Wedding Show Success
- Thread starter niagprem
- Start date
As a single op too many brides have or need service for the same date. Depending on the price for being a part of the show is dependant on the gain. We have a seriously overblown 4000 dollar show and the ignorant multis fall allover themselves to book 599 dollar gigs. How many must they book to return investment?
I've done quite a few with pretty good success but as Jon said look at the cost before jumping in. If your entry cost is 3 gigs or less you will probably at least break even
I might consider trying to try these bridal shows again, since this is the market I am ultimately leaning towards.
I was talking with the owner of the Riverside Receptions where I recently did a wedding and reception and he's had decent results with one of the smaller Bridal Expos at the 4H Fair grounds... booths are around $350.00 which ain't bad if you at least book one you've paid for the booth.
Something to look into anyway.
Something to look into anyway.
I've do several a year. One year I booked zero weddings from the shows. Another year I booked 12 from one show. You have to figure out how many weddings you have to book to pay for the cost to get into the show, your time being there, your give aways, etc. and your profit from the weddings.
I've found that a lot of brides at the shows say they already have their DJ booked. Whether or not they do, I don't know. But I wonder?
When I asked one bride who she had booked she couldn't remember his name or company name. That was strange because he was the only other DJ in the show, across the hall venue from me. (LOL)
I've found that a lot of brides at the shows say they already have their DJ booked. Whether or not they do, I don't know. But I wonder?
When I asked one bride who she had booked she couldn't remember his name or company name. That was strange because he was the only other DJ in the show, across the hall venue from me. (LOL)
Most likely will never do one of these shows. I hear more horror stories from B&G's than positive things...like feeling like a fish in a shark tank.
K
Kirby Ball
Guest
We've had decent luck with Bridal Shows, but then again the ones we have participated in have been very moderately priced. It does help to give you some visibility in your market.
Local radio group cancelled their August show, so we're considering going for a double booth at their January show.
We've found a low key and open approach works much better than standing with a clipboard in hand and badgering everyone into signing "now"
It's a very good way to network with other wedding vendors.
YMMV
Local radio group cancelled their August show, so we're considering going for a double booth at their January show.
We've found a low key and open approach works much better than standing with a clipboard in hand and badgering everyone into signing "now"
It's a very good way to network with other wedding vendors.
YMMV
the radio station(s) I work at have hosted their own show for more than 20-years. there are benefits, but they are NOT guaranteed. good chance you will get to meet a HUGE amount of potential clients, as even the small shows get a decent turnout. but as mentioned above, the gigs-per-cost is the important factor. another consideration is how many OTHER dj's are in the show, cause they will all get the same list of brides that you get...and they will all be serving up the same sales pitch you will. if you do the show, offer some "bridal show" special on your price.
and yes, you'll find that many of the ladies will play games. it's usually because they are only there to win prizes and free stuff...and need to visit every booth in order to be eligible.
and yes, you'll find that many of the ladies will play games. it's usually because they are only there to win prizes and free stuff...and need to visit every booth in order to be eligible.
So I completely forgot about this thread a bit ago and what I wanted to add to it.
In the past two years (one show per year) Ducky and I have managed to land somewhere between 10-15 gigs directly from the shows. Here is our basic approach to how we do it.
We get a mid sized booth, 10'x10' (I think that's the size) and we add an additional table. To set the tables up, we place them in an "L" shape along the back wall and a side of our booth, this way we can actually invite people into our booth...a really good first step at being personable. For the physical booth itself, last year we ditched the black table clothes and skirts that were provided in favor of some red ones...helping to catch people's eyes and stand out. We had a large bowl of candy available for anyone walking by to take some (lifesavers mints are a great idea). Also, at the show, they pipe in elevator music and the Sinatra type jazz all day for both days. So last year we brought our boombox and hid it under the table, but we had it playing everything from jazz to top 40. This helped us show that we're not the old stuffy kind of DJ, but that we can adapt to the client's taste in music.
As for Brides-to-be feeling like shark bait, it's true and that's where our no pressure sales comes in. We don't lecture or educate or have fancy tri-fold brochures or even packets, we just hand out a basic full color flyer with our contact info and our main points of why to pick us. At these shows your personality is your best sales pitch.
When dealing with the brides-to-be at a bridal show the most important thing...even more important than not showing up in your jammies...is to be yourself and get the brides to relax a bit. One way Ducky and I do this is we wear company polos (black) with kahkis...NO suits or tuxes. The more formal you're dressed the more stiff your appearance is and the more defenses you're gonna have to break down in order to talk to the bride as a person.
Another thing we don't do is sit behind a table, from the time the show doors open until they close we're on our feet...unless it's lunch time, then we'll sit down.
Show specials and the contact info bit...we don't run show specials, we may change that to something like book by "x" date and get 2010's rate for 2011. The brides contact info...heck we personally hate junk mail why are we gonna spam (either e-mail or snail mail) someone when we hate getting it ourselves.
For us, we're lucky in we only need 2 gigs to break even on the bridal shows here.
Oh, and for reference, our first year at the show there were 6 other DJs and we booked 3 weddings on the spot. Last year 6 DJs and we still booked 2 on the spot.
Hopefully some of this helps.
In the past two years (one show per year) Ducky and I have managed to land somewhere between 10-15 gigs directly from the shows. Here is our basic approach to how we do it.
We get a mid sized booth, 10'x10' (I think that's the size) and we add an additional table. To set the tables up, we place them in an "L" shape along the back wall and a side of our booth, this way we can actually invite people into our booth...a really good first step at being personable. For the physical booth itself, last year we ditched the black table clothes and skirts that were provided in favor of some red ones...helping to catch people's eyes and stand out. We had a large bowl of candy available for anyone walking by to take some (lifesavers mints are a great idea). Also, at the show, they pipe in elevator music and the Sinatra type jazz all day for both days. So last year we brought our boombox and hid it under the table, but we had it playing everything from jazz to top 40. This helped us show that we're not the old stuffy kind of DJ, but that we can adapt to the client's taste in music.
As for Brides-to-be feeling like shark bait, it's true and that's where our no pressure sales comes in. We don't lecture or educate or have fancy tri-fold brochures or even packets, we just hand out a basic full color flyer with our contact info and our main points of why to pick us. At these shows your personality is your best sales pitch.
When dealing with the brides-to-be at a bridal show the most important thing...even more important than not showing up in your jammies...is to be yourself and get the brides to relax a bit. One way Ducky and I do this is we wear company polos (black) with kahkis...NO suits or tuxes. The more formal you're dressed the more stiff your appearance is and the more defenses you're gonna have to break down in order to talk to the bride as a person.
Another thing we don't do is sit behind a table, from the time the show doors open until they close we're on our feet...unless it's lunch time, then we'll sit down.
Show specials and the contact info bit...we don't run show specials, we may change that to something like book by "x" date and get 2010's rate for 2011. The brides contact info...heck we personally hate junk mail why are we gonna spam (either e-mail or snail mail) someone when we hate getting it ourselves.
For us, we're lucky in we only need 2 gigs to break even on the bridal shows here.
Oh, and for reference, our first year at the show there were 6 other DJs and we booked 3 weddings on the spot. Last year 6 DJs and we still booked 2 on the spot.
Hopefully some of this helps.