minimal setup tonight

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!

rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
19,237
17,323
59
Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
I had to make a run back up to TN to work a 100 person wedding. Rather than driving the van, I decided to just use my old EV ELX112P (12") tops-only. The cool part was being able to fit everything into the back of my Nissan Versa. The only lighting is a single Martin Acrobat. The 12s still sound great and this sure it nicer than humping a van full of gear in and out. I may just have to do this for the rest of my fall schedule (road dates).
 
Oh my word. Just spoke with the venue owner where I'm working tonight. Their base package is $6k-$7k per night. She said they're averaging 100 weddings per year. Just wow.
It also looked like they dropped $1M+ on the venue and grounds.
 
It also looked like they dropped $1M on the venue and grounds.

Not really. I'm guessing they've got $300k-$400 into it. Like others, she's built it up over a period of several years. She's where I copied the whitewashed wood interior. She's actually got the same paneling in her bathrooms that I have in the main room. She came back with 1X4 boards on the interior. I've gotten some ideas tonight and am planning on bending her ear some more. Dang, 100 per year is outstanding. I gotta learn some more from this chick.

BTW, the single Acrobat is absolutely wonderful in this room.
 
Not really. I'm guessing they've got $300k-$400 into it. Like others, she's built it up over a period of several years. She's where I copied the whitewashed wood interior. She's actually got the same paneling in her bathrooms that I have in the main room. She came back with 1X4 boards on the interior. I've gotten some ideas tonight and am planning on bending her ear some more. Dang, 100 per year is outstanding. I gotta learn some more from this chick.

BTW, the single Acrobat is absolutely wonderful in this room.

I have to add though:

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

That venue is in TN, and likely in a much busier market than your Alabama venue. Also, the clientele there likely has double or more the wedding budget that your clients seem to have.

The Wedding I did last night was at an Elks Lodge...It was going to be at the bride's aunt's back yard. They paid $600 for the Elks Lodge rental, and $12 per person for the open bar. They bought in BBQ food that was just dropped off. It was JUST ENOUGH food to feed 50 people plus the vendors. Almost all the food was GONE. They had 4 Round Cakes brought in as the cake. They had plenty of cake left over at the end of the night, lol. They used a lot of candles, and DIY the centerpieces and decorations. I charged them $1,050 and I felt I was a considerable percentage of their wedding budget on this one. The photographers and videographers probably felt the same way.
 
I have to add though:

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

That venue is in TN, and likely in a much busier market than your Alabama venue. Also, the clientele there likely has double or more the wedding budget that your clients seem to have.

The Wedding I did last night was at an Elks Lodge...It was going to be at the bride's aunt's back yard. They paid $600 for the Elks Lodge rental, and $12 per person for the open bar. They bought in BBQ food that was just dropped off. It was JUST ENOUGH food to feed 50 people plus the vendors. Almost all the food was GONE. They had 4 Round Cakes brought in as the cake. They had plenty of cake left over at the end of the night, lol. They used a lot of candles, and DIY the centerpieces and decorations. I charged them $1,050 and I felt I was a considerable percentage of their wedding budget on this one. The photographers and videographers probably felt the same way.

Not really. This chick is 60 miles outside of Nashville. I'm shocked she's getting those kind of numbers. I'm definitely going to be bending her ear in months to come. I've got a list of items that I need to finish/add. Once I've got a quality product (it's okay at this point) then I'll start toying with the rates.
 
6 to 7 k per event is nice. The question is what are her expenses for each event? That's what counts. Also there are places that cost way more to have event in their venue. My question also is what do you get having an event in that venue for that price? Will the venue provide food and if so is it buffet style or do people come to your table to serve you.

Some places you have to have a certain amount of people attending the event. They provide food and people to serve you. They make their money from the number of people attending the event and charge per plate for supplying the food. You pick out the menu you want for the event and the venue figures out the cost per plate. They make sure the cost is enough to pay the person or persons preparing the food, people serving the food, other employees working there and paying the other bills.

So depending on the venue the cost could be from $100- $300. Some places a little less depending on the venue, type of event and how many people attending the event. Everything is paid for ahead of time. So if only a certain amount of people show up the price you paid them stays the same.
 
She's actually got the same paneling in her bathrooms that I have in the main room.

That's not exactly something that compliments your place. Keep that detail to yourself.

6 to 7 k per event is nice. The question is what are her expenses for each event? That's what counts.

That was the starting rate (before tax and 20% service charge). The amount of expenses is irrelevant; if they weren't making a tidy profit on each event, they wouldn't be in business.
 
That's not exactly something that compliments your place. Keep that detail to yourself.
Maybe the bathroom paneling was artfully emblazoned with "867-5309" and "For a good time call .." ..
 
That's not exactly something that compliments your place. Keep that detail to yourself.



That was the starting rate (before tax and 20% service charge). The amount of expenses is irrelevant; if they weren't making a tidy profit on each event, they wouldn't be in business.
It is relevant because it's easy to get caught up into the original figure thinking that's a lot money made. The expenses are very important. Also what about the owners salary? What are they to pay themselves. It should stay consistent for a few years when first opening up. Also what about making sure there's emergency money to fall back on in case if something needs to be repaired or replaced. Also don't forget about the lean times when money isn't pouring in and not a lot of bookings coming in?
 
It is relevant because it's easy to get caught up into the original figure thinking that's a lot money made. The expenses are very important. Also what about the owners salary? What are they to pay themselves. It should stay consistent for a few years when first opening up. Also what about making sure there's emergency money to fall back on in case if something needs to be repaired or replaced. Also don't forget about the lean times when money isn't pouring in and not a lot of bookings coming in?

This isn't your business, or my business, or anyone here's business. Who cares?

There are obviously expenses, just like there are in any type of business. But when you're asking things like "What about the owners salary" it only shows that you're out of your wheelhouse.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
My point is to not get caught up in thinking that's a lot of money someone is making 6-7k per event. That's nice but what about what the owner is actually making off of those events? Some on here make some good money and it's easy to get caught up in a DJ who gets paid 1k or more for events. That's nice. Now some have to make a certain amount of money because they do this full-time. They don't have another source of income, so they have to make a certain amount of money or they can't survive doing this kind of work.
 
That's nice but what about what the owner is actually making off of those events?

Again, not relevant. Most venues are not sole-proprietorships anyway.
 
My point is to not get caught up in thinking that's a lot of money someone is making 6-7k per event. That's nice but what about what the owner is actually making off of those events? Some on here make some good money and it's easy to get caught up in a DJ who gets paid 1k or more for events. That's nice. Now some have to make a certain amount of money because they do this full-time. They don't have another source of income, so they have to make a certain amount of money or they can't survive doing this kind of work.

Dood, shutup already. Chicka is probably banking $8k per gig. Stop speaking of which you obviously know nothing about. Go build a website or something.
 
Dood, shutup already. Chicka is probably banking $8k per gig. Stop speaking of which you obviously know nothing about. Go build a website or something.
Please explain to us how could she be banking 8k per event if she is getting paid 6-7k per night as you said. So she's banking more than she is making. Please tell us how to do that?
 
Please explain to us how could she be banking 8k per event if she is getting paid 6-7k per night as you said. So she's banking more than she is making. Please tell us how to do that?
In addition to charging the client, they use a New Jersey tactic of charging each guest to attend ..
 
Please explain to us how could she be banking 8k per event if she is getting paid 6-7k per night as you said. So she's banking more than she is making. Please tell us how to do that?

"Base package" is venue-only. With add-ons, her average is most likely above $10k. 8-10 helps at $75-$100 each, electric and incidentals. She's killing it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MIXMASTERMACHOM
"Base package" is venue-only. With add-ons, her average is most likely above $10k. 8-10 helps at $75-$100 each, electric and incidentals. She's killing it.
Thanks and that makes a big difference from your earlier post mentioning only a base price and no add ons.
 
Thanks and that makes a big difference from your earlier post mentioning only a base price and no add ons.

It makes no difference. Nobody ever pays just the base price for ANYTHING. Go buy a sandwich... you want chips and a drink with that? Buy a car... oh, there's a freight charge?

It's the most memorable day of a girl's life, pretty much. In no way does anybody skimp on that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ittigger
It makes no difference. Nobody ever pays just the base price for ANYTHING. Go buy a sandwich... you want chips and a drink with that? Buy a car... oh, there's a freight charge?

It's the most memorable day of a girl's life, pretty much. In no way does anybody skimp on that.
What about the ones who get married at the court house? We did a wedding a long time ago and it was in a knights Of Columbus Hall that's no longer there. It was an older couple and not a lot of money was spent. Don't just assume every bride is the same. So have lots of money to spend and others don't. Some and this my opinion are stupid. Getting a wedding loan. I seen a sign in a bank a long time ago advertising they give wedding loans. I say if you take out a loan to get married then you shouldn't be getting married. It's just one day. You still have the rest of your life to live. No problem if you can easily afford to go all out.