What would you do

[STEVE HANLEY]

Hi all

I did an engagement earlier this year. The couple rang me yesterday or at least the bride did and asked if she could book me for her wedding in July next year.

I quoted an extra £70.00 on top of the price I originally did the engagement for. She told me to book her in and would send deposit in the post.

However I received an email back tonight asking why she can't have it at the same price as the engagement. As she can't afford the original price and thought I would just charge the same

I haven't replied yet. Thought I'd throw it open to you guys

Thanks in advance good people

Steve

[surround sounds]

Hi all

I did an engagement earlier this year. The couple rang me yesterday or at least the bride did and asked if she could book me for her wedding in July next year.

I quoted an extra £70.00 on top of the price I originally did the engagement for. She told me to book her in and would send deposit in the post.

However I received an email back tonight asking why she can't have it at the same price as the engagement. As she can't afford the original price and thought I would just charge the same

I haven't replied yet. Thought I'd throw it open to you guys

Thanks in advance good people

Steve

Is it for the same hours? they need a radio Mic? If its for more hours or they need radio mic etc just say that costs extra..

[Booche]

Different situations id say (more politely tho)

Are there any extras ie: uplighting, wireless mics, early setup, different venue, etc etc ?

[Corabar Entertainment]

Hi all

I did an engagement earlier this year. The couple rang me yesterday or at least the bride did and asked if she could book me for her wedding in July next year.

I quoted an extra £70.00 on top of the price I originally did the engagement for. She told me to book her in and would send deposit in the post.

However I received an email back tonight asking why she can't have it at the same price as the engagement. As she can't afford the original price and thought I would just charge the same

I haven't replied yet. Thought I'd throw it open to you guys

Thanks in advance good people

SteveI'd like to turn this thread on its head and ask you why are you charging more for the wedding, Steve? (Not saying you're wrong - genuine question to help you think how you should reply)

[SC Events]

I'm assuming you put more time and effort in to a Wedding Booking than a general party booking...I know I do*.

Therefore, you need to cover costs for your time. Also as said above, do you offer microphones for speeches etc and if so, do you provide them free?

What is the access like in to their chosen venue? - Any complications, e.g. Stairs etc?

Another thing, do you offer a client meeting inclusive of the price?

It all has to be taken in to account...


*For those wondering, I put a lot of time and effort in to all my gigs, but more-so for Weddings and it's their big day and I feel like I have a bit of extra pressure to get it right, so I do even more prep work!

[deltic]

why £70 more just because it's a wedding?
maybe you need to have a look at your pricing structure.

i have the same basic price for all functions,starting price if you like and includes four hours locally to me.
there are certain variables to factor in if not within the basic criteria e.g extra services,extra time,travel etc.

i don't think oh it's a wedding i'll just bung on a few quid.
everybody is charged the same and everybody is treat the same,that way it avoids awkward situations,people talk to people and once you do a cheap job word soon gets around.

[yourdj]

I generally charge the same for all functions, but a wedding is more involved IMO and deserves more attention as has already been pointed out.

More importantly it involves more things going on and better skills to make it happen. I do engagements and even golden wedding anniversaries and they are quite frankly allot easier. even the strict tempo golden wedding anniversary the other day was less work (considering I knew nothing about the music). There seems to be less stress, from my point of view and the clients expectations are also much lower for a non wedding event so they are blown away by what they get.

For £70 extra I would include a meeting with them just to get the booking, if you need it. It is always good to do an engagement and then the wedding. Nice to see a couple off for both events. :D

If they are quibbling on price and you did an excellent job for the engagement I would personally forget it if you explain the above and they still quibble on price as they probably booked you for the other event on price anyway. (no offense to you thats just how it appears).

[STEVE HANLEY]

Is it for the same hours? they need a radio Mic? If its for more hours or they need radio mic etc just say that costs extra..

Same venue, radio mike if required no extra charge same hours


Different situations id say (more politely tho)

Are there any extras ie: uplighting, wireless mics, early setup, different venue, etc etc ?

I took a Kambar with me and a couple of led's stuck on the top


I'd like to turn this thread on its head and ask you why are you charging more for the wedding, Steve? (Not saying you're wrong - genuine question to help you think how you should reply)

I'm putting in a set up I think looks better at weddings Angela a lot heavier kit and more time consuming to set up. Also this is like 18 months or so after the engagement. I went out below my normal rate as it was a quiet time of the year. That's where I may have shot myself in the foot.




[Another thing, do you offer a client meeting inclusive of the price?]!

Always do and that would happen nearer the big day


why £70 more just because it's a wedding?
maybe you need to have a look at your pricing structure.

i have the same basic price for all functions,starting price if you like and includes four hours locally to me.
there are certain variables to factor in if not within the basic criteria e.g extra services,extra time,travel etc.

i don't think oh it's a wedding i'll just bung on a few quid.
everybody is charged the same and everybody is treat the same,that way it avoids awkward situations,people talk to people and once you do a cheap job word soon gets around.

Agreed and I'm happy to back down if everyone on here thinks I'm wrong


I generally charge the same for all functions, but a wedding is more involved IMO and deserves more attention as has already been pointed out.

More importantly it involves more things going on and better skills to make it happen. I do engagements and even golden wedding anniversaries and they are quite frankly allot easier. even the strict tempo golden wedding anniversary the other day was less work (considering I knew nothing about the music). There seems to be less stress, from my point of view and the clients expectations are also much lower for a non wedding event so they are blown away by what they get.

For £70 extra I would include a meeting with them just to get the booking, if you need it. It is always good to do an engagement and then the wedding. Nice to see a couple off for both events. :D

If they are quibbling on price and you did an excellent job for the engagement I would personally forget it if you explain the above and they still quibble on price as they probably booked you for the other event on price anyway. (no offense to you thats just how it appears).

Agreed again

[DeckstarDeluxe]

The very reason why I charge the same regardless of event.

[yourdj]

The very reason why I charge the same regardless of event.

Yes same here. My Friday market has suffered but I am doing consistent events (at a better rate) I am happy with in local venues with my kind of clients (ie people who think the entertainment is important and do no quibble over £50). :)

[STEVE HANLEY]

Can I ask do you all charge the same price no matter if it's a wedding or birthday and the same rig fits all? A straight up bog standard disco 7 til midnight. No extras

I'm still learning and I value everyones advice

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Well for starters when you offer a service catered to your clients needs is there such a thing as "bog standard".

Just because Weddings tend to involve more planning doesn't mean that a client of mine who has booked me for their 40/50th gets a "lesser" service.

[yourdj]

Well for starters when you offer a service catered to your clients needs is there such a thing as "bog standard".

Just because Weddings tend to involve more planning doesn't mean that a client of mine who has booked me for their 40/50th gets a "lesser" service.

Good point. I normally use an hourly extra and optional extra serice for the more popular things (eg projector, uplighting) but generally have a set price as I am not just offering myself and not all my DJ's are the same so a set list works well.

If it was just me I would have the initial meeting and then quote depending on what they want, venue etc. with a ball park price higher than what I end up quoting :D

[Corabar Entertainment]

We used to charge exactly the same for a very long time, but last year we changed that.

The difference isn't a big one, but because we tend to spend more time (I'm not talking about gig time) with the clients via telephone and email, planning, etc, plus a face to face meeting has only ever been taken up by B&Gs, a wedding would be charged out slightly more than a birthday party with the same gig time to cover the extra time spent.

Extra services are charged out exactly the same regardless.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Ok £70.00 was probably a bit extreme. Though I'm fairley confident that my new price is still a lot lower than a lot of peoples on here (But that's not the point I agree)

However I have invested a fair amount on kit this year and as a result I think she would certainly see the difference.

I'll let this thread ride until the morning then ring her and try to compromise.

However I won't back down too much;) ;) It wouldn't be worth it IMO

[Excalibur]

I too have different rates for weddings. I think this reflects the extra work involved, the client meetings ( sometimes plural ) obtaining special tracks, and the inevitable haging around, often for hours. An early setup incurs an additional charge, unless I instigate it, and it's basically for my benefit.

Hope this helps.

[djdave01]

We charge the same for any type of event. The cost is only affected by length of gig, distance away and possible daytime setup.

Maybe in doing it wrong, but in 20 years ive only had a pre-event client meeting once. I find out all required info about first dance, various names etc in advance either by phone or email. Never had a problem.

Apart from the formallity of the first dance, weddings are rarely much different from other events for me.

[djtrev]

Interesting thread.
If,as most of you are saying,that you have a set price for any event,I am intrigued to know how you can justify asking £250/300 for a birthday/celebration party,which takes very little organisation,as against a wedding that obviously does take a lot of your time by the very nature of its significance and importance to your client.
Aside from that I am afraid my concience would not allow me to consider asking that sort of price for a birthday.I would frankly be too embarrased.

[CRAZY K]

I too have different rates for weddings. I think this reflects the extra work involved, the client meetings ( sometimes plural ) obtaining special tracks, and the inevitable haging around, often for hours. An early setup incurs an additional charge, unless I instigate it, and it's basically for my benefit.

Hope this helps.

Also Peter doesnt charge for clearing up problems caused on rare occasions by Line Dance Callers in Yorkshire :daft: :daft: :daft: Thanks again Peter;)

I do offer a wide range of options all of which are clearly stated and priced on our websites, most of which relates to level of equipment and lights--or in fact sometimes no lights, also music options.

Which moves me on to Angelas point which I completely agree with--regarding the extra work involved with arranging the clients music at Weddings--havent come across anybody yet who did not want to choose some of their Wedding Music which involves time in downloading ( an extra cost) and double checking everything is 100 per cent.

We do spend more time on Weddings no question, so I think extra time cost is justified unless of course you have a fixed charge for everything.

I am working on the music for a Wedding next week and this is exactly the scenario--I have charged around £75 extra becuse of time spent on music talking to Hotel, arguing about their terms and conditions, sending over PLI---the list just goes on.

I do many Corporate events where the charge is the same and the time spent prior to gig is mimimal.

To answer the OP you can explain off peak rates definitely, whether you will get away with better equipment, lights etc and time spent on the gig is debatable---after all they might say do what you did before and charge the same:eek: which I suppose IS what they are saying.

On the other hand putting on your business hat--is this a date you can fill easily without the Spanish Inquisition:beer1: if so its take it or leave it time.

I have had to resort to that a few times and in fact thats exactly what I had to do with the Wedding mentioned above--I need a long journey to Glocestershire like a hole in the head with a gig in Ipswich the next day ( unless of course there is extra money to soothe my headache :D )

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Aside from that I am afraid my concience would not allow me to consider asking that sort of price for a birthday.I would frankly be too embarrased.

I do this for a living and have to make a profit. I have expenses and if I charged £250, wouldn't make any money.

If you are happy charging a low amount for beer money, that's fair enough.

[Jonny Boy]

EDIT - sorry, looks as if i've repeated a lot of what's already been said. ho-hum....

£70 seems an odd figure, but I tend to deal in increments of £25. Just the way I do things, unless I'm salaami slicing.

I don't charge more for weddings - I am more likely however to discount for events which require less intense level of prep and attention.
My website quotes higher mid-distance (ie w/in 75miles) rates and I then offer discounts for local/small/short/simple shows.

Perhaps you could point out that your £x+£70 quote is the weddings list price for the year ahead (inflation etc) and the price they paid for the engagement was pre-discounted because of x y & z factors. (x y & z being points other posts here have raised, or whatever other reasons.)

Factors's I'd consider/mention are:
*was the engagement booked fairly last minute? (I'd offer some discount as a loss-leader.)
* Was the 1st party on an off-peak date, and the wedding is high-season?
* explain what service/package elements the bride DIDN'T get at the 1st event but she will @ the list price. People hate to think they're missing out.

You could also offer to throw something "extra" in at the £x+70 price that isn't standard (ie token amount of uplighting) and thus create goodwill without "costing" you anything.

ANOTHER way to deal (and still create goodwill?) is to offer to match the earlier price but point out that will removed a, b, & c from the service. ie simplified consultation, 1/2 hour later start time (whatever rather than lose the booking/create bad-will.)

Just IMHO there - others will surely disagree! :zip:

[djtrev]

I do this for a living and have to make a profit. I have expenses and if I charged £250, wouldn't make any money.

If you are happy charging a low amount for beer money, that's fair enough.

So for a days work you dont make any profit out of £250 which equates to £1250 for 5 day week.
The fact that you earn your living from a profession that might mean you only work one day a week is your choice but if you look at it in the extreme you could potentially earn £1500 a week(I have given you Sunday off to be with your family)
Not many 9 to 5 jobs can say that.
When clients realise that you are earning something in the region of £50 an hour,you cant really blame them for price checking.
Dont get me wrong I am not saying you are wrong to charge whatever you feel is right but i have a different perspective on this whole dj thing to most of you and I do like to try and see it from another angle.
Call me old fashioned if you like but I do like to think along the lines of a fair days pay for a fair days work.
Just to give you an idea.
I am 70(sorry to harp on about it but it is relevant to the point) and a friend recently asked me to give him a hand on a job that he was doing.It entailed me shovelling rubble into a barrow and wheeling it to a skip.It took me most of the day and it was hard work.He paid me the other day - £75.I thought that was good!!It worked out about £12 an hour for the hard graft part of the day.
I must say it did make doing a disco feel a bit of a doddle.
Compared to your daily rate I would say yours was obscene.
Again I say I am not knocking what you do I just think that sometimes we need to stand back and get things into perspective.

[soundtracker]

I honestly despair at times, it's like we are just wasting our time!

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I charge the same for all functions that have a 4hr - 4.5hr duration. The price can vary if they have extras or the duration is something like 3hrs but I don't charge any extra just because it's a wedding. Yes, some people could say that a lot of work goes into a wedding with meetings etc and the rest but I treat all of my customers the same. They all get the same service with meetings etc...

So, to the OP - £70.00 is a bit of a strange one?
Did you charge them your usual rate for the engagement party?
Did they say that they would more than likely book you for the wedding too?

I have done a few of these and as an example - I did the engagement at my usual price and did exactly the same for the wedding, telling the customer that the price wouldn't change because they had booked me again.

[Corabar Steve]

Did you charge them your usual rate for the engagement party?


I went out below my normal rate as it was a quiet time of the year. That's where I may have shot myself in the foot.
Pay attention at the back :sj:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So for a days work you dont make any profit out of £250 which equates to £1250 for 5 day week.
The fact that you earn your living from a profession that might mean you only work one day a week is your choice but if you look at it in the extreme you could potentially earn £1500 a week(I have given you Sunday off to be with your family)
Not many 9 to 5 jobs can say that.
When clients realise that you are earning something in the region of £50 an hour,you cant really blame them for price checking.
Dont get me wrong I am not saying you are wrong to charge whatever you feel is right but i have a different perspective on this whole dj thing to most of you and I do like to try and see it from another angle.
Call me old fashioned if you like but I do like to think along the lines of a fair days pay for a fair days work.
Just to give you an idea.
I am 70(sorry to harp on about it but it is relevant to the point) and a friend recently asked me to give him a hand on a job that he was doing.It entailed me shovelling rubble into a barrow and wheeling it to a skip.It took me most of the day and it was hard work.He paid me the other day - £75.I thought that was good!!It worked out about £12 an hour for the hard graft part of the day.
I must say it did make doing a disco feel a bit of a doddle.
Compared to your daily rate I would say yours was obscene.
Again I say I am not knocking what you do I just think that sometimes we need to stand back and get things into perspective.

I think you need to grasp basic business sense Trev.

A fair days pay for a fair days work?

Do you have any understanding how a business works?

Do you understand profit and loss?

DO you know how many hours I work and put in during the week to earn a fair days pay?

Do you know how much your expenses are?

You talk about earning £12 a hour for shovelling rubble. What were your expenses? Did you have to supply a shovel and wheelbarrow? No? Right, you didn't have any expenses other than travelling there then. Yes? In which case you would have made a loss after buying the shovel and barrow.

What skills and experience do you need to shovel rubble then Trev? Did you need to do paperwork and prepare equipment? Did you have insurance to pay for? Did you go to seminars and meetings or did you practise your shovelling?

So, stand back and get things into perspective.

[djtrev]

I think you need to grasp basic business sense Trev.

Lots of stuff

So, stand back and get things into perspective.


Good reply and I take your point.

Thank goodness someone can reply to a thread post without having to make judgemental and somewhat offensive statements just because we chose to work in different ways.
Just for those that do find it strange that someone should chose to work with different methods.Tough.
I chose to work the way I want and no amount of blustering crap will make me change.
If you dont like it by all means say so but the least you can do is say it in a respectful manner.Some of you should know better

[Jonathan Ford]

Hmmm. I quote a flat rate for all events based on 4 hours, plus travel (I bill per mile each way for anything above ten miles) and daytime set up. Anything extra is charged pro rata per hour or part thereof.

In terms of extra work for weddings, I don't really see that. I'm likely to spend just as long downloading, checking etc for a 40th birthday as I am for a wedding. I offer pre event meetings for all bookings, that are included in my fee. Perhaps I'm missing something, but apart from maybe a couple of extra emails, I don't see where the extra work comes from??

In response to the OP, I'd be inclined to explain that you did the previous gig at a reduced rate, and that your expenses have increased significantly since then, so your fee is fully justified. If she wants to price shop, let her get on with it!

[djtrev]

I honestly despair at times, it's like we are just wasting our time!

Wasting your time at what.
Care to explain.
I am quite happy to listen to all advise regarding music,equipment and the like but if you are talking about costing then I am afraid you are wasting your time.

[Corabar Steve]

Thank goodness someone can reply to a thread post without having to make judgemental and somewhat offensive statements just because we chose to work in different ways.
OK then, you have zero business sense.

Better?

You've admitted in the past that it's just a hobby for you. What qualifies you to comment on how full timers that run a profit making enterprise opperate?

[Corabar Steve]

I chose to work the way I want and no amount of blustering crap will make me change.
I find it offensive that my honest & truthful opinion be called blustering crap, & expect a full public apology.

I have reported your post to the other site staff (as it was directed at me I can't deal with it myself) as offensive.

[soundtracker]

Wasting your time at what.
Care to explain.
I am quite happy to listen to all advise regarding music,equipment and the like but if you are talking about costing then I am afraid you are wasting your time.

Trying to help people improve their business and improve the lot of the mobile DJ. There is no point trying , I've read the Orange Forum.

[ppentertainments]

Back to the op :)

My opinions are :

There are a lot of factors surrounding this - not least the fee between now and 18 months ago. A lot depends on what you were charging 18 months ago. If you were going out for say £120 and charging £70 on top it does seem like a big increase (public perception). However your new site states you now charge £395, so the jump from £325 to £395 does not seem as big. Given the current financial climate and how the cost of living has increased so much, the increase in fee seems pretty reasonable.

I am quite suprised you have not came across this before Steve as I often get asked about justifying my prices. I openly admit my fee for weddings is higher than non weddings, however I word this as giving a 'discount' to non weddings and make them aware they are getting a discount as there are no client meetings, stingent timings etc etc involved (the 'discount' is very large). The important thing is I make them aware of this.

Do YOU know why you are charging extra ??? You mentioned kit earlier, however the client is happy with what you provided at the engagement so will be totally uninterested in kit.

The worst thing I think you can do is to offer a discount on your original quote. This just gives the impression you were over charging in the first place.

[boomerangdiscos]

i would put some of the extra costs down as inflation im certain she is not paying the same price for petrol/diesel gas electric water ect unless she lives at home ect and i would be very surprised if the catering and venue are being done at the same rate her engagement was.

i would also mention the disco has had major new investment and is a lot different to the one she booked last time.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Ok good people. Spoke to client who thought I was well worth the extra I quoted. She said I'd done a great job at her engagement and that was why she verbally booked me there and then and deposit would be in the post next day.

However it's her partner who's kicked off as it's him that's paying for everything. I told her stuff like there's a 16 month gap between her engagement and wedding (How many on here out of curiosity are charging this years rate for next years party???) I also told her my over heads had gone up. Which they have if you consider the several kit upgrades I've done this year. She's knows what my prices are for next year. They're on my wedding website and she's getting it for half that again.

The up shot is I offered to trim £25.00 off the price as a goodwill gesture. She said that was great and would tell her partner to see sense. We wait and see what happens next.

[ppentertainments]

The up shot is I offered to trim £25.00 off the price as a goodwill gesture. She said that was great and would tell her partner to see sense. We wait and see what happens next.
Are you now not saying - 'well I did overcharge you at first, here is some money off?' OR 'I am not really worth my quote so yes I will give you a discount?'

And why have prices on your website if you are not going to stick to them. Fluctuating prices will catch you out eventually.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Are you now not saying - 'well I did overcharge you at first, here is some money off?' OR 'I am not really worth my quote so yes I will give you a discount?'



I don't think that is the case at all.

I have done the same, fairly recently actually.

[Corabar Steve]

Did you point out that the original booking was at a discounted rate Steve?

[ppentertainments]

I don't think that is the case at all.

I have done the same, fairly recently actually.
It is something we will have to agree to differ on. Don't get me wrong I do, and have, offered discounts but personally would not offer a discount once a quote has been given and agreed - unless a lower level of service was required.

[djtrev]

OK then, you have zero business sense.

Better?

You've admitted in the past that it's just a hobby for you. What qualifies you to comment on how full timers that run a profit making enterprise opperate?

I dont know perhaps its because I put myself in the clients shoes every now and then

[djtrev]

I find it offensive that my honest & truthful opinion be called blustering crap, & expect a full public apology.

I have reported your post to the other site staff (as it was directed at me I can't deal with it myself) as offensive.

Touche.
My apologies.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Are you now not saying - 'well I did overcharge you at first, here is some money off?' OR 'I am not really worth my quote so yes I will give you a discount?'

And why have prices on your website if you are not going to stick to them. Fluctuating prices will catch you out eventually.

No I told her I understood that if she was on a tight budget I'd try and help, hence the discount.

As far as the wedding website is concerned. That went live in the spring and quite frankly it's been a bitter disapointment. I'm lucky if I'm getting one enquiry a month from it. I kid you not. All the weddings I've had so far have been off AAA. Have 3 in one weekend later this month all good payers.

A major re-think is needed on the wedding website I think though. Maybe people have seen the prices and thought stuff that and moved on. Who knows?

[ppentertainments]

No I told her I understood that if she was on a tight budget I'd try and help, hence the discount.

As far as the wedding website is concerned. That went live in the spring and quite frankly it's been a bitter disapointment. I'm lucky if I'm getting one enquiry a month from it. I kid you not. All the weddings I've had so far have been off AAA. Have 3 in one weekend later this month all good payers.

A major re-think is needed on the wedding website I think though. Maybe people have seen the prices and thought stuff that and moved on. Who knows?
Will chat again when I see you about that ;)

[STEVE HANLEY]

Did you point out that the original booking was at a discounted rate Steve?

Sorry missed your post as I was typing the other one Steve. Yes mate I did tell her. As I say she's fine it's her future hubby that's not.

I can see her now ringing around for prices. Mary's adamant I should have stuck to my guns

[djtrev]

Trying to help people improve their business and improve the lot of the mobile DJ. There is no point trying , I've read the Orange Forum.

From my awkward cynical non business position I would interpret that as saying trying to get the likes of me(you have to remember that in effect I am happy with my lot) to up our prices to your level as you think it might be hindering your chances of getting work.
Mobile djs who use it as a full time business would surely treat it as such and do as much as they can to improve that business.So if you are handing out advise there I dont think you would be wasting your time.

[ppentertainments]

I can see her now ringing around for prices. Mary's adamant I should have stuck to my guns
;)

[djtrev]

There is no point trying , I've read the Orange Forum.

I assume you are referring to the MDDJ forum(are we not allowed to mention it-if not I apologise) where I have voiced the same opinion.
It's not a secret.I have no need to hide.It's my opinion at least afford me the benefit of expressing it.

[Corabar Steve]

My apologies.Thank you, & you have mine.


I can see her now ringing around for prices. Mary's adamant I should have stuck to my gunsI must say, I agree with you.

[NKR]

Can I ask do you all charge the same price no matter if it's a wedding or birthday and the same rig fits all? A straight up bog standard disco 7 til midnight. No extras

I'm still learning and I value everyones advice

My prices are a bit all over the place at the moment, but there is some method in the madness.
2012 prices will be disco £250, Disco Singer (evening) £500, All Day £900 to include singer during your wedding breakfast, reception drinks music, mics for speachs, etc.
Some of the 2012 bookings are in at 2011 prices as they booked very early, or were repeat customers, who took a stepup in price, but not the whole step.
Some singing jobs are a touch less than quoted as there is something else going on so 2x45 sets becomes 1x45 (something else going on means I can wonder off and sit down and have a complete rest). Its a case by case basis for us and each job is tailored to suit.

Yes I openly publish our prices as you could just ring up and ask and I would tell you them anyway. I don't fear anyone else's price or anyone else's service.

The prices are set at what I feel is reasonable to provide to our customers and is what we need to get out of it. We do get comments about it being good value on some occassions and on others the old suck in of air, but we have a market.

As per one of my earlier threads this month we do about 80% singer disco these days (if 2012 continues to pan out as it currently is in terms of bookings), so the stand alone disco's are becoming very infill.


I do this for a living and have to make a profit. I have expenses and if I charged £250, wouldn't make any money.

If you are happy charging a low amount for beer money, that's fair enough.

Its not really beer money for me as it serves a purpose in covering nursery fees and school clubs for the kids. However it is buttons for me in context with what I do for a living and when you consider there are two of us to split it between.
Everyone on here knows my position anyway and as I have a solid case for what I do they respect it, because I respect what they do and how they do it.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Hi Good people

Just thought I'd update this thread. Got back in from another engagement party this morning to find an email in my inbox from said client.

Wanting to book me for the original price I quoted. ( Not the discounted one:daft: ) Obviously it was too late to speak to her tonight/this morning. I have to say though I thought this one was dead in the water months ago. As she never returned any of my calls. So I will hopefully speak to her at a more sensible hour later today.

Not quite sure whether to ask why? She came back to me 3 months down the line.( But I probably will anyway:D :D ) I already now have another wedding booked in on that date. But will take it anyway as Mary and me can now do 2 gigs in one day. So happy days eh??????????????:confused: :confused: :daft: :D :D

[DazzyD]

Hi Good people

Just thought I'd update this thread. Got back in from another engagement party this morning to find an email in my inbox from said client.

Wanting to book me for the original price I quoted. ( Not the discounted one:daft: ) Obviously it was too late to speak to her tonight/this morning. I have to say though I thought this one was dead in the water months ago. As she never returned any of my calls. So I will hopefully speak to her at a more sensible hour later today.

Not quite sure whether to ask why? She came back to me 3 months down the line.( But I probably will anyway:D :D ) I already now have another wedding booked in on that date. But will take it anyway as Mary and me can now do 2 gigs in one day. So happy days eh??????????????:confused: :confused: :daft: :D :D

I wouldn't ask Steve, as the answer is pretty much blatantly obvious I would have thought. You've done a really good job with her engagement so she now has personal experience of the service you provide. Is it really worth the risk of trying to slash a few ££s of the fee and booking someone who could, in theory, be potentially rubbish and spoil her big day? It all boils down to the M&S mentality - "yes, things might cost a few more pence but you know you're getting quality and that's a price worth paying". Think about it. ;)