Research

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I did a little bit of research on pricing about 5 months ago. picked 25 disco companies from this forum and from the listings site, which were mainly in the South East, and asked them for a quote for an evening function for 5 hours up to 12 midnight which was within 5 miles of them.

I thought you may be interested in the results.

25 companies emailed.
23 companies replied
1 did not reply
1 was an incorrect email address.


18 companies quoted
3 directed me to an online quoter
2 wanted further information before quoting


After the email was sent, the first person/company to reply took less than an hour and the slowest took 3 days.

The lowest price quoted was £250
The highest price quoted was £425

The average price for the companies that quoted was £319.94

I also asked if I could choose some of the music for the function and all responded favourably.

So, there you go. I did this little exercise to see how people were selling themselves and also to see how quickly people replied.

[rob1963]

25 companies emailed.
23 companies replied

I'm surprised as many as 23 companies replied.

I would have expected it to be lower than that, based on the number of people who have told me they've emailed other companies but not heard anything back.



After the email was sent, the first person/company to reply took less than an hour

That would be me, then! :D



The lowest price quoted was £250
The highest price quoted was £425

These figures also surprise me.

Out of 25 discos, I'd have thought a fair few would have quoted less than £250. I'd also have expected you'd get at least two or three quoting more than £425.



The average price for the companies that quoted was £319.94

Again, I'd have thought the average price would be lower than that.

Funnily enough, that's pretty much my own average for a booking, which was interesting to discover, as I'd have thought I would be above the average.

Just one clarification, Darren...did you pose as a genuine enquirer when when requesting the quotes?

Thanks for the survey, as the results were quite different to what I'd have expected.

:)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Just one clarification, Darren...did you pose as a genuine enquirer when when requesting the quotes?


I used a different name as most people would have known me from here and other forums etc. I said I was getting married next year and required a quote based on local hire for 5 hours.

And yes, you were one of the people I emailed and no you didn't reply within an hour. ;)

[daz226]

very interesting results i know i was not used as the lowest price would have been 175 but its good to see that of the 25 95% responded

[rob1963]

And yes, you were one of the people I emailed and no you didn't reply within an hour. ;)

I must have been out, then! :p

Out of interest, did you keep any figures for the number of companies that chased you up having not heard back from you?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

its good to see that of the 25 95% responded

I thought that at the time and was impressed with the speed of some of the answers. Some people need to put more information in their replies and perhaps do a bit more research into sales and marketing too.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I must have been out, then! :p

Out of interest, did you keep any figures for the number of companies that chased you up having not heard back from you?

Only one.

[rob1963]

Only one.

If you did the same research again now, it would be two this time ;)

[daz226]

I thought that at the time and was impressed with the speed of some of the answers. Some people need to put more information in their replies and perhaps do a bit more research into sales and marketing too.


it all comes down to experiance i feel that i do as well as i can but i know i can do better and as you say research is the key and also learning from more experianced guys hence why i grab every bit of information i can to improve the service that i provide.

[rob1963]

Some people need to put more information in their replies

I think I'm one of those people. :(

I give very little extra information on top of what they ask for, and have been thinking of starting a thread to get advice on what sort of extra information other people give when replying to quotes.

I could then put this into a word document & simply paste it into my replies to enquirers.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think I'm one of those people. :(

I think you are and without being rude, it does make me wonder how you take such a large percentage of bookings from the net.


I give very little extra information on top of what they ask for, and have been thinking of starting a thread to get advice on what sort of extra information other people give when replying to quotes.

I could then put this into a word document & simply paste it into my replies to enquirers.

Which is what I do, changing certain details to suit.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Did you contact me?
If so, did I give a positive impression? I'm intrigued now so be honest.

[rob1963]

I think you are and without being rude, it does make me wonder how you take such a large percentage of bookings from the net.

Thanks for your opinion, Darren.

I guess I'm aware of some of the stuff I could include, but I'm not really sure where to draw the line...as I also wouldn't want to give too MUCH extra information.

From your comment, it looks like I'd better do that thread tomorrow morning, as this appears to be the main area where I can improve.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Did you contact me?
If so, did I give a positive impression? I'm intrigued now so be honest.

I didn't contact you, no. :)

Although most were in the south east, it was fairly random as I think I got the companies from the listings site but it just so happened that some were forum members.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Oh bummer!!!! I would have liked to have seen how I came across.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thanks for your opinion, Darren.

I guess I'm aware of some of the stuff I could include, but I'm not really sure where to draw the line...as I also wouldn't want to give too MUCH extra information.



That is also fair comment, but here was hardly any information in your reply apart from what I asked - eg: the price, availability and also whether you were prepared to let me choose music.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Oh bummer!!!! I would have liked to have seen how I came across.

Don't worry, this research hasn't finished yet. It's ongoing. I need to do the same thing in other regions of the country too first, but I will come back to the SE again. ;)

[rob1963]

That is also fair comment, but here was hardly any information in your reply apart from what I asked - eg: the price, availability and also whether you were prepared to let me choose music.

It sounds like this is one area where my policy of keeping things simple could be counter-productive.

:(

[Shakermaker Promotions]

To be honest with you... I think you can go OTT and you can also not give enough information. I generally do the same thing for all enquiries and that's list what I do and what documentation I have but say that the quote is based on the information that has been provided etc and that to complete the booking I would require more information such as Confirmed Date, Duration, Venue, Venue details including a contact etc etc

[rob1963]

To be honest with you... I think you can go OTT and you can also not give enough information.

I agree.

I've started a separate thread to get some advice & help on this...as it's clearly an area where I need to improve.

[rob1963]

Don't worry, this research hasn't finished yet. It's ongoing. I need to do the same thing in other regions of the country too

I wouldn't do any research in Scotland.

I hear there are people there who don't take kindly to receiving quote requests from other DJs posing as potential customers!

[wensleydale]

interesting, and also brave to admit you have done this- i can imagine a few will see it as wasting peoples time.

was i emailed? is so like gary, i would be keen to know what you thought of your interaction....

also interested in what really stood out as good customer service out of the 25 and what you thought strange or odd.

also (nearly finished) if you noticed any trends eg if agencies/multi ops were emailed did they behave in a similar way?

[ppentertainments]

Would be very interesting to find results from other areas to finally answer the question 'does the area you live affect prices?'

[rob1963]

brave to admit you have done this - i can imagine a few will see it as wasting peoples time.


I'm sure they will, and I have a pretty good idea WHO!

From my own point of view, it was not only interesting & surprising, but also extremely valuable...as the subsequent discussion highlighted an area of my business where I'm getting things wrong and need to improve (people who say I never admit to being wrong...please note!).

:D

[daz226]

Yes i found it very interesting and reading through the post since i can see i was not the only one

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

interesting, and also brave to admit you have done this- i can imagine a few will see it as wasting peoples time.

It was research for me and the forum and people send quote all the time, so I don't see it as wasting anyone's time. I wouldn't think that if I had emailed someone doing the same thing.


was i emailed? is so like gary, i would be keen to know what you thought of your interaction.....

You weren't emailed.


also interested in what really stood out as good customer service out of the 25 and what you thought strange or odd.

There were probably 5 companies who I thought stood out from the rest, in terms of information sent and from those 5, there were also a couple that I thought sent too much information and paperwork. Just my opinion though.


also (nearly finished) if you noticed any trends eg if agencies/multi ops were emailed did they behave in a similar way?


There didn't appear to be any real difference between most replies. Some went out of their way to say they were single operators though.

[theoloyla]

Very interesting research. I too am surprised there were not a couple of slightly lower quotes.

[Danno13]

I'm also suprised there weren't a few higher as well!

[Corabar Steve]

there were also a couple that I thought sent too much information and paperwork..

Us??

[wensleydale]

There were probably 5 companies who I thought stood out from the rest, in terms of information sent and from those 5, there were also a couple that I thought sent too much information and paperwork.



Can you share what it was that made people stand out.
I'm really interested in this and would be really keen to discuss it more- I firmly believe that in recent years, especially at the end of the market a lot of us want to play in, that the getting the pre event contact right can get you or lose you the booking.

[Corabar Steve]

I know for a fact that I replied the next day, as I was out of the office all day on the day the email came in.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Us??

In my opinion, yes. Though your answer was also very comprehensive and gave the most information. I thought all the attached paperwork was a bit too much though.

[DazzyD]

I probably send a lot of info out in the initial email but I never include attachments. I think a lot of potential clients would see this as a security risk as they've only requested basic info and haven't requested attachments. They may just bin the email. When I see emails with attachments that I haven't explicitly requested they go straight in the trash!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Can you share what it was that made people stand out.


It's only my opinion of course, but the companies that stood out were those who firstly sounded professional and efficient and whose language and grammar skills were good - in other words the way it was worded.

I also liked the companies that didn't use too much waffle or 'filler' information and were to the point and concise.

I liked companies that were accountable with phone number and address on the mail and I guess the image of a professional business, not just some bloke who 'does the odd disco', if you see what I mean. That's not a criticism of sole traders or people who only work occasionally because as long as they came over professionally, that did not enter into it.

[rob1963]

In my opinion, yes. Though your answer was also very comprehensive and gave the most information. I thought all the attached paperwork was a bit too much though.

This is why I've always been wary about how much information to give.

I think giving too MUCH information can put people off even more than not giving enough (assuming you've answered their question, of course).

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

This is why I've always been wary about how much information to give.

I think giving too MUCH information can put people off even more than not giving enough (assuming you've answered their question, of course).

I think as long as it's summarised then you'd be fine.

[rob1963]

I think as long as it's summarised then you'd be fine.

Fair enough.

Darren,

I've posted a rough draft of my amended email response in the other thread I started, and having got some good opinions & advice, I'm now working on an amended version which I'll post a little later.

I'd be very interested to get your own opinion on the amended response & how it compares to the reply you received to your original query...as it was you who highlighted the problem & inspired the other thread.

:)

[theoloyla]

It's only my opinion of course, but the companies that stood out were those who firstly sounded professional and efficient and whose language and grammar skills were good - in other words the way it was worded.

I also liked the companies that didn't use too much waffle or 'filler' information and were to the point and concise.

I liked companies that were accountable with phone number and address on the mail and I guess the image of a professional business, not just some bloke who 'does the odd disco', if you see what I mean. That's not a criticism of sole traders or people who only work occasionally because as long as they came over professionally, that did not enter into it.

On that basis I think I probably ticked all the boxes but you are right I wouldnt have sent much information out other than answering the question as to whether I was available and the price and an invitation to discuss the function further. My signature always includes my association memberships, PAT and PLI, SEDA profile page and phone and mobile numbers. I perhaps wrongly assumed that people who contacted me by e-mail had already got information about me off the web.

[Tom]

Was I sent an email???


I did get a request for a wedding disco (5 hours) last month. Just thought I would ask.

[gaza]

I did a little bit of research on pricing about 5 months ago. picked 25 disco companies from this forum and from the listings site, which were mainly in the South East, and asked them for a quote for an evening function for 5 hours up to 12 midnight which was within 5 miles of them.

I thought you may be interested in the results.

25 companies emailed.
23 companies replied
1 did not reply
1 was an incorrect email address.


18 companies quoted
3 directed me to an online quoter
2 wanted further information before quoting


After the email was sent, the first person/company to reply took less than an hour and the slowest took 3 days.

The lowest price quoted was £250

One of the £250 quotes may have been me?, but since about 5 weeks ago i have started charging £250 for a 4 hour Event, and then charging extra for each additional hour ( apart from a childrens disco on a sunday afternoon).

Also after reading a recent thread on hear, i am also now sending a more detailed reply, that i paste into the email.
So thanks for starting that thread Rob.:)

[ppentertainments]

One of the £250 quotes may have been me?, but since about 5 weeks ago i have started charging £250 for a 4 hour Event, and then charging extra for each additional hour ( apart from a childrens disco on a sunday afternoon).

Also after reading a recent thread on hear, i am also now sending a more detailed reply, that i paste into the email.
So thanks for starting that thread Rob.:)

Wish I could increase my fees by the equivalant of 20% just like that. When quoting for a disco I quote till 12. It does not matter if start time is 7 or 8 or finish at 11 or 12. Most my enquiries just want a price for 'a disco' and get disgruntled if extras are discussed.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Was I sent an email???




You were and you were the first to reply! Your reply came within an hour from your Blackberry. You didn't quote though as you wanted to know numbers of guests before you did.

[Tom]

You were and you were the first to reply! Your reply came within an hour from your Blackberry. You didn't quote though as you wanted to know numbers of guests before you did.


:lol:

I use the blackberry when I am not near a computer. Really helps me a lot when I'm out and about.

I didn't give a quote becuase there was no rough guide of guests attending. I need to know if I have to take more equipment or hire extra pa speakers in.

[Kernow]

Daz,

Are you also known as 'Emma'......or have you started a 'copy-cat' craze :confused:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Daz,

Are you also known as 'Emma' :confused:

Only to my closest friends and at weekends....;)

[Kernow]

Only to my closest friends and at weekends....;)

As seen on 'TV' ????;)

[nigelwright7557]

The lowest price quoted was £250
The highest price quoted was £425

The average price for the companies that quoted was £319.94



You would get quite a different set of results from around Carlisle.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You would get quite a different set of results from around Carlisle.

We'll see.

[wensleydale]

You would get quite a different set of results from around Carlisle.

you could get quite different quotes from the area he has researched already too- I know people who charge less than £250 (by a fair margin) and more than £425 (be an equally fair margin).

It's not an exact science

[soundtracker]

You would get quite a different set of results from around Carlisle.

Hurrah, a "You'll never get more than £.... around 'ere moment"

PRICELESS!

[rob1963]

Hurrah, a "You'll never get more than £.... around 'ere moment"

PRICELESS!

:rofl:

[ppentertainments]

Hurrah, a "You'll never get more than £.... around 'ere moment"

PRICELESS!

have to stick up for Nigel here, as I posted earlier it would be interesting to see results from other areas. Its strange how comments like above all come from more affluent (normally more southern) areas.

[rob1963]

Its strange how comments like above all come from more affluent (normally more southern) areas.

But that's simply not the case.

There are plenty of people in other areas (including some regular posters on this forum) charging VERY good money...

...contrary to what some people in those areas say, ie "You won't get more than £xxx round here"

The fact is...many people DO!

[ppentertainments]

Prove it for the north east then !!!
A lot may claim to charge more but I will assure you over £300 for a disco round here is virtually unheard of. Over £200 is very expensive.
I agree many people do moan about the prices but as yet there is no proof of this particular area having dj's charging £3/400 plus as quoted in other areas.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Prove it for the north east then !!!
A lot may claim to charge more but I will assure you over £300 for a disco round here is virtually unheard of. Over £200 is very expensive.
I agree many people do moan about the prices but as yet there is no proof of this particular area having dj's charging £3/400 plus as quoted in other areas.

How can you say there is no proof? Have you actually got quotes from people?

People all must live in small houses then, with 3 in a bedroom. You all must drive run down cars and have crap paying jobs. There mustn't be anyone going to dinner in nice restaurants or getting married in Hotels. I bet people don't belong to country clubs or golf clubs and no-one that lives in the NE buys designer clothes or goes abroad on holiday.

Whereas here in the south the streets are paved with gold and we all charge £250 an hour.

[djsteve10]

Prove it for the north east then !!!
A lot may claim to charge more but I will assure you over £300 for a disco round here is virtually unheard of. Over £200 is very expensive.
I agree many people do moan about the prices but as yet there is no proof of this particular area having dj's charging £3/400 plus as quoted in other areas.

Maybe you are marketing yourself wrong then?

[ppentertainments]

How can you say there is no proof? Have you actually got quotes from people?

People all must live in small houses then, with 3 in a bedroom. You all must drive run down cars and have crap paying jobs. There mustn't be anyone going to dinner in nice restaurants or getting married in Hotels. I bet people don't belong to country clubs or golf clubs and no-one that lives in the NE buys designer clothes or goes abroad on holiday.

Whereas here in the south the streets are paved with gold and we all charge £250 an hour.

Yes I have actually got quotes and as mentioned before look at most prestigious hotels inthis area and you will find you must use an in-house dj costing around £150-£200. I also know many dj's who all agree and in fact most charge even less than me. I don't see many North-East dj's coming on saying I am wrong !!

As far as your other comments I have never made any reference to the lifestyle in the North East, merely to the charges made by disco's and what people expect to be charged.

Just to back up my remark I have came off the phone just an hour ago after speaking to a couple getting married in one of the 'main wedding venues' in the North East. They have decided to go with someone else as my quote of £215 was 'by far the most expensive'.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

As far as your other comments I have never made any reference to the lifestyle in the North East, merely to the charges made by disco's and what people expect to be charged.


So people have got money to spend then, so there is no excuse really. You have to change people's perception about us and what they get when they book. And, no, it can't be done overnight.

If people in the NE can do all the things that the rest of the country do, then there's no reason that you can't charge more.

In answer to your question and off the top of my head, I believe that Colin Cook in Durham charges over £300 on a regular basis and he's only been DJing for a few years.

[rob1963]

I firmly believe that in recent years, especially at the end of the market a lot of us want to play in, that the getting the pre event contact right can get you or lose you the booking.

I couldn't agree more.

I think these kind of surveys are important & valuable. They must be, or other businesses wouldn't do them.

For example, when I worked in the bank, a fake customer (known as a mystery shopper) came in every month to ask about opening an account, savings, mortgages or whatever. They then compiled & sent back a report giving a percentage score. I know that it's not just banks who employ these people, but many other types of business as well.

We even did our own checks on the local competition, which was arranged by our manager. It involved changing into plain clothes & visiting local banks & building societies to ask about a particular service, and making a note of how quickly we were seen, if they asked & used our name, whether we were taken to a private room, how much information we were given, whether they gave us any brochures etc etc.

All very interesting & valuable, as I'm sure most people are interested to discover how they compare to the competition.

[mikeee]

Um, your not the elusive Emma Green are you :) :) :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Um, your not the elusive Emma Green are you :) :) :)

Nope. Even in my research I was a man. ;)

[mikeee]

OK, thought it was too obvious :) :)