Totally Miffed!!!??

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

I thought I would go through all of my bookings for the rest of the year tonight and make sure that everything is in order etc (booking fees paid, meetings set up etc etc)....and I got (as the title says) totally miffed!

This year is easily my busiest year since I have been in business and generally if I am asked if I am available on a particular date, I will know straight away off the top of my head because I don't have that many dates free, which is obviously a good thing.

I wanted to see if anyone out there is experiencing some stupidly busy months and then some quieter ones?

I noticed (and this is what 'miffed' me) that JUNE is unbelievably busy for me. June last year was pretty mediocre. September (like last year) is also busy and July and October are nearly full. (October for some reason is very popular this year for me?). The month I am having trouble with is AUGUST and I have no idea why? I have had hardly any enquiries for anything in August at all and am starting to worry a bit that just as I get in to some continuity, a quiet month like August that should be busy will knock me down a bit?

I have no problem with November and December. I have a few weddings in those months already and will have dates for Christmas from hotel residencies but August is worrying me at the moment.

Anyone?

[Charlie Brown]

Sorry to hear about August. However Garry, it sounds like this is compensated by a relatively full diary all year round.

This is going to be a problem for me.

Without a decent residency - I'm not going to notice a big increase in work.

[mikeee]

Summer Holidays!!!!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I'm just surprised Charlie to be honest mate.
I hadn't even noticed. I have been getting tons of enquiries and have been converting them into bookings for the months I mentioned but for some reason, August isn't doing it for me.

As I have said in the past on this forum, when I set up my business I did it all the wrong way. I left a decent enough job, didn't get a business loan or anything and then max'd out my credit cards and savings etc. It's going to take me a long time to get stuff paid off even though I have made a profit for the past 3 years. As a 'professional' full timer...I should be out every friday and saturday night. That's generally the case but it only takes a bad month to knock you back a bit. The only way I can properly describe it is....It's like when it's mad in November and December for the christmas period etc...You can earn a lot of money but it kind of evens out when you have some quieter periods at the beginning of the year. Luckily, January and February were quite healthy and better than last year so I had a head start. The rest of the year improves and June will do me a big favour but it seems just as I am getting somewhere....August will spoil it for me.

[rob1963]

Hi Gary,

I'm busy in June & July, but like you August is a problem at the moment, with only 2 bookings (Friday 13th & Saturday 14th).

September is good, but things go quiet after that...although the enquiries are coming in, so I'm sure some of the gaps will fill in over the coming months.

Having just checked the numbers for this year, I only need four more disco bookings to equal my best year since going full time 6 years ago.

That is bound to happen considering it's only May...which is pretty good going considering we're only just coming out of a chronic recession...so I'm a happy bunny!

:D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Good to hear you're busy Rob. It just does my head in.
Forgetting Birthdays and other parties etc...In 2008 I did 16 Weddings. In 2009 I did 18 Weddings. This year I have 38 Weddings booked so far and as you say, considering we're just coming out of the recession....that's pretty mad!
(I'm just talking Weddings by the way).

Seeing as I am in 'Worry Guts' mode at the moment..... How do I follow this year? I have 4 Weddings booked for 2011 and 1 for 2012. I know it's a long way off but if you have a really good year...how do you follow it?

[Vectis]

I've only got 1 gig booked for the whole of August.

Mind you I am spending 24 days on a mega roadtrip :D


August is always quiet for me. It's when the half of the island not involved with tourism disappear on holiday because they can't stand all the grockles and overners, and the half that is involved with tourism is working it's butt off taking care of all the grockles and overners :)

[Charlie Brown]

Mind you I am spending 24 days on a mega roadtrip :D

Ohhh...where you taking me? :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Vectis, I haven't had a holiday for years. I don't intend to take one either as I want to earn the money. I have all week to do what I want generally and when the weather is nice, it's good.

[Vectis]

Ohhh...where you taking me? :D

If you can find space in my car with me, Mrs VV and three weeks worth of gear, you're welcome to tag along.

"Other Dad" will be able to confirm whether or not this is a feasibility. He's seen my touring motor :D

[Charlie Brown]

"Other Dad" will be able to confirm whether or not this is a feasibility. He's seen my touring motor :D

:lol:

[Twinspin]

may (3 weddings)
june (2 weddings)
july (5 weddings)
august (1 wedding)
september (1 party)
october (nothing)
november (nothing)
december (nothing)

is how it currently stands here.

[rob1963]

Vectis, I haven't had a holiday for years. I don't intend to take one either as I want to earn the money. I have all week to do what I want generally and when the weather is nice, it's good.

Exactly the same here.

My last holiday was just over 10 years ago, and the next one probably won't be until I retire.

Like you, I have the daytimes to do what I like, and considering the weather forecast I'll probably have a day down at the coast tomorrow or Friday.

:)

[Charlie Brown]

4 in June
8 in July
3 in August (going on holiday)
1 in September
Nothing after that, apart from:
NYE - (which is an absolute cracker and my highest ever paid gig!) :D

[StarZSoundS]

Without a decent residency - I'm not going to notice a big increase in work.

Lifes hard without a decent residency.I've always had one..... sometimes two.The trouble is they can bore you.I don't think they would suit you Charlie....you always seem to have "ants in your pants".

6 years.....1228 hours.3120 General Knowledge Questions....3120 clips from obscure tunes a questions.Endless plays of The Gambler,Halfway to Paradise,Islands in the Stream,Love me for a Reason.Fortunately I also had 2000 pints in the same period to soften the blow. :) :) :) :) :) :)

[NKR]

Its not too bad for us actually.

May 5 Jobs
June 6 Jobs
July 3 Jobs, but my buddy is away for two weeks
August 4 jobs on, but 3 are singing job so we have decent wack on it. I am away for a week.
September 2 jobs then baby 2 comes along
October clear because of baby 2 arrival
November Just 1 Job
December 3 in (including NYE)

I am hoping we can still fill the gaps so we can beat 2009 figures, but its going to be tough with 6 weeks off with the baby arrival.

[Excalibur]

If you can find space in my car with me, Mrs VV and three weeks worth of gear, you're welcome to tag along.

"Other Dad" will be able to confirm whether or not this is a feasibility. He's seen my touring motor :D

If it's the one I saw, I've got more carrying capacity with my pushbike. :p :D :D

[Charlie Brown]

Lifes hard without a decent residency.I've always had one..... sometimes two.The trouble is they can bore you.I don't think they would suit you Charlie....you always seem to have "ants in your pants".


Nah, I need one.

I need to start making some money/profit.

It's how to get one that's the hard bit. :o

[rob1963]

Lifes hard without a decent residency.

Really?

The thing I've noticed with residencies is that the money's crap.

Surely it's preferable to get your own regular one-off decently paid private bookings?


The trouble is they can bore you.

Very true.

I'd much rather be playing to a different crowd at a different venue each week.

[Charlie Brown]

A residency at a hotel?

Do they have the same wedding crowd each week? :confused:

[rob1963]

A residency at a hotel?

Do they have the same wedding crowd each week? :confused:

Not the same crowd, but it's still the same venue.

I just prefer a bit more variety.

[Excalibur]

Not the same crowd, but it's still the same venue.

I just prefer a bit more variety.

Charlie, it's a two edged sword. You get used to using the same setup regularly, it can be steasdy money.
Downside, it can get boring, you can fall out with the manager, and if you're paid by the hotel, not the punters, the money can be abysmal.

[Charlie Brown]

If I wanted to branch out when I'm older then I reckon I'd need a few residencies under my belt to achieve this.

[Excalibur]

If I wanted to branch out when I'm older then I reckon I'd need a few residencies under my belt to achieve this.

Better option than residency is "Preferred" status. ;) When the venue gets a gig, they recommend you first. You then deal with the punter direct. Loads of benefits to this, for both sides.

[StarZSoundS]

Not the same crowd, but it's still the same venue.

I just prefer a bit more variety.


I have 5 years on you Rob....you may feel a bit different when you are the same age.

I survive by having a part-time daytime job.Residencies(just 1 at the moment),Birthdays and Weddings and a growing Kids Parties business ..the Tax-Man loves me!!

You do have to take a bit less for residencies tho...and the continued success of them is your responsibilty!!:eek: :eek:

[Excalibur]

I have 5 years on you Rob....you may feel a bit different when you are the same age.
I survive by having a part-time daytime job.Residencies(just 1 at the moment),Birthdays and Weddings and a growing Kids Parties business ..the Tax-Man loves me!!

You do have to take a bit less for residencies tho...and the continued success of them is your responsibilty!!:eek: :eek:

Keep up at the back. ;) Rob will have been retired for three years then, just like me. :D :D :D :D

[rob1963]

I have 5 years on you Rob....you may feel a bit different when you are the same age.

I'll feel a LOT different...because I'll be retired! :D


You do have to take a bit less for residencies tho...and the continued success of them is your responsibilty!!:eek: :eek:

I know all about residencies...and making them a success.

I had one in a pub for 9 years, initially doing one night a week, then two & finally three nights a week for the last year I was there.

That residency only ended because the pub was sold & the new owners didn't want a DJ every night, so all the gear was removed.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

"Other Dad" will be able to confirm whether or not this is a feasibility. He's seen my touring motor :D

I think not, unless you get a trailer...


Better option than residency is "Preferred" status. ;) When the venue gets a gig, they recommend you first. You then deal with the punter direct. Loads of benefits to this, for both sides.

:thumbsup:

[CRAZY K]

Hi all,

I thought I would go through all of my bookings for the rest of the year tonight and make sure that everything is in order etc (booking fees paid, meetings set up etc etc)....and I got (as the title says) totally miffed!

This year is easily my busiest year since I have been in business and generally if I am asked if I am available on a particular date, I will know straight away off the top of my head because I don't have that many dates free, which is obviously a good thing.

I wanted to see if anyone out there is experiencing some stupidly busy months and then some quieter ones?

I noticed (and this is what 'miffed' me) that JUNE is unbelievably busy for me. June last year was pretty mediocre. September (like last year) is also busy and July and October are nearly full. (October for some reason is very popular this year for me?). The month I am having trouble with is AUGUST and I have no idea why? I have had hardly any enquiries for anything in August at all and am starting to worry a bit that just as I get in to some continuity, a quiet month like August that should be busy will knock me down a bit?

I have no problem with November and December. I have a few weddings in those months already and will have dates for Christmas from hotel residencies but August is worrying me at the moment.

Anyone?

Did someone say August:confused:

:sofa: :sofa: :sofa: :sofa: :sofa:

My busiest month of this year ( at the moment )

No idea before you ask--its School Holiday time:confused:

BTW take a Holiday in August and spend all your hard earned Money Gary, you deserve a break by the sound of it.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm quiet in August too, apart from the 28th which is the joint busiest day so far this year.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

It must be our part of the country Darren. I'm wondering (hoping more like), that people will get their holidays out of the way first and then book late but generally they do that for the last part of the year...oh well.

[Charlie Brown]

I'm quiet in August too, apart from the 28th which is the joint busiest day so far this year.

Why? What you got on? :confused:

Is this where you have several guys out?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Why? What you got on? :confused:

Is this where you have several guys out?

Yep.

[rob1963]

Oh well...it looks like August is toilet for EVERYONE in the south.

:(

[Tonsk]

May is my busiest month this year.

August is quieter than last year, but other than that June is my quietest...

Just odd this year.

[Leicester Ben]

I've just had a quick look and May is my busiest month this year so far with 33 events booked in, June is a bit more chilled out but July and August are good months also!

Got to love the weddings :)

[wensleydale]

If this is your busiest year to date is it an issue that one month is quiet? Surely the overall performance is more important.
For what its worth Aug is no different to Jul or Sep but I don't think that is is too relevent.

[CRAZY K]

Oh well...it looks like August is toilet for EVERYONE in the south.

:(

Excuses, excuses:confused:

Im a Southerner living and working slightly further North these days.;)

On a serious note August is my busiest month and I see none of the gigs are in South East England or the Thames Valley which may make sense.

[Tony Scott]

Oh well...it looks like August is toilet for EVERYONE in the south.

:(

Depends how far south you go... I've got 8 for August :confused: :)