Another call through yell.com "How much is ya disco?"

[KaraokeDJ]

My biggest regret is wasting money on Yell.com and Yellow Pages. Almost everytime I get a call through either, the conversation starts with "I'm just ringing around to find out how much a disco would be for... (some cheap crappy event in the cheapest function room in town), so how much is your disco?"

I feel like saying "well the disco costs several thousand pounds but you can hire me for just £300" but I try to steer clear of being sarcastic.

Just last night I got a call and the first (and only) question was "how much for a wedding in August?" So I said that there are a few variables that determine the price but (in the town she was asking about) the starting price for a wedding is £250.

She asked if we were available on the date and we are and she was about to go. I said "is it only the price that you're interested in?" and she said "yes". So I didn't waste any time trying to sell a quality service - I felt like saying something along the lines of "if price is your only concern, have a good time but you're not my kind of customer".

One of these days I'm going to scream when the first question is: "How much us yer disco?"...

Rant over - now on with the day. Good morning everyone.

[dmckaraoke]

One thing in life i hate is being part of a pricing excercise...ahhhhh

[KaraokeDJ]

One thing in life i hate is being part of a pricing excercise...ahhhhh

Here, Here!!!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

One of these days I'm going to scream when the first question is: "How much us yer disco?"...



You will always get people asking that question, whether they want to pay £50 or £500.

Turn it around. Ignore the question. Ask them what they are looking for in terms of entertainment. Get them chatting.

[rob1963]

One of these days I'm going to scream when the first question is: "How much us yer disco?"...

You can greatly reduce this type of call by doing two things which I do.

1) Do all your advertising online and always include a link to your website.

2) Put prices on your website. If you don't have fixed prices, then either put your minimum prices or average prices on there.

:)

[Vectis]

2) Put prices on your website. If you don't have fixed prices, then either put your minimum prices or average prices on there.



Or better still a quote generator... my clients LOVE it. I reckon about half my calls nowadays come from folks who've already played around with the packages and optional extras and therefore quote ME a price before I've had chance to validate it! :D

It's a fantastic upsell tool. And it lets you have lots of permutations of pricing for dates/venues/seasons as well as the optional extras.

[CRAZY K]

You can greatly reduce this type of call by doing two things which I do.

1) Do all your advertising online and always include a link to your website.

2) Put prices on your website. If you don't have fixed prices, then either put your minimum prices or average prices on there.

:)

I seem to remember the phone strategy was--

Rob James here--if your ringing from YP you cant afford me--how can I help you--:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Must admit im looking forward to the YP rate tarts ringing this year--

Always the best entertainment going round here chatting to them---really makes my day--its due out any day now:D :D :D

You were quoted £100 pounds--yeah thats what we charge--every hour:D

CRAZY K

[Dragonfly]

so....... how much is it for a wedding in August in the cheapest function room in town ? .............. you never did tell me :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :beer1: :beer1:





i'll get back in my box now :D

[KaraokeDJ]

You can greatly reduce this type of call by doing two things which I do.
1) Do all your advertising online and always include a link to your website.
2) Put prices on your website. If you don't have fixed prices, then either put your minimum prices or average prices on there.

I can see the value of having prices on the web site, but also the downside. Obviously anyone calling having read the web site will know (roughly) the price they will be paying. On the otherhand, anyone not sure of their budget may not call and I won't get the opportunity to 'sell' our services to them.

I might test it for a few weeks though. I like your pricing page Rob. Simple and easy to understand.


Or better still a quote generator... my clients LOVE it. I reckon about half my calls nowadays come from folks who've already played around with the packages and optional extras and therefore quote ME a price before I've had chance to validate it! :D

It's a fantastic upsell tool. And it lets you have lots of permutations of pricing for dates/venues/seasons as well as the optional extras.

Another good idea, and something I might give a trial in the near future. You're obviously clever with Javascript or something to make it work like it does. I think I'd remove a few options - I don't like to over-complicate things and have always thought that too many choices leaves people confused.


I seem to remember the phone strategy was--
Rob James here--if your ringing from YP you cant afford me--how can I help you--:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Fantastic!!!

[rob1963]

I seem to remember the phone strategy was--Rob James here--if your ringing from YP you cant afford me--how can I help you--:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D CRAZY K

Spot on, Crazy...it works every time! :rolleyes:


I can see the value of having prices on the web site, but also the downside. Obviously anyone calling having read the web site will know (roughly) the price they will be paying. On the otherhand, anyone not sure of their budget may not call and I won't get the opportunity to 'sell' our services to them.

It's true that if someone isn't sure of their budget & doesn't call you won't get the opportunity to sell your services, but the way I see it is that it's the job of my WEBSITE to sell my services. It seems to work, as 90% of my enquiries are simply asking if I'm available on a certain date.


I like your pricing page Rob. Simple and easy to understand.

Thanks for that. The cheque's in the post! :rolleyes: :D

[theoloyla]

Price is and always will be an important factor in commerce. Thats is why companies like confused.com are making money. Asda and Tesco are constantly battling over prices. What we have to get across is the difference between a Fiat Uno, Ford Mondeo and BMW 7 series. They are different prices for a reason. Some people can only afford a second had Uno, others just want to get from A to B in a reliable Ford whilst others want a luxury ride. The trouble with a lot of directory listing is that it doesnt get that fact accross to the punter.

[Vectis]

What we have to get across is the difference between a Fiat Uno, Ford Mondeo and BMW 7 series

Or sell all 3... ;)

Incidentally, just had a call from a local youth hostel looking for a specialist house/garage DJ and I actually got to use the line "I'm a DJ not an estate agent" (after he'd mentioned the date and I saw I was already booked) :) He was looking through YP of course so I don't think there's much hope...

[KaraokeDJ]

so....... how much is it for a wedding in August in the cheapest function room in town ? .............. you never did tell me :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :beer1: :beer1:
Minimum of £250 but I know a guy 15 miles away who would do it for £120!!!
He's welcome to it!

[CRAZY K]

You can greatly reduce this type of call by doing two things which I do.

1) Do all your advertising online and always include a link to your website.

2) Put prices on your website. If you don't have fixed prices, then either put your minimum prices or average prices on there.

:)

I was going to agree with this ( obviously ) but I just got an enquiry from my site which clearly states a range of prices.

So the enquiry I get says their budget is £150 less than the stated price for the service they want--and in fact they want a Live Band plus Disco for that price---not just me with recorded music.:eek: :eek: :eek:

Do you ever get the rate tarts asking if you can reduce your stated web site prices as this appears to be the case on my enquiry.

As in---This is all I can afford---but I want everything anyway.

Oh well the dates gone anyway---lucky me--- I can tell them to go somewhere:D

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

Do you ever get the rate tarts asking if you can reduce your stated web site prices as this appears to be the case on my enquiry.


Occasionally, and unless there's something in it for me then I might round it down to the nearest whole £10 but that's their lot!

"Something in it for me" might be probability (note I didn't say possibility) of future bookings, maybe it's a new venue. I had one recently where they wanted to book two 50th birthdays - one for her, one for him, one in January the other in June. So I let them have both at the January price. That sort of thing.

[Penfold42]

Minimum of £250 but I know a guy 15 miles away who would do it for £120!!!
He's welcome to it!

:Embarassed: :Embarassed: :Embarassed: :Embarassed:


:D :D :D :D

[KaraokeDJ]

Do you ever get the rate tarts asking if you can reduce your stated web site prices as this appears to be the case on my enquiry.
As in---This is all I can afford---but I want everything anyway.

I have occasionally dropped from my quoted price if I can see it being a good 'promo' gig in a town close by. I guess that falls in the category of 'something in it for me'... Or if it's for a previous customer and I know the crowd and know it will be a good time - with free drinks and a good BBQ/Hog Roast!!!

[JAMdisco]

You will always get people asking that question, whether they want to pay £50 or £500.

Turn it around. Ignore the question. Ask them what they are looking for in terms of entertainment. Get them chatting.

I agree, I usually ignore the question and ask them what the event is, i.e. Birthday Party, Wedding reception etc., then the venue, number of guests and general style of music (although this can mostly be determined by the first answer). The answers to the first 2 questions usually determine whether I'm booked or not ;) Then I'll give them a quote and ask for their address so I can send a booking pack out to them.

If they genuinely sound interested then I'll get them chatting about PLI & PAT and 'legal' music, and how you 'get what you pay for'. I'd rather justify my costs person-to-person than put them on my website as I find it easier chatting to the client.

[djgordyp]

Or better still a quote generator... my clients LOVE it. I reckon about half my calls nowadays come from folks who've already played around with the packages and optional extras and therefore quote ME a price before I've had chance to validate it! :D

It's a fantastic upsell tool. And it lets you have lots of permutations of pricing for dates/venues/seasons as well as the optional extras.

After reading your post I decided i'd have a play around with your quote generator and found something I think would need changing. Either that or I get confused easily these days :D :confused: :D
The bit in question is " Is it a wedding or civil partnership" then a No or Yes option. To which does the no apply :confused:
Perhaps it should look like this.

Is it :-
A Wedding ()
A Civil Partnership ()

Anyone else want their website proof read for a small fee. :D :D :D :D

Edit
Told you I'm easily confused these days. It took me this long to figure it out. :doh:

[yourdj]

Yell been fantastic for me. Had loads of positive interest.

My prices are online with a link so not had any problems. If people do haggle i tell them they get what they pay for. I have cheaper dj's now so i just tell them what they will get for the money.

The "if your shopping around ask for PAT/PLI proof" works as many don't have it. They will come back to you.

[Mayhem 1]

I have mentioned this before but specialising in Children's parties I get a "How much for a kiddie disco"

I now reply with - If you are putting price before entertainment then I am not the person you are looking for, I can however give you the number of someone who is far cheaper than me and I hope you have a good party"

This has worked many times and I have also lost count of how many of these people have contacted me and said that they wished they had paid the extra.

[Vectis]

Yell been fantastic for me. Had loads of positive interest.

:zip:


I have cheaper dj's now so i just tell them what they will get for the money.

Ah! Now the previous statement makes sense :)



ask for PAT/PLI proof" works as many don't have it.

I've noticed that too. But don't fall into the trap of a) dissing other operators or b) mistakenly informing the client that these are legal requirements - either would be bad business practice. Sure, they might win you this deal, but long-term viability of a disco business requires honesty and integrity to be integral to your reputation.

[CRAZY K]

I have mentioned this before but specialising in Children's parties I get a "How much for a kiddie disco"

I now reply with - If you are putting price before entertainment then I am not the person you are looking for, I can however give you the number of someone who is far cheaper than me and I hope you have a good party"

This has worked many times and I have also lost count of how many of these people have contacted me and said that they wished they had paid the extra.

Your lucky people actually admit they are wrong, in my experience most are too embarrassed to admit it or for regular events often book someone different again rather than admit that you were the entertainer they should have used ( at higher cost)

There is often a pressure on Committees to try someone different even if the existing DJ is perfect--having got it wrong they dont often come back and say--we got it wrong please can you cover the function again--THATS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT --:rolleyes:

No they just go somewhere else---and keep their fingers crossed:eek:

CRAZY K

[theoloyla]

Your lucky people actually admit they are wrong, in my experience most are too embarrassed to admit it or for regular events often book someone different again rather than admit that you were the entertainer they should have used ( at higher cost)

There is often a pressure on Committees to try someone different even if the existing DJ is perfect--having got it wrong they dont often come back and say--we got it wrong please can you cover the function again--THATS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT --:rolleyes:

No they just go somewhere else---and keep their fingers crossed:eek:

CRAZY K
That is so true.:thumbs_up: :agree:

[CRAZY K]

Your lucky people actually admit they are wrong, in my experience most are too embarrassed to admit it or for regular events often book someone different again rather than admit that you were the entertainer they should have used ( at higher cost)

There is often a pressure on Committees to try someone different even if the existing DJ is perfect--having got it wrong they dont often come back and say--we got it wrong please can you cover the function again--THATS BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT --:rolleyes:

No they just go somewhere else---and keep their fingers crossed:eek:

CRAZY K

Which reminds me--a lady next to me in the Bank is having a conversation
with the Bank Clerk--yeah weve got the Annual Dinner Dance next week---weve had the same old reliable Band for years but we decided to change things round---got another band--are they any good? -no idea -hope so :eek:

These are the sort of idiots we have to deal with :bang: :bang: :bang:

CRAZY K

[theoloyla]

Which reminds me--a lady next to me in the Bank is having a conversation
with the Bank Clerk--yeah weve got the Annual Dinner Dance next week---weve had the same old reliable Band for years but we decided to change things round---got another band--are they any good? -no idea -hope so :eek:

These are the sort of idiots we have to deal with :bang: :bang: :bang:

CRAZY K
Indeed we do.