djsherz
A colleague of mine had a great way of justifying the expense of a wedding disco to a potential client.
He regularly attended wedding fairs, you know the kind of thing - a hotel function room full of DJs, photographers, caterers etc. On arrival, he'd ask to set up next to a caterer. When a client came by his stand, inevitably the first question would be "how much?", at which point he'd point across the way and say "half the price of that cake", which put things in perspective!
At the end of the reception, people won't be going home commenting on the quality of the cake, but the entertainment can make or break the night!
He regularly attended wedding fairs, you know the kind of thing - a hotel function room full of DJs, photographers, caterers etc. On arrival, he'd ask to set up next to a caterer. When a client came by his stand, inevitably the first question would be "how much?", at which point he'd point across the way and say "half the price of that cake", which put things in perspective!
At the end of the reception, people won't be going home commenting on the quality of the cake, but the entertainment can make or break the night!
Inviato Tue 31 May 11 @ 11:52 am
djprofitt
hhhmmmmm cake
Inviato Tue 31 May 11 @ 11:54 am
dizzyrocks2001
djsherz wrote :
A colleague of mine had a great way of justifying the expense of a wedding disco to a potential client.
He regularly attended wedding fairs, you know the kind of thing - a hotel function room full of DJs, photographers, caterers etc. On arrival, he'd ask to set up next to a caterer. When a client came by his stand, inevitably the first question would be "how much?", at which point he'd point across the way and say "half the price of that cake", which put things in perspective!
At the end of the reception, people won't be going home commenting on the quality of the cake, but the entertainment can make or break the night!
He regularly attended wedding fairs, you know the kind of thing - a hotel function room full of DJs, photographers, caterers etc. On arrival, he'd ask to set up next to a caterer. When a client came by his stand, inevitably the first question would be "how much?", at which point he'd point across the way and say "half the price of that cake", which put things in perspective!
At the end of the reception, people won't be going home commenting on the quality of the cake, but the entertainment can make or break the night!
Either that was one really expensive cake, or that DJ isn't charging nearly enough. Most wedding cakes I see are in the $500 range so I'm not sure saying "half the price of that cake" is the best approach, unless the cake you're pointing at costs $3,000.
Inviato Tue 31 May 11 @ 11:55 am
DJRudeDoGG
Very well put my friend!! I liked it so much I hope you don't mind but I have used this on my Craiglist ad and on FB. I edited it a little to match my need but gave you full credit. I know I am losing tons of work because of these novice DJs undercutting us pros. I get calls and when I give them my price more often than not they say that I am out of the ballpark and I am quoting super-cheap these days! (Not cheap like the $50 to $200 DJ all night guys you see on CL).
I get called back once in awhile when potential clients who called me first hired a cheapo DJ instead of me and their event went badly, they thank me for warning them but hired the cheapo DJ anyway. I always tell my potential clients to beware of cheap DJs, they are usually cheap for a reason, but most don't heed the warning and find out the hard way...
Great writing City! Very well put indeed!
DJ RuDe
I get called back once in awhile when potential clients who called me first hired a cheapo DJ instead of me and their event went badly, they thank me for warning them but hired the cheapo DJ anyway. I always tell my potential clients to beware of cheap DJs, they are usually cheap for a reason, but most don't heed the warning and find out the hard way...
Great writing City! Very well put indeed!
DJ RuDe
Inviato Tue 31 May 11 @ 5:31 pm
djsherz
dizzyrocks2001 wrote :
Either that was one really expensive cake, or that DJ isn't charging nearly enough. Most wedding cakes I see are in the $500 range so I'm not sure saying "half the price of that cake" is the best approach, unless the cake you're pointing at costs $3,000.
Either that was one really expensive cake, or that DJ isn't charging nearly enough. Most wedding cakes I see are in the $500 range so I'm not sure saying "half the price of that cake" is the best approach, unless the cake you're pointing at costs $3,000.
This was an expensive cake in all fairness, around £600, and £300 gets a very good mobile rig around these parts. I have no idea what $3000 canadian dollars translates to here, but from what I see in the forums, mobile discos in the UK don't command anything like the kind of figures I see quoted from across the pond! Mind you, the american idea of a wedding DJ seems very different to ours - ours just tends to be a regular disco, but with a first dance and a buffet break. Sometimes you'll be needed in the afternoon to provide a mic for speeches, but not that often in my experience. Elsewhere it seems that the DJ is far more involved in the structure of the whole event, for which he should rightly be paid far more!
Inviato Tue 31 May 11 @ 7:41 pm
cstoll
I dug this thread up because it best fit the context of the linked article below and it's more 'friendly' conversation about the subject :)
Also, every once in a while; we should all have a gut check about why we should be paid for what we do. BUT ALSO, about what we do that could be hurting our own bottom line and OTHERS. So, even though I agree that part of our INDIVIDUAL responsibility to make ourselves known and become the more in-demand entertainment of choice for a customer's event or venue; it is not 100% our responsibility to put the whole burden of a successful night on our shoulders alone.
"You get what you paid for!" - pay cheap, GET CHEAP - but don't ever call REAL Professional DJs cheap!
So, this is the article that I stumbled upon that was written a year and half ago (almost a year after djCity started this thread) - we (DJs) are not alone. It is an industry issue and not necessarily the 'cheap djs' that are hurting us - sometimes it is the people we are all trying to work for that are really the cause.
Enjoy the read:
"An Open Letter to Venues That Exploit Their Musicians"
http://www.grassrootsy.com/2012/02/22/an-open-letter-to-venues-that-exploit-their-musicians/
Also, every once in a while; we should all have a gut check about why we should be paid for what we do. BUT ALSO, about what we do that could be hurting our own bottom line and OTHERS. So, even though I agree that part of our INDIVIDUAL responsibility to make ourselves known and become the more in-demand entertainment of choice for a customer's event or venue; it is not 100% our responsibility to put the whole burden of a successful night on our shoulders alone.
"You get what you paid for!" - pay cheap, GET CHEAP - but don't ever call REAL Professional DJs cheap!
So, this is the article that I stumbled upon that was written a year and half ago (almost a year after djCity started this thread) - we (DJs) are not alone. It is an industry issue and not necessarily the 'cheap djs' that are hurting us - sometimes it is the people we are all trying to work for that are really the cause.
Enjoy the read:
"An Open Letter to Venues That Exploit Their Musicians"
http://www.grassrootsy.com/2012/02/22/an-open-letter-to-venues-that-exploit-their-musicians/
Inviato Tue 27 Aug 13 @ 7:15 am
GadgetMan
Read and shared...
Roy
Roy
Inviato Tue 27 Aug 13 @ 8:29 am
DJRudeDoGG
I remember this thread. It's obviously still very relevant. Thanks Chris, for digging it up and of course thanks to DJCity for putting this together. I have used this many times with potential clients and sharing with other DJs.
DJ RuDe
Keep Spinnin'!!
DJ RuDe
Keep Spinnin'!!
Inviato Tue 27 Aug 13 @ 10:16 am
Inviato Tue 27 Aug 13 @ 11:25 am
Stretchincanada
one wedding takes 16 hours of time and can be 100's ok miles and gas and more. people done get the fact that my music purchase of 90 000 songs and 3000 records and 2000 cds is well into 30 000$. Yes I have version of stuff no one else has from records pool and it takes up a 15 ft wall floor to roof.
Inviato Tue 27 Aug 13 @ 12:06 pm
freppa
dizzyrocks2001 wrote :
Let's not forget one other important fact... the social cost. What I mean is to be a half decent mobile DJ means a lot of Saturdays, Fridays and Sundays over the years spent at gigs, which means we miss out on a lot of fun spending time with family and friends. Also, any DJ who works a lot knows how difficult it can be to keep a girlfriend/boyfriend when you're working every weekend. We sacrifice a lot of our free time to be good at we do, and there is a price tag associated with that.
+1
Inviato Tue 27 Aug 13 @ 1:48 pm
djcity
GREAT POST Chris.
We have seen that here in D.C. both with bands and DJ's. It's crazy that some venue owners REALLY expect the entertainment to promote as well.
I let people know I am a DJ, not a promoter. YOU get the people in and I will keep them here.
My job is to provide a party atmosphere via music. It is not my job to bring a crowd. It is my job to entertain YOUR crowd.
If they were "my" crowd, I would have rented a hall and thrown a cabaret and walked away with ALL the money.
We have seen that here in D.C. both with bands and DJ's. It's crazy that some venue owners REALLY expect the entertainment to promote as well.
I let people know I am a DJ, not a promoter. YOU get the people in and I will keep them here.
My job is to provide a party atmosphere via music. It is not my job to bring a crowd. It is my job to entertain YOUR crowd.
If they were "my" crowd, I would have rented a hall and thrown a cabaret and walked away with ALL the money.
Inviato Tue 27 Aug 13 @ 8:48 pm
coach k
Needed this refresher! Still a great read!
Inviato Thu 29 Aug 13 @ 9:26 am