A pretty good answer from a Knottie

To many ads? Support ODJT and see no ads!
MBM

MBM

New DJ
Dec 23, 2007
3,063
0
64
Huntsville, AL
www.music-by-mike.com
Looking at the knot today, a recent bride told me she was going to post a review of my services when she got back in town. Anyway saw a question posted, and a good answer from another.

Question:
-------
Should the location (building, not city) of the reception impact the pricing of a DJ? I am in Huntsville and emailed a Huntsville DJ and before he would give me any quotes, he wanted to know where the reception was going to be. I'd already told him Huntsville. So I told him my location and he came back with what seems like an extremely high quote. Is this normal? I don't even know what the average range for a DJ should be.
-------

Answer:
-------
I wonder if it has to do with the setup of the location and/or extra equipment he/she may need to bring to accommodate it?
-------

BTW wasn't me she emailed.

There were a couple of others answers but I have to say this answer was pretty good, and shows some thought.

For me there are a couple of venues that are a pain to load in and setup, and yeah I will add a little to me normal rate if I work there a PITA ( Pain in the A) fee
 
Michael,

I do the same exact thing. I post a range of rates for each package on the website and then tell them that the specific rate depends on the Reception Hall. Each Hall has a unique rate because because most are very unique. Also, if it is a hall I have never played at before, I will need to visit the site before I quote a rate.

Essentially for me it comes down to ....

Travel (How Far)
Hall Location (What Floor or Roll in Access / In the City, The Burbs, or the Country)
Hall Set Up

You can also sum up all three of the above into TIME. How much TIME will it take from the moment I leave the door to the Moment I need to be Set Up, dressed and ready to go 30 minutes prior to the start time.

Jamie
 
I dont understand why the time is so important to you guys.If i have to travel in another City i charge for trip and once when im there i dont give a s...t if im playing for 4 or 6 hours.
Just me!
 
Marco,

I figure my day is tied up in the event anyway but for others who have to work a regular job for half a day and then go do a show it makes a lot of sense.

Also to properly track your income "time" must be considered from start to finish! Any other way is just shooting in the dark.

Travel time is charged for, setup difficulty is charged for, And Yes, ease of setup is discounted!
 
ok so Marco you havent carried up 4x flights of stairs on your own , back breaking gear to a floor that is old and you then work the 7 hrs for the show and then take down all the stairs because the lifts wont fit and the staff wont allow the dj or other vendors to use the lifts as they are for guests.... the inner lift is a s small as you can get and is used for food transport between floors

when I have jobs like that my setup price goes up drmaticly

I been doing this for over 30+ years now

great answer from a nottie

just the original question is a bit sus on why she asked a question that even I ask the same question on what venue the show is (so I can determain if its not blacklisted or has a setup fee involved)
 
Thunder said:
Marco,

I figure my day is tied up in the event anyway but for others who have to work a regular job for half a day and then go do a show it makes a lot of sense.

Also to properly track your income "time" must be considered from start to finish! Any other way is just shooting in the dark.

Travel time is charged for, setup difficulty is charged for, And Yes, ease of setup is discounted!
Click to expand...

From this point of wiew i understand you my friend but im kind a fulltime Dj and time is not so important to me.From youre point of wiew you are totaly right.
 
DjDennis said:
ok so Marco you havent carried up 4x flights of stairs on your own , back breaking gear to a floor that is old and you then work the 7 hrs for the show and then take down all the stairs because the lifts wont fit and the staff wont allow the dj or other vendors to use the lifts as they are for guests.... the inner lift is a s small as you can get and is used for food transport between floors

when I have jobs like that my setup price goes up drmaticly

I been doing this for over 30+ years now

great answer from a nottie

just the original question is a bit sus on why she asked a question that even I ask the same question on what venue the show is (so I can determain if its not blacklisted or has a setup fee involved)
Click to expand...


Dennis,
Im a Pro Dj now for 21 years and not only I or you have to cerrie heavy gear somewhere up or down.Thats why the size of my speakers goes down everytime its possible and thrue years speakers and another gear is lighter and not so big problem.
If you can extra charge for lifting the gear-good for you because i cant.
 
djMarco said:
From this point of wiew i understand you my friend but im kind a fulltime Dj and time is not so important to me.From youre point of wiew you are totaly right.
Click to expand...

All I do is DJ, KJ or sound for bands I still keep track of my time in any event!:sqbiggrin: It's just part of efficency in running a business!
 
MBM said:
-------

Answer:
-------
I wonder if it has to do with the setup of the location and/or extra equipment he/she may need to bring to accommodate it?
Click to expand...

Sounds like another DJ posing as a bride...

DjDennis said:
ok so Marco you havent carried up 4x flights of stairs on your own , back breaking gear to a floor that is old and you then work the 7 hrs for the show and then take down all the stairs because the lifts wont fit and the staff wont allow the dj or other vendors to use the lifts as they are for guests.... the inner lift is a s small as you can get and is used for food transport between floors
Click to expand...

Then that would make it twice I played there..... first and last :sqwink:
 
Jeff I SECOND that as well - first and Last!!
 
In our area, its pretty well-known that the Knot is full of Vendors posing as brides or grooms.

To me, its the same as "surfing Craigslist" -- I don't do it any more.....waste of time.
 
djMarco said:
I dont understand why the time is so important to you guys.If i have to travel in another City i charge for trip and once when im there i dont give a s...t if im playing for 4 or 6 hours.
Just me!
Click to expand...

Some good stuff already put up by Jeff, Thunder and Dennis .... only to add...

TIME is how I "quantify" what I sell. Just like halls sell per plate or Cake is sold per slice.

Also, different amounts of time or packages are designed for the clients advantage and that range of prices in each package is all to the clients advantage.

Why should a client be penalized with the same high price if the hall is an easy load in and close by?

The same can be said is why should a discount be given to a client that has an unusual load in or is far away?

Pricing strategies are all unique to our individual business and this is just my current approach. Marco, if you are comfortable with a one price all inclusive that is just a different strategy and if it is successful for you than that is a good thing too!
 
ok before anything else

Jamie how long you been djing for ??

just so we all know on that issue...

plus after you been djing for many many years then I may go easy on you but to me I dont beat around the bush I tell the truth

thats why put so many noses out of joint but in any business you have NO FRIENDS (retoricly speaking)

I have been to many hundreds of venues where I live they are either easy to get in or on a black ban list that are charged at a higher rate because of setup

anyway like the original post if that venue is checked on when you quote a price - I always have certain prices for hard to navigate venues

plain and simple
 
Another reason I like to know what venue besides the load in and setup pains. Some lighting packages just will not work at some venues due to low ceilings or bad electrical service. Also will the venue allow fog/haze machines, the quality of the electrical service can restrict the options you can try to provide.
 
At one point, I used to charge extra for a wireless microphone--something which I hate and do not need to get my job done, but what some clients prefer (I have a good PEAVEY microphone with a really long cord). Now I just include it in one package and exclude it in another--HA HAAAAAAAAAAA!

Many criticised me, stating, for example, that it was like charging extra for a second speaker--I say, "No, it ain't," because I do not feel that I could do an adequate job with only one speaker, yet I can do it with a corded mic.

So, baring this in mind (and this is really only for those who would criticise the extra charge for the wireless mic, yet charge extra for a difficult set up), why would you charge extra because you have to climb stairs, when it means that is the only way you could get your job done?

Remember, I am not arguing against charging for climbing stairs; rather, I am arguing for logical reasoning.

:)
 
Jeff Romard said:
Sounds like another DJ posing as a bride...



Then that would make it twice I played there..... first and last :sqwink:
Click to expand...

Ya think? :sqerr::sqwink: Pretty obvious.
 
I don't charge for a single wireless mic because.

1. I like wireless much better than wired for DJing!

2. One is included in every DJ system

3. Three are included in every KJ system.

4. I do charge extra for an extra wireless mic for DJ systems ($25)

Because it is an extra piece subject to damage (as it is out of my control when guest are using it)

5. I charge extra for ceromony systems which include a wireless lapel and a shotgun mic (usually setup on a boomstand)
 
DjDennis said:
ok before anything else

Jamie how long you been djing for ??

just so we all know on that issue...
Click to expand...

Dennis,

I am a career dj. While I do have B.S. degree in elementary education, Djing and or running a DJ business is the only real job I have ever had.

I have been djing for 18 years and have had my own company for 15 years or so.

What does that help explain?

Jamie
 
Thunder said:
I don't charge for a single wireless mic because.

I like wireless much better than wired for DJing!

...

I do charge extra for an extra wireless mic for DJ systems ($25)

Because it is an extra piece subject to damage (as it is out of my control when guest are using it)
Click to expand...

Since you replied as such, I too will forget about my main point and, therefore, ask:

Say that you did not own a corded mic. Considering that you DO NOT prefer the corded mic, a corded mic IS an EXTRA mic for your DJ system, and IT IS subject to DAMAGE, since it is ONLY for the guests' use, would you or would you not charge extra for it since it was not taken into consideration in your original pricing and it is an extra investment (whether you rent or actually purchase one)?
 
Sorry guys nothing against you but over here are things a bit different.
If i will charge for bringing my system up stairs or extra mic I will be out of business in a second.
I can only extra charge for lights and traveling expences.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back