Stay away from Craigslist! You won't find a bride on there willing to spend $700. I've seen post where a bride on there is looking for a DJ for $250-300 and it can be someone newbie. Real sad that's all some think of their special day.
Would you DJ a wedding for $550 in 2021?
- Thread starter DJ Ricky B
- Start date
That last 25 person backyard wedding I got from an inquiry from a $5 Craigslist ad I put up. In the past, like over a decade ago I have booked $1,000+ weddings from Craigslist. I have not booked much from CL other than this last wedding since 2015...It seemed to had faded away in popularity, but maybe now it is getting a bit of a come back in people looking for services on there. Or I just got lucky, but booking a $700 easy event from a $5 ad is good in my book!
If you're selling the right service it doesn't matter where you advertise
Four pages into this and no one complained that there was no poll choice for "It depends on the free exposure." lol
Perhaps I’m just unwilling to work for less and give up my 6hrs for anything less than a certain amount. And that while things can be easier... my time is still worth the same. You can accept $92/hr and be happy... to me that’s not appealing
Totally agree Taso! My rate is my rate, and nothing changes that. It doesn't matter the day, the time, the guest count, whatever.
My rate is mainly based on my skillset as a DJ. I never sell my self as bringing the best equipment even though I do, or providing this speaker or that mic. Anybody can purchase equipment, but it doesn't change the skillset or talent of the DJ. With that said, my rate for weddings is much different than the rate for corporate events, but I hope to tighten that up this year.
But, I have actually had clients ask me to lower my prices b/c it was going to be a small party, therefore easier in their mind. I actually find that a smaller crowd or lower guests count is much more work than a larger crowd and requires more attention to keep them lively on the dancefloor. It is always harder and the less talented DJ will struggle more with a small crowd.
I feel a few people on here really lack confidence in charging more or don't think people will pay it. If you are doing the same thing as the DJ down the road, sure, but if you are really offering a better experience through better entertainment and better DJing, people will notice and pay more.
My rate is mainly based on my skillset as a DJ. I never sell my self as bringing the best equipment even though I do, or providing this speaker or that mic. Anybody can purchase equipment, but it doesn't change the skillset or talent of the DJ. With that said, my rate for weddings is much different than the rate for corporate events, but I hope to tighten that up this year.
But, I have actually had clients ask me to lower my prices b/c it was going to be a small party, therefore easier in their mind. I actually find that a smaller crowd or lower guests count is much more work than a larger crowd and requires more attention to keep them lively on the dancefloor. It is always harder and the less talented DJ will struggle more with a small crowd.
I feel a few people on here really lack confidence in charging more or don't think people will pay it. If you are doing the same thing as the DJ down the road, sure, but if you are really offering a better experience through better entertainment and better DJing, people will notice and pay more.
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Please do not take anything I say here as an attack on you and what you do. There was no need to respond to what Bob posted. I don't know you personally and have never been to an event you did for a client. When you post those videos on here I don't if it's you doing the event or someone else and it doesn't matter. You claim to be getting paidn some really great money to do an event. How do any of us know you're telling us the truth? It doesn't matter to me because you're not donating any money you make to me to help me out and I don't pay your bills. Nor am I in a relationship with you. So I don't have to worry about what you're getting paid to do events. 2 things here. You remind me somewhat of Bob Carpenter who used to be on DJ Chat. You don't do exactly things the same way and yet you both charge a premium price for the service you provide and don't have a need to change things in how you operate your business. If it works for you the way you're doing things, keep it up.
I remember Bob telling a cute story. Someone came in to inquire about his services and they couldn't afford the price he quoted them. Also he wasn't going to give them a discount either. They asked him how much to rent equipment from him. He never gave them a price because he knew they couldn't afford the price he would have quoted them. The reason both of you get away with what you charge is because you have enough people who will pay the amount you're asking for and you're advertising your service to people who can afford you at the price you want. You're not looking at trying to convince bottom feeder clients to pay the amount you're asking for because you don't want to waste each others time.
MACHOMAN, It's actually quite simple--The reason Taso, me and others charge 3k an event is b/c we are worth it to the client. They value our skill, talent, professionalism, and overall "package" as a whole.
As you said "people who will pay the amount you're asking for and you're advertising your service to people who can afford you at the price you want."
But, you nailed it--they can afford a higher end service and value a good DJ. That is not to knock a potential client who doesn't value a higher end DJ. Some people just don't care.
There are different tiers of DJs and what companies are offering, and with that comes pricing. A client's so called budget can range and what they value in a DJ might be different than someone else, and that is okay. That keeps all of us employed
As you said "people who will pay the amount you're asking for and you're advertising your service to people who can afford you at the price you want."
But, you nailed it--they can afford a higher end service and value a good DJ. That is not to knock a potential client who doesn't value a higher end DJ. Some people just don't care.
There are different tiers of DJs and what companies are offering, and with that comes pricing. A client's so called budget can range and what they value in a DJ might be different than someone else, and that is okay. That keeps all of us employed
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Here mix will this make you feel better... numbers from 2019, 2021, 2022, as well as a copy of a contract for a wedding I just recently booked, with a small discount included too of $250. Keep in mind, The reason for the dips in numbers after 2019 is because some of the events for 2021 and 2022 still have not chosen the final packages, so many are just sitting at $2500 until the final add ons are chosen at the finalization. I expect the 2021 and 2022 averages to rise by about $300-$400
Remember the night Bobby made the thread about everyone should GWIW? And then right after made the thread about beating a car salesman down so low he couldn't possibly make a profit?
Taso just went the extra mile to show you that he is he didn't have to. Most of us would have laughed and moved on. I think now that Taso did that you can explain why you live a couple of miles from him and make less than 10% of what he does per event?
I'm not saying take out a bunch of paid ads everywhere but the freebies have their benefit. Focus the paid ads and drop free ones anywhere you can with very particular text. Many of these places leave the ad up until you take it down it becomes a one time investment of the time it takes to copy and paste
Exactly. How you value your time has nothing to do with the scale of an event. The inverse of your position is that people who choose to pass you over do so because you are over-priced and out of scale for the event in question.
I have no issue with variable wages to meet my goals and have the resources and ability to scale for varied opportunity. If there's one thing your videos demonstrate - it's a finite scale: you've essentially made a commodity of one type and style of event and seek only those prospects that fit the mold. It has the advantage of a big ticket price, but limited booking potential because it relies almost entirely on FRI - SAT dates in a crowded field prone to imitation and new competitors. The wage means little if it's only coming in for 2 days out of the week. The other days are underutilized - hence you have a second job.
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The thing is I have done events of 50 ppl... micro wedding... last minute. Here’s one that was booked 11 days before the wedding. I charged my full rate. The only discount was I didn’t charge $150 for travel.
So why should they pay market rate, and others not?
Because in real life vanity is a poor substitute for equity. People want what they want and what they throw at it in terms of dollars rarely speaks to anything beyond their own motives.
I did a number of last minute receptions. Makes you feel so good to swoop in and save their day!
Any idea what happened to cause the last minute booking?
I mean idk what they really had that looks “show offy”. Just a couple of lights was really it
Taso I wan't attacking you at all. My issue is with Bob. He's a PITA and doesn't have a lot of friends on here. Look at the post I talked about him.