Changing your mind.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

In the last few weeks I changed a few decisions I made in the past.

I charged less for a Sunday wedding.

I did an extra 15 minutes for free.

I gave a client 2 x uplighters for free.

I let someone use my P.A. and mic to sing a song at a wedding.

I let someone plug their Ipod into my P.A.

I downloaded a song I didn't have to play on the night.

All of these things pleased the client and I felt like I was going the extra mile for them.

Right or wrong?

[Booche]

I suppose its both the question to you would be

Were you happy in changeing/altering what you useally do ?

Personally i would tend to do the same as you did as its not a a very costly thing and also i shouldn't see it makes huge impact on your services or quality so a few "Extras" like what you have mentioned surely isn't a bad thing.

[Spirits High]

Each one is a personal decision. If you feel it's not detrimental to the business and it's something you want to do then it's right.

For example, I've got a civil partnership coming up next week and have met the couple twice now (wedding fayre & Pre event meeting). They're a really fun couple and it's going to be a really good night. I showed them pictures of the uplighting and although they really wanted it it unfortunately was stretching the budget that bit too far.

However, they came back to me with what they had left in the budget and what could I do for that price. Because I really got on well with them and know they are genuine and not just trying to pull a fast one I'm letting them have uplighting at a very discounted rate.

Enhances their day, makes me feel good and hopefully get a few recommendations....Happy days ;)

[funkymook]

If it felt right - it was right!

I think these decisions depend so much on circumstances that there's no one right answer.

[Cowlinn]

Providing it's no more real effort for yourself, I think it's great. i.e. Charging for 20 up-lighters and installing 22 isn't the end of the world at all.

Spending 79p on a song for the client will make them happier with your overall service.

I see it that it only starts to become a problem where you are actually doing extra work for the client unpaid. i.e. installing 40 up-lighters instead of 20. Just my view on things :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Providing it's no more real effort for yourself, I think it's great. i.e. Charging for 20 up-lighters and installing 22 isn't the end of the world at all.

Spending 79p on a song for the client will make them happier with your overall service.

I see it that it only starts to become a problem where you are actually doing extra work for the client unpaid. i.e. installing 40 up-lighters instead of 20. Just my view on things :)

The song was 99p actually! :eek: :D

[Shaun]

Right or wrong?

The answer is in the other sentence....



All of these things pleased the client and I felt like I was going the extra mile for them.

:) :)




Must be the good weather. For the last two weeks I've provided full uplighting FREE OF CHARGE. I knew the venue (which is local to me), and I knew the uplighting looks fantastic in there. I never made a penny extra out of it but decided to go the extra mile.



Ok, enough about me. Nice one Darren, I'm sure your clients really appreciated the extra effort you went to. :)

[Cowlinn]

The song was 99p actually! :eek: :D

Oh well in that case..



:D

[Excalibur]

If it felt right - it was right!

I think these decisions depend so much on circumstances that there's no one right answer.

Excellent answer. :thumbsup:

Darren, apart from the Ipod possibly, I tend to do everything you posted, so in my book that's right.

The goalposts however, if not moveable, certainly blow in the wind. ;)
Customer using mic? Not my Beta under any circumstances, but an indestructible unswitched SM58 cabled, certainly.

Less for Sunday wedding? They have tended to be local, and smaller, so not too much of a problem with the D word for these.

Extra 15 minutes? depends on the gig, the crowd, the venue, the time, and my mood, so not guaranteed.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Let me justify these things.



I charged less for a Sunday wedding.

It was a 4 hour wedding, so I quoted for 4 hours instead of the normal minimum of 5 and got the booking.


I did an extra 15 minutes for free.

For a booking that finished at 11pm - the client had already booked another disco 3 weeks before too.


I gave a client 2 x uplighters for free.

I had them in the van and they uplight a couple of notice boards with photographs on.


I let someone use my P.A. and mic to sing a song at a wedding.

It was a 13 year old cousin of the groom and it was her birthday that day.


I let someone plug their Ipod into my P.A.

For the singer mentioned above.


I downloaded a song I didn't have to play on the night.

I have the 3G connection on the Ipad and a mini jack available for it to plug in to. I played it using DJay. It was the client's 'song' when she got married.

[hammy]

I think going that extra mile is all worth while, I regularly give out a couple of free uplights and will also go 15 mins extra but I always point out " i`ll add some uplighting for you as a wedding gift" it always makes them feel really good and of course if the client is happy happy happy then so is my business

[deltic]

In the last few weeks I changed a few decisions I made in the past.

I charged less for a Sunday wedding.

I did an extra 15 minutes for free.

I gave a client 2 x uplighters for free.

I let someone use my P.A. and mic to sing a song at a wedding.

I let someone plug their Ipod into my P.A.

I downloaded a song I didn't have to play on the night.

All of these things pleased the client and I felt like I was going the extra mile for them.

Right or wrong?


welcome to the real world:D :D

that's how things tend to happen and all will stand you in a good light.

better than being a miserable greedy person charging for every last little thing.

you get a big well done from me mate,at last somebody with a sensible approach.

[WWDJ]

In the last few weeks I changed a few decisions I made in the past.

I charged less for a Sunday wedding.

I did an extra 15 minutes for free.

I gave a client 2 x uplighters for free.

I let someone use my P.A. and mic to sing a song at a wedding.

I let someone plug their Ipod into my P.A.

I downloaded a song I didn't have to play on the night.

All of these things pleased the client and I felt like I was going the extra mile for them.

Right or wrong?

Right, it's called customer service and it was all at your discretion because you take pride in what you do and the service you give to customers.

I have / would have done all of these things as long as people approach me the right way and it's not some drunkard, or 15 year old chav wanting me to play N-dubz off his Iphone.

I will often play 5-10 mins over if the night is going well and the venue are ok with it.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I charged less for a Sunday wedding. (Personally I don't discount for non Friday/Saturday Weddings. For example I have a Monday wedding with Starlit dancefloor and uplighting at normal price. None of my costs are lower just because its a Sunday. I'm not saying your wrong but I wouldn't be doing it)

I did an extra 15 minutes for free. (As long as venue are ok with it I don't see an issue)

I let someone use my P.A. and mic to sing a song at a wedding. (If the client has "ok'ed" it then I'm happy)

I let someone plug their Ipod into my P.A. (Again, with the clients say so)

Just my 2p's worth.

[simonp]

If it felt right - it was right!

I think these decisions depend so much on circumstances that there's no one right answer.

:agree: 100%

I think it's also called being flexible and amenable - How flexible you are is your decision and your decision alone.

[ppentertainments]

welcome to the real world:D :D

that's how things tend to happen and all will stand you in a good light.

better than being a miserable greedy person charging for every last little thing.

you get a big well done from me mate,at last somebody with a sensible approach.

I agree.

A few things I have done recently include :

Free uplighting - the room was screaming to be uplit and there were plug sockets galore. The B&G were paying me over £700 already and were undecided on uplighting. The groom lost his job which made the decision for them. Took about 10 minutes to uplight the room.

Free slideshow - Again the B&G were using me for all day services but could not stretch to the slideshow. I knew the function room already had a projector and screen so was just a matter of a long VGA cable attached to my laptop. Arranged all this with the best man and the B&G knew nothing about it till the evening function

Free disco :D - All my race nights now come with a free disco. Consists of turning the background music up a bit and putting a disco light on. Normally only about half an hour is free for this in which time I pack away any race night kit.


Going the extra mile, costing nothing but time, yet great feedback, reccomendations and repeat bookings. Well worth the effort.

[Richie]

In the last few weeks I changed a few decisions I made in the past.

I charged less for a Sunday wedding.

I did an extra 15 minutes for free.

I gave a client 2 x uplighters for free.

I let someone use my P.A. and mic to sing a song at a wedding.

I let someone plug their Ipod into my P.A.

I downloaded a song I didn't have to play on the night.

All of these things pleased the client and I felt like I was going the extra mile for them.

Right or wrong?

You going soft?

[Excalibur]

You going soft?

I wouldn't have said that, Richie. I believe that the influx of amicable, helpful, philanthropic, altruistic, and highly sociable Northerners, has had an effect on the lad. ;) I think he's displaying all the classic signs of becoming a Northerner. :D

[Daryll]

I have the same thing coming up soon at a wedding in Gosport , disco from 7:30 till 11:30 , set up at 3:00pm , I suggested a bit of background music , no charge ,I am there anyway , so what's the difference , load up a load of songs , press automix and make myself invisible :D

Daryll

[CRAZY K]

You going soft?

Lets just say in the current climate of intense competititon and financial problems I am doing similar things to clinch the business but only if I feel the people want me to do the gig but moneys a bit tight.

I did a job like that near Burton ( on Trent) and another one in Chesterfield.

Oop North I suppose;)

The people were really pleased I had travelled such a long way to do the gig at slightly less than normal fee so thats fine by me.

Chichester on Saturday--thats going the extra 100 miles and again because I built up a good rapport with the client---there are some other people for whom I would just not bother to put the effort in. :D :D :D


I wouldn't have said that, Richie. I believe that the influx of amicable, helpful, philanthropic, altruistic, and highly sociable Northerners, has had an effect on the lad. ;) I think he's displaying all the classic signs of becoming a Northerner. :D

Did you mean North Reading Peter?;)

[spin mobile disco]

I have to say it depends on the night. In the past I have had clients being extremes of bad and good. Needless to say the good tend to get more than the bad for obvious reasons.

You saying that I used my ipad with deejay installed to downloadand purchase a song for my client (i happened to like the song myself so justified the expense that way) SO 5 minutes after asking for it I played it and surprised the bride as she thought I didnt have it.

Deejay isnt bad I wouldnt want to rely on it as a primary but serves as a backup nicely and the abilty to download music asap was very handy.

I have let others use my p.a with my hand on the volume control, but again depends on vibe on the evening rather than an exception or a rule.

So no one thing you mentioned is a problem with you maybe you were in a better mood or they client was just very nice an worth the extra mile.

Mind you the flip side can be just as bad when a bad vibe is in the air. Like avoiding you for payment or last second changes that go way past what the client paid for e.g oh its 300 people not 50 like we told you. Or yes its in a tent in a muddy field didnt we tell you. etc

I must admit since my sticky divorce and child custody battle has now ended I have definatly lightened up in regard to seeing the pessimistic side of a situation all the time.

P.s excuse spelling for some reason my spell checker isnt loading and I have typing dyslexia.

[wensleydale]

Not at all.
You did right.

[CRAZY K]

Lets just say in the current climate of intense competititon and financial problems I am doing similar things to clinch the business but only if I feel the people want me to do the gig but moneys a bit tight.

I did a job like that near Burton ( on Trent) and another one in Chesterfield.

Oop North I suppose;)

The people were really pleased I had travelled such a long way to do the gig at slightly less than normal fee so thats fine by me.

Chichester on Saturday--thats going the extra 100 miles and again because I built up a good rapport with the client---there are some other people for whom I would just not bother to put the effort in. :D :D :D





Oh dear Daryll has kindly volunteered to Roadie for free Saturday nIght in Chichester and I have my biggest rig out on the road.:eek:

Its alright --;) I told him already:D

Thanks Daryll your a star:beer1: :beer1: :beer1: