Who buy's the coffee ??

[ppentertainments]

When meeting clients at a venue ie coffee bar, services or hotel, do you offer to buy the drinks or let them pay for them ??

I do feel slightly uncomfortable when this situation arises although I always let them pay for it. The reasons are that I meet them at a convenient time and venue to suit themselves (as long as not interfering with my business in any way) and the cost os so expensive :D

Tonight for example, I have had a 80 mile round trip taking nearly an hour each way to meet a couple who had not even booked me before meeting. I had the option of 'buttering them up' by paying or let them pay for the coffee. They chose the venue, time etc so I let them pay. (really glad I did after hearing the price :D :D ). TBH I will still carry on in this way but just interested as to what others do.

BTW I always refuse the biscuit though ;)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I'll pay no issue.

All the little things add up

[Alchemy]

Absolutely no question, I would pay. You are talking peanuts here :eek:

[Danno13]

I'd make them pay and then ask them for the receipt to put through my books.. :D

Nah, I'd just do whatever felt appropriate at the time, no objections either way and I can't really remember a time when it's appeared to have made a difference.

[ppentertainments]

Absolutely no question, I would pay. You are talking peanuts here :eek:
You meet in a expensive hotel, they turn up with both sets of parents ??

Even tonight there was only the three of us yet the bill came to just under £9.

If they can afford me, they can afford the coffee :D :p :D

Appreciate the views and looks like I could be in the minority :eek:

[Vectis]

Play it by ear. Mostly they pay. Sometimes I pay.

Swings and roundabouts really; if I end up paying I'll slip a tenner on the bill somewhere along the line :p

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Agree with Martin, sometines I pay, other times the do. Good examples:

Case 1 ( :D ) - Met a B&G in KFC (before you say it it was just off the motorway and the only place they knew easily) - She was in the line, so bought me a cola

Case 2 - In a nice coffe shop in the p:Censored: ng rain. B&G phoned to say they were running late, so i had a nice hot drink waiting for them when they sat down. They really apprecated it.

[rob1963]

I've never been in this situation, as the few customer meetings I DO have are usually at their home, or occasionally at mine.

If the situation arose, as someone has already suggested I'd just play it by ear...as I think it depends on the circumstances.

[Charlie Brown]

I always buy the drinks....no problem.

[rob1963]

I always buy the drinks....no problem.

Thanks Charlie.

I hope to meet you at BPM, and if so, I'll have a double Vodka & tonic!

:D :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I don't drink coffee.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I always buy the drinks....no problem.

When? :eek:

[Penfold42]

I don't drink coffee.

Only lager flavour. :sj:

[Charlie Brown]

What do you mean when? :confused: Do you mean when do I ever do "pre event meet ups?"

I have done about 4? All of them have been for Weddings...most people don't seem too fussed. Or do you mean why didn't I buy you a drink the other night? I thought that when I sat on the train.....:sofa:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

What do you mean when? :confused:

When do you buy the drinks? I wasn't party to you buying any yesterday when you got a glass of Rose...:p

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Only lager flavour. :sj:

Caffreys...


Lager! Please! :eek:

[rob1963]

I have done about 4? All of them have been for Weddings...most people don't seem too fussed.

I'm the same, Charlie.

You and I clearly impress clients so much when initially dealing with their enquiries that they feel completely relaxed & comfortable, and feel a meeting is just not necessary.

:D :D :D

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Caffreys...


Lager! Please! :eek:

You southerners dont know proper beer anyway so what difference does it make :sofa: :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

You southerners dont know proper beer anyway so what difference does it make :sofa: :D

Ooh, that seems like a challenge to me. ;)

[Vectis]

You southerners dont know proper beer anyway so what difference does it make :sofa: :D

As a northerner in a strange land, I concur ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

As a northerner in a strange land, I concur ;)

Pah!

I have drunk Excalibur's offerings and as nice as they were, there are plenty of breweries down here that do us proud.

[Excalibur]

Pah!

I have drunk Excalibur's offerings and as nice as they were, there are plenty of breweries down here that do us proud.

A view with which I can take no issue. O'Hanlon's of Devon, Young's ( London, but recently moved further north ), Woodfordes and St Peter's from Norfolk, off the top of my head.





Now if you Southerners could only realise that beer has a head on it................................................ ...

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Ooh, that seems like a challenge to me. ;)

Lol, next year at BPM ill fetch you a bottle of Jennings Sneck Lifter. Its better on draught, but nice from bottle...and the Jennings brewery is only 10 miles away. :D


Now if you Southerners could only realise that beer has a head on it................................................ ...

Amen....Every pub down south ive meen into have looked at me funnily when ive asked for head ;) :D

[Javlingames]

With modern communication available these days im not sure a meeting is needed. Most things can be discussed over the phone or by e-mail.

[rob1963]

With modern communication available these days im not sure a meeting is needed. Most things can be discussed over the phone or by e-mail.

That's certainly the view 90% of MY clients take.

[Vectis]

With modern communication available these days im not sure a meeting is needed. Most things can be discussed over the phone or by e-mail.

True.

But you can learn so much more about people from meeting them - nuances that you simply cannot get from a phone call or even a jerky and low-resolution video chat. I want to be able to 'read' them when I make suggestions or ask questions, not just listen to what comes out of their mouths.

I want to walk into someone's wedding day already knowing the B+G to a certain degree so that I can make informed decisions that will make the difference between a good party and a great one in my clients' eyes at least.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Lol, next year at BPM ill fetch you a bottle of Jennings Sneck Lifter. Its better on draught, but nice from bottle...and the Jennings brewery is only 10 miles away. :D

Peter introduced me to that and I've had it several times since.

Could be sacrilege, but I made a beef and ale casserole with it last week too. :eek:

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Well in that case darren, you shhould come up here. The brewery is a fabulous place :)

[djdave01]

ive been dj'ing for 20 years, 10 years running my own business. In that time ive had a pre-event meeting with clients twice. On both occasions it was in the clients home.
Occasionally i get clients who want to pay there deposit personally, they tend to come to my house.
The vast majority of my clients are perfectly happy asking questions over the phone.
Maybe im doing it wrong, but theres never been a problem.

[rob1963]

But you can learn so much more about people from meeting them - nuances that you simply cannot get from a phone call or even a jerky and low-resolution video chat. I want to be able to 'read' them when I make suggestions or ask questions, not just listen to what comes out of their mouths.

While that's fair enough, I just wonder how much difference it makes to the job you do for them on the night?

The main thing here is communication & finding out what they want, and I don't see why it's such an advantage for that to be done face to face rather than by email or on the phone.

To illustrate my point, I don't meet 90% of my clients in advance, nor do I even speak to them on the phone in most cases...but nearly half of them still contact me after the function to give extremely positive & complimentary feedback.


I want to walk into someone's wedding day already knowing the B+G to a certain degree so that I can make informed decisions that will make the difference between a good party and a great one in my clients' eyes at least.

So do I, but I don't feel the need to physically meet them in advance to achieve that great party rather than just a good one.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Rob just think back to when you met people off here in real life, werent what you expected I bet

If i had my way I'd have a face to face with all my clients, however while its free and I mention it I get the impression most of them are happy to email.

I think its important too if your offering a presentable show that you have that client meeting to bring that across. Weddings mainly so after you have made a good impression it can put their mind at ease. They have enough to worry about and you can do your bit to at least ease their nerves about the entertainment side, after all we've seen some set ups on here at weddings that have been awful

[rob1963]

Rob just think back to when you met people off here in real life, werent what you expected I bet

Very true.

However, if one of them was doing a disco for me, as long as I'd had good communication with them beforehand to ensure they knew exactly what I wanted and dealt with me in a professional, efficient & helpful way, then I wouldn't be particularly bothered if I hadn't actually seen them face to face.


If i had my way I'd have a face to face with all my clients, however while its free and I mention it I get the impression most of them are happy to email.

Same here...not so I can give them a better night, but simply because on the night I prefer to walk in on someone who I've met before rather than a complete stranger.

However, I already mention face to face meetings in my enquiry response as well as in several places on my website...but I'm certainly not going to force it on them. It's their choice.

To be honest, I'm quite flattered than most of them don't want to meet me beforehand. Presumably that's because they don't think it's necessary, as they can tell that I'm professional, reliable & trustworthy merely from the way I deal with their enquiries.

:)

[Wayno]

If it's at my one of my regular venues it has a coffee machine :)

...Only met in a coffee shop once and clients arrived first (early) so being last to the bar i had the coffee brought for me! :)

[Larry B Entertainment]

I prefer to walk in on someone who I've met before rather than a complete stranger.



I do too. It doesnt feel as aukward if you have met them before hand.

[Excalibur]

Lol, next year at BPM ill fetch you a bottle of Jennings Sneck Lifter. Its better on draught, but nice from bottle...and the Jennings brewery is only 10 miles away. :D

It's on draught in my reserve watering hole. :D :beer1: :beer1:


Amen....Every pub down south ive meen into have looked at me funnily when ive asked for head ;) :D
Oh Lord, please help me to resist the utge to post any or all of several answers to that one.


Peter introduced me to that and I've had it several times since.

Could be sacrilege, but I made a beef and ale casserole with it last week too. :eek:

:eek: :eek: :eek: Well, what else could we expect from a Southerner? :confused:

Only joking, it should be an excellent choice for that purpose.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Only joking, it should be an excellent choice for that purpose.

It was - even the kids liked it!!

Let me know if you require the recipe. ;)

[DJMaxG]

Being in such situation, I would pay out of civilness.

If they're sending £200+ Your way, it's the least you can do :D

But more like tea or Mint Options for me :p