Deposits

[OllieJames]

Hey,

I was just thinking, how much percentage of the total price do you take as a deposit? Knowing this would help me sort out my pricing abit!

Thanks,
Ollie

[Vectis]

Without starting a "Booking Fee" versus "Deposit" terminology debate...

... For a straight disco service I ask for £50 for sub-£200 bookings (thankfully not many :p ) and £100 for £200+ bookings.

Then if I'm providing other services (either directly or subbed out) then other factors come into play, but that's probably not what you're looking for.

So in percentage terms, between 25% and 50% depending on the gig value.

[OllieJames]

Without starting a "Booking Fee" versus "Deposit" terminology debate...

... For a straight disco service I ask for £50 for sub-£200 bookings (thankfully not many :p ) and £100 for £200+ bookings.

Then if I'm providing other services (either directly or subbed out) then other factors come into play, but that's probably not what you're looking for.

So in percentage terms, between 25% and 50% depending on the gig value.

Thanks for your reply VV :)

Booking Fee sounds more professional, so let's use that :D

Thanks for your answer, i was thinking of doing a fixed price for birthdays & schools etc for around £130 (have to becareful what i charge due to age etc). So a 25% booking fee would be £32.50... sound reasonable?

Thanks! :)

[Shaun]

Thanks for your answer, i was thinking of doing a fixed price for birthdays & schools etc for around £130 (have to becareful what i charge due to age etc). So a 25% booking fee would be £32.50... sound reasonable?

Thanks! :)

Better to round it off to £50.00 (or £30). A nice easy round number, and less for the client to work out.

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I normally take £100 deposit.

[OllieJames]

Better to round it off to £50.00 (or £30). A nice easy round number, and less for the client to work out.

-----------

I normally take £100 deposit.

Thanks for your reply :)

Yeah, was thinking about rounding it off! :approve: I just want to make sure that if the client does cancel, i still get a reasonable income.

[rob1963]

Hey,

I was just thinking, how much percentage of the total price do you take as a deposit? Knowing this would help me sort out my pricing abit!

Thanks,
Ollie

I always take a deposit of £50.

For my standard disco this works out at 18.2% of the total price.

For the larger one it equates to 14.3%.

Funnily enough, I've recently been thinking this is a bit low, and am considering increasing it to £75.

:)

[Penfold42]

I always take a deposit of £50.
Same here. :)


Funnily enough, I've recently been thinking this is a bit low, and am considering increasing it to £75.

:)
:omg:.....i was thinking of doing the same.........:eek: :D
:beer1:

[rob1963]

I always take a deposit of £50.


Same here


Funnily enough, I've recently been thinking this is a bit low, and am considering increasing it to £75.


:omg:.....i was thinking of doing the same

Great minds think alike, Tony!

:D :D :D

[Penfold42]

Indeed......I'm only doing it because of the price of fuel at the moment......

I also think the deposit should reflect what work you do for it...
Visit, Downloads, Phone calls and your time....before you come to a figure.
:)

[KaraokeDJ]

Hi guys...
Been a while since I had chance to get in on the threads here but thought I'd mention my deposits. Like most have said, rounding it off is better and also keeps round numbers for cash payment of the balance on the night (as most people pay cash as the balance).

Another variable that I consider is the length of time from booking to gig. If its a year away I'll request a smaller deposit than something that's almost last minute (weeks to a few months), in which case I'll be near 40% as a deposit.

I've never had anyone grumble about paying off a substantial amount upfront, in fact, yesterday I got a cheque for the whole amount for a wedding NEXT NOVEMBER!

I find that people like the thought that the disco is already (nearly) half paid for. Less to budget later, less cash to bring on the night...

[Ace DJ]

With all of the gigs I take a minimum £75 advance payment. I have for next years gigs so far made that £100.
Ace

[OllieJames]

Hi guys...
Been a while since I had chance to get in on the threads here but thought I'd mention my deposits. Like most have said, rounding it off is better and also keeps round numbers for cash payment of the balance on the night (as most people pay cash as the balance).

Another variable that I consider is the length of time from booking to gig. If its a year away I'll request a smaller deposit than something that's almost last minute (weeks to a few months), in which case I'll be near 40% as a deposit.

I've never had anyone grumble about paying off a substantial amount upfront, in fact, yesterday I got a cheque for the whole amount for a wedding NEXT NOVEMBER!

I find that people like the thought that the disco is already (nearly) half paid for. Less to budget later, less cash to bring on the night...

Thanks for the reply :)

I think i'll ask for around £50. That's another thing, do you ask for the remainder to be paid there before you start?

[KaraokeDJ]

Thanks for the reply :)

I think i'll ask for around £50. That's another thing, do you ask for the remainder to be paid there before you start?

If paying by cheque, must be paid a week before unless cash at the start of the gig. Never have a problem with it. The customer is usually keen to get their wallet out early on and then it's done.

[Shaun]

That's another thing, do you ask for the remainder to be paid there before you start?

Payment via cheque 14 days in advance of the event, or payment in cash on the night ...before I start.

[rob1963]

do you ask for the remainder to be paid there before you start?

In my case, either by cheque at least 14 days before the function, or on the night, before the start time in cash.

:)

[sandysounds]

glad i found this thread....as its something i've been pondering. I've had two weddings cancelled this year, both for £300 and with both I only took 10% deposit. With one of them, I went all the way to Birmingham for the meeting, so that deposit, which i retain for covering work already done in preparation, doesn't cover it at all......and its a date in august that is now bare and empty!
So I'm definitely going to up my deposit

[nigelwright7557]

Hey,

I was just thinking, how much percentage of the total price do you take as a deposit? Knowing this would help me sort out my pricing abit!

Thanks,
Ollie

I ask for 20% upfront.

20% covers any losses I might make if they back out.

[Penfold42]

glad i found this thread....as its something i've been pondering. I've had two weddings cancelled this year, both for £300 and with both I only took 10% deposit. With one of them, I went all the way to Birmingham for the meeting, so that deposit, which i retain for covering work already done in preparation, doesn't cover it at all......and its a date in august that is now bare and empty!
So I'm definitely going to up my deposit
Sorry to hear that.....:)
As said - what you put into it reflect what you want.........that way at least your covered and sort of happy.

Hope you fill it.
:)

I ask for 20% upfront.

20% covers any losses I might make if they back out.

How long have you been trading?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I always take £50.00 deposit.
(a) Because it secures the booking and isn't a big deal for the client.
(b) Because if I took more I would be thinking that I am working for less on the night (if that makes sense?).

[KaraokeDJ]

glad i found this thread....as its something i've been pondering. I've had two weddings cancelled this year, both for £300 and with both I only took 10% deposit. With one of them, I went all the way to Birmingham for the meeting, so that deposit, which i retain for covering work already done in preparation, doesn't cover it at all......and its a date in august that is now bare and empty!
So I'm definitely going to up my deposit

Hi Sandy.
For a £300 wedding I'd have required a minimum of £100 deposit and (as I've said before) I've never had any quibbles about the deposits I require. We do spend a lot of time in preparation (phone calls, emails, visits, etc.,) and it is all time and money. Why should we not cover ourselves.

Amazed that you've had 2 weddings cancelled this year. In two years I've only had one cancelled and that was a on/off/on/off/on... and subsequently off again wedding anyway so I covered myself with the deposit - as always.

I'm sure you know better and will learn from this experience. Hope it doesn't happen again and - with all the last minute bookings for discos, I'm sure you'll fill the now vacant dates.

All the best.

[CRAZY K]

glad i found this thread....as its something i've been pondering. I've had two weddings cancelled this year, both for £300 and with both I only took 10% deposit. With one of them, I went all the way to Birmingham for the meeting, so that deposit, which i retain for covering work already done in preparation, doesn't cover it at all......and its a date in august that is now bare and empty!
So I'm definitely going to up my deposit

We take 25 per cent non refundable booking fee and have a 30 day cancellation clause 100 per cent of fee.

Otherwise you will get cancelled event if the event isnt:eek:

CRAZYU K

[CRAZY K]

I ask for 20% upfront.

20% covers any losses I might make if they back out.

Assuming you get a replacement booking--which doesnt always happen-:eek:

Im not working tonight because of such a situation--but I did kop a 25 per cent non refundable booking fee.:eek:

Im convinced they changed their mind and booked live entertainment--which is fine as long as you have some compensation.

CRAZY K

[wensleydale]

£100

[CRAZY K]

Hi Sandy.
For a £300 wedding I'd have required a minimum of £100 deposit and (as I've said before) I've never had any quibbles about the deposits I require. We do spend a lot of time in preparation (phone calls, emails, visits, etc.,) and it is all time and money. Why should we not cover ourselves.

Amazed that you've had 2 weddings cancelled this year. In two years I've only had one cancelled and that was a on/off/on/off/on... and subsequently off again wedding anyway so I covered myself with the deposit - as always.

I'm sure you know better and will learn from this experience. Hope it doesn't happen again and - with all the last minute bookings for discos, I'm sure you'll fill the now vacant dates.

All the best.

Im not amazed--the recession is here so we had better get used to it.

Ive had 3 cancellations in a month --one due to ticket sales--one Wedding I wasnt told the reason and one due to family reasons which was forseeable in my opinion.

By inisisting on non refundable boooking fees of around 25 per cent and
30 day cancellation clauses its worked out fine for me financially--

But I could cry at the amount of work I turned away for those cancelled dates---:cry: :cry: :cry:

If you get any arguments just point this out.

CRAZY K

[theoloyla]

Im not working tonight because of such a situation--but I did kop a 25 per cent non refundable booking fee.:eek:


CRAZY K

Likewise.