1) Yes, I had to deal with venues who required their chosen vendors to do a "buy out" when you wanted to use someone else. I don't do that, and I don't discourage clients from DIY, if that's what they want. I offer the DIY option but the simple truth of it is that my prospects are choosing the all-inclusive option. I keep hearing, time and again, that they like that I handle it all and it's why they're going with me.
2) I agree with your point but from a business perspective, I have to go with the option(s) that make the most money. At present, that's the all-inclusive option. It's true, I'm losing the networking and word of mouth from vendors but I can't give up bookings for what MIGHT bring in more prospects.
3) I also feel like reviews have kinda run their course however, the past 2-3 bookings have specifically mentioned my reviews as part of their reasoning for booking with me. The last booking was a referral from a bride (the groom works with her) from 2 years ago. That's pure word of mouth and I'll take it.
4) You did infer that I'd likely follow suit with some other venues in your area and I take exception to that. Keep in mind that I basically lost everything (from the divorce) to move back to Alabama to operate a venue. This venue basically cost me a 33 year marriage, along with all my assets. I've got everything on the line and I'm being extremely careful to make sure I'm in a position of financial strength (i.e. no mortgage) going forward. I think I'm meeting that goal. I'm going to be retiring from the day job in 2-5 years. This venue will likely become my full-time living.
5) You're exactly correct and I admit, I've done a crappy job on social media. I do believe that adding the Planner option to my packaging is going to end up being a great move. It's going to give my clients a higher level experience, not to mention the planners I'm associating with are already hitting social media hard. There's momentum building, I just have to keep applying energy to make it go faster.
I want you to know how much I appreciate your input. Even if we don't see completely eye-to-eye, I value your opinion and the great acumen you share.
1) I know what you do, but the person that never calls you and hears false info will never know the truth. Again, it becomes a game of telephone when you have others talking about you and you can't combat it
For example I found out 3yrs after the fact that I had lost out on a contract that had 5 events a year bc they saw me doing so many weddings, that they thought I wouldn't do their event anymore... the reality though was someone said that bc they wanted to bring their dj in, but no one bothered to call me to found out or for me to correct it. 3 years later a new person called me because the dj they were using was terrible. I was shocked to hear that they thought I wouldn't do their event bc that was not true and wished someone would call me all these years. While I was a little annoyed at the time, truth is in the long run it was ok bc I didn't need those events and had more than enough inquiries to fill in the date, but it did create a false narrative which I didn't like.
2) This is the part that I don't get perhaps, as this is fundamental business 101. You're telling me by including the dj, photo booth, and sparklers, at $8500 costs you more money than charging $8500 without it? People are attracted to your base price and the location... they're not booking because of the dj being included or photo booth, etc. Yes you're hearing they love it, but it's not the fundamental reason they're booking you. You're a venue, they're coming to you first for the fundamentals, not because you included the dj. Do you not think that you could get $8500 without the other stuff? I used to include lights, uplighting, cocktail hour etc. in my price. I wanted to charge more, but was afraid of raising my starting price. What did I do... stripped down the base to just the necessities (sound for the reception only). What happened... nothing, other than make more money. Why? Bc the people that wanted the other services got em and I made more money, and the people that didn't care for them didn't add them, but I still got paid my minimum and now brought out less equipment.
This ties back in with 1 & 2. You're only seeing the people that do contact you and their feeding into your perception of stuff needs to be included. How about the people you're not hearing from? Now, if you told me you have more than enough bookings and can't handle anymore, then I'd say you don't need to change a thing. But it seems you're often suggesting that you'd like more business or that you have dry points or are not closing well, so a different perspective is in a way warranted, especially if this is to be your full time thing in 2-5 years.
3) Reviews only justify that what you're doing for that price point and what you're offering works. They're good to have, but no one contacts you because they saw a review. They first hear about you or find you elsewhere (in this case a friend of the groom) and then check your reviews to make sure its not smoke and mirrors. Again everything is tied it in what we do. There will be some that hear about you, read your reviews, and will call you, but then there are others that will do the same but because you're not socially active they won't call you.
4) Again never implied that YOU go out of business, but that this concept is not often received well and that has actually caused all inclusive venues of this sort in NJ to go out of business. I've mentioend that in the past in other threads of yours as well.
You have minimal overhead, but lets look at it from a different perspective. If you had say a $4k or $5k a month mortgage or rent to operate this facility (which is what I'd imagine would cost someone to start from scratch, get a business loan, buy the land and take out a loan to put all the infrastructure and equipemnt in place)... would you still be able to sustain it and be profitable?
5) The planner alone to her how ever many followers alone will not do enough. It's exponential, where the more vendors and people that post about you, the higher chance of exposure you'll receive. The avg person needs 7 touches or 7 moments of exposure to remember a brand. Idk if this person alone can carry a brand and provide enough sustained exposure to Birmingham and its surrounding towns. The biggest vendors for exposure are the ones that are there the entire day... photogs, planners, dj's, videographers, photo booth companies and caterers. All the one's with exception of video that you push strongly in house.
I just wanna see you thrive lol, no hard feelings however you take this, and there are some things that I'm not against that you do such as weddings only. Around here there are tons of those and they end up becoming the most sought after. As long as you convey that message well then you can really do well in the wedding only space.
SIDE NOTE: You created single day option for $2950. Doesn't that literally go against everything you've been saying to me? Like I can literally book the $3000 package and bring in everything I want... hire a day of coordinator for $500 to set up everything for me in terms of decor, bring in my dj for $1500 who will include a photo booth (assume idc about sparklers), and pay $2000 for food for 50 (say $40pp). I didn't need the night before or the next day since I'm paying someone to set up and breakdown that day. All in it cost me $7000 and if I want the extra day for rehearsal its $8000... got everything I want and saved $500-$1000. Meanwhile you only got paid 2950 or $3950 for the weekend... instead of $8500. I don't see the logic of this option without restrictions.
