I have received more calls from DJs than prospects in December

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DJ Ricky B

DJ Extraordinaire
Mar 9, 2015
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This morning I had 2 calls from DJs looking for work. That makes 3 DJs since December started. The 2nd DJ who called me today sounded pretty young...My guess is 20 to 23 range. He said he is a "DJ and a Artist" looking for work.

I told him to email me his info, and said I could perhaps use him in the future as a DJ assistant.

The first DJ is a DJ who use to work for another multi op in the area. He told me He hasn't had a gig since first weekend in October. He only charges $250 for 4 hours, and add another $25 to $50 for far drives, and doesn't care what I charge over that. He just wants work. I asked him if he had anything coming up. He said nothing. He has 1 wedding booked next May, and that is it.

Sign of the times. Lots of DJs, and it seems simply not enough work to go around in the area. ...I guess I should be very thankful for the 2 holiday parties, and 1 wedding I have this month!

I did have an email inquiry this morning for Friday night Dec. 22nd. The prospect asked if I have bollywood music, and appreciated my lightning fast response of 3 minutes! I am wondering if they are a company with a lot of Indian employees. ...It's a party for 200 guests at a hotel...We will see if he books me or not. I gave him my bottom price I'd be willing to do this one for off the bat. If he doesn't book, I think I am done with holiday parties for the year...I don't see any more coming in after today as it's Dec. 7th.
 
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I think the mid to low tier work is what's drying up.

Here is what a recent Bride for next October who asked me to send her an agreement to book me for her upcoming wedding at a yacht club told me after I emailed her asking where the deposit/agreement was... She told me "We decided to go in another direction" So I asked "Very sorry to hear :( ...Do you have any feedback as to what I can do better? Any info is appreciated and considered moving forward!"

Hi DJ Ricky,

It's totally not you! We are in the midst of buying a home and have a a5 month at home so things are a little crazy. We've decided to have a much less formal event at our parent's home.


Thanks,
XXXXXX



After our 47 minute long interview/conversation over the phone and her plans to have her wedding at this yacht club near her house, within 10 days they completely changed their minds on what to do for their wedding next year.
 
Here is what a recent Bride for next October who asked me to send her an agreement to book me for her upcoming wedding at a yacht club told me after I emailed her asking where the deposit/agreement was... She told me "We decided to go in another direction" So I asked "Very sorry to hear :( ...Do you have any feedback as to what I can do better? Any info is appreciated and considered moving forward!"

Hi DJ Ricky,

It's totally not you! We are in the midst of buying a home and have a a5 month at home so things are a little crazy. We've decided to have a much less formal event at our parent's home.


Thanks,
XXXXXX



After our 47 minute long interview/conversation over the phone and her plans to have her wedding at this yacht club near her house, within 10 days they completely changed their minds on what to do for their wedding next year.
Sounds like she got hit with a reality check on her dreams versus her means
 
I was actually getting concerned for a while after not having a booking for 21 days in November... but surprisingly I've had a very strong start to my December, with 8 inquiries for 2018, and with my 4th contract for the month going out today (totalling $14k in revenue between those 4 contracts). I suspect another 2-3 going with my services by the middle of next week. The best part is my pricing adjustments made over the fall are really paying off now, with my avg 2018 booking overall increasing by $150 per event compared to 2017. By increasing my base price for Sweet 16's to match that of my weddings and increasing the pricing on my most popular enhancements (lighting for weddings and tv's for sweet 16's) my avg Sweet 16 booking has increased by $300 for 2018 and my weddings are about $200 more. I did decrease pricing for my least popular items in weddings to try and reinvigorate interest in them... we'll see how that goes.

The biggest thing I've noticed is my demand is skyrocketing. This time last year I had 35 bookings for 2017, but I currently have 46 bookings for 2018. Not much has changed in terms of my effort... just keep putting out awesome content. However my bookings from my youtube videos has gone from 4 in 2017 to 8 in 2018. Doesn't sound like much, but in 2 yrs thats 36k in revenue from free marketing is always a good thing. While I keep saying to myself Im gonna slowly back off the recaps, they prove to be super helpful.
 
I was actually getting concerned for a while after not having a booking for 21 days in November... but surprisingly I've had a very strong start to my December, with 8 inquiries for 2018, and with my 4th contract for the month going out today (totalling $14k in revenue between those 4 contracts). I suspect another 2-3 going with my services by the middle of next week. The best part is my pricing adjustments made over the fall are really paying off now, with my avg 2018 booking overall increasing by $150 per event compared to 2017. By increasing my base price for Sweet 16's to match that of my weddings and increasing the pricing on my most popular enhancements (lighting for weddings and tv's for sweet 16's) my avg Sweet 16 booking has increased by $300 for 2018 and my weddings are about $200 more. I did decrease pricing for my least popular items in weddings to try and reinvigorate interest in them... we'll see how that goes.
The biggest thing I've noticed is my demand is skyrocketing. This time last year I had 35 bookings for 2017, but I currently have 46 bookings for 2018. Not much has changed in terms of my effort... just keep putting out awesome content. However my bookings from my youtube videos has gone from 4 in 2017 to 8 in 2018. Doesn't sound like much, but in 2 yrs thats 36k in revenue from free marketing is always a good thing. While I keep saying to myself Im gonna slowly back off the recaps, they prove to be super helpful.

shut up
and stop rubbing it in
I hate you


:djsmug:
 
Looking at the business over the past 40+ years the entertainment business in general goes though cycles, up & down. Change is the other factor. Be it technology, music and/or spending habits, change is constant. When I look at what I did at the start and now it's totally different. From what I use, who I worked for and how much I charge. One trend I've noticed is the trend toward more expensive and elaborate events. Where years ago there were plenty of well paying small jobs so there was plenty work for everyone. But that has changed now there less well paying jobs at bottom but there are still plenty of work in upper market. In the college market where my Video Dances Parties used to be the high point, now they are having large major events spending 5x to 15x as much combining concerts level events and parties. They are installing sound & lighting in their campus night spots so DJ just have to bring their laptops. Yes, things changed greatly. So over the years my company's focus changes to the markets/events we can succeed in.
Now when I work with others DJs I expect them to have a following and/or be able to bring in work. For around 10+ years I supplied a whole DJ setup to about 4 different DJs. I basically put my older excess equipment to work. The guys would just have to show up with their music. I either handled the job or sent one of my guys. The nice thing is we got a chance to get some good free food, mostly the likely the reason we gained so much weight. The craziest day is when one of the DJ's had three events in one day. A afternoon wedding in Westchester, evening wedding in Nassau County, then a 1:00am boat ride out of Sheepshead Bay.
 
Here is what a recent Bride for next October who asked me to send her an agreement to book me for her upcoming wedding at a yacht club told me after I emailed her asking where the deposit/agreement was... She told me "We decided to go in another direction" So I asked "Very sorry to hear :( ...Do you have any feedback as to what I can do better? Any info is appreciated and considered moving forward!"

Hi DJ Ricky,

It's totally not you! We are in the midst of buying a home and have a a5 month at home so things are a little crazy. We've decided to have a much less formal event at our parent's home.


Thanks,
XXXXXX



After our 47 minute long interview/conversation over the phone and her plans to have her wedding at this yacht club near her house, within 10 days they completely changed their minds on what to do for their wedding next year.
I got the dreaded "we are going in a different direction" email on Monday from a bride, who said in the last two emails that she was certain they would be retaining my services for her wedding and they were just getting everything finalized.

I too asked , and she said they decided to get a band, now, this was a budget bride, the wedding was in a backyard, was getting a Military discount , she told me I was the cheapest, so my guess she got the band for even less then what I am was charging.

Butter course she did tell me that I would be the first one she contacts if the band backs out..........my parting gift .
 
I got the dreaded "we are going in a different direction" email on Monday from a bride, who said in the last two emails that she was certain they would be retaining my services for her wedding and they were just getting everything finalized.

I too asked , and she said they decided to get a band, now, this was a budget bride, the wedding was in a backyard, was getting a Military discount , she told me I was the cheapest, so my guess she got the band for even less then what I am was charging.

Butter course she did tell me that I would be the first one she contacts if the band backs out..........my parting gift .

Making an assumption here but wow, a band that's cheaper than a DJ. I bet that's going to be a really high-class, professional band. Said no one ever.
 
Making an assumption here but wow, a band that's cheaper than a DJ. I bet that's going to be a really high-class, professional band. Said no one ever.
Let me say that I am just guessing, this was a budget bride, so if I am to connect dots, then I would come to that conclusion, but I could be wrong and maybe they spent more on the band.
 
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The band may have been MORE expensive, but the couple could have been talked into it from a friend/relative/etc. Don't assume they paid less.
 
The band may have been MORE expensive, but the couple could have been talked into it from a friend/relative/etc. Don't assume they paid less.
"but I could be wrong and maybe they spent more on the band."
 
Making an assumption here but wow, a band that's cheaper than a DJ. I bet that's going to be a really high-class, professional band. Said no one ever.

A decent solo performer here can be had for $150 and you can get a 4 piece combo for $500 or less depending on the night. My buddy is a solo performer and I'm doing his wedding in October. I'm giving him a bit of a break and he's still blown away about what I make for a 4 hr performance compared to him and I don't charge near as much as some of you
 
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A decent solo performer here can be had for $150 and you can get a 4 piece combo for $500 or less depending on the night. My buddy is a solo performer and I'm doing his wedding in October. I'm giving him a bit of a break and he's still blown away about what I make for a 4 hr performance compared to him and I don't charge near as much as some of you
Not to go into my pricing , as that is confidential between myself and the clients , but before the discounts I applied for this backyard wedding during the mid day /out of wedding season was in the $500 range( I think)
 
A decent solo performer here can be had for $150 and you can get a 4 piece combo for $500 or less depending on the night. My buddy is a solo performer and I'm doing his wedding in October. I'm giving him a bit of a break and he's still blown away about what I make for a 4 hr performance compared to him and I don't charge near as much as some of you

It's funny, that's why I got into DJing. Was in Atlanta one night, doing a soloact for a 40th birthday party. They wanted to hear Sinatra, which I obviously didn't play. Started downloading from amazon, they loved it and I went OT. After I realized I could add (at least) $300 to my price I chose to lay down the guitar and never looked back. I talk to my picker buddies these days and when I tell them I'm DJing now, they all give me this pitiful little sympathy look, even though I'm making 10-15 times what they're making.
 
You have to figure musicians in bands are struggling to get bar gigs now days. If they can get a wedding gig that pays more than bars they're in heaven. Of course, these bands aren't wedding bands unless they've been working on getting their material in that direction. I'm in a band that's getting $50 per man so far! We have fun and that's why we do it.
 
My Dad was added into an agreement for a wedding at the American Legion he is a house DJ at. This was like 4 years ago. Anyway, The Legion only charged $250 for my Dad to be the DJ on this wedding for a 4 hour reception since the wedding was right before my Dad's start time to perform the bar gig. ...It would have been a double for him. The Bride cancelled the DJ part of the agreement saying they found a band for cheaper. ...The Band ended up being 4 grungy guys who played Heavy Metal Music the entire time.

My Dad started his bar gig at 7 pm, and when he got there he was listening to how loud the band was playing through the thin barrier wall. He couldn't believe how loud they were for a 80 guest wedding. They also went 10 minutes over time and was drowning my dad out as he was starting to play. The guests at the legion were very glad to hear the band stop playing, LOL.
 
Bad and expensive bands are one of the reasons DJ's exist and thrived