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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
More non-DJ related stuff, but wanted to share the continuing saga. Got word from a mutual friend that one of my closest competitors was complaining how he couldn't get bookings for 2024 either. He's got a better property than mine and he's done a better job at finishing his grounds and building interior. I'm currently working on cleaning up and making mine more presentable and it does look like 2025 will be a better year. I'm going to finish out 2024 with 10 weddings. I'd like more but with the place being paid off this means that I'll net just under $50k. My goal of 20 for next year would effectively double my income (with the day job). We'll see what happens but it's looking good as of now.

As many of you guys know, I made a bad choice of using white-washed wood for the walls. I did not put moulding in and the look has annoyed me and I'm finally doing something about it. I'm using sheer drapery panels and planning to go all the way around the walls with it. Additionally, I'm hanging light curtains behind the sheers. I currently have the section behind the head table done like this. I just finished a couple of sections recently and thought I'd share a photo. Useful comments welcome. Thanks for your continued interest. I hope your 2025 bookings are shaping up nicely as well.

IMG_5009.jpg
 
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tunes4046 said:
The look is ok but I fear they will be a maintenance nightmare, white cloth will get dirty and dingy very quickly, even just sitting in an empty room.huge dust collector and expensive to remove wash and rehang on a regular basis
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Agreed you might want to have a few sets hanging around
 
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I echo the concerns of the others about the maintenance of the white sheers. However, I can see how it softens the look of the venue at a lower cost than other techniques. My first concern though is with the flammability of the sheers. All it takes is one errant candle to produce an inferno. You might want to check this on a spare panel. The picture you posted doesn't show enough of the roof for me to see if you have an installed sprinkler system. I also noticed the one clip light hanging from a rafter. I assume that is just a temporary placement because you are normally pretty careful with small details like that. Likewise, the loose cables near the wash light on the far right stand out too.
 
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sawdust123 said:
I echo the concerns of the others about the maintenance of the white sheers. However, I can see how it softens the look of the venue at a lower cost than other techniques. My first concern though is with the flammability of the sheers. All it takes is one errant candle to produce an inferno. You might want to check this on a spare panel. The picture you posted doesn't show enough of the roof for me to see if you have an installed sprinkler system. I also noticed the one clip light hanging from a rafter. I assume that is just a temporary placement because you are normally pretty careful with small details like that. Likewise, the loose cables near the wash light on the far right stand out too.
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They're all flame retardant. I have a lot of sheers hanging now for 2-3 years. Yes, they get dirty but honestly it doesn't show.
 
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I mean no disrespect, but you asked for comments. To me, that wall just looks dated and not real tidy and I'm not a fan of the little trees (even though I'm a bonsai enthusiast).

I think curtains could be very nice, but I'd stop them right at the floor (or an inch or two high) and maybe look into adding a cornice or something at the top, just to keep the lines neat and clean. It may be a challenge with your ceiling construction, but it's doable. I think all the white, with the large white tops just make it look a little dated.

However, you own a venue and I don't. You've been doing this a long time, and I haven't. I'm simply looking at what I see and my initial reaction. I think something like this may be a bit more appealing:
1732580345993.png
Again, I don't know the look you're going for, nor what has been working for you and what hasn't. Wish you the very best.
 
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DJ Forbes said:
I mean no disrespect, but you asked for comments. To me, that wall just looks dated and not real tidy and I'm not a fan of the little trees (even though I'm a bonsai enthusiast).

I think curtains could be very nice, but I'd stop them right at the floor (or an inch or two high) and maybe look into adding a cornice or something at the top, just to keep the lines neat and clean. It may be a challenge with your ceiling construction, but it's doable. I think all the white, with the large white tops just make it look a little dated.

However, you own a venue and I don't. You've been doing this a long time, and I haven't. I'm simply looking at what I see and my initial reaction. I think something like this may be a bit more appealing:
View attachment 55707
Again, I don't know the look you're going for, nor what has been working for you and what hasn't. Wish you the very best.
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Thanks for the feedback. I'll post more after I get it finished and the curtain lights installed.
 
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I'll have to see it with the curtain lighting. I don't know if this is something that adds value to the venue or not for prospective couples. There are some wedding receptions in open spaces I have done where the planner opted to have a curtain with lighting installed for decor purposes. Neat idea in those situations but didn't add value for myself. I see it as an additional unnecessary expense in the couples budget.

My advice will be that there is a point to where you are "Doing too much" with the venue. You don't want to over do it because the more things you add and try to do, there are more things that a prospect might not like. A bride can see one thing that stands out that they don't like, and it puts your venue 2nd to another venue because of that one thing. Then if they mention it, you end up saying you can remove it for their event, and that ends up being more work. Then they might wonder if you remove it if it reduces the price any, and of course you say it's included with the venue regardless.

To me I think it's best to offer a natural setting with just enough stuff inside included, and let the couple add things to it if they want to. Many couples are "Plain Jane" or "Laid Back" and don't need to see the extras. So the more you add and include, the more I feel you are targeting a smaller pool of couples that see the venue. Just my two cents.
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
I'll have to see it with the curtain lighting. I don't know if this is something that adds value to the venue or not for prospective couples. There are some wedding receptions in open spaces I have done where the planner opted to have a curtain with lighting installed for decor purposes. Neat idea in those situations but didn't add value for myself. I see it as an additional unnecessary expense in the couples budget.

My advice will be that there is a point to where you are "Doing too much" with the venue. You don't want to over do it because the more things you add and try to do, there are more things that a prospect might not like. A bride can see one thing that stands out that they don't like, and it puts your venue 2nd to another venue because of that one thing. Then if they mention it, you end up saying you can remove it for their event, and that ends up being more work. Then they might wonder if you remove it if it reduces the price any, and of course you say it's included with the venue regardless.

To me I think it's best to offer a natural setting with just enough stuff inside included, and let the couple add things to it if they want to. Many couples are "Plain Jane" or "Laid Back" and don't need to see the extras. So the more you add and include, the more I feel you are targeting a smaller pool of couples that see the venue. Just my two cents.
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I kind of agree with the empty room marketing, it’s good to have photos to show what can be done, but if what you offer isn’t in their vision are you prepared to take it all down and adapt? Why not upcharge to their wants
 
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sawdust123 said:
Every market is different, every couple is different. I have been to some absolutely gaudy venues that I think are tacky as can be yet they have clients that seek them out for exactly that reason.
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It also maybe due to price. Such a venue may not be as expensive as a fancy catering hall. Some brides are on a tight budget and can't afford a venue charging 20K or more.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
It also maybe due to price. Such a venue may not be as expensive as a fancy catering hall. Some brides are on a tight budget and can't afford a venue charging 20K or more.
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I don’t believe he mentioned anything about how much they cost, he did however say brides were seeking these venues out which means there is demand for them in turn that means they are probably not bargain basement priced.

You are always fixated on low costs, Which is probably your biggest hurdle in making decent money DJing you market to and associate with the economically challenged and seemed to be compelled to help them, this is a recipe for keeping yourself economically challenged as well
 
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DJ Ricky B said:
I'll have to see it with the curtain lighting. I don't know if this is something that adds value to the venue or not for prospective couples. There are some wedding receptions in open spaces I have done where the planner opted to have a curtain with lighting installed for decor purposes. Neat idea in those situations but didn't add value for myself. I see it as an additional unnecessary expense in the couples budget.

My advice will be that there is a point to where you are "Doing too much" with the venue. You don't want to over do it because the more things you add and try to do, there are more things that a prospect might not like. A bride can see one thing that stands out that they don't like, and it puts your venue 2nd to another venue because of that one thing. Then if they mention it, you end up saying you can remove it for their event, and that ends up being more work. Then they might wonder if you remove it if it reduces the price any, and of course you say it's included with the venue regardless.

To me I think it's best to offer a natural setting with just enough stuff inside included, and let the couple add things to it if they want to. Many couples are "Plain Jane" or "Laid Back" and don't need to see the extras. So the more you add and include, the more I feel you are targeting a smaller pool of couples that see the venue. Just my two cents.
Click to expand...

As it is now, I'm pretty certain the wood walls are costing me bookings. The sheers really dress it out more and if they don't like the curtain lights, it's easy to unplug. This isn't an expensive upgrade so I'm going to try it and see if there's a difference in reaction. One thing is for certain, I HAVE to make some changes because my booking percentage is far too low. I'm only booking about 1 in 8 tours. That needs to be more like 1 in 3 or 4.
 
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tunes4046 said:
I don’t believe he mentioned anything about how much they cost, he did however say brides were seeking these venues out which means there is demand for them in turn that means they are probably not bargain basement priced.

You are always fixated on low costs, Which is probably your biggest hurdle in making decent money DJing you market to and associate with the economically challenged and seemed to be compelled to help them, this is a recipe for keeping yourself economically challenged as well
Click to expand...
I just thought of it that way. It doesn't have to be at all. It could be the other way. It depends on what the owner decides on what to charge to book their venue.

What I do know is some venues you don't rent the space. You pay for the venue with the food you choose and how many people are to attend the event. In such a thing you pay for a minimum amount of people attending the event at a price per person for the food. It doesn't matter how many people actually show up to the event. You still pay for a specific amount of people. So if not that many people show up, you don't get a discount for the people who don't attend the event. The client has to accept it and have the event anyway.

Now obviously there are those couples who can spend a ton of money for their wedding and it won't hurt them. Then there are those couples who will spend a ton of money that they don't really have to spend and the next week stress over how they are going to pay their bills such as rent/mortgage.

I say there's nothing wrong with going to the court house and getting married if that's all you can do. You still will be married and you might last longer being married than the couple who are stressing over what bills to pay because they went overboard spending money for their wedding.
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
I just thought of it that way. It doesn't have to be at all. It could be the other way. It depends on what the owner decides on what to charge to book their venue.

What I do know is some venues you don't rent the space. You pay for the venue with the food you choose and how many people are to attend the event. In such a thing you pay for a minimum amount of people attending the event at a price per person for the food. It doesn't matter how many people actually show up to the event. You still pay for a specific amount of people. So if not that many people show up, you don't get a discount for the people who don't attend the event. The client has to accept it and have the event anyway.

Now obviously there are those couples who can spend a ton of money for their wedding and it won't hurt them. Then there are those couples who will spend a ton of money that they don't really have to spend and the next week stress over how they are going to pay their bills such as rent/mortgage.

I say there's nothing wrong with going to the court house and getting married if that's all you can do. You still will be married and you might last longer being married than the couple who are stressing over what bills to pay because they went overboard spending money for their wedding.
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On my all-inclusive packages, I sell food and cake for 50. If fewer show up, there is no discount or refund. The average event size here is 100 so anything over 50 is $25 per person (over 50). A 100 person event adds $1250 to the price for extra cake & food.
 
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djtaso said:
do you have a security camera at your venue… specifically one where you can watch your consultation and pay attention to their reactions and questions and what they say when you step away? I’d love to see what a perspective client experiences if you had a video of your sales pitch
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That's a good idea too me. That way you get to see where you need to improve with your sales pitch if it needs improving.
 
rickryan.com said:
On my all-inclusive packages, I sell food and cake for 50. If fewer show up, there is no discount or refund. The average event size here is 100 so anything over 50 is $25 per person (over 50). A 100 person event adds $1250 to the price for extra cake & food.
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There are venues that charge $75 on up and you pay for a minimum of 100 people. Now when it comes to that price the food has to be top of the line food. It has to be where people are bragging how good the food was. Some venues have master chefs to prepare the food. That being said the food can't be just mediocre for a master chef to cook with. The example I gave for 100 people at $75 is $7,500. Now I'm not suggesting that is what any venue can or will do. I was just showing an example. The other thing is the venues decor needs to be high class and not just Ok.
 
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