Weddings Pricing on your web site?

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I live in a state that most people would describe as poor and lagging BEHIND the rest of the country
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Is that another way of saying "your a bit slow"?:sqerr:

How far are you from the Samoset? I would suspect those are your high end weddings. I'm sure you wouldn't be doing the back woods events in Caribou but your area seems much like ours at those rates you've posted. I've been starting at $1295 for a few years now. I won't raise them in this economy since Obama keeps spending money like Paris Hilton on Fifth Ave and not many people have the cash to spend. I am trying to throw in extras, (time, ceremony music, etc).

Of course my standard priced functions are much less. And since I've been getting last minute bookings for a few weddings I'll even discount those a bit. But that's why my prices are not published on my website. Events are different and many require unique things so therefore the pricing would be different.
 
Marketing is only a sales tool
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Marketing is not a sales tool.
It's the tool that gets a potential client to take a look at your service.
Sales begins when you have their attention.

Unless you are starting a business in virgin territory and can see its potential, a market analysis should be done. After a market analysis is done it may not be worth starting a business. A wedding I was doing in the late nineties had a photographer from NYC. He had come to Rhode Island in 1979 as a DJ. Back then he was getting $400.00 a wedding. And yes, that's about what I was charging, 20 years later. When he wasn't making the money he wanted, he moved on to a new profession. He was correct because in my area $400.00 was not enough money ten years ago, let alone today.

If you're happy with the prices you charge it's really no business of anyone else. I never could understand how a DJ living 1500 miles away from another DJ could know the others market. I don't mean the geographic area only but also the target market the DJ services. It's up to the DJ to conclude whether it's profitable to maintain the prices charges and remain in business.
 
Ok. Some statistics:

Per Capita Income 2006 latest I could find:

Indiana: 32,288
Maine: 32,095

Jobless rate: Indiana 10.6
Maine: 8.2

Indiana ranks better than Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Nevada and California.

Cost of wedding:

Maine: 16,369-27,282 (Whole State)
Indiana: 19,123-31,872 (Newburgh In, Warrick County)

Pretty close.

Dave
 
jabo said:
So in other words the horrible economic times have not caused either of you to charge less than you were when things were doing well???? Just asking. Your reasoning has been that you charge less because things are so bad, but charge the same amount as when they were good. The reasoning confuses me.

I have already stated that the average here is more than some places. If you lived here you would charge more than what you charge now, I don't doubt that a bit.
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Like Ducky mentioned one reason why our rates have stayed where they are is in part we're only 2 years old as a business, but if you start moving around prices all the time instead of moving with standard of living increases, BS gets called on you and that will do more damage than good around here.

As far as us setting our price, we probably could get about $600-750 per gig with not much of a hassle, but it's not in our best interests at the moment to be pulling such moves.

Like I've been saying, how much someone is willing to pay you is ultimately determined by how much they can afford to pay.
 
Dave Winsor said:
Ok. Some statistics:

Per Capita Income 2006 latest I could find:

Indiana: 32,288
Maine: 32,095

Jobless rate: Indiana 10.6
Maine: 8.2

Indiana ranks better than Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Nevada and California.

Cost of wedding:

Maine: 16,369-27,282 (Whole State)
Indiana: 19,123-31,872 (Newburgh In, Warrick County)

Pretty close.

Dave
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No offense Dave, but Newburgh, IN is over 4 hours south of our market and it's nearest major city, Evansville, is a different makeup than greater Lafayette.
 
How much someone will pay is ultimately determined by what they think you are worth. No one is paying us their last nickel, they pay you what they think you are worth not what they can afford. They buy 200,000.00 houses and 50000.00 cars and trucks, they can afford a lot. However, none of us offer the value of a car or a truck.
 
DJ Ducky said:
Folks out here seem to prefer the first example over the latter. Different approaches work better in different markets. I find it works better to be friendly, approachable and honest. Adding fluff like in the latter example does not sound honest. Some brides prefer the fluff because they are gullible, but I find that a lot of brides in my area are looking for either the best bang for the buck or the lowest bidder.

I'm sorry to put a damper on your post, Ron...MA is certainly a different area, especially for wedding vendors, as I learned when I was searching up in the North Shore. The more affluent brides using daddy's money love to feel special and that sales tactic works for them. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for middle-class and blue collar familes in the rural Midwest. :(
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You are correct to a certain point. If you're dealing with a bride who has up to $600 to spend on a DJ for a wedding then they are going to go with number 1. As for the fluff not sounding honest? My past clients would disagree with you. I don't make statements I can't back up and have been for over 20 years. The brides that I meet with are looking for memories, for someone who will help them pull together the wedding they've dreamed about. And since I'm in the middle for pricing (starting at $1295) I fit most of their budgets. The few who are looking for those VFW $600 DJ's, well I send them to the part timers who I know can provide what they want for that price.

You're not putting a damper on my post at all. It stands as what works in the my area and around most of MA. These are not sales tactics, they are speaking the truth. I produce what I say and I have the backing to prove it. That's why most of my clients are from referrals and those who have seen me in action.

If you ask any bride what they'd prefer to hear regarding their wedding day to be, the majority would chose #2. For the more conservative bride who must think about evey penny and is on a tight budget they unfortunately must shop at the dollar store for their center pieces. Different markets, different dreams.

Every market is different, every DJ had different prices for what their service can provide. I have worked over 20 years to get my prices where they are today. I have no one to compare these prices with except my last job. I don't compete on price either. The minute a client says "well this guys $200 cheaper, can you match his price". I thank them for their time and tell them to hire the the other guy before someone else does. And I'm very nice about it. If they want price then I'll find them price.
 
jabo said:
Yes, you would charge whatever is average for my market. That is my point. You allow your market and not your skills to establish your price point. You don't have to do that. Being new to the business you are probably right where you need to be, just don't allow the market to be your only measuring stick of what you are worth as you gain experience and get better and better at what you do. That is exactly my point. You take it as a slam on you personally, it's not.
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Sorry, I just don't subscribe to this worthers' type of ideology and I doubt that I ever will. :sqcool:
 
Dave Winsor said:
Ok. Some statistics:

Per Capita Income 2006 latest I could find:

Indiana: 32,288
Maine: 32,095

Jobless rate: Indiana 10.6
Maine: 8.2

Indiana ranks better than Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Nevada and California.

Cost of wedding:

Maine: 16,369-27,282 (Whole State)
Indiana: 19,123-31,872 (Newburgh In, Warrick County)

Pretty close.

Dave
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2006 was before the layoffs and shut-downs that I noted in a previous post on this thread.
 
No matter how much you charge, you can't get water from a stone. Each market has it's set price. (I'm one of the highest priced DJ's in my area.)
 
jabo said:
How much someone will pay is ultimately determined by what they think you are worth. No one is paying us their last nickel, they pay you what they think you are worth not what they can afford. They buy 200,000.00 houses and 50000.00 cars and trucks, they can afford a lot. However, none of us offer the value of a car or a truck.
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This is your target market. It is not every DJs target market.
 
jabo said:
How much someone will pay is ultimately determined by what they think you are worth. No one is paying us their last nickel, they pay you what they think you are worth not what they can afford. They buy 200,000.00 houses and 50000.00 cars and trucks, they can afford a lot. However, none of us offer the value of a car or a truck.
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Nope, dead wrong. People will first take care of the essientials of living, food, housing, etc whatever is left, that's what they can afford.

Do you or don't you fit into their budget...that is the question. If you don't, but they like you anyhow then the question becomes can we afford this DJ?

So with your example, you're saying that you allow clients to finance your services? Because yes people can afford $200K homes and $50K cars if the monthly payment fits into their budget.
 
DJ Ducky said:
Sorry, I just don't subscribe to this worthers' type of ideology and I doubt that I ever will. :sqcool:
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So you really believe that your clients are paying you every penny that they can afford?

They are only paying you what they believe you are worth or what you are asking, whichever one is lower.

I have already conceded that you guys are in tough markets, with very little experience and are priced appropriately at this time. Why do you continue to justify??

Good luck to all.
 
So with your example, you're saying that you allow clients to finance your services? Because yes people can afford $200K homes and $50K cars if the monthly payment fits into their budget.
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Yes, it's called credit cards. If they really want the service they will find away.
 
MIXSIRS said:
This is your target market. It is not every DJs target market.
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I am not making myself clear, the POINT is that they are not paying what they can afford, they are paying what the BELIEVE you are worth. The target market has nothing to do with the point.
 
Jamie,

Hilton Head? I'd love to be in your market. Isn't there more country clubs than homes down there? That's got to be a high end market, yes?:sqwink:
 
Ron Auger said:
Yes, it's called credit cards. If they really want the service they will find away.
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I don't accept CCs, but they can use their card to purchase a money order and pay me with a money order. Some like to do this to track costs or earn points or rewards. We do this quite often.
 
Ron Auger said:
Jamie,

Hilton Head? I'd love to be in your market. Isn't there more country clubs than homes down there? That's got to be a high end market, yes?:sqwink:
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Average DJ here is about 750.00, is that high end? There are high end events and their are average events. I choose to work the high end events. I do about 90% destination weddings and provide a service that absolutely thrills my clients (see my blog for details). There is no doubt I would be in the high end of whatever market I was in.

I find it ironic that the two DJs here with 20 plus years experience are being told how wrong they are by two DJs with 2 years experience. Not a slam, but think about it who would know more about appropriate pricing structures?
 
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