Disco Packages

[SC Events]

I have been nosying through some DJ websites and have noticed that there are more and more 'Packages' popping up.

e.g. Bronze - you get.........
Silver - you get...........
Gold - You get.............

Currently, I just fit to the venue. If it is a big room I take bigger speakers etc...and I don't offer packages.

So, do you think this is something I should look in to?

Thanks in advance as always,

Scott. :)

[Corabar Steve]

This has been done a fair few times already, but I'm sure it will provoke some heated debate.

[SC Events]

Sorry, I couldn't find anything with the search engine.

Scott. :)

[Corabar Steve]

No worries, it hasn't been done for a while & I'm sure it will go on for a couple of pages at least.

[Jay]

I don't offer packages, surely people will just pick the cheapest one. Even if they know it won't be suitable for what they need.

[Vectis]

I have been nosying through some DJ websites and have noticed that there are more and more 'Packages' popping up.

e.g. Bronze - you get.........
Silver - you get...........
Gold - You get.............


Guilty as charged.



I don't offer packages, surely people will just pick the cheapest one. Even if they know it won't be suitable for what they need.

Depends how you structure, advertise and sell them.

I did detailed stats the last time this was asked so I'm not going to do them again but the main differentiators between my three core packages are not equipment levels (although that does come into it at the low end), but services. Therefore dead easy to justify the extra.

If someone books the cheapest package, all the "included extras" with the dearer packages are offered as upgrades. By the time they've ticked a couple of boxes, they'd have been better off booking the dearer package in the first place!

Rather than Bronze/Silver/Gold which is very common I decided that my baseline was the middle package which I refer to a 'Premier'. Then below the baseline you have 'Junior' and above it 'Platinum'. Then there's custom offerings, kids offerings, ipod variants... In reality I rarely go on the road with "a package" - they're virtually all custom in one way or another due to the sheer number of variations I can offer.

[ppentertainments]

I don't offer packages, but don't necessarily have a fixed prices either. I like to tailor what I offer so suit the requirements of each.

My main reasons for not offering packages if the fear of someone wanting the cheapest package for say an 18th in a massive hall. i would hate, and think it would be bad business sense to turn up without the correct gear.

I know many do offer packages and prefer it that way so I suppose its each individuals personal preference.

[Jay]

Thats a fair point, I was thinking more though when you see these packages where if there is 50 guests you take a xxwatt speaker package, and then 100 you take a xxxwatt speakers package etc....Most people round where I am would probally book the small package no matter how many guests were going, just to get it cheaper. So I would be in a big venue with loads of people with speakers that can't handle the venue..

If that makes sense:)

[ppentertainments]

Thats a fair point, I was thinking more though when you see these packages where if there is 50 guests you take a xxwatt speaker package, and then 100 you take a xxxwatt speakers package etc....Most people round where I am would probally book the small package no matter how many guests were going, just to get it cheaper. So I would be in a big venue with loads of people with speakers that can't handle the venue..

If that makes sense:)

Where you live has no bearing on what people will pay / book :sofa:

I know where you are coming from and believe I would have the same problems here. As far as I know there aren't any (or very few) local discos who offer set packages as such.

[Jay]

Where you live has no bearing on what people will pay / book

Yeah your right, what was i thinking:p

[[email protected]]

This has been done a fair few times already, but I'm sure it will provoke some heated debate.

http://www.mobilediscodirectory.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=17309

Theres a bit about packages towards the end of this thread.

I haven't started offering packages as such, but have started to upsell with optional extras.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I have packages, however they are not set in stone and are customised to each clients brief. Some clients just want a package as they can see what it looks like and know what they want. Others use the pacages as a starting point and ***/remove parts as required.

The packages are intended to cover a range of budgets and as such cut down my workload. (i.e dont turn up with a huge system for the local social club where they lump you in the corner).

For me the packages are working more effectivly that when i didnt bother with them.

[Cheesey 1975]

I dont have packages listed on my site either

each event is talior made and priced accordingly

[Steve the DJ]

I have always tended to price a job based on a number of factors but I am considering moving over to a sort of "package" based approach that revolves simply around time spent on a job.

A friend of mine doesn't offer Gold, Silver etc. or different prices for different equipment levels, but works on a service related basis, so...

Evening Only = £595

Evening with Early Set Up = £795

All Day = £995

The service relates to what he can do to "enhance" the clients day by being on site for more time, for example, if he can set up earlier he can up light the room and provide background music during the Wedding Breakfast. If he is on site all day he can provide the ceremony music as well.

He has all of the equipment (in fact he can put in 3 different sound systems easily), and he knows that 99% of the time he will be dealing with less than 200 people at an event, so all 3 of his "packages" revolve around how much of his time is spent on site not what equipment is being used.

The client really understands this approach much more easily than "for £50 more I will bring an extra 2 moving heads".

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I never used to offer different packages but then decided to because I found that sometimes I was taking far too much equipment (mainly amps and speakers) for the number of guests there.
I decided to offer different packages which are tailored to the amount of guests that are there. Each package can also be adjusted to include the extra services such as Photo Projection and Uplighting.

It works for me as I think customers like the choice. Yes, I agree that some people will just want to go for the cheapest option and may think "Oh, I have 80 guests so it should be ok" but then again, as I said...I don't list my prices and the cheapest option is what I was going out for last year and was very happy with. If customers go for Package 2 or 3 then it's great and I have to say, a lot of people are now.

[rob1963]

This has been done a fair few times already, but I'm sure it will provoke some heated debate.

Just what I was thinking!


I don't offer packages, surely people will just pick the cheapest one. Even if they know it won't be suitable for what they need.

With all due respect, in my experience that's complete toilet.

To prove my point, I offer two packages and 85% of my clients choose the most expensive one, and that's without even speaking to me...so there's no upselling being done on the phone.

It's all about how you design & market each package.

I've even been thinking about removing my standard package, as it's only booked by 15% of my clients.


Guilty as charged.

Guilty here too.


Depends how you structure, advertise and sell them.

Spot on, vectis! :thumbsup:

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I usually find out details about the event including size of room etc.. then give them a price for the least amount of equipment i feel i could use without making myself look bad. I then offer extras and explain why they may wish to take them.

Its interesting what rob said about his packages, the main reason i didnt put packages up on my site was for the very reason people would just go for the basic even if they were having the function in a sports hall...

[PropellerHeadCase]

I do packages purely because it's easier for me and easier for the punter, I think, that said, I clearly state that all packages are customisable...

The great thing about packages is that you can get creative with the naming. I was originally going to be 'Standard', 'Chapel' and 'Cathedral' (a reference to veil lengths as well as potential venues for the ceremony - complete with an implied value) but, as my wife pointed out, this ran the risk of putting off registry office and civil ceremony clients and has religious overtones so I went with 'One-Tier', 'Two-Tier' and 'Three-Tier' which has Wedding Cake connotations, and 'the cake' is common to pretty much all types of nuptials :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I can honestly say that people seem to write off the first package as they may see it as 'cheap and cheerful', which isn't the case at all. Most people go for the second package which is worth more to me than usual (what I was charging last year), and then if they add uplighting then it's very well profitable to me.

I have 3 weddings this year where the customer has gone for the top package and with both Photo Projection and Uplighting. That evening's work is just like doing 2 functions.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I did a job for a friends of mine a few years back and it specified in the package that they paid for:

EV sound system
4m truss
8 intelligent effects
Starcloth booth

I had an Ohm sound system
2m truss as 4m wouldn't fit in the venue
5 intelligent effects as 8 wouldn't fit on the truss
Starcloth, as I didn't own the booth at the time

When I arrived, I explained to the groom why we didn't have certain things and why I didn't have 4m truss and 8 effects and he had no idea what had been booked and didn't care anyway.

Do people check to make sure they have a bronze of silver set up? I wouldn't have thought so.

[PropellerHeadCase]

If they ask for the specs of the gear they will, otherwise no, you're probably right.

[nigelwright7557]

They get as much as I can squeeze in an estate car.

[Charlie Brown]

They get as much as I can squeeze in an estate car.

Great way of dealing with your business plans and ideas Nigel. :bang:

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Nigel probably doesnt have a business plan (do you out of interest?). Im thinking not as you have said previously that you dont need, or wish, to progress as a business so why would you bother with the plan :)

[nigelwright7557]

Nigel probably doesnt have a business plan (do you out of interest?).)

My business plan is to go out and have fun !

[spin mobile disco]

I've been running with packages for the last few years and find they work well for me. But I also provide a pespoke service as well depending on what is required.
And the smallest package is not always the most sold. Last year my middle packages where most sold followed by my biggest packages then my smallest packages. So just goes to show.
I have a rough guide on my website suggesting the amount of people the package would suit. Or if they are a younger crowd choose the package above the one they would choose to allow for more lighting etc. (18th and 21st for example).

[DJ James Lake]

I offer various different packages as well ranging from £250 to £500. My main show is rather large as spin will no doubt remember, and I find the packages help show customers I can do smaller ones as well, however 9 times out of 10 its the top two package that get chosen.

[Tom]

I think packages are a good idea as the client gets to see what they got for the money rather than spend ages on the phone listening to use lot talking about pat, pli, produb, thousands of watts of audio, dmx and the like. lol.

I have been thinking about doing something like this again once the new website is up and running.

[rob1963]

I've been running with packages for the last few years and find they work well for me. But I also provide a bespoke service as well depending on what is required.

Same here.

I've heard a number of people say something along the lines of "I don't do packages because every disco is tailored to the individual client"

However, you can do set packages AND offer flexibility within those packages, so the customer still ends up getting exactly what they want.

That's what I do.