I made a decision I should have made a long time ago.

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MIXMASTERMACHOM

MIXMASTERMACHOM

Mac Daddy DJ
ODJT Supporter
Oct 16, 2011
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I've been getting beat up online for not doing this a long time ago. I just decided this weekend to start giving out a price quote to potential clients and leaving it there. Stop with renegotiating a price. Just leave the price as is and let them decide from there. I think I've lost quite a bit of business with my old practice. Just figuring if I give them a better price they will want to book right away.

I needed to stop doing this because I was selling myself short. The quality is here in terms of equipment, knowledge and skill. So why not get paid a good price to provide just that? In other words I need to start looking out for our best interest and not the potential client. If they really want us bad enough they will pay what I quote them. Just leave it at that and let them decide. Either they accept that price or shop else where. Time to get some balls! Simply stop being afraid of what I might be losing and start looking at what I could be gaining. Got to go as I have to go to school.
 
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Way to go Mix now for a business plan and get rid of at least half of your 28 partners and you're on your way ;)
 
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You might find it helps to have prices in writing.
Some like to post prices on their website, some do not.
But the concept is basically the same.
You can literally point to it and show them the price, and say "that is what we charge".
If they feel that you are just quoting prices off the top of your head, they know there is wiggle room.
If you have prices clearly marked in writing, there is less chance of negotiating.
 
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MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Not before you do my man! I can't give you that satisfaction. My ego is too big for that. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!
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I've got a 10 year exit strategy, with gigs become significantly less n five years, I'll have what I need to retire at that point, I'll sit back and enjoy my stress free life after that. How you ask because I planned accordingly, I set my goal and figured out a way to make it happen, I don't want to be your age and playing nickel and dime gigs in someones back yard.
 
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tunes4046 said:
I've got a 10 year exit strategy, with gigs become significantly less n five years, I'll have what I need to retire at that point, I'll sit back and enjoy my stress free life after that. How you ask because I planned accordingly, I set my goal and figured out a way to make it happen, I don't want to be your age and playing nickel and dime gigs in someones back yard.
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I hear you. Now those 2 gigs weren't that bad. I only had to drive roughly 4 blocks away and got paid decent money to be their backyard. Not a lot of hard work either. Basically just show up and play. If I burned $5.00 in gas that was too much.
 
Ausumm said:
You might find it helps to have prices in writing.
Some like to post prices on their website, some do not.
But the concept is basically the same.
You can literally point to it and show them the price, and say "that is what we charge".
If they feel that you are just quoting prices off the top of your head, they know there is wiggle room.
If you have prices clearly marked in writing, there is less chance of negotiating.
Click to expand...
Thanks a million. When it comes to pricing I've been all over the place. I need to seriously look at what our prices should be to do certain events. I need them to be truly fair prices for the work we do. Not just cheap prices thinking that will get people to want to book us certainly, no questions asked. Now it's time to decide what those prices should be and see how things work out. Now it's time to get to brain storming.
 
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Now it is time to get "brain storming", you don't think 4 years ago when you started posting on these boards and people were telling you these things then was a good time but now it is the right time.
 
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Dj Jimmy D said:
Now it is time to get "brain storming", you don't think 4 years ago when you started posting on these boards and people were telling you these things then was a good time but now it is the right time.
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Some of that had to do with my ego and how long I had been doing this. It's just time to step my game up and Randy please stop saying I have 28 partners. I have 2 that we work different events at different times. Some I work myself like I did this Saturday. Now when I get the time since I'm very busy with school and 3 other commitments. So I have to find the time to work on business.

This much I do know. I got to raise our rates so we're not competing with the lower priced DJ's because all that gets you is for someone to look to see if they can find a DJ cheaper then you. When you set yourself up to give out a really good price and people know about, that helps to get rid of those potential clients just looking to find the cheapest DJ they can get. Now once you set up such prices you've got to deliver the goods. Some thing that will leave the people saying either that was well worth the price or they got a great bargain because you delivered above and beyond their expectations.
 
Mix just raising your rates will do nothing but give you less work. You have already tainted the base of people who are going to hire you. They know you are cheap and are not going to hire you for more. If they were and thought you were worth the money they would already be willing to pay more but as you have said every client that inquires about you want a cheap price. If you want to raise rates and get better clients you will need to start marketing outside of the area you are playing in now. Sorry to say but the area you live in does not scream high prices and until you branch out further to other areas this will not change.

I have said it once and I will say it again. Stay with your cheap prices and try to get more work this way and then a year from now when these clients come back you can raise your rates and each year after that you can raise them more. In about 10 years you will be at the level you want to be at.

Also because of your ego that you spoke of maybe just maybe you are not as good as you think and people do not think you are worth the higher prices.
 
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Dj Jimmy D said:
Mix just raising your rates will do nothing but give you less work. You have already tainted the base of people who are going to hire you. They know you are cheap and are not going to hire you for more. If they were and thought you were worth the money they would already be willing to pay more but as you have said every client that inquires about you want a cheap price. If you want to raise rates and get better clients you will need to start marketing outside of the area you are playing in now. Sorry to say but the area you live in does not scream high prices and until you branch out further to other areas this will not change.

I have said it once and I will say it again. Stay with your cheap prices and try to get more work this way and then a year from now when these clients come back you can raise your rates and each year after that you can raise them more. In about 10 years you will be at the level you want to be at.

Also because of your ego that you spoke of maybe just maybe you are not as good as you think and people do not think you are worth the higher prices.
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I agree with almost everything you said. I really am that good. That's not me talking. That's way to many to name here saying this. Like I said before when I first came back I was just excited to be back. So I did those gigs practically paying nothing to get exposure and just excited to be back rocking the house. You are right about looking for better paying clients. Now not everybody around here knows what I was charging. Another thing to work on is making the website more attractive. I hope to have that worked on in the near future. Got to run all.
 
Mix, please don't take this the wrong way, I really think your biggest problem is the people you hang out with, they are in general "low income" you will always be in the cycle of low paying gigs until you, simply stop dealing with that type of clientele, get out of the hood and market to some upscale venues, then you will see your income rise rather quickly
 
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Dj Jimmy D said:
Mix just raising your rates will do nothing but give you less work. You have already tainted the base of people who are going to hire you. They know you are cheap and are not going to hire you for more. If they were and thought you were worth the money they would already be willing to pay more but as you have said every client that inquires about you want a cheap price. If you want to raise rates and get better clients you will need to start marketing outside of the area you are playing in now. Sorry to say but the area you live in does not scream high prices and until you branch out further to other areas this will not change.

I have said it once and I will say it again. Stay with your cheap prices and try to get more work this way and then a year from now when these clients come back you can raise your rates and each year after that you can raise them more. In about 10 years you will be at the level you want to be at.

Also because of your ego that you spoke of maybe just maybe you are not as good as you think and people do not think you are worth the higher prices.
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tunes4046 said:
Mix, please don't take this the wrong way, I really think your biggest problem is the people you hang out with, they are in general "low income" you will always be in the cycle of low paying gigs until you, simply stop dealing with that type of clientele, get out of the hood and market to some upscale venues, then you will see your income rise rather quickly
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These guys are right Mix. $300 looks like alot of money until you regularly make $500 and then that seems low when you get to a grand. When you make the decision to move forward you have to leave some people behind and most of your current clients will fall in that list and I think you should leave your partners behind to handle them
 
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