LOL. If you hadn't already lost me at "qualify" you certainly would have at "worthy."
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Can We Turn LOW BUDGET Clients Into Profit?
- Thread starter sonic-vision
- Start date
LOL. If you hadn't already lost me at "qualify" you certainly would have at "worthy."
"You" is as in: anyone reading this response.
But to your point: "you" do persistently refer to this online Tik Tok content as a raison d'etre.
Let's try this again...
Qualify as my bride bc either they lilely have an entertainment budget significantly lower than what I charge or are no where near my market.
Worthy... well that's them describing what they want to create... In a sense it's their words not mine.
I guess I'll try to describe it with something I jsut saw a couple of days ago on tiktok that got A LOT of other brides expressing similiar feelings. Essentially a bride whose wedding was done a few weeks ago posted saying soemthign along the lines of "does it bother any other bride when their vendors don't post their wedding" she then describes how she knows she shouldn't be upset, but deep down it got to her a little her that her photographer and a couple of other vendors haven't posted abotu their event. She then does state these vendors routinely post events and knows the photographer posted other events from before and after her event. She then continues by saying is it bc I'm not as pretty as other brides or my wedding wasn't as nice. And concludes by sayign she knows she shouldn't be upset, had an amazing celebration and that's what matters, but deep down is getting to her.
Many brides commented saying they loved it when their vendors posted and that they spent a lot of money and makes them feel like people appreciated the details when their friends, family, and vendors shared the event online. It creates that feelgood feeling that it was all worth it. Obviously some commented that it's a celebration about your love for your partner so who cares who posts it... but the overall consensus was that brides put a lot of money and energy, and just bc some can't have as nice of a wedding, they still love it when people share their wedding online.
This a recent example, but variations of this topic happen all the time (why, bc it gets reactions which gets views).
You keep mentioning TikToks that you see, I assume you know that Tik Tok shows you content related to what you’ve previously shown interest in creating a very select curated viewing experience specifically designed towards your interests.
I guess I find difficulty believing that someone as seemingly intelligent as yourself is so insistent that there is only 1 right way to market to wedding clients and seeming only 1 type of wedding client worth marketing to.
While my average price may not be as high as yours, my math over the last couple years shows about 1900 per event, I’d wager my average profit is is equal to or higher as I require no assistants very little in the way of consumables, and my personal hours spent on each event are less as I don’t have time invested in post production video, photo editing and social media posting. If you don’t count your personal labor hours as an expense you are missing a large piece of the puzzle. I simply don’t market to the look at me self absorbed social media brides, heck I don’t market to anyone I just have nearly 30 years of repeat referral business that keeps my phone ringing often even as its well known that I am phasing out. I get contacted weekly by brides saying I’ve heard your not DJing as much but you did my mom and or grandmas wedding and I was really hoping you would DJ mine.
Again this a small town thing, I personally know and see people I work with often at the local grocery store, Wal Mart, local diner, wherever.
In closing your way of doing business works very well in the bubble you’ve chosen to work in. But it is certainly not he only way or best way to do business. It’s simply the best way for YOU to do business
Let's take out tik tok... what about facebook and just brides in general talking amongst each other in bride groups.
You're right though... there isn't really only one way to market. Some spend 200k to market, some spend nothing. Some do free marketing beyond the event, some do the event, go home, and wait for the phone to ring.
But we also have to accept certain realities. You've been doing this for 30 yrs, i've been doing it for 23, with only 15 of those years including weddings. You come from a generation where there was no social media. You built your "base" through pure word of mouth in a time when you didn't have to use social media to create it... just a rock solid performance and actually pick up the phone. And I think this is where the bias comes in. If you're starting today you literally can't build a legit brand and following without social media, no matter how good you are... why bc of the generation of brides that exist. They research online... you have to be online. Nearly 70% of brides statistically will check out a vendors social media before inquiring to see if they match the aesthetic or vibe they're looking for, as well as price (where over half of brides now say they won't contact a vendor without seeing price first).
It's weird bc the conversations and viewpoints on ODJT are completely different than all the dj's I talk to in real life and brainstorm ideas with and discuss what brides are seeking. And I think it's bc this group is marketing to a very different bride/event/generation.
Here's a couple of fun facts based on a survey of about 12k brides just done...
- 2026 is the first year where gen z makes up over 50% of weddings. More than half of gen z says they use tik tok more than any other platform to find wedding information.
- TikTok: 50% of all couples now get their wedding inspiration from TikTok—up from 41% last year, driven largely by Gen Z.
- And for those saying that others events don't influence couples and wanting it to be social media worthy... Nearly half of all couples (48%) updated their budget specifically to achieve something they saw online.
- And here's the real kicker for ALL of social media: 87% of all couples say they have made wedding planning choices based on something they saw on social media (tik tok, instagram, pinterest, youtube).
You and Bob and others are likely on their way out of the wedding industry... you did your time, you did it well. I likely have 15 yrs to go... I have to follow the trends as we're in a trend driven industry. And for someone brand new... well if they don't embrace social media, they'll get nowhere in terms of getting enough work to do this full time. The newer generation of couples will be less inclined to contact them with no social media presence. You have built up 30yrs worth of a network... you will definitely lose some bc you don't market a certain way, but you have enough to make up for that and keep you busy enough.
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This is a whole separate thing and honestly in agreement that people need to pay attention to this side of things, bc this is where the real money is. My expense rate is lower than most dj's I know, with exception of 1, but I'm lower than anyone I know in my price range and type of event performed.. Lumping in ALL expenses (labor, vehicle, payroll taxes, insurances, subscriptions, tolls, upgrades, repairs, parking, website, blah blah blah... everything)... my expense ratio is under 25%. Next year that will go under 20% as my new van will be paid off (paid it off in 3yrs).
Now where I really get to keep my money is taxes, and this is different for everyone, sou you should consult with an accountant. I'm set up as an s-corp so I save money on the FICA taxes on the majoirty of my income. This right here can save me SIGNIFICANTLY (10's of thousands) compared to someone that does taxes normally and making same income.
I'm a numbers guy so I scrutinize every element of my business. I think it's how I'm able to control my spending, price accordingly, and make sure I know what I eeed to book to reach my goal. By knowing what I need, I also know when I can take time off, as 6+yrs ago, I worked anything and everything... but now with a wife and 2 kids, I'm not going for every gig... jsut what I need to hit my goals and maybe a few extra if it doesn't sacrifice a full weekend off or overload my month too much. In June 2019 I did 14 events... never again, now my limit is 8, maybe 9 depending on the logistics of the triple or the month, wth most months being 6-7 and the avg being just over 5 events a month..
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Since you're a numbers guy, you nust realize that the 50% of the 41% increase represented by 48% of an unqualified 87% is less than 0.5% of the availabel business?
It's unlikley you'll see it. but there are some comments you've made that are just patently unhealthy. The point is that older DJs aren't ignorant about any of these brides. We literally don't want them at all. Been their done that, and since moved on. The interenet is not some puzzle piece we are missing, it's a shiny object . . . . and we choose.
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Again your bubble your peers seek the same type of client you are and a Facebook algorithm that is really no different than the TikTok algorithm, it’s hard to see outside of bubble no matter how large it is with out trying to step out of.
What really surprises me about you is I thought you mentioned you had or have a realtor’s license, that is a considerably more lucrative venture than DJing could ever be
only if they can’t be convinced by a professional sales pitch to spend more. Their perceived budget is just a number with a little education and professionalism you may be able to move that number, not always but you loose 100% of the times you don’t try to
Try this again...
The 50% you're referring to is specifically to TIK TOK. That was noteworthy, because in the past it was instagram, so gen z has brought tik tok to the main online platform couples use.
However, 87% of ALL couples used social media to make their decisions for wedding planning. 87%... nearly all.
Almost 50% of ALL brides increased their budget bc of what they were seeing on social media (which was going to my whole point of having a wedding they want to showcase online).
Lastly... Your last point clearly shows you don't have interest to adapting... which someone on their way out has a right to say. They did what they had to during their prime. You adapted to the trends of your time. But someone younger HAS to adapt to these trends to make it, at least in a full time, or high earning capacity. By you dismissing these trends is bad guidance for others who are trying to enter or excel in this industry. You are fading out with your base, because the new base replacing them will have different methods of searching for businesses than what you're relying on.
I too, who is 90% word of mouth... the couples are still researching me before contacting me. Proof... NO ONE calls me... they all initiate contact via my site, meaning they went out of their way to check me out before actually contacting. They could've jsut called... they were given my number... they have me on social media... they could've just dm'd me or text e (my numbers on my instagram)... instead, they first went to my website.
Anyways you're happy with what you're doing, I'm happy with what I'm doing.
So what I was referencing was a nationwide statistic that came out very recently on a survey of various things of 12k couples. For example, parents are paying less and less for couples weddings.
I think everyone overlooked that 87% of ALL couples use social media to influence their decisions. And 50% have increased their budgets and their decisions bc of social media. That is how powerful social media is today.
My real estate license was no where near as lucrative as djing. I have real estate properties/rentals... but that's a different story. But as an agent... no where near as lucrative. Also required much more personal time invested than djing. I could have made more long run annual income long... possibly... but that means I'd have to be in the top 5% or realtors nationwide to earn what I already make now. Which may or may never happen, and who knows how long it will take. Also can't really do both at the same time, eventually one overpowers the other if you want to do it at the highest level... and that's what happened to me. I was working weekends, doing meetings at night. Can't have it all. With that said... real estate agents are getting CRUSHED right now. In my town, where there normally are 10-20 homes for sale depending on the season... has ZERO homes for sale. Just 3 lots. There is no one transacting.
Time is money... I'll take what I have now, invest as much as possible, have a work/life balance that I enjoy w/ the 60-70 events I do, and likely be better off long run than trying to reach the top at this age in real estate, since time invested in the market is priority.
That's just literally ignorant. The word you're looking for is conforming - not adapting, What you describe lacks personal agency.
Leaving the DJ role in the rear view mirror is a step UP. Don't fall asleep at the wheel - Tik Tok might be a place to for people to see what resources or ideas other bride's have used - but it's horrible substitute for a business plan.
The glaring weakness in what you are proposing is the assumption that you are unique and irreplaceable., "DJ" is a terminal condition. If this model was everything you purport it to be then you would have long ago started training your replacements. It's how every business establishes continuity and scale. If we can't or won't replicate what we do then what we have is JOB not a business. You can be as "adaptive" as you wish but that is not job security, it;s dependency, There is nothing of any security beyond your furthest calendar date, and even those presume your phyical ability to personally show up.
This reality is not blurred by frequency. In essence, you may have more "jobs" than Mixx, but you are both essentially operating the same way (albeit with noticeably disparate effectiveness.)
The skills I have now are more tradable across the full breadth of the event industry than anything I did as a DJ. They are not rooted in a legacy method or directed by other's whims, they are adaptive across disciplines. The DJ role opened a lot of doors for me - but, I had to have the initiative to walk through them and continue learning and growing beyond the whim of the next bride.
Tik Tok is not learning, nor is it adaptive. It's merely imitative. That has the effect of limiting our potential. It does not open us up to broader possibility and vocational growth.
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Where does this statistic come form
alot of times I don’t agree with you but this is extremely well spoken
The business plan can be amazing... but in todays times with the shopping behavior of gen z... it's not sustainabale without a social media presence... not if you're looking to do this full time with a certain number of events at a certain price point.
Your other part is not apples to apples. You've adapted to a different business model, which is more of a talent agency or a solutions based business. TOTALLY FINE and literally nothing against it. It's actually a great way to be in the industry as you get older or simply want to be less the entertainer and more so focus solely on the business/solutions side of things. You're focusing on a different type of event and one that often requires a planner network and a couple who is less hands on and a client not doing research on their own, cause if they are, chances are they won't find you. Again you are providing a different business than a simple wedding dj. In NJ for example we're not as heavily planner based. Planners are more so day of coordinators who get brought in 30-60 days before the wedding to help keep everything organized. Brides are the one's doing the booking and communicating and researching. Unlike say my Florida weddings where the planners do 90% of the communicating and are part of the initial consultations and assist in researching for the couples. So again not apples to apples.
I just dont get what is inherently wrong w being a simple mobile wedding dj. Is it the lack of income... cause I know plenty of single mobile ops clearing $100k, $200k, and some much more after expenses. Is it the lack of a sustained business model that outlasts the owner, bc there are numerous that do this and are able to retire comfortably/early and can continue to do this for fun.
As far as tik tok goes... for brides it creates exposure to things they didn't know existed or visions beyond what they could come up with on their own. With instagram you either had to follow it or find the inspiration. Tik tok brings it to you. That's the difference. It has led me to 5 bookings since the summer where I was put in front of couples I would've never been in front of.
Zola just released it this week.
I mean there's other things like 18 months being the avg engagement, more couples are booking things BEFORE even getting engaged (that's happened to me 2x already, where I and the venue were booked before the proposal), people are prioritizing their wedding budget over other milestones like buying a home. But a major part of the study was social media and how it's a factor in wedding planing.
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What you've said here, is precisely what it means to be con-formative, not innovative. You are being defined by your most recent past customer (or perceived online ideal) rather than a sustainable future intention and design.
You are not in the driver's seat. Rather you have yielded that to the DJs and brides you emulate on line. Is that terrible? No. But it can ultimately deliver you to a destination for which you have packed no clothing or resources. What's "trending online" is a poor compass to follow.
It's an observation. I'm simply 30-40 years further down the road and I can tell you what this DJ "subscriber" plan looks like among the many DJs I see who have grown older and no wiser. Still following the same idols, still thinking they got the key to the city - and coming up short. They blame the customer of course for not seeing their true value. LOL.
Consider this: It is not unusual to charge $1,000. EXTRA for a given emcee - based solely on their age and looks. At the same time, I've been on the other side of the DJ booth to hear what these same buyers actually think qualitatively about the performer they insisted on. Tik Tok works great for this purpose, but it ultimately leads nowhere sustainable for the performer if this is the full breadth of their aspirations.
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I agree as a business plan follow trends is an expensive and poor long term choice, build your own brand that few others do and you’ll be more successful long term.
I have a good friend who’s been doing the same interaction wedding shtick for 30 plus years. He is a great host and entertain, but I would call him a great DJ, does everything. Tiny bicycle racing, scavenger hunts all kinds of stuff we would all consider tacky. His average gig is 2700 Very minimal audio and lighting gear . But is booked solid year round with a huge repeat referral clientele. He doesn’t follow any social media trends he built his own brand that no one does as well as he does.
In the end when he retires his business is only worth what the gear is worth, because without him there is no draw. He created a job for himself not a business
He's an entertainer. So, yeah he can do the same schtick over and over just like Elvis and repeat the same performance for as long as audiences show up.
As I understood him, Taso is not an entertainer. He will handle the introductions, etc. for weddings, Quinces, Sweet 16, etc, but he's really all about the music and being the DJ. In the absence of a dance floor or a de-emphasized dance element - he's not stepping in as an interactive performer.
My final focus was the creation of a job not a business. There is no value in the end as the value is the sole proprietor. A little used gear and that’s about it,