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My ideal client is one who wants a fun wedding, isn't too high maintenance and will meet my fee...Quote:
Originally Posted by rth_discos
YMMV but if, like me, you're happy doing a range of types of client then why should we pigeon hole or limit our marketability?
Do you have a link to your website?
I'm going to play Devil's Advocate here Gavin...Quote:
Originally Posted by rth_discos
The audience is there and it's really NOT a niche market. I get a lot of hits on the Imagine site for retro discos (and I really DO mean a lot). The problem is getting the buggers to convert to paying customers prepared to pay for a night of quality entertainment from a '70s and '80s specialist.
For some reason old equipment = cheap prices....not in my world! But convincing customers of that fact is a different story (have you got any idea how much a proper incandescent coloured filament lamps cost these days?) The Retro Roadshow EATS lamps for breakfast....especially if you try to move a libghtscreen before the lamps have cooled properly!
There aren't too many of us left with an old fashioned light show in East Anglia now. Another one retired just last week due to becoming his wife's full time carer (and he's a lot older than me...you've met me Gavin...you KNOW I'm not a dinosaur.....yet).
Marketed and SEO'd correctly (when I get the physical time, will to live, and energy), the Retro Roadshow could actually provide a gig every couple of weeks if I wanted it to (it goes out at the moment an average of a dozen times a year).
BUT...do I want it to? It's HOT (especially in the summer months at just shy of 2Kw in lamps...it's like standing behind a fan heater!), it's heavy (it actually weighs in at just under a metric tonne!), and it's bloody temperamental with lamps blowing and tripping circuit breakers.
Believe it or not, it still has the smell of '80s beer and cigarette smoke embedded into the carpeting :)
As much as I love the Retro Roadshow and all that it represents (especially the music), I'm not sure I'd want it to take over my life and be my main disco though...
I'm slightly aggrieved I was quoted saying something that wasn't intended to look like I'm one of the offenders. If people want cheesy, tacky routines at their wedding that's their prerogative is what I meant. Not that I'm happy to cowtow to everything.
I witnessed a 'mr & mrs' game 1st hand a few weeks ago & while I'm not against fun at weddings I thought it was tacky & best left to Vernon Kay on the proletariat channel.
I experimented with 'have everything your way' & didn't enjoy the experience much. Being laden with totalitarian playlists is someone else's gig not mine.
Maybe my tagline should be "watch itv? Don't book me!"
Personally I can't stand cheese. Or rock. Or most indie. 70s can do one as could most of the 80s.Ugh. Thankfully for my customers it's entertaining them with music THEY enjoy that gives me my jollies. If I was to limit myself to playing only music I love I'd have no customers!
Of courseQuote:
Originally Posted by Jim - Scotland's Party DJ
https://www.freestyleentertainment.co.uk
I've reduced my enquiries, but increased my conversion rate.
The brides that contact me already love what I do before they've spoken to me.
The price I quote becomes irrelevant (in most cases!) at that point.
Unless I am missing something, I think your website looks like a 'generic' wedding DJ site and doesn't scream about any of the specialities you mentioned, bar offering all day services :confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by rth_discos
Read the wording on the home page and you'll see it paints a very specific type of wedding reception.Quote:
Originally Posted by ppentertainments
As I say, it's done a great job of attracting the type of person I do want.
Equally, I don't get enquiries from price shoppers, or anyone who's not my target audience.
Nope sorry, apart from offering all day services and the usual 'we don't play cheese' line nothing jumps out.Quote:
Originally Posted by rth_discos
It works for you though which is what matters.
Never had you bagged as a Comedian Chris - but this made me snigger a bitQuote:
Originally Posted by ppentertainments
If you are catering specifically for the wedding market, I think you need to have some kind of USP to differentiate you from the countless others that are all competing in the same market. I used to say that I was very 'request friendly' and that I also encouraged music input. This worked well for me because, whether we like it or not, there is still a stigma attached to the mobile DJ and lots of people already have a preconception that the DJ is going to be 'cheesy' or that they are going to play what THEY want to hear all the time.
Personally, I think that's wrong (as I am sure we all do), but that's just the way some people are. They may have various reasons why they think that.
I got into the whole DJ thing via my passion for the alternative music side of things and I did well at that, promoting and DJing my own nights. This was before the pubs had extended opening hours. Once people realised that they could stay in the pub for longer, this started affecting the nights I did because most of the places I promoted at, were licensed until 2.00am and if people could stagger out of the pub at 12.30am, I found that they begrudged paying to get into somewhere for the last 90 minutes. The numbers didn't suddenly start dropping in spectacular fashion because there were the hardcore alternative music lovers who kept supporting my nights. I just thought it was time to give it a swerve so I then got into the Weddings and Birthdays Discos and that's where the 'request friendly' thing came in.
I also thought I'd cater for those that didn't want the 'typical' wedding disco and so I pushed the alternative side of things on to weddings and was amazed at how many bookings I confirmed for customers who had the same passion for the music as I did.
These days, I find myself cherry picking. I decide what bookings I want to do and when I want to work and I'm under no pressure to keep the diary full because I am doing other things for work.
".....or do we sell our differences?"
When the passion returns (which I am sure it will), I will do things differently. I will just concentrate on the alternative side and also the retro side too.
I believe in playing to your strengths and doing what you know you are good at.
Don't get me wrong, I played many, many genres of music for 100's if not, 1000's of bookings over the years but, the bookings I enjoyed the most were the bookings that I didn't even have to think about too much because I knew the music genre inside out.
Yes, I liked being pushed and I learnt a lot about some genres that I didn't know before.
Getting a booking in the diary for (for example), a wedding where the music throughout the night was Chart / Dance & RnB didn't fill me with the same excitement as a booking that included lots of alternative music but, I would take it on because I relied on the bookings to pay the bills because it was my job. I would do a decent job, get good feedback and that would fill me with confidence but, I'd rather have a diary full of bookings that I know I will enjoy.
Ok, in this job, that isn't always going to happen BUT, it CAN if you sell your differences so, that's exactly how I look at things now and how I will operate as and when I decide to delve back into the job properly.
OK, so some lines from your website:Quote:
Originally Posted by ppentertainments
which caters to your individual wants and needs.
completely bespoke to guarantee satisfaction
perfectly tailored your individual wedding
Any special requirements or requests
Our professional DJ carries a wealth of experience
produce custom-made wedding DJ packages
We Take the Time to Create the Perfect Wedding Entertainment
every aspect of your wedding entertainment is to the highest standard
to ensure you get exactly what you want
We have music spanning every genre and period
You are essentially saying 'we'll do anything you want'
Mine:
My music and hosting experience transforms average mundane weddings into glorious celebrations
create a party that your guests will be talking about days, weeks, months and years after your special day is over
introduced into your reception to spontaneous applause, whistles and cheers
Culminating with a high energy circle where friends and family are holding hands and singing their hearts out, filling the room with love, laughter and maybe the odd tear of happiness too
If you want a day (and night) that’s packed with emotion, energy, spotlight moments that create lasting memories and an atmosphere created just for you
I attract people who want a fun wedding where all of their guests are involved in fun of the day
The reality is, very few DJs understand marketing - and that's understandable - we're DJs after all!
But for those who market their business properly, the results can be astounding.