Your job at that point is to demonstrate why you are the guy and not just because you offered a "good price".

If you are as good as you say you are the you're selling yourself way short.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
I don't know if many remember this:

My nephew/ God Son was getting married a couple years ago. So I called Cap, who was somewhat close to the venue -- he was booked that day though, so he gave me Hatch's number.

So I get on the the tele, and we chat for a while, establish price. And we're good to go. So, I send him a check, he sends me like a one paragraph contract. Very simple -- most was done by voice.


Cool part of being a corporation, is people understanding that you have to play by the rules (or at least close).
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
steve149 said:
Facebook comments carry a bit of weight as the individuals can be tracked back to. Simple quotes, especially on conglomerating sites, tend to have less impact. I know a car wash in my town that was giving out free car washes to those that posted a positive review on Yelp and another site. YMMV
Click to expand...

I was referring to tying the two together .... I snip my WW reviews and post them into my client's FB event album, tagging the Bride & Groom. Along with the review, there are typically several comments made on images and such, which both working together gives a potential client comfort in knowing I can handle it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
Randy A said:
Dead wrong! A combination of good reviews and positive FB comments on a business page have made s huge difference in my business. They practically sell things for me.
Click to expand...

Mine as well, I have asked clients that booked us how many of the reviews they had read, and many of the brides say all of them (51 on my site). The IT Guru and his RN fiance (we booked Friday) said it was our site and reviews from our clients that drew them to us.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
Nextgen1 said it correctly. We need more reviews online. I've tried to contact Steve who built the site and get him to post more reviews. He tells me he will do so when he gets time. He hasn't done so yet and I understand because he had $70,000.00 worth of damage to his house. So I've been patiently waiting. Now Jimmy those reviews are legit. The problem is there just aren't enough of them so it looks staged.
 
Many of the ones we have that are not on weddingwire are from surveys we sent out. When we show up to a potential client meeting we have a binder full of hand written reviews and they can look at them all. Presentation, presentation, presentation. And just like DJ Wes we are also in Stacey Zemon's book. We bring a copy of that to show those people as well. We want people to know that we are legit and trustworthy and capable of handling there special day.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
nextgen1 said:
And just like DJ Wes we are also in Stacey Zemon's book. We bring a copy of that to show those people as well. We want people to know that we are legit and trustworthy and capable of handling there special day.
Click to expand...

I read Stacey's book a few years back. Mix if you haven't already I suggest you give it a read too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back