Cheaper venues - more to spend on the party?

[Vectis]

I've noticed a definite trend recently for high-value bookings in village halls and civic buildings.

Digging a bit deeper into the details and it's clear that a lot of folks seem to be seeking out nice quaint halls and buildings which they can hire cheaply, then splashing the budget on quality catering, decorations and entertainment.

Just this week alone I must have had about a dozen plausible £400+ disco requests for these types of premises. And it's not just weddings.

Anyone else seeing the same or am I seeing a temporary quirk in the stats? :)

[DJ Jules]

I've noticed a definite trend recently for high-value bookings in village halls and civic buildings.

Digging a bit deeper into the details and it's clear that a lot of folks seem to be seeking out nice quaint halls and buildings which they can hire cheaply, then splashing the budget on quality catering, decorations and entertainment.

Just this week alone I must have had about a dozen plausible £400+ disco requests for these types of premises. And it's not just weddings.

Anyone else seeing the same or am I seeing a temporary quirk in the stats? :)

I've seen this go both ways in cheaper venues. I've seen exuberant expenditure on decorations and catering and then they've hired a dance floor and a PA system to plug in an iPod and I've seen moderate spending on disco services.

Unfortunately I've seen more of the former than the latter.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Funnily enough, we've got a high-expenditure birthday party in a couple of weeks time in a church hall where they're spending a lot on everything else and having just about every bell and whistle imaginable. They actually said to me that it s a cheap venue so they have more to spend on the drink and entertainment.

[funkymook]

I've had more bookings for receptions in Central London gastropub style venues than ever before - looking at their sites they offer free function hire at weekends. As they're mainly in non-residential and non-walkby trade areas they're probably closed at weekends if they're not booked. Obviously nothings really for free so I assume a minimum spend applies, which shouldn't be difficult at a wedding reception. Lovely old buildings with character, great food, late licence, no residents nearby to complain about noise - I can see the attraction.

[CRAZY K]

I've noticed a definite trend recently for high-value bookings in village halls and civic buildings.

Digging a bit deeper into the details and it's clear that a lot of folks seem to be seeking out nice quaint halls and buildings which they can hire cheaply, then splashing the budget on quality catering, decorations and entertainment.

Just this week alone I must have had about a dozen plausible £400+ disco requests for these types of premises. And it's not just weddings.

Anyone else seeing the same or am I seeing a temporary quirk in the stats? :)

Yes--Similar but not the same market place--in the Rodeo Bull Hire Market the world and his wife are NOT hiring Halls but having the events in their back gardens--bearing in mind the awful weather this Summer it is NOT the sort of thing that has happened because its been a wonderful Sunny Summer--its driven by cost savings--and as you say more money to spend on food, entertainment etc.

Unfortunately people booking Rodeo Bulls are continuing this trend into the WINTER:daft:

For DJs this wont be a problem--hopefully:rolleyes:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I had this very thing happen and they said exactly that. They got the venue cheap and they would rather spend more on the entertainment - disco, uplighting, photo booth etc.

[Leicester Ben]

We notice this a lot, I guess you could say that it's something that we specialise in, we are constantly pimping venues with various bits of kit! We do a lot more jobs in village halls etc than ever before, not uncommon for clients to spend over a grand by the time they have a floor, backdrop and some Uplighting!

Great news as far as I'm concerned :)

[Jonathan Ford]

Hmmm...food for thought. I always refuse to quote for village hall gigs as I (maybe wrongly) assume they've got £160 to spend...

[funkymook]

Hmmm...food for thought. I always refuse to quote for village hall gigs as I (maybe wrongly) assume they've got £160 to spend...

Basic business really - never assume someones budget, it's the sort of thing you learn (or are reminded of) on these DJ seminars.

[Leicester Ben]

Hmmm...food for thought. I always refuse to quote for village hall gigs as I (maybe wrongly) assume they've got £160 to spend...


REALLY??????

What is the point in not replying to someone when they ask you for a quote, you certainly wont get the booking if you don't give them a price!!


it's the sort of thing you learn (or are reminded of) on these DJ seminars.

Nobody should need a 'DJ Seminar' to tell them that if someone asks for a price and you are running a business then you should tell them a price.

Do they also tell you to play songs at the DJ Seminars :)

[funkymook]

Nobody should need a 'DJ Seminar' to tell them that if someone asks for a price and you are running a business then you should tell them a price.


You'd have thought so, but it's something Jonathan hadn't considered - it's a cliche but very true that you don't know what you don't know, even one little tip picked up can increase business.