Tradesman v Dj

[TONYTIGER]

Recently just had a inquiry for a pretty bog standard wedding, venue 10 minutes away times 7.30 to 11.30 easy set up 45 minutes in and out and quoted £ 210 .00 our normal standard rate for small local job.
The client came back asking how i could charge this outrageous amount his reasoning went like this,he is a carpenter/joiner and did a 5 year apprentership has approx £5000 to £7000 tied up in tools and plant runs a van has PLI and Pat and a advertising budget for this he charges £ 14.00 per hour which is the standard rate.He then went on to point out that i was charging £ 38.00 per hour and as far as he was aware there was no formal qualification to be a DJ and my operating costs were similar to his ,he then went on to say he had other quotes that were even more outrageous than mine from other operators who on paper seemed even to have less investment than me and were even less experienced than me and commented before he slammed down the phone,"this disco business is a complete rip off " i did not get the job but food for thought.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

How does he know what your operating costs are?

[funkymook]

He's in the wrong business!

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Recently just had a inquiry for a pretty bog standard wedding, venue 10 minutes away times 7.30 to 11.30 easy set up 45 minutes in and out and quoted £ 210 .00 our normal standard rate for small local job.
The client came back asking how i could charge this outrageous amount his reasoning went like this,he is a carpenter/joiner and did a 5 year apprentership has approx £5000 to £7000 tied up in tools and plant runs a van has PLI and Pat and a advertising budget for this he charges £ 14.00 per hour which is the standard rate.He then went on to point out that i was charging £ 38.00 per hour and as far as he was aware there was no formal qualification to be a DJ and my operating costs were similar to his ,he then went on to say he had other quotes that were even more outrageous than mine from other operators who on paper seemed even to have less investment than me and were even less experienced than me and commented before he slammed down the phone,"this disco business is a complete rip off " i did not get the job but food for thought.

Easy.....he has a greater working window to earn his £14 per hour.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

And how is there a standard rate? If he works for himself, he can charge what he wants.

[chrisj]

I had this reply to my quote of £350 for 6 hrs 7 - 1 am for disco with 4 mood lights (standard) and £500 for full mood lighting with disco for the 6 hrs,. This would have included 3 hrs travel and set up in the morning. It was at a top hotel nr Norwich. December 22nd. Apparently Musicology helped them out and I hope Mark had a good night.

I am confused as to what you mean about £350. If this is what you have previously quoted why is my quote £500, I am confused by this. Can you provide an itemised quote so I know what I am paying for. Only I have had cheaper quotes elsewhere of which one is from a DJ in Ipswich who can do all day set up for less but is not as knowledgeable of the music request.

Both myself, my partner and the hosts ie (parents) in all honesty feel that £500 is too steep. I understand that you factor in skill sets, knowledge, equipment etc but with all this in mind it factors down to what I see on paper and that is the per hour rate. I see this per hour rate to equate to what a skilled scaffolder (for example) would have to work a full day for. Please excuse my wording its just with the current economy I struggle to understand the valuation when other higher skill sets require less money.

Could you possibly explain the £350 and also itemise your quote? To put it into context my partner has to do 2 whole weeks work in the forces all day with what most believe to be the highest skill set possible (being serving personel) to gain the money required to pay for the 5-6 hours the DJ will work. Unfortunately that is a higher amount than our Freelance photogropher with 2 Ba-Hons degrees is charging for the whole day.

Please don't take this contact the wrong way but please understand that in the current economy money talks and I am struggle to compare the value of (for example) 2 weeks of my partners hard work spent on 5 hours labour. I hope this makes sense to you and that you respond with the above requests met?

Please understand I am not having a go at you or insulting your work I a mearly trying to gain an understanding. As a previous serving forces personel I am sure you share all forces frustration with there pay compaired to that of civilians. I am sure you can completely understand my questioning of the quote (not just yours) as I'm not saying you personally are but it seems that anyone in the wedding sector bumps up prices just because its a wedding.
[/SIZE]

As it happened I worked for 4 /12 hrs for £375 that night in a village hall + I had a kids disco in the afternoon and I was far better off.

[chrisj]

Sorry about the big font.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Sorry about the big font.

Edited for you (BTW You can edit your own posts up to 10 minutes after you've posted )

[chrisj]

Thanks Angela.

[Sapphire Disco]

The going rate for a qualified tradesman is min £200 a day £25 per hour if the guy is under valuing himself it's not your fault and he wont be able to make ends meet he shouldn't expect you to do the same.

The minimum any DJ should go out for is £50 per hour playing time.