your opinions wanted!

[colint]

as some of you are aware I'm in the throughs of setting up a marquee hire thingy! (as well as the woodwork)
the concept of the new business is to provide a complete hire service for the home/pub garden wedding/funtion market at a set price of £1000.00 per event!

The marquee's will be provided complete with flooring, dancefloor,drapes electrics, & sound & lighting equipment so all the customer has to do is provide the entertainer's
all the equipment is of reasonable quality (& new) i.e Turbosound speaker system,QSC PLX amps, acme led lighting etc

what I need to know is would I be better off letting the Dj provide their own mixer & source or should I provide a mixer and cd system?

if you were booked for an event like this what would you prefer & would you be happy working on equipment thats not your own?

I've set up a basic website at www.agrandevent.co.uk but it still needs some work, your opinions are very welcome!

P.s Ice cream bloke don't just don't!!!!!!

[GM-Entertainments]

good idea.....what prices and quality are the marquee's? also the dancefloors....are they yours or do you hire from someone else....

u managed to get any booking yet?



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[colint]

good idea.....what prices and quality are the marquee's? also the dancefloors....are they yours or do you hire from someone else....

u managed to get any booking yet?

it will all be owned by me and the price is in the post and the company name!
the only thing I will hire in for the moment are illuminated dance floors! but I will buy one as the money becomes avalable (they aint cheap at about £10,000)

edit: sorry missed a bit! the marquees are good quality and are not party tents from asda/macros!

[Excalibur]

The basic idea seems sound , I'm sure the idea of ( almost) everything you want for a fixed £1000 has to be a good one. It gives folk a really good idea of price for their total package very easily.

[Penfold42]

I think it sounds a good idea and well done for seeing it through.....i remember the PM's......:)

I wish you all the success with your new business.........:)

[colint]

The basic idea seems sound , I'm sure the idea of ( almost) everything you want for a fixed £1000 has to be a good one. It gives folk a really good idea of price for their total package very easily.

Thats the idea! but would you want to work it like that? the reason I'm asking is I know from some recent posts that some Dj's prefer to use their own kit (me included) thats why i gone for the turbosound/plx system!

[Shaun]

if you were booked for an event like this what would you prefer & would you be happy working on equipment thats not your own?



No doubt about it, I'd prefer to use my own equipment.

Wishing you all the best in your new venture. :)

[groovy-nights]

Would not be a problem for me so long as it was leading brand system ie allen & Heath,Pioneer,formula sound and denon

[A1DL]

like Alastair said, provided it is industry standard kit that you'd find in a decent club, then personally no problems.

arriving at a club/venue to find say Soundlab decks, Gemini mixer & a blown monitor is bad bad news, as it adversely effects the DJs ability to perform.

but knowing Colin's history in the business, I can't imagine any cheap and nasty brands featuring in his setups.

[Shaun]

Would not be a problem for me so long as it was leading brand system ie allen & Heath,Pioneer,formula sound and denon

I'm extremely wary when it comes to using others equipment. It's your reputation on the line should the supplied equipment fail. I'm not suggesting that Colin wouldn't provide top notch stuff, but I'd personally feel more comfortable using my own tried and tested gear...especially if it was a wedding. It's for that same reason I don't do "walk in" jobs, too many experiences of shoddy and unsafe gear made up my mind a long time ago. The only exceptions are nightclub gigs, and even then I'd do a site visit beforehand.

[Jiggles]

Thats a good idea Colin. There is a company near me that does things like this and there successful.

[djsteve10]

This looks an excellent idea colin but i was thinking, how would you go about doing an early disco set up through the day for you to dj and also setting up a marquee if you had to rig it up on the day of the wedding?

[Excalibur]

Thats the idea! but would you want to work it like that? the reason I'm asking is I know from some recent posts that some Dj's prefer to use their own kit (me included) thats why i gone for the turbosound/plx system!

IMHO I think the easiest option is to provide sound from the mixer onwards, ie PA only. Surely any DJ would jump at the chance to only take playout system to a gig? And don't we all feel comfier with our own kit?

[colint]

For the teckies this is the spec of the marquee sound system there is also a bigger JBL system for live music

4 x TXD-081 mid highs @400watts each
2 x TXD-118 bass cabs fitted with B & C 1000 watt 4ohm drivers
bss active crossover
1 x QSC PLX 1602 for mid high @ 500watts per channel
1 x QSC PLX 3402 for bass @1100watts per channel

the mid highs are flown from the marquee supports (yes it will take the weight) and the system is more about quality than power but it ain't quiet!

I will also be looking for Dj's based in the south london and kent area to add to the links page if your interested please say so but remember weddings are going to be the main event covered so mic work is essential!

[rob1963]

as some of you are aware I'm in the throughs of setting up a marquee hire thingy! (as well as the woodwork)
the concept of the new business is to provide a complete hire service for the home/pub garden wedding/funtion market at a set price of £1000.00 per event!

The marquee's will be provided complete with flooring, dancefloor,drapes electrics, & sound & lighting equipment so all the customer has to do is provide the entertainer's
all the equipment is of reasonable quality (& new) i.e Turbosound speaker system,QSC PLX amps, acme led lighting etc

what I need to know is would I be better off letting the Dj provide their own mixer & source or should I provide a mixer and cd system?

if you were booked for an event like this what would you prefer & would you be happy working on equipment thats not your own?

I've set up a basic website at www.agrandevent.co.uk but it still needs some work, your opinions are very welcome!

P.s Ice cream bloke don't just don't!!!!!!

I'm extremely reluctant to use someone elses equipment, and I'm sure many DJs would feel the same, in which case you could exclude the sound & lighting gear from the deal, and just let the bands or DJs being their own gear, which they're probably used to doing anyway.

Many of my colleagues who run pub quiz nights often plug into the pub's system, which means they can be heard all over the pub & don't need to take an amp or speakers with them...but I never plug into other systems, and always take my own amps & speakers.

Firstly, other people's systems are often old, poorly maintained or knackered, and secondly as I don't know other systems, I have no idea where to set the eq, levels etc...whereas I know my own system inside out.

Good luck with your new venture.

:)

[colint]

This looks an excellent idea colin but i was thinking, how would you go about doing an early disco set up through the day for you to dj and also setting up a marquee if you had to rig it up on the day of the wedding?

lets just say the DT100's will be hung up at last! so that wont be a problem and because of the size of the marquee's they would normaly be set up a day before where possable and just the equipment added on the day, and I will be present as engineer during the day of the event! :beer1:

[colint]

IMHO I think the easiest option is to provide sound from the mixer onwards, ie PA only. Surely any DJ would jump at the chance to only take playout system to a gig? And don't we all feel comfier with our own kit?

This is exactly what I'm thinking would be a nice easy gig for most Dj's just plug and play!

and the reason I'm using good quality equipment is it's my reputation as well as the Dj's so I don't want it to go wrong either!

[rob1963]

This is exactly what I'm thinking would be a nice easy gig for most Dj's just plug and play!

But would they still get their normal rates?

If so, how could they justify that?

If not, wouldn't they rather take all their own gear & earn their normal rates?

[groovy-nights]

colin you can add my details to your site sounds like a great idea.I wish you the best of luck

[Shaun]

But would they still get their normal rates?

If so, how could they justify that?

I'd justify it by saying that they're paying for the talent and experience of the DJ, not the equipment. :)

[groovy-nights]

You cannot charge your normal rate.But surely walking into a venue with just cds,laptop,Hd-2500 playing out then just pick up your items at the end of the night a walk out is a lot easyer.Then getting to the venue unloading a van setting up and disco then having to take it all down and pack up at the end of the night.
The guys who are say i will only use my own gear what about pli pat etc.I would say have never worked in a nightclub,bar or other installed venue.

[wensleydale]

i think its a good idea- my two penneth-
i am always sceptical about "fixed prices"- i wonder if i am over paying if i dont need something (eg I have already booked a dj with sound equipment) but also worry that the "one size fits all approach" is being taken rather than a bespoke personalised service.

secondly, i would ask whether you can sustain this price long term- prices are generally determined by supply and demand and if if you think you can do something for half the market rate it seems a little strange.
£1000 sounds good but can you do it long term?

[colint]

that would be between the Dj & the client, but the fact they've just saved about £1400 on the hire of the marquee should shape them up a little!
I got a hire in november booked for a pub in kent (40th birthday) he was quoted £2600 for a marquee including setup I've done it for a grand!

I've got him a Dj for £175.00 for 4hours (I take nothing from the Dj just pass the number) all he has to do is bring his cd's & headphones the customer was over the moon and the Dj well chuffed because everthing is done for him!

[Excalibur]

But would they still get their normal rates?

If so, how could they justify that?

If not, wouldn't they rather take all their own gear & earn their normal rates?

I'm doing a gig in a Nearby hotel ( Willerby Manor, -- Twinspin, and Simon Cowey will know it well) which has built in lightiong ( crap, but it's there) Full PA ( though I may still take a small one) so technically all I need is CD Players, Mixer, CD's and Mic/Cables. It's still a full price gig, customer is happy, I'm happy, everybody's happy!:D :D I can justify it! ;)

[rob1963]

You cannot charge your normal rate.

I agree.

It's all very well to say "charge your normal rate & justify it by saying they are paying for your talent & not the equipment", but I wonder how many potential clients would be happy to accept that?

[Excalibur]

that would be between the Dj & the client, but the fact they've just saved about £1400 on the hire of the marquee should shape them up a little!
I got a hire in november booked for a pub in kent (40th birthday) he was quoted £2600 for a marquee including setup I've done it for a grand!

I've got him a Dj for £175.00 for 4hours (I take nothing from the Dj just pass the number) all he has to do is bring his cd's & headphones the customer was over the moon and the Dj well chuffed because everthing is done for him!

The beauty of this system is that Colin knows the gear will fit the Marquee. I hate trying to make my gear fit into a Marquee with 4ft high sides, and I'm in a corner with a 10ft high truss!! My only suggestion is to let the DJ's use own decks/laptop and mixer, but that's a nitpick!

[colint]

i think its a good idea- my two penneth-
i am always sceptical about "fixed prices"- i wonder if i am over paying if i dont need something (eg I have already booked a dj with sound equipment) but also worry that the "one size fits all approach" is being taken rather than a bespoke personalised service.

secondly, i would ask whether you can sustain this price long term- prices are generally determined by supply and demand and if if you think you can do something for half the market rate it seems a little strange.
£1000 sounds good but can you do it long term?

Let me put it this way after about 10 hires everything apart from the sound equipment (of which most of it I already have) is paid for so after this period I have just insurance's the occasional pat testing & transport to pay for, so yes I can keep the price for a good time.
and If someone decides to use there own entertainer thats also fine but the set price remains it's then their choice.

[Excalibur]

You cannot charge your normal rate.QUOTE]

[QUOTE=rob1963;188373]I agree.

It's all very well to say "charge your normal rate & justify it by saying they are paying for your talent & not the equipment", but I wonder how many potential clients would be happy to accept that?

With the greatest of respect chaps- COBBLERS! See my previous post, and of course the customer must cost the package. If a DJ were to bring his own full kit, and said he had to charge more to set it up on time, make it fit, bring Cables etc then Colin rigging it up at a fixed price, and DJ simply strolling in at normal rate, must be cheaper, and better.

[rob1963]

[QUOTE=groovy-nights;188358]You cannot charge your normal rate.QUOTE]

With the greatest of respect chaps- COBBLERS! See my previous post, and of course the customer must cost the package. If a DJ were to bring his own full kit, and said he had to charge more to set it up on time, make it fit, bring Cables etc then Colin rigging it up at a fixed price, and DJ simply strolling in at normal rate, must be cheaper, and better.

We're disagreeing again.....excellent! :D :D :D

[colint]

[QUOTE=groovy-nights;188358]You cannot charge your normal rate.QUOTE]



With the greatest of respect chaps- COBBLERS! See my previous post, and of course the customer must cost the package. If a DJ were to bring his own full kit, and said he had to charge more to set it up on time, make it fit, bring Cables etc then Colin rigging it up at a fixed price, and DJ simply strolling in at normal rate, must be cheaper, and better.

and also more controlable don't forget it's a marquee so noise is a problem!

[BeerFunk]

The original idea though....

Sounds great - an all-in-one solution with the DJ as optional! I'm sure it would appeal to anyone organising an event, to save a lot of hassle.

[colint]

Lot's of good and much valued comments!
thanks to you all (and thanks also for your best wishes) all have been taken on board, and on the strenth of it all I'll just supply amps, speakers and lighting and let the Dj's supply their own mixers and source equipment & my own stuff can be added as an option if required!

[DJ James Lake]

I would still charge my full normal rate even if the equipment was a there. After all weddings tend to be on prime nights I charge my fee for that prime time.

[super-hero]

It's a good idea, but you are offering too much, too cheap. Have a phone round and see how much your average marquee hire company charges.
With most marquee companies the marquees are on site for 2 days, and take at least 2 people to set them up. So would you be leaving all your kit in a marquee overnight?

I thought about doing a similar thing a while ago, but costs and transport issues made me change my mind.

Woould it be better if the package included you as the disco. That way you are on site to keep an eye on things.

Good luck and I hope it all works out well.

[kilmeedyman]

As a client I would worry that it is almost too good to be true. Just an average-sized marquee round this way is nearer two grand than one. So, the whole kit and caboodle for under half price?


Sometimes the extra cheap options can be as difficult to sell as the top priced ones. That said, there should be a market for products/services at all levels and prices.

Good luck with it.

[Shaun]

It's all very well to say "charge your normal rate & justify it by saying they are paying for your talent & not the equipment",

My post was kind of "Tongue In Cheek". Wrong choice of smilie.

*makes mental note to add a tongue in cheek emoticon*



I wonder how many potential clients would be happy to accept that?

Non Applicable to me, as I've already mentioned I don't do walk in jobs using others equipment. :p

[rob1963]

My post was kind of "Tongue In Cheek". Wrong choice of smilie.

*makes mental note to add a tongue in cheek emoticon*

Sorry, Shaun, I thought your post was serious, due to the fact that you used the "normal" smiley rather than the :rolleyes: one

[Shaun]

Sorry, Shaun, I thought your post was serious, due to the fact that you used the "normal" smiley rather than the :rolleyes: one

Not a problem. I'm 'smilieslexsic'. I'm always using the wrong ones in the wrong context. :beer1:

[electricnite]

great idea i was toying with it myself last year but its alot of manpower needed and alot of time so gave up on the idea

[mb3]

Even if the DJ is supplying decks & mixer I would suggest that you have a set of your own, even if it is a model that the DJ does not particularly like.

At least you are covered for eventualities such as the DJ's kit breaks down (or is pinched)... after all even if it's his kit that fails, it's your reputation that suffers.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

£1000 seems awfully cheap to me for the service you are going to provide Colin?

[theoloyla]

I've done plenty of gigs where the gear has been provided. Sometimes it has not been very good and it does make it more dificult. Sometimes it has been bad but I have been able to bring in my own equipment to cover it.

[rob1963]

I've done plenty of gigs where the gear has been provided. Sometimes it has not been very good and it does make it more dificult. Sometimes it has been bad

I'm sure we can all identify with that...

...which is why I don't use other peoples gear.

[Excalibur]

Even if the DJ is supplying decks & mixer I would suggest that you have a set of your own, even if it is a model that the DJ does not particularly like.

At least you are covered for eventualities such as the DJ's kit breaks down (or is pinched)... after all even if it's his kit that fails, it's your reputation that suffers.

Not if the customer sourced the DJ! If Colin recommended one, it's debatable, and if Colin supplied one, then I agree. As regards package price, yes if it's way too cheap it can be harder to sell! It may be " suck it and see" .

[colint]

£1000 seems awfully cheap to me for the service you are going to provide Colin?

Funny that! my ex-wife keeps saying I'm cheap!

the whole point is to make it cheap, but the service won't be? the running costs are minimal once the stock is paid for and it only takes 2 people to erect the marquee (thats where it's handy having so many grown up brats Paybay!!!)
once people see the way the marquee's look and what their getting for the money I'm sure it will be a success!

[yourdj]

This is the perfect entertainment business? you have no fixed abode and there is a real market for all in one parties (ie venue, entertainment, decor, catering) just takes logistics and contacts to pull it off.

Go for weddings and charge lots more!! the average wedding must cost £5-10k charge a bit less than that!