Offering extras

[womble]

We'd like to start offering extras for weddings such as dancefloors, uplighting, etc.

We can't afford to splash out on the uplighters, let alone the dancefloor so was wondering do people generally use other companies to hire these things in, and if so how do you go about quoting for them? For example we've got a wedding on in October which sounds like this would be ideal for, I'm going to the venue with the B&G soon and would like to be able to say, have you thought about uplighting/dancefloor, it would cost this much. However I would then have to find someone who is available at the cost?

If there's anyone out there who offers these services and can cover the North West (mainly Oldham area) who wants to get in touch for a chat, drop me an email.

Cheers,
Chris.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Why not look at the uplighting yourself? I, and others on here, use the colourbursts, and they are just £30 (approx) each....

[womble]

It's a possibility, I was thinking they would be more than that to buy. Also, having never done it myself before though I thought it would be easier to offer the work out and maybe look to get into it myself next year if it's something I find I can upsell easily enough.

Dancefloors are another matter.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I was going to say the same thing...predictable I know BUT, you can grab some Colourbursts and a Lil' Mix Controller and build it up over time. A lot of places will price match and also do discounts for bulk buys. It really is easy honestly. Think about your pricing and how much the whole package will cost you and a few jobs and they are paid for.

I have 18 units now. The most I have used at one function is 10 so what I am looking to do is to be able to put 2 lots of Uplighting out on the same night. I was in exactly the same position as you are now and couldn't decide what to do or if I could do it but, it's worked out really well for me and so I'd recommend you do it.

The dancefloor thing - Yes, I'd like to do that myself but haven't got a clue about it or how much it would cost either.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Im in the same boat as Gary. I started of with 10 of them and a Lil Mix. Ive now got 25 and 2 Lil Mix's (25 because 2 lots of 12, and one just lying around for taking to client meetings).

Dancefloors...again im the same. I would love to, but the outlay is a bit much right now.

[womble]

Dare I ask about prices? If I were to put out 10 uplighters for a night, what kind of price could/should I be charging?

Are these the units you use?

http://www.lifeismusic.co.uk/lights/LEDJ-Colour-Burst---LED-4-chan-4256.aspx

[Shakermaker Promotions]

They are the units yes.
Prices differ for me to be honest. I don't have a set price as such because all venues are different. Generally, if I know the venue I am going to then it's a lot better. Nothing worse than going to a venue you don't know when you have charged for Uplighting and then realised it's going to be a pig of a job or it may not look that great.

I also decided to set 2 options for Uplighting.
Option 1 - Static color all evening. The colour stays the same. It means less time to set it all up and I'll charge it cheaper.
Option 2 - Colour changing throughout the evening. This takes longer to set up as you have to DMX link all the units and then make sure it looks tidy. This takes time.

There are other options aswell as new stuff is coming out all of the time. You can get remote control units now and no doubt there will be more advanced technology on the horizon too. I'm in the frame of mind where I've already started doing it the way I do it and have spent probably around £900.00 if you included base plates, DMX leads etc etc too so I think I'll do it the way I do it for the foreseeable future.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Im pretty much the same as Gary...again...kind of.

I have set fees for the hire of each uplighter, but i also ahve an Installation fee. So if its a nice square room with 10 uplighters, the cost will be cheaper than say a funny shaped room with cloums that need uplight in the middle.

[Leicester Ben]

For LED Uplighting I use http://www.thomann.de/gb/stairville_led_par_56_alu_poliert.htm the Thomman Par Cans.

These are perfect for uplighting and at £27.50 each are an actual bargain. By the time that you have factored in buying cases, stands, leads etc you are looking at approx £60 a unit which is still a good price.

In terms of charging for it then I now price them at £10 per can + £150 installation. I also include it in some of my packages which has proved to be popular also.

With the dance floors they arent as cheap, its cost me £30,000 to buy my stock of starlit and black and white dance floors. For those looking to offer it as an extra you could always try and find someone that has them (like me) and ask them to be a reseller. They may then give you some photos of the floor to put on your website and pay you a commission every time you sell one of the dance floors. :)

[womble]

Ben, if you cover the North West and have anything I could show to clients that would be great.

[womble]

Do you ever get problems with the uplighters being spread out around and not in the comfort zone of the dj booth? i.e. people/children getting tempted to interfere, trip on them, pour beer into them etc.?

[JTRS]

My question would be

Do customers take it up?

It's not meant as a flippant question, to my way of thinking the DJ provides the music/entertainment and that's why I would book a DJ.

If ambient or mood lighting was required I would have thought that most customers would expect the venue to provide it and if not then surely they ask themsleves why should they spent £150+ on lighting the venue with uplighters.

Do many customers see this as value for money?

JTRS

[Dynamic Entertainment]

Every one of my weddings this year has booked uplighting as an extra....

[Leicester Ben]

Ben, if you cover the North West and have anything I could show to clients that would be great.

Send me an email and I will wack across some info to you.


Do you ever get problems with the uplighters being spread out around and not in the comfort zone of the dj booth? i.e. people/children getting tempted to interfere, trip on them, pour beer into them etc.?

Never had a problem with children touching them, yes kids do touch them but they don't get hot and are perfectly safe.

I've not had one with beer thrown on it yet either, if that did happen I would simply write of the cost of the £27 and buy a new light!


Do customers take it up?

yes

And its a great way of making a £375 standard wedding into a £575 wedding.

Or simply offer it as a solo service for approx £350 per event (20 cans and £150 installation charge).

[JTRS]

OK it's worth me looking into then.

Cheers

JTRS