Price check, aisle 5.

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Papa Deuce

Mac Daddy DJ
Aug 8, 2006
19,843
594
64
Valley Forge Area
I just got this... I tried to call the woman and all I was able to do was leave a message. Obviously she wants to spend as little as possible. I don't mind that in this instance, but still, after all my events, I feel funny about quoting a price for this type of event.

How would you quote it? Full price? 75%... 50%... rent her a system and have her plug in a ipod?

I am having a very small reception for my wedding in my parents back yard. There will only be about 25 people. You won't have to do most of the wedding stuff because we are getting married a few weeks before the party. All I really need is music. I don't need a coordinator/helper... just some good music. How much would just music be?
 
Papa Deuce said:
I just got this... I tried to call the woman and all I was able to do was leave a message. Obviously she wants to spend as little as possible. I don't mind that in this instance, but still, after all my events, I feel funny about quoting a price for this type of event.

How would you quote it? Full price? 75%... 50%... rent her a system and have her plug in a ipod?

I am having a very small reception for my wedding in my parents back yard. There will only be about 25 people. You won't have to do most of the wedding stuff because we are getting married a few weeks before the party. All I really need is music. I don't need a coordinator/helper... just some good music. How much would just music be?
Click to expand...


Had one a little larger than that last year, just quoted my regular party rate, not my reception rate. Was a great party, everyone was more relaxed and ready to have fun.

Basic Party $600.00 up to 4 hrs Reception $750.00 for up to 4 hrs so I guest about 80% my reception rate.
 
I would do that too - Essentially it's a backyard party/BBQ thing, so my four hr "non-wedding" rate is $450. Four hr Reception rate is $750.

BUT..... I have learned to always be weary AND wary of these "It's a wedding, but it's not *really* a "wedding..." jobs. They tell you up front "we got married elsewhere x#/weeks/months ago," so this is "really just a 'party' for family and friends."

They always say that intentionally to "play down" what they will be wanting and expecting of you to get a cheaper rate, and then, as time goes by, even though they told you they "didn't want or need" the "formalities," they start to creep them in.

In the weeks prior to the wedding:

"Well, we will want you to introduce us, and we'll do a first dance... Of course my dad wants to do a dance with me too..."

Before you know it, you're doing a half-arsed reception for a party rate and you got TOOK!:sqmad:

As you may be able to tell, I was burned on this scenario more than once!:sqlaugh:
 
I would reply thus:
"I can understand your request and have been able to fill requests like yours successfully in the past. Since I have several sizes of equipment, I may be able to give you a discount on one of the smaller packages. Help me so I can help you. Irregardless of the package chosen, you will always get 100% in quality service. What were you expecting to spend?"

Once she answers then you will know what to do next and how much equipment to carry.
 
Normally for a non-wedding situation (where we don't have to do all the pre-planning and hand holding, etc.) we'll take 10-20% off depending on the situation after we find out what they really want. But, if it's in what we consider prime wedding season, we'll usually quote full price.
 
This would be my reply:

Dear Cheap Azz,

We do a wide variety of special events and parties that include wedding receptions and since this is going to be a wedding reception minus some of the more traditional events we can quote you our basic event price of $499.00.

Have a great day!
Click to expand...

Ok so I wouldn't really addres her as Cheap Azz but you get the point.
 
$600-$700 depending on the setup, location, etc. I have one of these coming up in June. They are getting married in May and having a party at a venue in June. No planning, no meetings, no BS. The house DJ quoted them $895.00. My regular party rate is $600. I need to hire someone for a second floor load carry/setup. She said she had a budget of $700. Sounds good to me.

If there's no work on the back end of the function then a basic hourly rate for playing is all that's needed.
 
Keep in mind that the guests have no idea that the client wanted a cheapo party.
If you do a music only gig for a wedding, the audience will be saying..."boy..that DJ had no idea what he was supposed to do at a wedding!"
" Boy, that DJ was terrible!"
 
Steve Cie said:
Keep in mind that the guests have no idea that the client wanted a cheapo party.
If you do a music only gig for a wedding, the audience will be saying..."boy..that DJ had no idea what he was supposed to do at a wedding!"
" Boy, that DJ was terrible!"
Click to expand...
Who said they wanted a Cheapo Party? What they didn't want is all the dumb wedding stuff. They just wanted a fun party with dancing. Everyone gets hung up on that word wedding as if everyone who gets married will have the same thing happening at their celebration. You've got to learn more about the function before you can say it's just a party. Everything needs to be spelled out before hand. The couple should have full disclosure for you and you for them as to how this party will be handled.

Here is what determined it for me that its just a party.

The actual wedding is a month before.
The dress is casual.
There is no wedding party.
The bride will not be wearing a wedding dress.
There will be no introductions.
The bride wants a dance with her dad but doesn't want it announced.
The groom will not dance with his mother.
The bride and groom will be mingling along with the guests before the open buffet.
I know the family. It's just a social gathering with music and fun. Simple as that. No one is expecting a formal wedding.

It's like anything else, if you don't find out all the details then it's your own fault but over exaggerate an event that just isn't there because they use the word wedding. I turned one down last year because I was already booked. But I helped the bride find a DJ that would just play music and have fun. The couple were in their 50's and this was a second wedding for them. They pitched a tent in the back yard. The ceremony was earlier in the day in which the DJ had on part in. They just wanted him later for dancing and fun. It was just a party with no expectations of any type of formal wedding. For someone to attempt to charge them as though they were playing for a full planned out wedding with hours of prep time included would have been taking advantage of them. That's not the type of DJ they were looking for.
 
Back yard wedding parties are fun, weather permitting. We've done a few, mostly in new developments for couples who moved here from points North. More often than not they had the ceremony earlier in the day and didn't need the DJ service 'til afterwards.

True, they're very informal. Even the upscale ones with catered dinner in a big tent and hired bartender can be laid back and a load of fun.

I agree with Houston's comments. Get 'em talking about what they want to do and how much they're willing to spend. Could be an enjoyable few hours work with a BBQ dinner thrown in for good measure. :)
 
80%? 75%? WHAT?

You still give up a date and hours that could be filled up with someone who wants to pay 100% of your rate. A 5-10% discount is OK.. but 20%? Are you bringing one speaker VS 2? Are you only driving 5 miles?

Don't discount too quickly.. the brides that say they only need good music turn out to be the ones that dont realize how much coordination receptions take.
 
I would rent her gear

refundable deposit if not damaged!! (written contract to state that she can only get a refund if there is no damage what so ever for any of the gear rented) $500.00

cost for hire is $400.00 for the night (+$50.00 setup fee)
 
DjDennis said:
I would rent her gear

refundable deposit if not damaged!! (written contract to state that she can only get a refund if there is no damage what so ever for any of the gear rented) $500.00

cost for hire is $400.00 for the night (+$50.00 setup fee)
Click to expand...

Once they start talking price it means that they have little money. More than likely they would not have money for a down payment on gear. If they gave you a cheque I am willing to bet that it would not clear the bank.
 
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