Last Bookings

[groovy-nights]

Just had a phone call for a disco this saturday.For a 40th lady on the phone had been let down other guy had cancelled.so told her how much £150 yes thats fine no probs.Rang her back to say yes i had a guy to cover it as i was already out.Only to be told she has someone who can do it for £100.When will people learn.

[Thames Valley Discos]

she might be let down twice going on that price

[alexperrins]

That is a criminal price! Sympathies go out to you mate. Unbelievable. :(

[groovy-nights]

Yep tell me about.Just Sorting a job out for the other guy now.Just Wonder how much she will end up paying

[DMX Will]

She'll be back ;)

[Dragonfly]

the old price thing again ive had an interesting one added 20 quid to my standard price for next years quotes had lots of enquiries but not many bookings so far and more corporate work coming in that are booking? this year had 2 weekends off at 20 quid cheaper??

my days of going out for 100 quid are long gone

had one in june i gave a quote to someone for a wedding about sept 05 .... never heard anything in june get a frantic call my wedding is in 2 weeks and the dj has dropped out can you do it . "let me have a look for you shall we start with a date and venue?" reply was "date **** venue ****" "really is the last name **** " i said "how did you know?"

turns out theyd called me for a quote gone for the cheaper option and as already said on this thread "was back"

[dj andy allwood]

they always learn the hard way

[Sam]

Hmm yes.. i wouldnt go for the cheaper thing in any case really.. there is something wrong even if it could just a good deal.. or a 5 year old DJ loL!

I normally quote 150 - 175 now (i used to quote 190 and had lots of weddings at that but now i know that there is a very local competitior charging at 180 so i undercut by 5 :teeth: )

And if someone doesn't want to pay 150.. then that is there problem.. i know that i provide a good service that many epople enjoy and that the other guy has probably got a tiny stereo with a desk lamp with a gel on :mad:

[dj andy allwood]

yeah the other dj plugs his walkman into the stereo lol

[Corabar Entertainment]

I normally quote 150 - 175 now (i used to quote 190 and had lots of weddings at that but now i know that there is a very local competitior charging at 180 so i undercut by 5 :teeth: )...but that is playing into the hands of those who undercut you. Where will it stop?

Work out your prices properly, rather than plucking a figure from thin air or basing it on what others charge...... and stick to your guns! Sell the SERVICE that YOU offer, not the price. Ask a lot of questions and explain why you are asking them BEFORE you give them a price. That way, they are more likely to pay that little bit extra because you have bothered to talk to them and don't look like all you are interested in is turning up to get your money..... it really does work - honest!

[Silver]

No doubt she'll be let down whether the dj turns up or not at that price! What type of show can you put on if you only get £100 for a gig!

[Dragonfly]

this is it i have no problem getting repeat work from gigs where people have seen what i do infact several have not even asked a price at all just said i want to book you ive seen you in action can you send me a booking form please...its the new customers that you have to convince that you are worth 50 quid more than the last bloke that picked up the phone. the price versus service thing is something that goes round every few months ...

yes you have to sell what you do and your talents and not ooohhh ive got 543 lights and the sound system from wembley stadium that i bought off ebay.

but you do have to take into account your surroundings as well and price yourself within the bracket of others or you find that you cannot justify such a huge difference in price.

there is a dj round here that several other djs wont pass work onto as "they are too expensive" and thats from others in the profession?

[DMX Will]

...but that is playing into the hands of those who undercut you. Where will it stop?

Work out your prices properly, rather than plucking a figure from thin air or basing it on what others charge...... and stick to your guns! Sell the SERVICE that YOU offer, not the price. Ask a lot of questions and explain why you are asking them BEFORE you give them a price. That way, they are more likely to pay that little bit extra because you have bothered to talk to them and don't look like all you are interested in is turning up to get your money..... it really does work - honest!

I agree with you Angela, and these days we tend to follow that.

However, under-cutting is sometimes the game you find yourself having to play when people sometimes won't book you for a higher price because your younger. We deffinitly did, and to be honest it's what gave us the experience, we've now just about come out of that "phase" if you will.

My point is, sometimes you have to undercut to stop yourself from sitting at home watching the X-factor. Providing you are happy with the amount your getting for each gig, and don't feel like your getting a sore deal, and you know your giving a good service/show then I don't see the problem.

[Corabar Entertainment]

I agree with you to an extent Will: but I wouldn't view that as 'undercutting'.... if you are less experienced, you will command a lower fee.

[DMX Will]

I agree with you to an extent Will: but I wouldn't view that as 'undercutting'.... if you are less experienced, you will command a lower fee.

Yeah :) Although it would be if you were experience (ie DJing for more than a couple of years). Someone younger with a couple of years experience may undercut someone in their 30s who has just started out, if that makes sense :)

[Sam]

Angela,
I appreciate your views..
I do ask a lot of questions.. hence why i have a general range from 150 - 175.. i just mean that 175 is normally my upper limit for a standard service.. although again it depends on the circumstances and I will sometimes go up to 190+ depending on venue type, how many people etc

[Dragonfly]

i read somewhere recently it doesnt take 10 years to become a good dj and the djs who charge more are the ones who advertise more?? not passing any comment just thought id pass that theory on for discussion?

[Danno13]

Another thing to bear in mind is that someone could do more gigs in a year than someone else may do in 5, so experience isn't just counted in years.

[Dragonfly]

this is true but you must consider that for 5 years that person has managed to stay in business someone else may do 150 gigs in a year at 50 quid each and not be financially able to continue?

[ross@rds]

Had this myself not so long ago it was for that night as well fone call went like this " can u cover a 21st tonight dj just let me down " this was only 1hr before the gig i said i am out i will call one of the boys and see who can do it "ok" i will call back in 5 mins. so i did and he said its ok my mate is gonna do it. So after i got big G to do it (he was ment to be taking his girlfriend out and his son but he offerd to do this and then the guy said its ok. Some people lol do ur nut in.

[magicfm]

A guy I know was doing a long residency for £120 every week in Belfast and was undercut by a tenner by a rogue DJ and therefore lost his regular gig and income. :mad:

This same rogue DJ phoned me an hour before a gig to cover because he bit off more than he could chew and couldn't make it. I point blankly refused the gig, there was £100 on it , what a joke.

No doubt another of his customers were left without a DJ because of this guy. :mad: He is very well known, along with his cronies to let people down all the time but still gets booking because he's cheap. People will never learn.

I am sick of these guys as they are squeezing me out of the market. I wouldn't do any gig again for £100 - they are 1996 prices! I'd rather sit at home than get underpaid!!!

[soundscapes]

is it just me or have disco prices not gone up much since circa 1998 ?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

is it just me or have disco prices not gone up much since circa 1998 ?

That's a very loaded question with a lot of factors involved. :omg:

[Danno13]

They have for me! I was charging £20 back in 1998... I was 12 at the time though!