WWYD My turn

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I had a situation with my wedding this weekend. I will let you know how I handled it after awhile.

A little info about how I do things first.

I schedule my weddings for 6 hours. How I decide this is simple. Some of you may not agree but this is how I do it.

I start the 6 hours 30 minutes before dinner and go for 6 hours. In my contract is states the 6 hours includes dinner and dance time. I explain to them that I am there a lot longer than the 6 hours and I even show up and have dinner music going when their guests arrive. Sometimes it is an hour before the 6 hour clock starts.

Now remember what my contract says.

I met with this weekends couple to go over everything. I asked what time dinner was and they said 5:00. I then told them the event would be 4:30 to 10:30. They then said, we mean dinner is at 6:00. I said okay, it is 5:30 to 11:30. We finish going over everything. Schedule dinner activities, introductions, microphone usage etc.

Monday I email their schedule to them and she responds that they decided they do not want the dinner music and activities and just want me to play for the dance starting at 6:00. I said that would be fine but I asked them why? They said they wanted the dance to go unitl 11:30 or midnight. I said it would be and extra $xxxx for the extra time. They said that they get 6 hours and want it to be all dance. I said "NO". I quoted the contract wordage and said if they really didn't want the dinner activites, I could show up at 7:00 and go until 11:00 for the original price. I then (Being nice) told them if they wanted to go longer, I would cut them a deal on OT.

She then says that dinner is at 5:00. They were trying to get me to come in later to last longer or something and I would have been late starting.

They decide to have me come in and do all the intros and dinner things. And then she asks if they can still have the deal on OT. Some nerve.

I had done the bride's sister's wedding about 5 years ago.

How would have you handled everything?
 
That gal is just trying to "feel you out!"


I'd say give her the deal.....but make it "fair" to you as well. She already felt you out, and now I think you should cut a small break.


The only thing you can gain from this...is to watch your wording when talking to clients...thats all.

Cant wait to hear how you handled it!

Thanks
 
I include everything on a wedding from cocktail to dinner to traditionals to open dance for one price at 6 hours period! Anything more they want is overtime at 1 bill an hour in cash.
 
Thunder said:
I include everything on a wedding from cocktail to dinner to traditionals to open dance for one price at 6 hours period! Anything more they want is overtime at 1 bill an hour in cash.
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That is pretty much how I do it also with the exception of sometimes they get more cocktail music out of me before the 6 hour clock starts. Depends on when guests start arriving. I like to be set up before then even if it is early.
 
My base rate is for 4 hours, seems to fit most of the receptions around here. If they don't want me for dinner, or introductions, I tell them I still need to be setup prior to the guests arriving and early setup is 1/2 my regular extra hour rate of $100.00/hr. So if they want me after dinner 8-12 that covers my 4 hours, and if dinner starts at 6:00pm, I will need 2 hours at $50/hr. They usually decide to go ahead and pay for dinner and intros before dinner, and maybe end an hour early. I just thought about it, but I have never had an early setup, but do have one next month, where they have a band playing during dinner. Still trying to get word that the band will definitely be doing the introductions.
 
This is what happened.

I went over there on Friday while they were setting up and talked to them. It is only a few blocks from my house. They wanted me to get there CD for their first dance (youtube wanna bee's) ANd it sounded like crap so I fixed it for them.

I set up early on Saturday and arrived before guests did. About 10 minutes. I did the intros and the dinner activities with kissing and I was put on the spot to read some stories. How we met, each had a version. Turned out great. We did the Musical chairs scavenger hunt and had tons of "I have never seen that before" from people.

Dance went great, gave out a few cards and was told by one girl she wants me when she gets engaged. She lives 100 miles away.

Bride comes up about 10:00, we had 30 minutes left and said, "I think we will go another hour" I gave her the deal of $100 instead of $150. The whole night the groom danced, she did a little.

He was very polite to me, she really never was rude or nice. Kinda just there.

I had many compliments from family and friends.

All in all it worked out. I missed out on $50 on overtime but was home by 11:55 getting done at 11:30.

I only gave in on the OT and not on the timing. 6 hours is too much for most dances. Not all, but most. This one would have not lasted until midnight. They were ready to be done at 11:30.
 
I think you showed a lot of class in this situation.

I'm also been known to be a big softie with OT: even though my contract says "$95 per half-hour" for OT, I've been known to take $100 cash for 60 minutes of overtime, if I like the customer.

then again, the contract says double the amount, which provides an incentive for my subs to perform at top levels (they keep all their own overtime, but for the most part they still discount the OT to $150 per hour).
 
not lasted 6xhrs lol

gee you are in the wrong place

I will do a wedding 6pm till 12midnight thats a full 6x hrs
9/10 times when I go over its till 2am at the latest

if i have 120 at the wedding i normally end with 60 or 70 left

as for setup we here can setup in the morning and be back just before 6pm start ( i normally get back at 5:30pm) as my roadies setup all my jobs so its very handy for me!
 
DjDennis said:
not lasted 6xhrs lol

gee you are in the wrong place

I will do a wedding 6pm till 12midnight thats a full 6x hrs
9/10 times when I go over its till 2am at the latest

if i have 120 at the wedding i normally end with 60 or 70 left

as for setup we here can setup in the morning and be back just before 6pm start ( i normally get back at 5:30pm) as my roadies setup all my jobs so its very handy for me!
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Aren't we just the best DJ ever:sqrolleyes:

That is how I do things.

I'm in the wrong place? What is down under the place to be?

I do go 6 hours. Sometimes more but it includes dinner. You run your business the way you see fit. And you know what, I will do the same.
 
65% of my weddings are 4 hours, that includes cocktails dinner and dance.... some are 3 hours without the cocktail time because they will have them down bu the beach then come in.

I hate it when people try and "work" you and we are all way to soft on that,, except maybe Cap.... LOL ;)
 
DjDennis said:
....

if i have 120 at the wedding i normally end with 60 or 70 left
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Just my 2 cents, and this is in general, no reference to me as a DJ, but in our area if 120 start the wedding, and the reception goes 5 hours in total, almost any DJ would be LUCKY to have 40 people left.
 
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