Weddings How I Lost $850...

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C

Capital Disc Jockeys

New DJ
Nov 5, 2006
1,202
4
58
Schenectady, NY
WWYD????

31 days ago I received an inquiry for a wedding at a venue I am very familiar with, the staff and I get along very well. The potential bride heard of me through a *friend at a bridal show*..

We corresponded several times, one of the times they surprised me with a conference call on a Tuesday night at 9 pm for about 1/2 hour. Yes, an unplanned cc.

We've been emailing back and forth...I think we spoke once or twice.

Yesterday, she said they had received another offer for the 6 hours at $850, and she wanted me to match the price. I told her I will not match their price, simply because I am worth more than that. I asked her to meet me in the middle, $995/6. Which I thought was fair.

I should add that I did tell her one of my more than qualified DJs were avail. for the $850. She declined saying she wanted ME for that price...

The email I received was they went with the other DJ..

I called her back and asked for her to call me, which I know she won't..

Am I being unreasonable? Was I Greedy?

I don't think so. I stood my ground. You want ME, price MY price.

Thanks..
 
To me $995 in NY seems low for 6 hours, since that is what I would get for it here in north Alabama, and I know several here that get $1500+ for 6 hours.

I have had several try to get me to match a $450 quote from another DJ company, and I'd rather just stay home. But that said I'm not dependent on my DJ money to pay the household bills.

I will deal some if it is a job I really want to do , say a new venue I haven't been in yet, or nothing else booked for the month, but I'm not going to knock off 25%-30%
 
If $995 is the middle, I'm going to presume your actual quote was $1150. If you booked this event, wouldn't it be just as valid to you lost $300 by booking it at $850?

6 hours, the owner of the company, AND your Bose system? Do you really need this particular client that badly?
 
Unreasonable? Greedy? Not at all... but here's a question: What date was the wedding?

Regardless of the answer, $995 for 6 hours is a steal. And she probably knows that she's missing out by not having you at her wedding.
 
I was wondering more of the details myself,,,, date and location,,,,, close to home, this month? Maybe give her a deal depending on my situation at the time.

Far in advance, nope.
 
B-Sharp said:
Unreasonable? Greedy? Not at all... but here's a question: What date was the wedding?

Regardless of the answer, $995 for 6 hours is a steal. And she probably knows that she's missing out by not having you at her wedding.
Click to expand...


The date is May 23rd Saturday, Memorial day weekend. I quoted her $1395 for 6 hours with an option of 7. She told me she was on a budget and would I work with her? Sure, I dropped it to $1195, to be *nice*, but just for 6, no options.

That's when the other offer came through, $850/6. She told me she weren't be entertaining any other offers...Well, she did.

Yes, close to home. Their packages, and I just found out are 6 hours, not the norm 5..

Didn't get it...
 
Taking $850, from this client, who has already negotiated with you in bad faith, would be unfair to (what I will presume) are the majority of your clients, who appreciate you.
 
Like George W said, "It's the economy stupid."

Capitalism is supply and demand. That's pretty much what many clients see.

This apparently was one of them.
 
AlbanyAMS said:
WWYD????

31 days ago I received an inquiry for a wedding at a venue I am very familiar with, the staff and I get along very well. The potential bride heard of me through a *friend at a bridal show*..

We corresponded several times, one of the times they surprised me with a conference call on a Tuesday night at 9 pm for about 1/2 hour. Yes, an unplanned cc.

We've been emailing back and forth...I think we spoke once or twice.

Yesterday, she said they had received another offer for the 6 hours at $850, and she wanted me to match the price. I told her I will not match their price, simply because I am worth more than that. I asked her to meet me in the middle, $995/6. Which I thought was fair.

I should add that I did tell her one of my more than qualified DJs were avail. for the $850. She declined saying she wanted ME for that price...

The email I received was they went with the other DJ..

I called her back and asked for her to call me, which I know she won't..

Am I being unreasonable? Was I Greedy?

I don't think so. I stood my ground. You want ME, price MY price.

Thanks..
Click to expand...

I was just at a seminar last night and herd Peter Merry speak, so from what I gathered there, the only thing I would have done differently here is the way you dialogued with them. I've learned to schedule a consultation in person asap if possibe. Show her why spending the extra $145, or roughly another $1 per guest will be that much better.
The key here Is that when she talked to you about her $850 quote, why didn't she already book this other guy if she liked that price so much? She really wanted you, but didn't see the justification for the extra $145 yet. If you could have sat down and shown her why you are worth $145, then I'm sure you could have landed it.
 
Hey Brian,
Thank you and everyone else for taking the time to respond to my thread. I encourage a meeting with every-one...But there are cicumstances, ie: Living out of town. That prohibits this. Such as their case.

All of our phone and emails were very coridal...Until the $850 bomb. On Memorial day weekend...

I know how to get a client to have a meeting, and I know I will not get every client to book with us.
 
thanks Brian I would like to add one thing. If she was so set on you yet chose a complete unknown why then having your credibility on the line would she have not taken your alternate DJ guessing likely they perform in much the manner that you would?
 
Brian said:
I was just at a seminar last night and herd Peter Merry speak, so from what I gathered there, the only thing I would have done differently here is the way you dialogued with them. I've learned to schedule a consultation in person asap if possibe. Show her why spending the extra $125, or roughly another $1 per guest will be that much better.
Click to expand...

Ron Auger...where are you?? :sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:



On a more serious note, what's done is done. How low you'll go in price is your decision. I don't charge that much for DJ services, but I can kinda-sorta relate. I charge $450 for up to 6 hours (a fair mid-range price in this area). I had a person call up last year and say that they want me to play a wedding for $250. I offered $350 to be nice (slow month anyway). Then the story changed - they had a country band that was charging $250, and they wanted to know if a DJ is cheaper. Again, I said I could do it for $350 and wished them luck.
 
You held firm to your price. 995.00 is really a good deal for 6 hours. You will end up booking that date anyway.

I feel a bit crappy myself because I just lowered my price to meet the need of a groom who attended a reception I did a year ago. I wanted to fill the date 6/14/09 and it's 950.00 for a Wedding 6 hours long.
 
Forget the 'Worth' excrement....for a moment.

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe this client couldn't afford more than $850 for her reception?

Yes, you stood your ground & it got you $0.00

I just was in the same situation earlier this week where I quoted a B2B $950 for 5 hrs & her ceremony. I too was coming "highly referred". In this case, by the photographer & the MOG knew me.

I stayed my ground - you guessed it - I now have $0.00 to show for it.


I think Cap's post makes total sense - How much $ do you want to make a year, and how close are you at this point to achieving your goal? It might make you more flexible in your pricing. Maybe?

Cheers,

Joe

PS: Seriously, I'm sorry you lost the gig - it sucks. But if they can't pay it / afford you, then they will have to deal with other entertainment for their day.
 
Tim - First off, please PM with the local hall now selling a 6 hour package (I hate 6 hour events)... (Better yet, I'll call you and chat...)

Second, I find it interesting (as Mr. Tuck brought up) that they won't use "one of your guys" but ARE willing to go with someone altogether different for the $850.00...

Don't sweat it... It's a hot weekend, and I'm sure you'll book it (at YOUR price)! If anything comes my way, I'll be sure to send you the info (along the other "usual suspects!")
 
Joe I agree with you but it sounds odd that Tim offered one of his alternate DJs for her possible highest amount available. Something doesnt add up here. She paid someone 850 and if Tim were so highly regarded why wouldnt they trust him with his alternate DJ. Going with someone less known if I read this correctly.
 
DJ Ducky said:
Ron Auger...where are you?? :sqlaugh::sqlaugh::sqlaugh:



On a more serious note, what's done is done. How low you'll go in price is your decision. I don't charge that much for DJ services, but I can kinda-sorta relate. I charge $450 for up to 6 hours (a fair mid-range price in this area). I had a person call up last year and say that they want me to play a wedding for $250. I offered $350 to be nice (slow month anyway). Then the story changed - they had a country band that was charging $250, and they wanted to know if a DJ is cheaper. Again, I said I could do it for $350 and wished them luck.
Click to expand...
Ron Auger...where are you??

Don't worry, he's been paged.... ;)
 
Maybe I'm the odd one here, (shup Ron), but how can you lose something you never had in the first place? It always puzzled me about business projecting to make 8 million in profit. When they only made 7 million, they some how lost 1 million.
 
Someone is getting jerked off with no kiss.

Sending one's wedding day entertainment "out to lowest bid"? Welcome, oh clueless bride person. I'm sure you'll figure it out in time for your daughter's wedding but she won't listen to you either, and life will have come full circle once again.
 
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