Now look what one of our peers has done!

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I don't think it's a bad idea. And, I just base this on personal experience with
Djslastminute.com. I've been member since March or so. Of all the leads I've received,
I have yet to get a lead for a Wedding. All my leads have been birthday's, graduations,
block parties, school dances etc. all small events.
I don't think you'll get many Wedding leads based on most B & G's book
their DJ at least a year in advance. Of course you'll get a few here and there but not many.
 
I will submit this: B&G's booking for weddings either know their DJ a head of time or get a referral from another vendor. Someone booking a birthday party or anniversary party has others involved in the planning processes. "I'll get the hall and you get the DJ". So they search the web and find DJBIDS.COM. They look over the site and figure hey, it's worth a try.

I don't think that most of the people checking out the site is only looking for the cheapest they can find. I think they are just test driving out a new concept and seeing what happens.

Just my take.
 
Esoteric said:
.

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.

Mike
Click to expand...



There is a misunderstanding here. The DJ or Karaoke HOST Does NOT BID on events at this site. I don't bid ANYwhere...

This site is set up as follows: The perspective CLIENT wants to have an event done for the price that THEY enter, or bid. This offer is then e-mailed to members, who either reply that they would do the event at thet price, or they reply that they won't. The first six to reply positively then have their profiles and contact info forwarded to the client, who then chooses.

The DJ or Host doesn't even have the OPPORTUNITY to submit a price or bid. It's ONLY the CLIENT that can submit a fee amount.

DJ and Karaoke Hosts DON'T bid.
 
citystreetsdjs said:
I don't think it's a bad idea. And, I just base this on personal experience with
Djslastminute.com. I've been member since March or so. Of all the leads I've received,
I have yet to get a lead for a Wedding. All my leads have been birthday's, graduations,
block parties, school dances etc. all small events.
I don't think you'll get many Wedding leads based on most B & G's book
their DJ at least a year in advance. Of course you'll get a few here and there but not many.
Click to expand...


Fully agree here. However, I can't really blame the site. The larger the event, the greater the liklihood that of earlier and better preparation, especially weddings. Just the nature of the beast....

BTW- Maybe it's just in my area, but lately I've been finding that more and more town sponsored block parties are are using booking agents/entertainment agencies, rather that booking each entertainment type. Is it the same elsewhere?
 
JoeChartreuse said:
Fully agree here. However, I can't really blame the site. The larger the event, the greater the liklihood that of earlier and better preparation, especially weddings. Just the nature of the beast....

BTW- Maybe it's just in my area, but lately I've been finding that more and more town sponsored block parties are are using booking agents/entertainment agencies, rather that booking each entertainment type. Is it the same elsewhere?
Click to expand...

It is here in this area Joe, I am the number one DJ service called by two area booking agencies. I am starting to get more and more gigs where they hire a sound company to setup the sound and then bands, DJs or KJs to fill in between and after band sets. It works out well for us because it means a lot less work hauling and setting up, plus we don't have to deal with lighting either.
 
JoeChartreuse said:
There is a misunderstanding here. The DJ or Karaoke HOST Does NOT BID on events at this site. I don't bid ANYwhere...

This site is set up as follows: The perspective CLIENT wants to have an event done for the price that THEY enter, or bid. This offer is then e-mailed to members, who either reply that they would do the event at thet price, or they reply that they won't. The first six to reply positively then have their profiles and contact info forwarded to the client, who then chooses.

The DJ or Host doesn't even have the OPPORTUNITY to submit a price or bid. It's ONLY the CLIENT that can submit a fee amount.

DJ and Karaoke Hosts DON'T bid.
Click to expand...

Oh, well that is stupid. But I guess it keeps you from wasting your time on people who can't/don't want to pay what you charge.

I will however still be taking bids when I go to look.

Mike
 
I will however still be taking bids when I go to look.
Click to expand...
And with that mind set you will find DJ's who are very close in ability then base your decision on price. Therefore you are not looking for a DJ that will stand out above the rest, or one who goes over and above. The bottom line is your DJ will be equally average just cheaper. If that's what you're looking for that's easy to find.
 
Ron Auger said:
And with that mind set you will find DJ's who are very close in ability then base your decision on price. Therefore you are not looking for a DJ that will stand out above the rest, or one who goes over and above. The bottom line is your DJ will be equally average just cheaper. If that's what you're looking for that's easy to find.
Click to expand...

Again, I am not basing everything on price but rather value. If DJ A charges $1400 for a set up, and DJ B charges $1500 for the same set up plus a good lighting upgrade (and they are both professional, have professional gear, are good with the crowd, return phone calls, willing to work with us, etc) then I will go with DJ B because he provides better value.

Mike
 
Esoteric said:
Again, I am not basing everything on price but rather value. If DJ A charges $1400 for a set up, and DJ B charges $1500 for the same set up plus a good lighting upgrade (and they are both professional, have professional gear, are good with the crowd, return phone calls, willing to work with us, etc) then I will go with DJ B because he provides better value.

Mike
Click to expand...
What you base your decision on is a commodity or stuff. Then that makes sense. Both offer similar setups with lights etc. Which one will give you more stuff for your money is what will make up your mind. Ability and skill of the DJ has not entered into this decision at all.

DJ A may charge you less than DJ B but A is a better entertainer over all, is lower in price, and uses less lights. Depending on the function, which one do you hire? If you just want more stuff then you go with B. If you want entrainment and a better overall outcome of your function the you choose A.
Everyone is different. I care more about ability then I do lights. Most people within my market care more about ability than lights. Lights don't make a show or function successful, a skilled and professional DJ does. And for that you will pay more than the guy with more lights. That's just the way it works around here.
 
Ron Auger said:
I care more about ability then I do lights. Most people within my market care more about ability than lights. Lights don't make a show or function successful, a skilled and professional DJ does. And for that you will pay more than the guy with more lights. That's just the way it works around here.
Click to expand...

That's why I'm a No Foo Foo type of DJ:

The DJs who offer projectors & screens and other upsells that don't really enhance the success of an event, is usually doing so because his talent is lacking!

I rarely use lights: maybe during the Holiday Season for a few short weeks and a handful of weddings over the years, but its statistically less than 10% of my events, overall.

Note also: My halloween party last Saturday night---was a $699 base rate event, no lights. The DJ from last year provided mirror ball, strobes, lights, and fog, for only $600.
This client said I was 3x better than the other DJ, who didn't have "Only You" by The Platters. Not only that, but I wasn't blowing off the drunk folks asking for C/W later in the evening (previous DJ wouldn't play ANY C/W).
{the party was in a very upscale part of Rio Linda, CA}
I also played SOME hip hop but avoided the hard rap that starts fist fights.

You don't need lights to be better! Just some knowledge & talent!
 
I agree Matt in much of what you say but over the yrs I have found that lights create an atmosphere which completes the smell taste touch and vision factor. I have used modest lighting at every eventfor the past 15 yrs.
 
Ron Auger said:
What you base your decision on is a commodity or stuff. Then that makes sense. Both offer similar setups with lights etc. Which one will give you more stuff for your money is what will make up your mind. Ability and skill of the DJ has not entered into this decision at all.

DJ A may charge you less than DJ B but A is a better entertainer over all, is lower in price, and uses less lights. Depending on the function, which one do you hire? If you just want more stuff then you go with B. If you want entrainment and a better overall outcome of your function the you choose A.
Everyone is different. I care more about ability then I do lights. Most people within my market care more about ability than lights. Lights don't make a show or function successful, a skilled and professional DJ does. And for that you will pay more than the guy with more lights. That's just the way it works around here.
Click to expand...

We are assuming they are both wonderful entertainers. Of course if the $1400 guy is a much better entertainer or much more skilled, then I will go with him and get the lights somewhere else.

The quality of the DJ is of the utmost importance!! That is #1. But, if two DJs are of equal quality and I click with both of them, then I have to look at something else to make a decision. In my case I look at what value they are willing to offer. There are hundreds of very skilled and very personable grade A DJs around here. So how then do we choose?

I never said to discard quality or personality. Those are most important, what is why at the beginning I said that those things were equal!

Please listen and follow. It makes life easier on all of us.

Mike
 
Please listen and follow. It makes life easier on all of us.
Click to expand...
OK, now you're sounding like you come from the DJA site.

Again, I am not basing everything on price but rather value. If DJ A charges $1400 for a set up, and DJ B charges $1500 for the same set up plus a good lighting upgrade (and they are both professional, have professional gear, are good with the crowd, return phone calls, willing to work with us, etc) then I will go with DJ B because he provides better value.
Click to expand...
OK, stay with me here and I'll type slow for you so you can keep up. In the above scenario you base everything on value or what extras one offers over the other. Entertainment quality is never mentioned with regards to what makes your decision of DJ A or B, it's mostly lights and extras. Good with a crowd doen't not seperate good entertainment from average. Lights are nothing special, in fact lights mean nothing when hiring a DJ. Should lights even come up in conversation about which DJ is the right one to hire then it's quite obvious these people are searching for a middle to lower end of the DJ hiring scale. If there are that many DJ's who have similar capabilities that they need to close deals based on how many lights they can throw in, that''s got to be a tough market. Anyone can put up lights and turn them on but entertainment is one of a kind, unique. Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Let me ask you this, when someone comes to you looking for you to DJ their function, do they ask what type of entertainment you provide over the next guy or what extras can you offer?
 
Ron Auger said:
OK, now you're sounding like you come from the DJA site.

OK, stay with me here and I'll type slow for you so you can keep up. In the above scenario you base everything on value or what extras one offers over the other. Entertainment quality is never mentioned with regards to what makes your decision of DJ A or B, it's mostly lights and extras. Good with a crowd doen't not seperate good entertainment from average. Lights are nothing special, in fact lights mean nothing when hiring a DJ. Should lights even come up in conversation about which DJ is the right one to hire then it's quite obvious these people are searching for a middle to lower end of the DJ hiring scale. If there are that many DJ's who have similar capabilities that they need to close deals based on how many lights they can throw in, that''s got to be a tough market. Anyone can put up lights and turn them on but entertainment is one of a kind, unique. Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Let me ask you this, when someone comes to you looking for you to DJ their function, do they ask what type of entertainment you provide over the next guy or what extras can you offer?
Click to expand...

Lets try this again.

Again, I am not basing everything on price but rather value. If DJ A charges $1400 for a set up, and DJ B charges $1500 for the same set up plus a good lighting upgrade (and they are both professional, have professional gear, are good with the crowd, return phone calls, willing to work with us, etc) then I will go with DJ B because he provides better value.

Lights might come up with me, and we are looking for a higher end DJ. Providing value is what sets business A apart from business B. It must be a tough market around here. Like I said, I have found hundreds of DJs that are all the same. We are professional, we make it your day, we are good with a crowd, we can keep the party going, we have recommendations, we have people who love us, we have an immense music library, have a great voice, can help keep things running and smooth, provide excellent customer service, on and on and on...

What makes the difference? Value.

When someone comes to hire me I point out the value I offer. My previous and current work (which they are free to come see), my background, my experience, my talent, and high end equipment all at a price that is at least 15% lower than my competitors.

I offer value.

Mike
 
Lemme tell you why this is a horrible idea!


People can see what your rock bottom price really is! They will find ways to nickel and dime you!

If you offer a rock bottom price, and offer no deals because this is your best price.....there are no problems!


Now let me tackle this from a client perspective.....

I call you on the phone, and you tell me the event will cost me $1000.

I dont book and I wait to play your game. I bid on your service, and you agree for $600. This tells me, as a client...you overcharge, because you are willing to do a job for $400 cheaper.

I never do business with people who "play the game!"

If you play the game...expect to get burned!
 
DJMN,

First off you are not understanding what the concept is!

The potential client post a price they are willing to pay, then if there are any DJ's willing to take that price they offer their services. The potential client then picks and choses from amoung those who offer the service.

I get a price call I always give my base rate plus! there have been very few times where the base rate was accepted instead of having other items added in.
 
DJMN said:
Lemme tell you why this is a horrible idea!


People can see what your rock bottom price really is! They will find ways to nickel and dime you!

If you offer a rock bottom price, and offer no deals because this is your best price.....there are no problems!


Now let me tackle this from a client perspective.....

I call you on the phone, and you tell me the event will cost me $1000.

I dont book and I wait to play your game. I bid on your service, and you agree for $600. This tells me, as a client...you overcharge, because you are willing to do a job for $400 cheaper.

I never do business with people who "play the game!"

If you play the game...expect to get burned!
Click to expand...

That is why you always give your rock bottom bid first.

Then if I call back and say "can you do it for $200 less" you tell me "no, at that point it would not be profitable for me to do the gig anymore".

"The game" is the way business has been done for thousands of years.

Mike
 
When someone comes to hire me I point out the value I offer. My previous and current work (which they are free to come see), my background, my experience, my talent, and high end equipment all at a price that is at least 15% lower than my competitors.
Click to expand...
And that's what makes you of of the ....
hundreds of DJs that are all the same.
Click to expand...
Your just lower in price. I understand that, I do. Which overall helps me.

That is why you always give your rock bottom bid first.

Then if I call back and say "can you do it for $200 less" you tell me "no, at that point it would not be profitable for me to do the gig anymore".

"The game" is the way business has been done for thousands of years.
Click to expand...
This sounds like you're shopping for a new car. Same game. I was looking into a new truck yesterday. The car salesman worked in a similar manor. I nicely told him "I don't play that game".

Hey, that's just me. What do I know?
 
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