Enquiry this morning

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

Just had a call from someone regarding a Disco for a group of 14/15 year olds.
It amazes me that some people out there do not really have a clue when it comes to what we do.

It was one of those "How much do your charge..?" enquiries where they ask that question before anything else. You give them all of the information and you ask all the questions...duration, venue, date etc..but you know deep down that all they are bothered about is hearing the price.

What makes me laugh...and the reason I said it amazes me is that when I quoted the price (cheaper than my usual fee as it's an early finish and I am currently not working on that date), the lady asked.."Does that include lights etc..?"

What DJ's go out without lights? Blimey, it's like banging your head against a brick wall sometimes. I got the usual "Ok, thanks..I'll let you know" when I quoted the price. It's 7.00pm - 10.30pm on a saturday night...easy one really but I don't expect she'll call back and will probably end up going with a much cheaper option (but I did give her a cheap(ish) price anyway.

I just don't think people actually get what we do which is fair enough I suppose, just frustrating sometimes because getting the enquiries are hard enough when there is lots of competition out there and when the phone does ring and it's someone enquiring about a disco but wanting the cheapest option, then it's almost like it's a waste of time and even though I am not working, I won't go out for the peanuts which I think they want to pay.

Anyone know what I mean?

[wensleydale]

yes, but there are people who have no/very little lighting.

in fairness, if you have never booked a dj before how do you know what you do/dont get for the fee?

as for the "how much" question- this will always be an issue- the key is to explain why prices vary so much......

[Ace DJ]

Eh!! Why give a cheaper price because it finishes at 10.30pm? It is still the whole evening gone when you could have accepted a normal fee paying gig.
People who have childrens parties on a Saturday night should expect to pay the full price.
Ace

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I totally agree but as I said, on that night I am currently free. I would rather be earning something than sat indoors with all of my equipment in the lock up not being used.

[rob1963]

I totally agree but as I said, on that night I am currently free. I would rather be earning something than sat indoors with all of my equipment in the lock up not being used.

That's a very good point.

I sometimes do gigs for my friend who runs an agency...even though I get little more than half of my own normal rate.

So why do I do them?

Simple...because I'd rather be out working for less money on Saturday night that sitting at home doing nothing, and the only expense to come off that reduced fee is a few pounds for diesel.

After all, most of our expenses (PAT testing, PLI, advertising, website hosting, equipment, music etc) are fixed anyway...regardless of the actual number of gigs we do.

[theoloyla]

Very true.

[wensleydale]

but theres a point at which it becomes not worth it- plus its nice to have a saturday off.

[Sam]

There are a fair number of DJs who don't take lights with them, that I have come across anyway.

[leighinstoke]

I have a pretty fair price structure.....and will happily quote for jobs....but you know that people are ringing around, hoping for the magic £100 quote they are expecting.

Had it last week, asked for a quote, I asked for times, venue, event, etc, then quoted.....to be greeted by silence. I said "okay?" and was answered with the word "right....." and we ended the conversation.

They tend to forget that the £100 merchants of yesteryear, say a good few years ago when £100 was a lot of dosh, now have to pay more for fuel, pay more tax, more for equipment, music, mates who help expect more, etc, so the £100 of then is the £200 of now. Only they don't know this.....

Leigh....

[rob1963]

but theres a point at which it becomes not worth it

Agreed, but in my case it's a handfull of gigs for about 60% of my normal rate, which is definately worth it.


plus its nice to have a saturday off.

Yes, although less so for me...as I usually have a couple of Saturday nights off each month anyway...not through choice, but because I don't get bookings for those dates.

[PropellerHeadCase]

I just don't think people actually get what we do which is fair enough I suppose, just frustrating sometimes because getting the enquiries are hard enough when there is lots of competition out there and when the phone does ring and it's someone enquiring about a disco but wanting the cheapest option, then it's almost like it's a waste of time and even though I am not working, I won't go out for the peanuts which I think they want to pay.

One thing I've discovered is that not ALL people who ask about price first are chancers/tyre-kickers.

We DJs are a mysterious lot to Mr/Mrs Jo(e) 'Never-Booked-a-DJ-before' Public and the opening 'How much?' gambit is safe ground which pretty much guarantees an answer that they will understand. After all, we all either provide the requested info or start in on our well-honed 'This is What I Can Do For You/What Do You Want Me to Do For You' spiel - either way they win.

It's exactly the same as the MC, Bride, Groom, Duty or Bar Manager coming over to you part way through your set-up, which you are conspicuously doing on your own, and asking 'Are you the DJ?' (To which the correct answer, I've found, is not, 'No, I'm an installation artist.')




Yes, although less so for me...as I usually have a couple of Saturday nights off each month anyway...

Two Saturdays off per month AND £120,000 a year? You're my new hero :p



not through choice, but because I don't get bookings for those dates.

Of course you'd have more bookings if you had more pages on your website :p

[rob1963]

Two Saturdays off per month AND £120,000 a year? You're my new hero :p

It's amazing how much you can make working as a male escort!


Of course you'd have more bookings if you had more pages on your website :p

I'll make a note of that!

However, it's nothing to worry about, as I already work 5 nights a week before I even THINK about discos. The majority of my income comes from pub quiz nights, so the discos aren't particularly important.

[PropellerHeadCase]

Which is maybe what drives your opinion about disco websites and their page counts?

[rob1963]

Which is maybe what drives your opinion about disco websites and their page counts?

If you mean the fact that discos aren't as important as quiz nights, not necessarily...because my quiz nights are aleady at capacity, but the discos aren't...so they are the main thing detailed on my site.

[Corabar Steve]

It's exactly the same as the MC, Bride, Groom, Duty or Bar Manager coming over to you part way through your set-up, which you are conspicuously doing on your own, and asking 'Are you the DJ?'

No, I just thought I'd come & have a fiddle with his gear

[theoloyla]

Lets face it we all want and need customers but at the same time lots of them can be very annoying in all sorts of ways and as part of our good customer service we just have to be professional about it.


but theres a point at which it becomes not worth it- plus its nice to have a saturday off.
Of course. Its a balancing equation. It would be foolish to work at a loss or for nothing and agreed if you are very busy it is nice to have a night off. Each businessman or woman has to take that decision. It seems very rare that I get into a haggling debate with a customer but occasionally it happens.

[Corabar Steve]

Lets face it we all want and need customers but at the same time lots of them can be very annoying in all sorts of ways and as part of our good customer service we just have to be professional about it.
Too true Theo.

It never ceases to amaze me how little customers know about what to expect. Sometimes I wonder just how many people go to birthday parties, weddings etc that have DJs.

[theoloyla]

Too true Theo.

It never ceases to amaze me how little customers know about what to expect. Sometimes I wonder just how many people go to birthday parties, weddings etc that have DJs.
They see what they want to see and hear what they want to hear. They are oblivious to everything else. They walk around with their eyes and minds closed in blind naievity!:bang:

[rob1963]

It never ceases to amaze me how little customers know about what to expect.

Indeed.

At the risk of sounding like an old cynic (which I am), that's because many of the general public are thick, and have an IQ lower than their shoe size.

Nearly all my enquiries come through the contact page on my website, so people have obviously viewed my site before contacting me...but I've lost count of the number of times I've had enquiries asking if the disco includes lights, or asking for a quote...even though this information couldn't be more clear on the "discos" page of my website!

:bang:

[Corabar Steve]

Rather piontless having it there then :sj:

[rob1963]

Rather pointless having it there then :sj:

But not as pointless as having loads more pages on my website.

:rolleyes: :D :D

[Corabar Steve]

Only if they're irrelevant

[Penfold42]

I had one this morning passed on from 'Batman'........
How much......so tried going through the motions about the gig.....

Up shot of it was -
7pm til 1am.
In May.
Outside....yes outside...no marquee, on a hard standing patio.....:eek: ..exsposed to the elements.......

Are people that thick, i ask myself, playing music with the rain coming down.....and you can garantee it will rain......:D

[robbiedj]

Outside....yes outside...no marquee, on a hard standing patio.....:eek: ..exsposed to the elements.......

Are people that thick, i ask myself, playing music with the rain coming down.....and you can garantee it will rain......:D

Do what I do. I have a cream-coloured gazebo with sides. The sides are useful to keep out the elements ............

and kids who wonder around behind you.

[wensleydale]

I had one this morning passed on from 'Batman'........
How much......so tried going through the motions about the gig.....

Up shot of it was -
7pm til 1am.
In May.
Outside....yes outside...no marquee, on a hard standing patio.....:eek: ..exsposed to the elements.......

Are people that thick, i ask myself, playing music with the rain coming down.....and you can garantee it will rain......:D

but in fairness this goes back to the original post- customers often dont know what we can and cant do.
as pointed out already- a gazebo type thing would work.

i think sometimes people arent sure what they will get- but even in cases where the situation may be "abnormal" for you, there will often be others happy to do it.

[Penfold42]

but in fairness this goes back to the original post- customers often dont know what we can and cant do.
as pointed out already- a gazebo type thing would work.

i think sometimes people arent sure what they will get- but even in cases where the situation may be "abnormal" for you, there will often be others happy to do it.

:agree:.....i think she had an idea but just didn't know how to carry it out!
I've not shuned it completly....she promised to send pictures...i'm still waiting for them.....:rolleyes:

[summer sounds]

My feeling is once you start doing 'cheapies'..word soon gets around and when you then quote your usual price for a standard gig you can soon start to get problems!....certainly I can think of plenty of things to be doing at weekends rather than working for peanuts!!

[CRAZY K]

Hi all,

Just had a call from someone regarding a Disco for a group of 14/15 year olds.
It amazes me that some people out there do not really have a clue when it comes to what we do.

It was one of those "How much do your charge..?" enquiries where they ask that question before anything else. You give them all of the information and you ask all the questions...duration, venue, date etc..but you know deep down that all they are bothered about is hearing the price.

What makes me laugh...and the reason I said it amazes me is that when I quoted the price (cheaper than my usual fee as it's an early finish and I am currently not working on that date), the lady asked.."Does that include lights etc..?"

What DJ's go out without lights? Blimey, it's like banging your head against a brick wall sometimes. I got the usual "Ok, thanks..I'll let you know" when I quoted the price. It's 7.00pm - 10.30pm on a saturday night...easy one really but I don't expect she'll call back and will probably end up going with a much cheaper option (but I did give her a cheap(ish) price anyway.

I just don't think people actually get what we do which is fair enough I suppose, just frustrating sometimes because getting the enquiries are hard enough when there is lots of competition out there and when the phone does ring and it's someone enquiring about a disco but wanting the cheapest option, then it's almost like it's a waste of time and even though I am not working, I won't go out for the peanuts which I think they want to pay.

Anyone know what I mean?

Theres a problem with short hours or early finish bookings--the public cant get their head round it---

I use the Dynarod type example--if they turn up you get charged mega money whether its 5 seconds or 25 minutes to do the job.

Yesterday I had the -we have our own equipment so is it cheaper question-

Do builders give a discount if you supply them with hammers, chisels and
screwdrivers--I just use this example and laugh down the phone at the punter---a sort of subliminal message saying--dont be silly:D

I dont get the business but it makes me feel better--:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K