Do you nickel and dime clients?

[MIXMASTERMACHOM]

First of all, it doesn't matter what you think. When's the last time you planned a successful event? People who want to hire great entertainment understand that there may be additional costs involved. Go hire a well-known band and you may find that the price for their performance doesn't include a PA system, drums or staging.

There's a reason I sometimes show things like parking fees as a line item - because when their events are at certain venues, I need my clients to understand that I know what I'm doing. The DJ who throws out one price with no mention of details like parking probably doesn't have experience working at many city venues. More often than not, the load-in is brutal and parking is neither convenient nor cheap. Seeing as my clients sometimes make valet parking arrangements for all of their guests, they have the ability to include me in their tally, or they may opt to cover my parking expenses separately. It's up to them.

Trust me on this: The client that's spending big money for you to be at their event isn't worried about having to cover your parking. Fees are everywhere in the event planning and hospitality industries. By comparison, the amount I request for incidentals is pretty small.

I get both you and especially DJCC on what he charged the client to do their wedding. My question comes up is how much will a parking fee for example take away from your profits? I understand for sure that parking fees at some parking lots are very high. Hell where I was born in Newark, NJ to park in downtown Newark in certain areas at certain times can cost $30.00. That's due to 2 spots that are in the downtown area. There's NJPAC and the Prudential Center. When they have events at either one of those spots the price for parking goes up.

With that being said I still say i just couldn't see myself separating a parking fee so the client can see how much it will cost me. Now if you're talking about what DJCC said he had to do to book that wedding 4 hours away one way, I certainly agree with him on that one. Just ask yourself this question. How often do we get a client like that in our lifetime as a DJ? I doubt it's once a month or hell even once a year.

Now I get that maybe you may not have the $30.00 to spend on parking the day of the gig. Yes that can be a bit much. My thing is if you're a single op and someone is willing to pay you say 1k, could you just eat that cost without having to show the client you have to pay to park? You still get to make $970.00 before any other expenses are coming out. Depending on how much your expenses are you just may need to show a client your expenses so they see that you're not just over charging them. That this is the reason for such a high price. That high price can depend on too what you think is high. Some may charge 1k on a regular bases. So to them that may not be a high fee for the service they provide.

 

[B-Sharp]

My thing is if you're a single op and someone is willing to pay you say 1k, could you just eat that cost without having to show the client you have to pay to park? You still get to make $970.00 before any other expenses are coming out.

You could "eat that cost", but why would you voluntarily take a 3% hit before you've even set up for the job? This isn't a hobby. It's a business. The goal is to make money.

By the way, some parking garages won't let your van in because it's too high or because commercial vehicles are prohibited (thank you, terrorism). Where are you going to park now? Remember that you'd like your wheels to still be there at midnight when you're ready to load out.

Mix, keep doing what you're doing. Your clients probably admire that your competitive pricing and can-do attitude leaves you nearly broke at the end of the day.

 

[DJ_MJ]

Someone here used to have that little clip of the dude beating the dead horse...insert that (or:BangHead into every 'MIX' thread...and call it good. The funniest part of the whole thing is, some people actually still try to REASON with this guy.

 

[B-Sharp]

Someone here used to have that little clip of the dude beating the dead horse...insert that (or:BangHead into every 'MIX' thread...and call it good. The funniest part of the whole thing is, some people actually still try to REASON with this guy.

I'm not trying to reason with him. Most of the time, I respond because I know at some point someone will stumble across these forums and realize that there's actually a goldmine of good info here. Without a few candid posts from people who actually know the business and how to run one, one might incorrectly assume that Mixmastermachom is as good as this profession gets.

 

[MIXMASTERMACHOM]

You could "eat that cost", but why would you voluntarily take a 3% hit before you've even set up for the job? This isn't a hobby. It's a business. The goal is to make money.

By the way, some parking garages won't let your van in because it's too high or because commercial vehicles are prohibited (thank you, terrorism). Where are you going to park now? Remember that you'd like your wheels to still be there at midnight when you're ready to load out.

Mix, keep doing what you're doing. Your clients probably admire that your competitive pricing and can-do attitude leaves you nearly broke at the end of the day.

When I said eat the cost I meant that at 1k aren't you already getting paid a decent amount that it should cover your parking fee? Like I said in the beginning if you charge enough you shouldn't have to nickel and dime a client for every little thing.

 

[rickryan.com]

Seeing as most of your events take place at a bar down the street, I don't think you need to worry about travel or parking.

I thought they were always his "friend's event"?

 

[DJCC]

Mix, did you have a "chapter" meeting this week?

 

[Ausumm]

I saw a website that said there would be additional charges if the event was to take place in certain city's. Additional charge for gas to go a certain distance and a parking fee when going to certain towns. Do you do such things?

For me i say no way! I say just charge a certain price and if you have to include such things in the price then so be it. Don't just separate such charges. I say if you charge more then enough then you won't have to worry about nickle and diming a client to death like that. Why should they have to pay for such additional charges? Shouldn't that come along with doing business? Just asking.

Some situations require an additional cost.
I know you are suggesting "including it in the price"...
but that would defeat the purpose of posting a base price on the website!

Whether you are ADDING or INCLUDING the additonal cost...
it's still technically "nickel and diming".
You're just trying to hide it.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

Some situations require an additional cost.

There's a CDB Mike -- cost of doing business.

I've worked for a lot of large corporations, the fed gov't, etc... They don't pay you for your subway or train commute. They don't pay for your lunch. That's all CDB. You negotiate a decent salary, and you pay your costs out of pocket.

I paid like $250 a month to commute to Manhattan, plus parking charges at the station -- nobody gave me anything to cover those costs.

Why should a DJ be any different...?

 

[ahoustondj]

There's a CDB Mike -- cost of doing business.

I've worked for a lot of large corporations, the fed gov't, etc... They don't pay you for your subway or train commute. They don't pay for your lunch. That's all CDB. You negotiate a decent salary, and you pay your costs out of pocket.

I paid like $250 a month to commute to Manhattan, plus parking charges at the station -- nobody gave me anything to cover those costs.

Why should a DJ be any different...?

So if they asked you to work overtime or on weekends for free you will do it right?

 

[SoftJock Rick]

So if they asked you to work overtime or on weekends for free you will do it right?

Done it plenty of times -- we used to do disaster preparedness on the weekends, simulate our systems going down, and bringing them back up off site. We didn't get paid any more for that. It was part of the job.

I had to drive down to Joisey many a times, and spend all weekend there. Nobody paid for my gas, except me. Brought a sleeping bag, and slept on the floor.

But, I happen to be a former Marine -- we're used to that sort of stuff.

 

[ahoustondj]

Done it plenty of times -- we used to do disaster preparedness on the weekends, simulate our systems going down, and bringing them back up off site. We didn't get paid any more for that. It was part of the job.

I had to drive down to Joisey many a times, and spend all weekend there. Nobody paid for my gas, except me. Brought a sleeping bag, and slept on the floor.

But, I happen to be a former Marine -- we're used to that sort of stuff.

Well you would, I would't. My time is worth money. If I am not getting paid I would rather be doing something fun for myself....like chasing the Redheads!

 

[SoftJock Rick]

Well you would, I would't. My time is worth money.

I couldn't care less about chasing redheads -- they annoy me.

If they amuse you, go for it -- more trouble than they're worth IMHO.

 

[DJ_MJ]

Without a few candid posts from people who actually know the business and how to run one, one might incorrectly assume that Mixmastermachom is as good as this profession gets.

Ah, no. Any reader bearing the literacy of a middle school student, would quickly grasp the obvious.

 

[DjDennis]

lol when you have worked long enougfh and get hit with the same questions (especially from one person)

you will always see the boring side and there is a few here that do that well

have a crappy day too djcc

 

[DJCC]

lol when you have worked long enougfh and get hit with the same questions (especially from one person)

you will always see the boring side and there is a few here that do that well

have a crappy day too djcc

You took me of ignore? Please, put me back on.

 

[SoftJock Rick]

You took me of ignore? Please, put me back on.

I can never understand the whole ignore thing.

You can't learn anything, if you refuse to listen to others. Everybody has something to say, that might help your world.


Have a nice month

 

[Jeff Romard]

Let's go from the top

I get both you and especially DJCC on what he charged the client to do their wedding. My question comes up is how much will a parking fee for example take away from your profits? I understand for sure that parking fees at some parking lots are very high. Hell where I was born in Newark, NJ to park in downtown Newark in certain areas at certain times can cost $30.00. That's due to 2 spots that are in the downtown area. There's NJPAC and the Prudential Center. When they have events at either one of those spots the price for parking goes up. .

So it's OK for major corporations to nickle and dime their clients but not DJs? Do you charge extra for high demand days like say NYE? Is that nickle and diming too?. I don't go anywhere usually that I have to pay for parking...One of the advantages that I have living in this area the venues have free parking but if I did it would be built in to the price same as most things are. I don't sell packages I create packages dependant on the client

With that being said I still say i just couldn't see myself separating a parking fee so the client can see how much it will cost me. Now if you're talking about what DJCC said he had to do to book that wedding 4 hours away one way, I certainly agree with him on that one. Just ask yourself this question. How often do we get a client like that in our lifetime as a DJ? I doubt it's once a month or hell even once a year.

For me it's several times a year...A disadvantage to living in my area. It's very rarley 4 hours but 2-2.5 one way isn't unusual. I also charge hourly for travel time not just for gas because time is money. Again it's built in to the price

Now I get that maybe you may not have the $30.00 to spend on parking the day of the gig.

If you have a business plan you will always have $30.00 for parking if that is part of your business expenses. If you don't have a business plan you have a hobby and the fees to park outside your basement shouldn't be that much

My thing is if you're a single op and someone is willing to pay you say 1k, could you just eat that cost without having to show the client you have to pay to park? You still get to make $970.00 before any other expenses are coming out. Depending on how much your expenses are you just may need to show a client your expenses so they see that you're not just over charging them. That this is the reason for such a high price. That high price can depend on too what you think is high. Some may charge 1k on a regular bases. So to them that may not be a high fee for the service they provide.

Are toy willing to give up 3% of your income for next year? If you are I'll be glad to take it. If your rate is $1000 and parking is $30 why not charge $1050 and make $20

 

[SoftJock Rick]

Are toy willing to give up 3% of your income for next year? If you are I'll be glad to take it. If your rate is $1000 and parking is $30 why not charge $1050 and make $20

Jeff, that makes you a used car salesman.

I don't charge people for my internet connection, I don't charge them for my electric. It's the CODB.

I don't like raping people.

 

[ahoustondj]

Jeff, that makes you a used car salesman.

I don't charge people for my internet connection, I don't charge them for my electric. It's the CODB.

I don't like raping people.

If you do not have your averages already factored into your price, then your business plan sucks! You are giving away money from the very beginning. Incidentals that happen after a contract is written, quote is made or compensation agreement set are costs that have to be "eaten".

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