How far in advance will you quote?

[Spirits High]

As the title says.

How far in advance will you quote?

I've done plenty of quotes for next year 2010 but have had an enquiry this morning for a Wedding in August 2012 :eek:

Not sure how to play it as realistically I don't know "economy wise" where things will be at this time 3 years away.

The way I'm thinking is to take a booking fee with the total cost subject to confirmation in say August 2011.

Thought's / ideas would be appreciated ;)

[rob1963]

I wouldn't quote more than 5 years ahead, as I'll be retired then!

As for what to quote & how to handle the booking, I'd do everything exactly the same as if they were making a booking for a couple of months time.

In other words, I'd charge my normal current rates, and do all the paperwork & confirmation exactly like normal.

I'm not sure what you mean about not knowing where things will be "economy wise" in 3 years, or why/how you think this should influence the way you handle things. That's still an unknown factor - regardless of how many years in advance you take the booking.

[SC Events]

The longest booking I've taken is one that I took in March - It was for a Wedding in August 2010.

[Spirits High]

I'm not sure what you mean about not knowing where things will be "economy wise" in 3 years, or why/how you think this should influence the way you handle things. That's still an unknown factor - regardless of how many years in advance you take the booking.

Well diesel could be £10 per litre for a start and I could be a superstar Dj charging £1000per night :D

[Adam_F]

I'm only comfortable booking up to a year in advance at the very most.
Who knows what I could be doing in 3 or 4 months, let alone 1 or 2 years!

Guess this is because I'm not a full timer with the DJ'ing, and dabble in too much on the side.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Ive sent out a few quotes for 2011...just look at how your annual costs have increased over the previous years and take into account :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Normally no longer than 2 years in advance, but then I've never been asked to quote any later than that.

[Jonathan Ford]

As the title says.

How far in advance will you quote?

I've done plenty of quotes for next year 2010 but have had an enquiry this morning for a Wedding in August 2012 :eek:

Not sure how to play it as realistically I don't know "economy wise" where things will be at this time 3 years away.

The way I'm thinking is to take a booking fee with the total cost subject to confirmation in say August 2011.

Thought's / ideas would be appreciated ;)

Not sure about 2012, but I took a booking a couple of weeks ago for 2011.

I priced it by taking the "standard" fee I'm quoting for weddings in 2010, adjusting for any extras, and added 15%. Any massive changes to the economy between now and then, I'll take on the chin - fuel might be 60p a litre.. :rofl:

[Pe7e]

I'm only comfortable booking up to a year in advance at the very most.
Who knows what I could be doing in 3 or 4 months, let alone 1 or 2 years!


I feel pretty much the same with advance bookings, they can become very restrictive and a pain in the butt. If my health continues to improve, the world recession eases and the £ regains some of its former strength, I hope to be back living and working in s.e.asia again by 2011. I take 'provisional' bookings if the event is well into the future, and reconfirm a couple of months before the date, since I don't normally do weddings, which are frequently planned well in advance, I don't think this has cost me any bookings to date.

.

[DazzyD]

Our booking system allows us to quote 3 years ahead. It can automatically (if required) adjust prices by a set percentage (the default is 10% but is easily changed). Like others have said, I'd put it through at a provisional booking and set a callback for 6 months before to confirm everything is still on track.

[rob1963]

Well diesel could be £10 per litre for a start and I could be a superstar Dj charging £1000per night :D

And the chances of either of those happening are probably rather slim, so just take the booking at your normal rates just like you would any other booking.

Even if you DO become a superstar DJ charging £1000 per night in the meantime, I'm sure you wouldnt have too much of a problem honouring this one booking at your current rates!


Who knows what I could be doing in 3 or 4 months, let alone 1 or 2 years!

Are you saying you have no idea whether you'll still be DJing in 3 or 4 months?

:confused:


I feel pretty much the same with advance bookings, they can become very restrictive and a pain in the butt.

I look at it the other way.

They give you a great start to the year in question way in advance, and you're also able to take a deposit up front for a booking that you won't even have to THINK about for a few years!

[DJMaxG]

8 Months - Probably :)

[Adam_F]

Are you saying you have no idea whether you'll still be DJing in 3 or 4 months?

:confused:


Yes.

There's two jobs I've got an eye on, which means next year, I'd be off world wide, doing stuff (still industry related, just not mobile DJ'ing).

Would have a Mac Book Pro & a controller with me though, so would do a bit of DJ'ing, but certainly wouldn't come back to the UK just for a wedding.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I would add on at least 20% to any quote for 2012

[rob1963]

I would add on at least 20% to any quote for 2012

So the current inflation rate is around 1%, but you're working on it being 7% for the next three years?

Please don't ever get a job as an economist!

:shrug:

[DeckstarDeluxe]

So the current inflation rate is around 1%, but you're working on it being 7% for the next three years?

Please don't ever get a job as an economist!

:shrug:


Rob you have no idea what my prices are for starters. Unlike yourself I want to keep reinvesting in my equipment and shows and therefore my prices are climbing to match that and my experience. Like Adam has already pointed out I have no idea what Im going to be doing in three years so If I need to hire in a third party company for whatever reason I wont get my fingers burnt

[rob1963]

Rob you have no idea what my prices are for starters.

No, because like many on this forum they are something you're vary secretive about for some reason.


Unlike yourself I want to keep reinvesting in my equipment and shows

Nothing wrong with that, but I prefer to continue with my perfectly acceptable equipment & retire in a few years rather than always having some of the very best, latest & most expensive gear...but having to continue working well into my 50s to pay for it!

As Wensleydale often says...life's too short!


therefore my prices are climbing to match that and my experience.

Fair enough, although I wouldn't have thought you could increase your prices much each year simply based on having one more year's experience.


Like Adam has already pointed out I have no idea what Im going to be doing in three years so If I need to hire in a third party company for whatever reason I wont get my fingers burnt

Fair enough.

[wensleydale]

So the current inflation rate is around 1%, but you're working on it being 7% for the next three years?

Please don't ever get a job as an economist!

:shrug:

Rob- I think there's a significant difference between saying inflation is going to be 20% and my prices will rise 20%.
Different people will have different ideas of what they will do with their business over the next 3 years and it's unlikely that anyone would want to be "doing what they are doing now charging what they are charging now".

For 2012 I'd add on c20% like some others have said, but would make all quotes subject to confirmation 12 months before the event.

On a different note I suspect inflation wont stay at 1% for long so if you factor that into bookings I'd be very careful.

[DazzyD]

On a different note I suspect inflation wont stay at 1% for long so if you factor that into bookings I'd be very careful.

This is a very good point. VAT is set to return to 17.5%, the country is near to economic collapse and the guy from the Bank of England is suggesting more public money is needed before the country can be anywhere near stable.

I agree that the current rate of inflation is not going to stay at 1% for long!

[James]

We had an enquiry the other day for May 2011, i didn't give her a price i just pointed her towards the website, and said if she needs to know anything further, call

I don't feel comfortable quoting more than 12 months in advance

[rob1963]

Rob - I think there's a significant difference between saying inflation is going to be 20% and my prices will rise 20%.


Not necessarily.

Just because YOU don't base your price increases mostly on the rate of inflation doesn't mean some others don't.


Different people will have different ideas of what they will do with their business over the next 3 years and it's unlikely that anyone would want to be "doing what they are doing now charging what they are charging now"

Agreed.


but would make all quotes subject to confirmation 12 months before the event.

In my opinion, that's not particularly good customer service.


On a different note I suspect inflation wont stay at 1% for long so if you factor that into bookings I'd be very careful.

Well, I'm about to increase my price for a wedding disco with a daytime set up by 12%...so I'm really not too bothered if inflation goes higher than 1% in the near future!


VAT is set to return to 17.5%

Which will make just as little difference as when it was reduced.


the country is near to economic collapse

In that case, so are all the other countries in the world...based on the fact that we are one of the richest countries in the world.


the guy from the Bank of England is suggesting more public money is needed before the country can be anywhere near stable.

Considering we're in the middle of the worst recession in my lifetime, that doesn't surprise me at all.


I agree that the current rate of inflation is not going to stay at 1% for long!

So do I!

[theoloyla]

I'll take bookings in advance but the most ever has been 2 years. I prefer to have the booking than not. The deposit will be sat in my bank account. If my health, the economy orsomething elseshould go pear shaped before the event then either re-negotiation or cancellation will be required but this has never happened to me so far.

[rob1963]

I'll take bookings in advance but the most ever has been 2 years. I prefer to have the booking than not. The deposit will be sat in my bank account. If my health, the economy or something else should go pear shaped before the event then either re-negotiation or cancellation will be required but this has never happened to me so far.

:agree:

A very sensible post, and one I entirely agree with.

[wensleydale]

Not necessarily.

Just because YOU don't base your price increases mostly on the rate of inflation doesn't mean some others don't.


I didnt say that- I just said that you cant assume because inflation is x people will change prices by x.

I'm sure some do, but I'm also sure a lot of people don't know what the level of inflation is, and that it doesn't necessarily correlate with cost differences for running a mobile disco business.

For me personally it's not too relevant and therefore factors such as how much work I have on are far more applicable.

[rob1963]

I didnt say that - I just said that you cant assume because inflation is x people will change prices by x.

I completely agree.


I'm sure some do, but I'm also sure a lot of people don't know what the level of inflation is, and that it doesn't necessarily correlate with cost differences for running a mobile disco business.


Agreed.


For me personally it's not too relevant and therefore factors such as how much work I have on are far more applicable.

Inflation is pretty much irrelevant to me as well.

The main thing that determines when I put my prices up is how long it's been since I LAST put my prices up!

As for the amount, it has to be worth it, to I rarely hike my prices by less than 10% at a time.

:D :D :D

[DJ INDIE]

just to throw a spanner in the works (or think about things differently), it might be worth seeing how your prices have changed from 2/3 years ago and why?

i base my prices on a whole lot of factors; how busy i am (it is better to have a confirmed booking than not), is it an acceptable fee - does it factor in needing any more equipment?

i welcome future enquiries, it helps me plan/secure the future of my company.

[wensleydale]

just to throw a spanner in the works (or think about things differently), it might be worth seeing how your prices have changed from 2/3 years ago and why?

i base my prices on a whole lot of factors; how busy i am (it is better to have a confirmed booking than not), is it an acceptable fee - does it factor in needing any more equipment?

i welcome future enquiries, it helps me plan/secure the future of my company.

On average c50% increase.