Now look what one of our peers has done!

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Hank Davidson

Hank Davidson

Affordable, yet priceless.
ODJT Supporter
Nov 15, 2006
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Boston, MA
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How would you like to have to bid for your jobs like a contractor? Have a look at what a local DJ started in my area.

Article on "DJBids.com" & "DJsLastMinute.com"

Good or bad? What do you think?


NOTE: It's aimed at "last minute" bookings, but I can see this bubbling over to a Craigslist for hiring DJs.








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This will get it in the minds of some people, that if I wait to the last minute I will get a better deal on a good DJ. Where in truth if they wait to the last minute it will be harder to find a good DJ.
 
seems like a decent idea. It depends on if they end up bidding on a crap DJ and the site being discredited. I am not so good with a 1200 DJ doing a wedding for 350 but hey in these depression times 300 bucks is better than zero.
 
That kind of stuff is great for multi ops that are just trying to plug in last minute holes in the schedule we use stuff like that and gigmasters. We have a bottom we wont cross but other than that, we do end up filling up light weekends with this type of stuff. Actually Id put gigmasters a cut above those two
 
Hank,

I have met with Mike and talked about this venture he has. Like anything in this world you need to hear him out and decide if it's something for you. There are good and bad points about this service but in whole it's not a bad thing. This service is not just in our area, it's national. I know Joe down in PA has utilized it with good luck.

I signed up for the free service and have had a few inquiries. I've turned down every one of them. The quotes are just to low for my tastes. Also, not one of these offers I've had were for weddings. They were all for small parties.

Now, if all they are going to get is the bottom of the pond DJ's then hopefully people will learn. But the way I see it is most of these people are looking for the lowest priced DJ anyway. I also know that there are plenty of DJ's out there who have 0 marketing skills nor do they know where to find work other than referrals.

Everybody is welcome to their opinion. I myself didn't think much of it until I spoke with Mike last year at a meeting in Boston. It's not really for me but I won't condemn it either since it's to new. Check more into it I think you'll gain a better understanding.
 
1cdj said:
That kind of stuff is great for multi ops that are just trying to plug in last minute holes in the schedule we use stuff like that and gigmasters. We have a bottom we wont cross but other than that, we do end up filling up light weekends with this type of stuff. Actually Id put gigmasters a cut above those two
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I hear ya Kyle.

Must suck trying to keep 20 systems going steady...:sqlaugh:
 
Personally I like the idea, and like Ron I think that the DJ's who offer it up for less than their base rate are going to drop off fairly quickly. And the clients are going to recieve what they pay for. I may bid for a small party (close to home for $350 or $400 but I am going to supply the absolute minimum for that party. It will be sound system only with no additional rigging.
 
Jon Tuck said:
seems like a decent idea. It depends on if they end up bidding on a crap DJ and the site being discredited. I am not so good with a 1200 DJ doing a wedding for 350 but hey in these depression times 300 bucks is better than zero.
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Jon,
You are right in the part when the 350 is better than nothing.But always is a but.What if you do a wedding for 350 and the client recomend you to someone else and here is the catch-will you do next one for 350 also?

At my opinion this is going only in one direction-Price lowering!!!:sqcool:
 
Me neither. I've paid my dues with last-minute client bookings. No more. You're too busy fighting fires to organize a fire department. Or you're like a waiter walking through a crowded restaurant.

And they can be disorganized. Oh yes... without a doubt. That's gonna make your service appear disorganized.

Why anyone would take on last-minute client bookings is beyond me. :dontknow:
 
Believe it or not I was thinking about doing something like this shortly after ODJT started but decided not to because of the inevitable headaches it would cause me as owner. However I think the business model is solid: Someone *needs* a DJ for an already planned event and you have a DJ sitting at home with his gear not making money; a match made in heaven if you will.

That's just the thing the target market is very small. Only XX amount of people are going to *need* a DJ that fast and most of them around going to go to the Yellow Pages in that situation. I cannot see many, if any, people booking events more than a couple of weeks in advance with a service like this unless they're just looking for the cheapest possible DJ which of course probably weren't your potential clients anyway so no harm to your business.
 
Thanks for all the insightful and logical responses gang. I may just throw my hat in to see what happens (just curious really). If anything, it's a clever business idea the guy came up with. He stands to make a lot of advertising and profile dollars from his peers.

Not mine though.
 
Why not? I mean not on the waiting until the last minute thing, but I will certainly talk to four or five DJ's that I like before my wedding to see who will give me the best price/most extra's for my money. I know what I want and I ask for bids. I assume I am getting their best price, I compare the prices and whoever comes up the best is who I will go with.

After all I have to bid for my work, I don't see anything wrong with other people bidding for theirs.

Mike
 
If one is shopping solely on price then I would agree with you. Quality, professionalism, and service will take back seat to price. There are many people who will shop for DJ's like that. Those are the folks who overall end up having a bad experience. With this service it is still up to the client to do their home work and investigate the DJ's they may possible hire. This is not a referral based system.

Now don't take this the wrong way but since you have no profile, name, information, etc, your opinion ends up very low on my acceptance scale. With knowing very little about you I can't take your comments to serious. But that may change in time. You see, the same goes for hiring a DJ. The more I know about someone, the more I am willing to trust them. After all hiring a DJ, you are hiring trust. Trust that they can do what they say they can do. And with that trust come a high price tag (in most cases).
 
Ron Auger said:
If one is shopping solely on price then I would agree with you. Quality, professionalism, and service will take back seat to price. There are many people who will shop for DJ's like that. Those are the folks who overall end up having a bad experience. With this service it is still up to the client to do their home work and investigate the DJ's they may possible hire. This is not a referral based system.

Now don't take this the wrong way but since you have no profile, name, information, etc, your opinion ends up very low on my acceptance scale. With knowing very little about you I can't take your comments to serious. But that may change in time. You see, the same goes for hiring a DJ. The more I know about someone, the more I am willing to trust them. After all hiring a DJ, you are hiring trust. Trust that they can do what they say they can do. And with that trust come a high price tag (in most cases).
Click to expand...

First of all, one should never shop solely on price. One should shop on value. I want a DJ with good equipment, a good rep, and who I 'click' with. Then beyond that (and I am sure there is more than one good DJ in most cities) I will look at price and value.

For example, there are two DJ's who charge comparable prices, with comparable equipment, who both have good reps. How do I decide who to go with? First of all I have them submit a bid, and see if one will bid lower for the gig. Then I ask if either DJ will throw in something extra in order to get the gig.

That is the way my business works. When I submit a bid, I have to give the best value (usually by giving the best equipment for the lowest price) to the customer or they will go with someone else. This is how the business world works.

As far as acceptance, no problem. It doesn't matter to me. I agree with you on getting to know the people you hire. However that only goes so far. I can't hang around with DJs for years getting to know them and cultivating a relationship for one time that I will hire one. So my impression comes down to one meeting, some references and some photos. That is the nature of the business.

Again, never shop for price alone, like everything else, it is based on value. I ask for a good value from my DJ just as my clients ask for a good value from me.

Mike
 
Shopping for DJ's, at least around here, is a bit different. Most want a specific DJ. They've been either been referred or have heard good things and want that specific DJ. Now, if they are looking for freebies thrown in or need to compare prices (within reason) then it's all about price. What I offer to do extra after I've been hired depends on the peoples specific needs and within reason.

I just turned down a wedding for the difference of $95. This guy said they both wanted me. They liked what I offered and what they heard about my rep. So after giving them a price, giving them this years price and not next years increase he asked for me to come down in price some more. I said I understand and I'd be happy to find him someone that would fit his needs and budget. Well, they really liked me so if I could work with them around ($95 less than my offer) they'd go with me. I declined their offer and nicely offered to find them a DJ that would help them out.

I've never hear back from them. Was this a price issue? Not really. It was more of an ego issue. He needed to feel good about himself by getting me to come down in price. I know the $95 wasn't going to break their bank. Was it an ego thing with me? As the hopeful new Vice President would say "You Betcha".

I had a similar case a few months back. The couple said I just wasn't in their budget. They couldn't afford for me to do their ceremony and reception. After about a month I got a call back from them. They said they search looking for some in their price range to do what they needed. They didn't like anyone they've talk to. They said they wanted me. The bride said they could only have me for the reception (at my regular price) and her mother would help her out paying. Knowing they spoke the truth I offered, after the contract was signed, to play their 3 songs for their ceremony at no charge. This girl was in tears.

Yes, that's my ego again. As a talent I offer what no one else can, ME. In my many years being ME, that has got me very far. If people want ME at their event then it comes with a fair and reasonable price tag. If they want a DJ who can do his thing just as well for less then that's what they should have. I will not play pricing games to compete with another DJ. It's just the way I work.
 
I like it too! I've been on since the spring. Hassle free. A fee is offered. If it's too little you just turn it down

By the way, if EVERYONE turns it down, they DO come back with a higher bid. I have to tell you, not all the bids offered are low ball. Some are right on target or even better.

And yes, I have gotten work from it.... I have also spoken to Greg from the site and found him a very pleasant and up front individual.


Yes, of course I agree that price should not be the sole way to choose a DJ or Karaoke Host. However, if the money offered is within reason ( I'n not in this for scraps), I see no reason not to take the work, no matter where it comes from.

The thing is, many of the people using it aren't there because of the fee, but because they need a good DJ or Karaoke Host within a relatively short amount of time. In the case of this site, "last minute" is actually up to 60 days, which is actually better than some of the bookings I've been getting lately.
 
Ron Auger said:
Shopping for DJ's, at least around here, is a bit different. Most want a specific DJ. They've been either been referred or have heard good things and want that specific DJ. Now, if they are looking for freebies thrown in or need to compare prices (within reason) then it's all about price. What I offer to do extra after I've been hired depends on the peoples specific needs and within reason.

I just turned down a wedding for the difference of $95. This guy said they both wanted me. They liked what I offered and what they heard about my rep. So after giving them a price, giving them this years price and not next years increase he asked for me to come down in price some more. I said I understand and I'd be happy to find him someone that would fit his needs and budget. Well, they really liked me so if I could work with them around ($95 less than my offer) they'd go with me. I declined their offer and nicely offered to find them a DJ that would help them out.

I've never hear back from them. Was this a price issue? Not really. It was more of an ego issue. He needed to feel good about himself by getting me to come down in price. I know the $95 wasn't going to break their bank. Was it an ego thing with me? As the hopeful new Vice President would say "You Betcha".

I had a similar case a few months back. The couple said I just wasn't in their budget. They couldn't afford for me to do their ceremony and reception. After about a month I got a call back from them. They said they search looking for some in their price range to do what they needed. They didn't like anyone they've talk to. They said they wanted me. The bride said they could only have me for the reception (at my regular price) and her mother would help her out paying. Knowing they spoke the truth I offered, after the contract was signed, to play their 3 songs for their ceremony at no charge. This girl was in tears.

Yes, that's my ego again. As a talent I offer what no one else can, ME. In my many years being ME, that has got me very far. If people want ME at their event then it comes with a fair and reasonable price tag. If they want a DJ who can do his thing just as well for less then that's what they should have. I will not play pricing games to compete with another DJ. It's just the way I work.
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Which is fine. But if I (as a client) have a choice between you and a DJ of similar skill and with similar equipment (which I am sure are out there, no offense) and he bids $100 cheaper than you or throws in a free lighting package, then that is who I am going with. This does not mean that I am only choosing based on price, I am choosing based on value (all things being equal and one having a lower price or giving you more for your money).

On the other hand if you are the best (or only at your skill level) game in town, then you have the right to charge what you feel is reasonable and turn down any business you don't want to take.

But to take offense at someone wanting you to bid on a gig is just ridiculous. Just as if there is a DJ that is as good as you that will bid lower than you for gigs, you might have to rethink your business model.

I can assure you I will take several bids when I go to hire a DJ and to take the one that offers the best value.

Just some thoughts.

Mike
 
But if I (as a client) have a choice between you and a DJ of similar skill and with similar equipment (which I am sure are out there, no offense) and he bids $100 cheaper than you or throws in a free lighting package, then that is who I am going with.
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Again, no offense here but thank goodness the majority of my clients aren't like you. I wouldn't have so much work.

But to take offense at someone wanting you to bid on a gig is just ridiculous.
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I don't take offense, I just don't do it. If the guy down the street wants to charge $100 less than what I do, good for him. I'm not going to drop my price just to meet his. Now, if I were the same as him that would give the clients a choice but I'm not. I'm not saying I'm better, I'm just different and that's what most if not all of my clients look for. Those who think I am the same or equal to the guy down the street who charges less will decide in the end based on price. I wish them will. In fact I even supply the with names of DJ's who are less money. I believe everyone should get just what they are looking for.

I've been DJing for over 30 years. On my own for over 20 and full time for the past 5. There may come a time when I need to operate on the basis of money but that's a ways away.

I do understand and respect your opinion.
 
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