Dress Attire for consultations?

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C

Capital Disc Jockeys

New DJ
Nov 5, 2006
1,202
4
58
Schenectady, NY
I have an home office and am often stuck on what to wear when meeting a potential bride and groom for the first time. Most of not all of my meetings are at my home office, and are usually between 3-7 pm. I've done a suit and tie. I've done slacks, shoes and a casual buttoned shirt. I've even done khaki (sp) shorts and a nice summer shirt on the hot days. I've read where some DJs where a tux...I'm not comfortable wearing a tux, overboard for me. I think of myself as a cusual laid back guy. I want my potentials to be comfortable.

Thoughts? Thanks...
 
Dress for Success!
Always present yourself to your potential clients as a successful businessman.
People do remember their first impressions.

My good friend Marcello Pedalino from Northern NJ has garnered an industry-wide reputation for his GQ style of dressing. You rarely see Marcello dressed casually. Whenever he meets a client, goes to a Network meeting, or an industry seminar - Marcello is the man dressed in a fine suit.
Marcello, 2 time winner of The DJ Times DJ Entertainer of The Year Award, is one of the top-notch DJ Entertainers in the country, commanding 4 figure fees for his engagements.

We can all take a lesson from him.

Dress for success - it helps show that you are a serious professional businessman.

And serious professional businessmen command serious professional fees!
 
A tux for a consult/initial meeting?

Umm... no.


Khaki Dockers & a monogramed black polo shirt is a normal look.

I have heard of those who are in an office setting going with a suit/tie - but I think it's a bit overboard if you're meeting at Starbucks, etc. YMMV & is my opinion.


FWIW: The new polos I got a couple of months ago are the new wick-away/breathable polyester. Super-light & are also great for the outdoor summertime gigs & for setting up before an event. No sweat staying close to the skin, so you can "breathe" & be comfortable.
 
We wear our company polos (Port Authority Signature brand shirts with our logo embroidered on the front by a local company) and jeans for meetings. That way, we're still easy to spot but we don't look like stiffs either.
 
I have never once in my life worn a tux to any event, much less a client meeting.

My normal client attire is the same thing I wear in more normal everyday life: shorts and a company polo in the summer and jeans and a long sleeved polo in the winter. I am very upfront with every client that I am not a stuff type guy, and my attire at any event is pants and a button down shirt. No tie, no tux, no suit.

I know a lot of people will jump all over me for this, but it as all about setting expectations for the client. I like to set the tone from the start that how I operate is in a casual, relaxed atmosphere.
 
I've always worn a nice polo and either slacks or nice jeans.... I don't think it's ever mattered to the client.

If the client is more worried about how I'm dressed at an initial meeting than the information I have and the services I provide then they weren't my client anyway.

I think most understand that come event time the dog and pony show goes on and you'll dress appropriately for their event.

My reputation is starting to proceed me into meetings and folks already have a good idea that I'm completely professional both in maner and attire so there's usually only one question..... "suit or tux?"
 
Considering the types of couples who hire the J Mac and me, dressing in a suit is suicide. Most of our couples are recent (or soon-to-be) college grads or older folks who are looking for a fun, youthful party.

Case in point, we had a meeting with one bride who was meeting with her photographer immediately after us. The photographer showed up early and even he was wearing a polo and khakis. He's an older guy who's been a popular photographer in the area for well over a decade. He must be doing something right! :)
 
DJ Ducky said:
Considering the types of couples who hire the J Mac and me, dressing in a suit is suicide. Most of our couples are recent (or soon-to-be) college grads or older folks who are looking for a fun, youthful party.

Case in point, we had a meeting with one bride who was meeting with her photographer immediately after us. The photographer showed up early and even he was wearing a polo and khakis. He's an older guy who's been a popular photographer in the area for well over a decade. He must be doing something right! :)
Click to expand...


I have to agree with Ducky here.... and further add dressing to the nines is fine if that's your style and is what works for you..... I completely understand where Steve was coming from.... but, sometimes dressing for success also means dressing for the clientèle that is in the majority in your area. If that means you dress in a totally GQ suit from the hottest designer (assuming your budget can afford to) then that's what you do.... but, if your clients are more comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt than maybe just a nice polo and slacks is more appropriate.

Bottom line here is there is no right or wrong... do what feels right to you and go get that client! :sqbiggrin:
 
Hey Steve..

Steve Cie said:
Dress for Success!
Always present yourself to your potential clients as a successful businessman.
People do remember their first impressions.

My good friend Marcello Pedalino from Northern NJ has garnered an industry-wide reputation for his GQ style of dressing. You rarely see Marcello dressed casually. Whenever he meets a client, goes to a Network meeting, or an industry seminar - Marcello is the man dressed in a fine suit.
Marcello, 2 time winner of The DJ Times DJ Entertainer of The Year Award, is one of the top-notch DJ Entertainers in the country, commanding 4 figure fees for his engagements.

We can all take a lesson from him.

Dress for success - it helps show that you are a serious professional businessman.

And serious professional businessmen command serious professional fees!
Click to expand...

With all due respect and no offense to Marcello, I'm not the GQ type. I also command 4 figures. I'm curious whom else does the suit and tie?? Maybe I should start to wear a suit and tie and command $2000 or $3000...mmmm...
 
I dress in a suit with very rare exceptions. In all my years of doing events, I've lost just 1 event because of that. The client said, 'I felt like I'd have to 'dress up' to meet with you!' But considering they hired a $400 musician (one man band) over us at $1500 (currently, we're reviewing a rate increase for later this year) - and I'm ok with that. ;)

Any networking meeting - I'm in a suit.

Events - I'm in a tuxedo because most of my events are 'formal'. And 'formal' doesn't have to mean 'stuffy'. ;) There are exceptions where I wear a suit, or khaki's/Hawaiian shirt, or even a raw silk shirt/pants - depending on the specifics for the event in question.

INITIAL client consultations - I'm in a suit, almost without exception.

Future consultations - Varies. Sometimes a suit. Other times I might wear slacks, shirt, and sport jacket or a suit coat. Other times a polo and sport coat with jeans. It depends on the client, the event, the meeting place, etc.

But there are a few things I've learned over the years.

1. Dress for success. You only get one chance to make a first impression. I want that impression to me that I'm a serious businessman - my handshake, smile, and the meeting will let them know I'm friendly, personable, and able to have fun - despite my being in a suit. This only comes about from being comfortable wearing a suit.

2. Dress for where you WANT to be - not where you are. That means, dress like the people you look up to in the business you're in. Marcello is extremely talented and successful. So is Mike Walters. I can go on and on with those people who are extremely successful in this business. They all wear suits. I wear suits.

3. Get your clothes tailored. While Marcello has his shirts tailored, I've not gone that far - at least not yet. But getting your suit tailored is VERY important for the fit and comfort. A 'big guy' in a tailored suit looks good. A 'big guy' in a suit off the rack looks fat. I actually had someone approach me at Mobile Beat 2009 and tell me he liked my suit (it's a 'white' ice cream suit) and how they wished they could wear something like that - but they couldn't because they were a 'big guy'. I told them it didn't matter. I was actually BIGGER than they were - but tailoring meant that the clothes FIT.

4. Have more than one suit. I have a half dozen suits or more along with a couple sport coats, at least 2 or 3 dozen ties, and pocket squares in at least a half dozen colors. Being flexible so you have more than one look is important.

5. Be flexible. If I'm in a suit, I can remove the pocket square and tie and be a little more 'casual'. I can drop the coat if need be, and roll up my sleeves. It's a LOT easier to bring a look 'down' than it is to 'dress up' a casual look. If I meet with a client and it's obvious the meeting is going to be more 'casual' I'll leave the tie in the car, and remove my coat - putting it on the back of the chair or potentially leave it in the car.

But if you choose to NOT wear a suit for some reason, that's ok too. I do what I do because it works for me and my business. What I do know is that there aren't ANY other DJ's that I've met that meet their clients in a suit. Most don't wear a suit to networking meetings. It makes me stand out amongst the other vendors and to my clients.
 
The last job I booked before I went into "retirement" for a bit, I booked wearing a pair of board shorts, a concert t shirt and sandals sitting in a Starbucks. The job was contracted out at $1400.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the kind of suit you are wearing, and everthing to do with your skills, knowledge, reputation and convincing the client you are the right person for the job.

Even now with the new company, I will never ever put on a suit. If they don't hire me because I don't have the right brand of shoes or the right tie, I don't want to work with them anyway.
 
MuiscMeister..

Awesome post. I am a full time DJ and do take my business seriously. Maybe I will do a suit and tie. I have a consult with a bride and groom that already booked me and they are meerting me today...Referral from his sisters wedding last year. Should I wear a suit/tie today or wait till the next one?

I so respect Marcello and Mike Walter, btw..


Define Tailored vs. Off the rack? Thanks.
 
Off the rack is pull it off the rack and put it on.

Tailored means they adjust the sleeves and other areas to fit your body. The biggest issues are the sleeve length, 'bunching' at the top of the back, and a few other 'minor' locations.

Tailoring can be done by most decent 'suit' shops.

Keep in mind, I buy my suits off the rack, but have them tailored. It keeps the total cost of the suit reasonable - particularly if you shop wisely. I like to hit the Men's Wearhouse 2 for 1 sales. I also hit their clearance items when they do 2 for 1. It doesn't have to cost a small fortune to look good. I picked up 4 suits, and had them tailored to fit me, and got out for just under $1000. What's nice is that I got a certificate that get me another $50 when I hit certain spending levels so I use that to pick up accessories or shoes as I need them.

A 'custom suit' is one made 'just for you'. It's not cheap, but once I can afford to start doing so, I'm seriously going to consider it - at least for my tuxedo. :)
 
To me, you can OVER dress for an event and a consultation. Who are your clients? If you are in a rural farming community you may come off as snobbish if you're rockin a tux or a suit. My dress for a consultation or planning meeting is almost always a button down collared dress shirt and dress slacks with black socks and dress shoes or casual dress shoes. For example I wouldn't show up for an outdoor beach themed reception in full tuxedo...especially if the groomsman are wearing suits and not tuxes. You'll stand out like a sore thumb.

My rule of thumb is dressing just a half step or step above your clients. Most of my clients in a rural town of 14k is t shirt and jeans type of people.
 
Steve Cie said:
Dress for Success!
Always present yourself to your potential clients as a successful businessman.
People do remember their first impressions.

My good friend Marcello Pedalino from Northern NJ has garnered an industry-wide reputation for his GQ style of dressing. You rarely see Marcello dressed casually. Whenever he meets a client, goes to a Network meeting, or an industry seminar - Marcello is the man dressed in a fine suit.
Marcello, 2 time winner of The DJ Times DJ Entertainer of The Year Award, is one of the top-notch DJ Entertainers in the country, commanding 4 figure fees for his engagements.

We can all take a lesson from him.

Dress for success - it helps show that you are a serious professional businessman.

And serious professional businessmen command serious professional fees!
Click to expand...

I got to see Marcello give a presentation last year and will attest to what you described. The guy projects a powerful image of success that's infectious. Certainly made me want to raise it a notch or two.
 
If you are someone who is like Marcello who dresses in a suit all the time, then yes, that is what the clients he meets with are going to excpect from him.

But if you are used to being seen in your area in a more casual style, and suddenly you show up for a meeting in a suit, your potential clients are going to be put off. They are going to think you are not being yourself and are just trying impress them, and some may even think you come off as better than they are.

You need to dress how YOU are comfortable, because if you don't, it will show. Just as Marcello I am sure would look out of place meeting a client in a casual shirt and jeans, I would look just as out of place meeting one in a suit when for 20 years people in my area have known me as the t shirt and jeans guy.
 
I go like the man in black Johnny Cash. Dark dress shoes, black slacks and have a very nice button up in Black with our logo embroidered on it my wife wears something similar except her shirt is a nice polo. Many times we have been complimented by our couples and there families how professional we look.

Our bridal package is done in a nice black folder with gold on it and our business card seated in the folder. For us a tux would be thought of as over kill as well and would probably scare our clients who sometimes come in shorts. Most of our clients tend to be young professionals as well. Even at home if meeting with peeps I dress the same.
 
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