Dancefloors - Advice / Help / Recommendations Please

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Hi all,

This is in the early stages at the moment but I am looking into be able to supply and install dancefloors.
I just thought I'd post some initial thoughts on it and see where I go from there following your advice and tips etc.

It's something that I have been thinking about for a while and I have someone who wants to invest in purchasing 2 of them to start off with.

So, choices first...
Those that already supply dancefloors - What do you find the most popular sellers?
My first thoughts are a white led one and maybe either a black led one or saturday night fever style one.

I have had a number of enquiries for dancefloors over the last couple of years and have either passed on the enquiries or said that I am unable to supply them. I have a booking next week at Northbrook Park and the customer has hired in a white led dancefloor. She said the classic "It's a pity that you were unable to supply one as I would have liked to have booked everything with you". This seems to be a common thing and luckily I got booked anyway for the Disco following a recommendation but I'd be interested to know how many Disco jobs I have missed out on in the past because I haven't been able to supply the dancefloor.

So, firstly...what's the first point of call?
Any links to suppliers would be great.
If I can get it up and running before the end of the year (which may happen) then all good but I am really looking at being able to offer them as a service from January.

I've also mentioned it to a few venues who are interested in it too and once I have them, I'll promote them hard on the website etc.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you may have.

Just a bit of extra information:
I am looking at being able to supply a dancefloor and disco as a package but will take on jobs for dancefloor hire only. The guy who is going to invest with me will be able to store them in his lock up and will also be up for delivering them and installing them aswell should I not be able to due to working elsewhere.
If it works out successful, we will get more but are going to start off with just the two.

[surround sounds]

I will be keeping my eye on this thread as I get a few customer ask about this most weeks and I know I have lots jobs in the past cause I can not directly supply

[Wayno]

Forgive me but with all the best will in the world I don't think you will find that kind of information imparted easily on here.
1) It's not disco related and it's a mobile disco forum.
2) ROI/Profits are much higher than 'mobile discos' so suppliers will be less likely to give away info to 'competition'.

Just my thoughts.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Forgive me but with all the best will in the world I don't think you will find that kind of information imparted easily on here.
1) It's not disco related and it's a mobile disco forum.
2) ROI/Profits are much higher than 'mobile discos' so suppliers will be less likely to give away info to 'competition'.

Just my thoughts....and I think you'd be surprised at the members on here. If someone has the information, they are usually willing to share.

If they didn't, the forum wouldn't have lasted very long.

Even members supplying similar services (eg dancefloors) located near each other have chosen to work TOGETHER, rather than just viewing each other as competition and shutting each other out, and AFAIK, there's no-one (or at least not very many) suppliers in Gary's area.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Ahem...

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So, choices first...
Those that already supply dancefloors - What do you find the most popular sellers?

White starlit




So, firstly...what's the first point of call?
Any links to suppliers would be great.

http://www.portablefloormaker.co.uk/ http://www.portableflooring.co.uk/



To be honest, like everything, there was big money in this, but as per usual quite a few DJs have bough them and are putting them out for silly money pushing the prices right down. 3 years ago, you'd get £600+ for a 12 x 12 white starlit and now you'd be lucky to get £350.00

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thanks for the information Darren.
Wayno - Not sure what you're going on about to be honest....??

"It's not Disco related and it's a mobile disco forum.."

Excuse me?
Of course it's Disco related and yes, it IS a mobile disco forum, hence my posting on it. The reason I posted is because members of the forum ARE helpful and are willing to share their advice. If I thought different then I wouldn't have posted.

Darren, there aren't that many suppliers in my area really. The lady that I mentioned previously for next weeks wedding has ended up getting one from someone around 25 miles away from me (other direction to you) and it was the cheapest she could find at £500.00 (white starlit 12 x 12).

Since I posted this thread earlier today, I have had a call back from a lady that has booked me for her party at her house. She has enquired about a dancefloor too so I have sent her a link to your site Darren.

I need to speak to the guy who is investing with me but my first thoughts are white starlit because of that wow! factor.

Angela, thanks for your comments too.

[lazersounds]

we have recently purchased a white starlit and a black starlit, both 16 x 16 and can be put together to make a large 32 x 32 checkerboard style, Most popular going out is the white or a checkerboard and 16 x 16 seems to be the most popular size in all styles.

Try to get a black and a white that can be interlinked that way you can play about and make lots of designs, like white border on black etc :)

[Corabar Entertainment]

Ahem...Sorry - I never think of you as being in the same area.... I always think Gary's further away from you than he is.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Sorry - I never think of you as being in the same area.... I always think Gary's further away from you than he is.

20 miles down t' road. :D

[Spirits High]

Just a quick input from me I would advise against the LED Saturday night fever floor.

They were it seems the big thing a couple of years back when I got mine but I've recently sold it to a hotel in Suffolk as I get more enquirys for the Starlight ones now.

There's always the option of buying nearly new. I used this website to sell my floor and there are normally plenty of floors for sale. Worth a look.

http://www.curlew.co.uk/secondhandmarquees/Secondhand%20dance%20floors.htm

[Charlie Brown]

Black starlit all the way. I've got three black starlit bookings this summer with Ben.

I remember Ben saying a while back, he wouldn't buy a Dancefloor now. Before you go ahead and part with thousands, I would advertise them on your website (as of you have bought them). Then you'll be able to generate interest. If you do get a couple of bookings through, just source a local company to sort it out and take a commission. I know there's loads your end.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Charlie, I have done all of the research mate and I explained in my original post that I have had numerous enquiries for them.
Why take a commission when you can take the lot?
Why source through a local company when I explained again that there aren't many local companies around me that are supplying them. I will be one of those local companies eventually.

The marketing and everything will be sorted. As I have said already, I have already spoken to various venues and I have a very good contact that could be interested in regular bookings.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I'm with Charlie on this one, I did consider buying one but after all the hassle of storing and cleaning it wasn't worth it. Now if your in a area without a dancefloor provider for say 50+ miles away then that does change things slightly.

Black one outsells the white one for me at 7-1 at the moment.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Your second sentence said it all Neil.
I have done the background work on this already.
There are a number of other Disco suppliers in my area. A small majority of them advertise dancefloors but all of the ones that I spoke to said that they don't actually own them so yes, they source them from elsewhere.

Now, that may back up the argument of not getting one or two but it's also another reason in my opinion to get one or two because who says that I can't supply them aswell?

I didn't look into suppliers outside my area so I discounted Darren who is 20 miles one way and I discounted the other guys who are based around 30 miles the other way. A lot of the venues around my area (even the really nice hotels) have wooden dancefloors that they own. They don't have the nice ones.

I've also given the lady a call today who I mentioned in my first post. She said she had a range of quotes from allover the place and a 12 x 12 white starlit floor ranged from £500.00 (30 miles away from me) to £750.00 (Midlands).

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Charlie, I have done all of the research mate and I explained in my original post that I have had numerous enquiries for them.
Why take a commission when you can take the lot?


You'll take a while to get your ROI Gary. I agree with the others. Every man and his dog have floors and the prices are being pushed down and down. Another year or so and I reckon the popularity will have gone and something else will have taken over.

I wouldn't buy them now. I should have bought about 5 years ago and I would have made some serious money, but I really wouldn't bother now.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

It's something that I really want to do Darren.
I'm not just going to get them and then put a link on my website and forget about them until an enquiry comes in. I am really going to push them should I decide to go down the avenue. I have had the enquiries and I know I can sell them.

I want a change of scenery aswell and also want to do different things that I will enjoy. Big changes for me and for the better and this is one of them.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I think the thing you are missing from your research is that although you are saying there are no local companies in your area, most dance floor hire companies will travel. Some of these companies are still cheaper even with travel expenses!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Are you getting a Grumpy Joe floor?

[Leicester Ben]

Right then.....

Having had starlit floors for the last 2.5 / 3 years they are not something that I would recommend buying, purely because there isn't the money in it that there used to.

If we were just a disco and dance floor company we would certainly not be doing as well as we are doing now. Don't get me wrong dance floors are popular, but we have had to price accordingly to get the work now as so many new suppliers have come into the market, not realised how much of a pain they are to clean, maintain and fix when they break (they break a lot) and pushed the price down!

In terms of travel, we take our dance floors natiowide and charge accordingly for travel, in the last 12 months they have been to Aberdeen and south London (we go everywhere).

White is more popular than black (about 70 / 30), black and white cheque is not really popular so you need to get a good sized floor in each colour and then find a local supplier that you can sub hire extra panels in.

You will also need insurance, a winch, trolleys and someone who is prepared to spend 8 hours cleaning the bloomin things!

As Paul said, there isn't a huge demand for a full LED floor, its too expensive / heavy. We are something like 3rd nationally on google for them and have no more than 5 bookings a year for it!

I would definitely think twice, they are certainly becoming the new chocolate fountains which is why we are moving into new areas to concentrate on.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Thank you Ben, I appreciate your comments as do I everyone elses.
I have spoken to a friend in the last couple of weeks who works for a big marquee company that are local and he says that they are still popular and he reckons (he's worked there for 20+ years) that he could sell them easily.

I still am very interested in pursuing this so.....Darren, if it isn't working that well for you (or anyone else for that matter), name your price! (that was intended as a joke but if you're serious and want to get out of it....contact me).

I also think it's good to have to up the money a bit. I do alright out of my functions and like I said, I have had enquiries for it but I think it's always good to have. My wife runs her wedding shop and is always getting lots of serious money people in her shop that wouldn't batter an eyelid at some prices out there. As I said, I've taken a booking on today for an Indie/Alternative gig at a big house on the outskirts and she wants a dancefloor too for her living room. I said I couldn't supply one and gave her an idea of the prices and she said "No problem, I want one".

[Charlie Brown]

I think you'll spend a lot of money and then regret it Gary. :o

We all get loads of enquiries for Dancefloors but there's a reason we haven't all bought them.

How many hires do you expect to do a year? I'm sure Ben said you have to replace them every couple of years. ( is that right Ben?)

[Leicester Ben]

I'm sure Ben said you have to replace them every couple of years. ( is that right Ben?)

I think that we have 1 more year left (so 4 years in total) before we either replace or sell the panels that we purchased initially.

[CRAZY K]

Thank you Ben, I appreciate your comments as do I everyone elses.
I have spoken to a friend in the last couple of weeks who works for a big marquee company that are local and he says that they are still popular and he reckons (he's worked there for 20+ years) that he could sell them easily.

I still am very interested in pursuing this so.....Darren, if it isn't working that well for you (or anyone else for that matter), name your price! (that was intended as a joke but if you're serious and want to get out of it....contact me).

I also think it's good to have to up the money a bit. I do alright out of my functions and like I said, I have had enquiries for it but I think it's always good to have. My wife runs her wedding shop and is always getting lots of serious money people in her shop that wouldn't batter an eyelid at some prices out there. As I said, I've taken a booking on today for an Indie/Alternative gig at a big house on the outskirts and she wants a dancefloor too for her living room. I said I couldn't supply one and gave her an idea of the prices and she said "No problem, I want one".

Money is never a problem Gary--until people have to part with it or find someone else cheaper.

I would say we have entered a new era in pricing where most people dont often accept your quote but go off and get alternatives---Rodeo Bulls and Barn Dances/ odd Disco which we sell are a classic example where 3 years ago there was a good market and people were not too bothered, now its much much harder.

Seems to tie in with what Darren says---;)

Im sure you sell your DJ services extremely well--trying to sell a lump of metal ( Rodeo Bull) or lumps of Wood/Plastic/ metal or whatever Dance Floors are made of might be more difficult.

If its so popular you can earn a shedload of commission to start with then buy the product.:D

[Charlie Brown]

If its so popular you can earn a shedload of commission to start with then buy the product.:D

Exactly! Or what about a photo booth? Fireworks? Led chill out furniture? Bands?

There's loads of other things you could do which you may enjoy doing?

[Jonathan Ford]

I can't really comment on this, as I've only ever had two enquiries despite pushing them on my site, and sending out advertising for them with every quote I send out. That tells its own story to me....

[Wayno]

Thanks for the information Darren.
Wayno - Not sure what you're going on about to be honest....??

"It's not Disco related and it's a mobile disco forum.."

Excuse me?
Of course it's Disco related and yes,

Your excused.

I tried to sell a DVD player on here at one time but the post got pulled as it wasn't disco related (even though it was used for karaoke and advertised as such) so on that basis a dance floor is not disco related - it is dance floor related.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Your excused.

I tried to sell a DVD player on here at one time but the post got pulled as it wasn't disco related (even though it was used for karaoke and advertised as such) so on that basis a dance floor is not disco related - it is dance floor related.

Perhaps if you have anything helpful to add to the thread, you could Wayne.

[Wayno]

Perhaps if you have anything helpful to add to the thread, you could Wayne.

I Already have Darren, earlier on, but to be more constructive:

I feel you have missed the decent money on these types of dance floors. The last popular niche was up lighting, before that chocolate fountains, the current one is photo booths it seems.

I have always felt that having a large network of re-sellers was a bad move as it would in a very short time saturate the market and drive the prices down, I would have been tempted to limit re-sellers to one per county/area/whatever to help extend the longevity of the product and keep them adequately profitable - unfortunately I was not in a position to put my money where my mouth was at the time (3 years ago).

I know I would rather put my 5k elsewhere and let someone else have the headache.

[damian]

I've not put too many posts on this forum but thought id give it a go.

I brought a black starlit one and sold it within 12 months of owning. Not because of the cost of it but because it was a hell of a lot easier to dry hire it and take it back dirty.
I actually sold mine to Danno whom i use whenever i need a dry hire, more times than not i see some of my old panels when i hire from him.
I have not dropped my prices, i still charge £550 for a 12' x12' and £765 for a 16' x 16'. I have never been to an event where they have hired one from someone else, if they want one they book it from me.
I am glad that i didn't keep hold of it as the amount of problems that the grumpy floors have had has been ridiculous, not to mention them putting there prices up by about 25 - 30% recently.
We do own some parquet panels and our own RGB dance floor which is proving very popular for this year. Infact we are doing a purple and white chequered RGB starlit in July (for our own wedding)
I would advise against in and try and do something completely unique, dance floors have had there day ... yes they will always be popular but so many people have seen them now. I have a few ideas up my sleeves which will hopefully prove interesting but will wait and see.

[Charlie Brown]

I'd be interested to know what you did in the end Gary? Did you buy one? Has it paid off? Or did you leave it and invest your wife's holiday fund elsewhere? :D

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I thought I mentioned what I did in the end Charlie?
I did a Wedding where there was a White Starlit Dance Floor provided and spoke to the guy who was on site all night. His prices were the cheapest by far that I have seen anywhere.
I took a card off him and met him a few days later and we went over everything and I am now using him as a supplier and adding commission. It has worked already and I am happy with that.

My mate who wanted to invest still wants to do something with me and we have a few ideas but nothing concrete as yet. I have been waiting on some money since August that hasn't come in yet and when it does, I may not need investment from anyone.