Weddings Pricing on your web site?
- Thread starter Capital Disc Jockeys
- Start date
We've DJed quite a few events (including wedding receptions) where we were the ONLY hired vendor.
Yes, I am relatively new to running a DJ business...Mac's been there before with another group of folks.
If you are questioning my experience as far as DJing goes, please stop because you really don't want to go there.
Nope, we know that some of our clients could pay more, but why hose them into doing so?
I'm so glad that you think we have very little experience and are at this time priced appropiately to reflect that.
Please note that we have never once questioned or made assumptions about your skills or experience. But since you called it into question, I've already spent 8 years as a DJ, including running an entire radio station, broadcast to mobile and built it into the most in-demand mobile crew durring my time there, complete with a rig that most "professional" DJs would kill to have. Oh did I mention we did it on a $4,000 yearly budget? And Ducky has even more experience than I do as a DJ...by the way, I'm the older one of the two and I haven't even hit 30 yet.
And here come the egos. We are talking about pricing and ones ability to get that price. What your skill are only affect you. If you're happy getting $450 then I wish you well. I'm happy getting $1295. We're all happy.
But, for such wonderful skill and talent in radio why aren't you doing that now? Isn't there a market for that in radio?
But, for such wonderful skill and talent in radio why aren't you doing that now? Isn't there a market for that in radio?
Egos, no, facts yes.
True, we're talking about one's ability to get a price; however, it was asserted by others that experience and skills help to determine what prices one can get. The individual who asserted this assumed that neither Ducky nor myself have done anything else related to DJ work until 2 years ago.
For the radio stuff, if I could actually find joy in doing what our stations around here do, I'd consider it. But being a corporate slave (all the stations around us are owned by 1 of 2 corporations) really isn't my thing, besides the benefits suck compared to working for the university.
And seriously, even though I don't agree with some of the things that have been said and I'm sure you don't agree with things I've said, but if you're able to get $1295 and are happy with it, then I'm happy for you Ron. For the time being, $450 suits our needs and is perfectly inline with our goals, intentions and business plan.
What makes me pissed is when people from other markets try and tell us how we should price things, etc in our market and begin to spew some of that lovely worther BS at us.
I hope I can explain what I mean.
I have Mark Ferrell's CDs and I agree with his reasoning. All I'm trying to say is there are clients out there that don't care what you are worth even if they can afford you, they want a $400.00 wedding DJ. There are clients out there that can't afford you even though they know you're worth your fee.
Your target market is the clientele that understands what you are worth and can afford you. They are willing to pay you by whatever means is at their disposal.
There are DJs that want to service the $400.00 wedding clientele. That is their target market. Maybe they are not getting what they are worth but that is their decision. I'm not saying it's a bad decision, they may have found a way to make a profit or are building a reputation
I could not agree with you more. As long as people are charging what they want to charge that is fine. Just don't blame it on the down economy or pretend that you are being altruistic by not over charging. There are great business models based on low price and lots of volume and they work well. People can charge what they want, I just hope that they have thought about why they charge what they charge. That is why I question, to make people think about why they are doing what they are doing. I don't really care about the outcome as long as people are making good decisions based on what they want and reality, not because everyone else is doing it.
I can't understand the point you're trying to make. Could you clarify the statement.
Do you mean covering business expenses and making a profit?
My thoughts are that you guys think that playing great music at an event is the your best skill and the most important thing a DJ can do.
Stop baiting me. I'm done playing. As I said before, let's agree to disagree. Stop PMing me and stop baiting me in these threads.
I do not need to prove myself to you or anyone else on this forum.
Stop baiting me. I'm done playing. As I said before, let's agree to disagree. Stop PMing me and stop baiting me in these threads.
I do not need to prove myself to you or anyone else on this forum.
Sorry I thought we were have a discussion. Not asking you to prove yourself, you just keep trying to prove yourself. I do not care how your run your business or what you charge as I have stated several times.
Good luck in all you do. I truly am sorry that I have upset you, that was not my intent. I thought this was all good natured, yet somewhat spirited, fun.
Jamie
This was an okay thread until you started attacking people for what they charge, jabo.
You dj for 99/hour?????????
From what I've read in regards to the mobile DJ wedding entertainment field you are fairly new to the business. Being a Radio DJ and being a mobile wedding entertainer is night and day. And that's where the difference in understanding what a bride wants and needs comes into play. You are just starting out in this field and I'm sure you care deeply about the service you provide. But from a few of your earlier posts you do not have a full understanding of what most brides are looking for outside of your target market. And I understand that, it comes with time. I didn't understand it 15 years ago either.
Again, you're happy with $450 and that suits your needs, that's great. I will say if that's your business plan then you may want to look at it a bit closer. You can't be making much money at that price. Once your taxes are paid, music, equipment, insurance, gas, vehicle maintenance, etc, you're remaining amount can't be much. But again, it's your business and I wish you well.
This is a fact plain and simple. More experience, more skills equal more money. Do you think the manager of McDonald's makes the same as the manager of a Five Star Restaurant? Do you think the manager of a local AM radio station makes the same money as the manager of an FM station in a top market like Boston or NY? Their experience and skill is what gets them the money. Sure, everyone can push an On Air button or play a song but that's not what gives them their skills. A bride searching for the best possible DJ to make her dream wedding come true is going to look at all aspects of a DJ but most of all they want experience and skill. It's our job to show them we have it.
I'm sorry and you might not agree but a bride searching for a top notch DJ is going to look at price. For the most part the old adage is true "you get what you pay for". A bride who had 2-3 grand to spend on entertainment is not going to look at someone charging $600. I'd be lucky if they'd even start at $1200, but the do care about price. And they know you have to pay for experience and skill.
I'll be the first to agree with you if you can point out where the attack occured.
Of course you aren't all the other DJs either. If you look at it that way, then yes, since no one else is you, no other DJ is like you. Of course this comparison is absolutely useless.
Mike
yorofl:
This BS is cracking me up! Perhaps I should drive around town and take pictures of all the empty lots that were once full of cars from people who were working at all the different plants that have had lay-offs or just plain shut down!
Wabash National, Subaru, CAT, Alcoa, Lilly (closing within the next year or so)...just in Lafayette alone! Also, a Chrysler transmission plant in Kokomo, a forgotten soybean processing plant in Reynolds (was pushed by Mitch Daniels for bio-diesel processing in the middle of nowhere), other plants in Delphi...the list goes on!
Even Purdue University, another MAJOR employer in the area had somewhat of a hiring freeze. All jobs were re-evaluated by the Board of Trustees...many postings were removed or not allowed to be added. Secretarial jobs were decreased in rating (job/pay level) and/or set as part-time positions only! Unless folks are faculty there, they did not get raises this past June and they won't be getting raises in June 2010 either.
Don't try to tell me what my market can and cannot bear.
We charge $450 for most weddings and $350 for other parties. For many, even that's pushing it. You're complaining about people undercutting you at $595? Try $175 for 8 hours!!
The basic economic principal of the free market. The market will only bear what it will bear. Try to charge $100 for the same thing that someone else is charging $75 for and see how long you stay in business.
Anyone who denies this does not understand basic economics. Time to go back to school.
Mike
And if I believe enough I will wake up with $1000000 in my bank account tomorrow.
Like my mom always said, wish in one hand and spit in another and see which fills up faster.
Mike
Wow................
So if I think you are worth $10000 and I have $1000 I will pay you $10000. How?
Mike