What 'upcharge' would you put on this request?

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IceBurghDJ

DJ Extraordinaire
Apr 17, 2015
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I got a local bride that is getting married in New River Gorge WV request a quote/services for her wedding...

OK, she said it's a DOUBLE wedding, NRG is 4 hours ONE WAY from my location (which she knows).

She wants ceremony outside, 6 hours reception inside, uplighting. Plus, it's a double wedding (no details yet on what that really means to me, if anything), and it's 8 hours of driving.

So, never say no, so what's your pricing process for something like this? (i've already quoted and am hearing crickets...)
 
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For me, the double wedding part might add some prep time. Besides that, I’d charge my normal rate for 6 hour reception, add ceremony,
then add 8 hours transportation time, plus hotel. Uplights.

but I’ve never done a double wedding, so I probably wouldn’t add anything for that In this instance.
 
yeah, i'm about the same idea...

Figure 4 hour drive to get there, 3 hour setup - ceremony, main and uplighting in a place you've never been, so pretty much wanna be there the night before as there is what, 7 or 8 hours of the night to go plus teardown.

And i'm not wanting to drive 4 hours back at that point - 11 pm to 3 am...

maybe 2 nights..

I'm thinking the total surprised her...
 
highly familiar with that area... its got a great vibe...lots of tourism.... earthy hipsters visiting to take part in outdoorsy stuff like white water rafting...camping and once a year....jumping off the bridge...lol.

lodging near the gorge might get expensive...closest hotels are either in Summersville or Beckley... Id say Beckley is your best bet... although if you are coming from up north u will probably come in from the summersville side.

I would take your normal rate for a 6 hour wedding and ceremony set up and tack on 4 or 5 hundred.

cc
 
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it’s not going to be cheap and it’s going to cost more than hiring someone near the location. So if they are not familiar with your services or used you before, likely they are asking for a quote.

If you are not setup for doing road trips, you have to account for, gas, tolls, drive time, food, hotel, labor and time out the area. I always give one price & have the client provide the hotel room as they usually book Multiple rooms for out of town family anyway.

After 20+ years of being on the road my son and I actually keep a suitcase packed ready to go. Personally, I like it better working on the road than working locally. even more now because I don’t have to rush back home like I used to when my kids were Young.
 
I got a local bride that is getting married in New River Gorge WV request a quote/services for her wedding...

OK, she said it's a DOUBLE wedding, NRG is 4 hours ONE WAY from my location (which she knows).

She wants ceremony outside, 6 hours reception inside, uplighting. Plus, it's a double wedding (no details yet on what that really means to me, if anything), and it's 8 hours of driving.

So, never say no, so what's your pricing process for something like this? (i've already quoted and am hearing crickets...)
No charge for double wedding... still same amount of planning and performing... just extra opinions. The driving is the only add on... but it presents a challenge, only because you didn’t mention day of the weekend. If it’s a Saturday I’d have to charge at least $1000 because the chance of me being able to book an event the next day remains slim depending on the logistics involved. I’d also require a hotel stay for the night of the event for sure.
 
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yeah, i'm about the same idea...

Figure 4 hour drive to get there, 3 hour setup - ceremony, main and uplighting in a place you've never been, so pretty much wanna be there the night before as there is what, 7 or 8 hours of the night to go plus teardown.

And i'm not wanting to drive 4 hours back at that point - 11 pm to 3 am...

maybe 2 nights..

I'm thinking the total surprised her...

How do you plan to do "rehearsal" for each segment of the Ceremony? Got to account for time spent. I normally charge for an extra hour of my time and travel.

And, IF you've never seen or set foot in the venue (ceremony inside, outside, same location), you need to work that into your planning. Can't go back home and back to pickup something you forgot or didn't plan on needing.

Good luck. Doubtful I would take on this "beast" of a function. I'm no longer a Spring chicken...in fact far from it. LOL
 
How do you plan to do "rehearsal" for each segment of the Ceremony? Got to account for time spent. I normally charge for an extra hour of my time and travel.

And, IF you've never seen or set foot in the venue (ceremony inside, outside, same location), you need to work that into your planning. Can't go back home and back to pickup something you forgot or didn't plan on needing.

Good luck. Doubtful I would take on this "beast" of a function. I'm no longer a Spring chicken...in fact far from it. LOL
I've never been part of any rehearsal... not quite sure what our role there would be? As long as I know what songs I need to play when, what more are you doing at the rehearsal?
 
I will bite. What was the price you quoted her that has her hesitate on booking you? I say once you quote a price for the most part just leave it there. Quoting a cheaper price will make you look desperate and the bride will question how good you are.
 
How do you plan to do "rehearsal" for each segment of the Ceremony?

I've NEVER done a rehearsal. Was asked a lot, early on, but then I discovered the secret....................."Yes ma'am I'll be happy to attend your rehearsal, but it's an extra day's pay involved."..............................
 
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I attended one rehearsal for a fee....and was honestly glad i did... the grandfather of the bride had had a stroke recently...but was determined to walk in the procession... but we quickly figured out that the song chosen for that section ended about 30 seconds too early because of his slowed pace (leaving him humiliated and adding to the spectacle of his slow walking)... so i was able to modify it to last longer that night and have it ready for the procession on Saturday... this solved a really embarrassing situation for him (seemed like a very proud man) and kept me from having the embarrassment of shrugging my shoulders to the whole situation on the day of.

It was also a very beautiful moment that im glad i had no part in ruining

cc
 
I will bite. What was the price you quoted her that has her hesitate on booking you? I say once you quote a price for the most part just leave it there. Quoting a cheaper price will make you look desperate and the bride will question how good you are.

lol...

cc
 
OK...I'm in this to win this...

They don't even have to pay me. I will Drive out there, and do this Double Wedding for a Hotel Room for the night, PLUS a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 20 year Family Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey PLUS two cases of Craft Brew Beer (Not Bud Light...Real Craft Brew IPA..I get to pick... ) PLUS a 1.75 L bottle of Bacardi Rum, and a 2 L bottle of Pepsi, and 2L bottle of Diet Pepsi....All conveniently put into a box for me to take back to the hotel room...

And I wish to obviously be fed at the wedding of course...

Did I win the job with the best bid?

If some low end DJ offers to do it for less and requesting a bottle of Evan Williams Whiskey, and cases of Busch Beer...they deserve each other.
 
I attended one rehearsal for a fee....and was honestly glad i did... the grandfather of the bride had had a stroke recently...but was determined to walk in the procession... but we quickly figured out that the song chosen for that section ended about 30 seconds too early because of his slowed pace (leaving him humiliated and adding to the spectacle of his slow walking)... so i was able to modify it to last longer that night and have it ready for the procession on Saturday... this solved a really embarrassing situation for him (seemed like a very proud man) and kept me from having the embarrassment of shrugging my shoulders to the whole situation on the day of.

It was also a very beautiful moment that im glad i had no part in ruining

cc
Couldn’t you have just looped it?
 
Couldn’t you have just looped it?

I dont use a controller for ceremony... only a tablet....what i would have done in the moment is a quick restart of the music... but that wouldnt have been the best solution overall....so i doubled the last verse in software and it worked great.

I can completely understand why some of you would not want involved in a rehearsal situation because you will most likely be booked both friday and saturday with events...

We have the luxury of devoting our entire weekend to a specific event because i do not pursue booking multiple events on the same weekend....i did that all through my younger days and hated it.

I will say this... i didnt realize how much being at that rehearsal would diminish any anxiety about the ceremony... it was just an added boost of confidence on my end. So if someone ever wants to pay you to be there for it...its a win win

cc