The longest lead time on a gig.

[nigelwright7557]

Had an email enquiry today for a wedding in 18 months time.

I only take bookings upto 3 months in advance.
Who knows where I will be in 18 months time !

Whats the longest lead time you have had ?

[Charlie Brown]

Had an email enquiry today for a wedding in 18 months time.

I only take bookings upto 3 months in advance.
Who knows where I will be in 18 months time !

Whats the longest lead time you have had ?

Hmmmm yeah I agree with you, but people do like to plan ahead, especially a wedding. At least a year in advance....I'm surprised you have only come across this lol, or is it just me?

[nigelwright7557]

Hmmmm yeah I agree with you, but people do like to plan ahead, especially a wedding. At least a year in advance....I'm surprised you have only come across this lol, or is it just me?

This was the first time anyone had requested an 18 month lead time.

18 months in a relationship is a long time, they could be on another partner by then ! Thats why I am no fan of marriage, easy to get into but expensive to get out of !

[Vectis]

I only take bookings upto 3 months in advance.


Surely you're not serious? :eek:

My longest leadtime has to be from the 8-year-old girl who was at a wedding I did in the summer who was so impressed she made me promise to DJ at HER wedding :o I've not had the deposit yet though so I'm not sure that counts...

It's not uncommon to get bookings 18 months to 2 years out.

[nigelwright7557]

Surely you're not serious? :eek:

My longest leadtime has to be from the 8-year-old girl who was at a wedding I did in the summer who was so impressed she made me promise to DJ at HER wedding :o I've not had the deposit yet though so I'm not sure that counts...

It's not uncommon to get bookings 18 months to 2 years out.

The longest lead time I have had has been 3 months.

Having said that I am probably onto a dead cert when my sons get married.

[Excalibur]

Surely you're not serious? :eek:

My longest leadtime has to be from the 8-year-old girl who was at a wedding I did in the summer who was so impressed she made me promise to DJ at HER wedding :o I've not had the deposit yet though so I'm not sure that counts...

It's not uncommon to get bookings 18 months to 2 years out.

I once had an 18month lead time on a wedding booking , and guess what? They changed the date! :eek: :D :D

[rob1963]

My longest lead time on a gig is 2 years, as I took a booking last summer (2007) for next Summer.

I will happily take bookings up to 5 years in advance. More than that would be a problem, as I'm hoping to retire in about 5 years.

[Danno13]

People booking quality venues often have to wait 12-24months to get the date, so it doesn't bother me. I have 1 for February 2010, another for April and an enquiry for Sept 2010, and that one is only for starcloth hire, not even entertainment!

[ppentertainments]

I currently have 18 bookings for 2009, 11 bookings for 2010 and 1 for 2011. I must admit this is mostly people who take my wedding photography and disco package and people do tend to book photographers earlier than discos.

[Creature]

got confirmed bookings for 2009 & 2010 altho Ive advised them that I cannot confirm price till nearer the time

[Corabar Steve]

Had an email enquiry today for a wedding in 18 months time.

I only take bookings upto 3 months in advance.
Who knows where I will be in 18 months time !

Whats the longest lead time you have had ?


The longest lead time I have had has been 3 months.

Having said that I am probably onto a dead cert when my sons get married.

Don't do many weddings then Nigel?

Probably another reason why you aren't getting the corporate events too

[discomobiledj]

I had a disco this month that was booked 13 months ago, was only a 30th birthday.

[djsteve10]

Alot of weddings usually book within a 4 month minimum time space, I have had a few last minute ones say 3 weeks prior but the longest ones I have had have been around 2 years but they have lead off of other bookings where people have seen me perform.

[mike8863]

On august 22nd just gone, I took a booking and 75% deposit for a wedding on August 29th 2009.

In june I had an enquiry one friday afternoon for a wedding on the Saturday, yikes

[ppentertainments]

On august 22nd just gone, I took a booking and 75% deposit for a wedding on August 29th 2009.

In june I had an enquiry one friday afternoon for a wedding on the Saturday, yikes

Why a 75% deposit - should be booking fee :D :D
Seems excessive, i would prefer my normal deposit so had more income nearer the event.

[spin mobile disco]

Longest was a new years eve booking 2 years in advance. But im sure a lot of you have long pre book for that night. Although it was a few years ago at a regular venue for me.

[CRAZY K]

2 years--asked them politely to recontact 1 yr before--they did--great booking.

Just over 1 yr is the rule otherwise ask them to get in touch again--not very customer friendly--but with inflation and other costs totally beyond my control going through the roof im not prepared to quote any sooner.

Its like London Buses--theres always another one coming:D

CRAZY K

[Tony Scott]

I've just taken a booking for July 2010, just charged '09 prices....by then there may not be any money left in the world and i'll have to accept a Sheep & two Hens as payment! :eek: :)

[pagan_flame]

2 years 2 months --- NYE 2009 was booked in November 2007... any queries I get for 'Are You free on NYE' now are answered with 'Not This Decade'... :D

[PropellerHeadCase]

Frankly 12-18 months was the norm for me in NZ, for Weddings - 1-3 months is the stuff of 21sts and 30ths.

[Corabar Steve]

I thought it was about the same here.

Looks like I was wrong :sj:

[Andy Westcott]

Longest lead time here for a confirmed booking is 14 months for a wedding evening, but it's surprising how soon that time comes around. Shortest for a wedding was 5 days.

There is the consideration that you may not be in business then, (or even alive...) but that eventuality can be covered if you are in contact with other disco operators.

[rob1963]

There is the consideration that you may not be in business then

Although possible, I think that's extremely unlikely, as the vast majority of operators seem to run discos in addition to their daytime job.

Therefore, most discos will be in business until they decide otherwise, and I assume that decision is normally made in advance.


(or even alive...)

Again, I think that's extremely unlikely. How old is the average DJ? and what are the chances they won't be alive in a couple of years?

If we were all in our 70s, of course, it would be a different story!

[Vectis]

How weird is this?

(weird because this thread started up only this week :p )

I've just taken a booking for 2012 :o :D for a 50th birthday.

Agreed to a £100 booking fee and then to finalise the balance nearer to the time based on today's price plus compound increases as per the RPI :cool:

[theoloyla]

Longest I can recall is about 2 years. I regularly take them over 12 months in advance. Unlike Nigel if you are doing well paid quality gigs then the bookers are planning it a long way in advance and will want to secure the best quality venue and entertainment etc. I have 11 bookings for 2009 but none for 2010 yet.

[Andy Westcott]

Regarding still being alive in a year or two:


Again, I think that's extremely unlikely. How old is the average DJ? and what are the chances they won't be alive in a couple of years?


Unlikely, as you say, but not impossible.
Without wishing to sound too morbid, my father dropped dead of a coronary thrombosis, and when that happened he was only a few years older than I am now, so I must admit I do wonder just how long I've got especially as I suffer from a condition he also had...

But I do hope to live long, even if I don't necessarily prosper! :)