Answering a request for a reduced price - what would you do ?

[ppentertainments]

I have an email which does ask quite a common question – discount ??

I don’t really want a full blown pricing thread but rather, what would you have answered ?? I have already answered and gained the booking so this thread is more out of interest as to how others would reply. I will post my reply in a few days.

Background of the booking :
July next year
New but very much an upcoming venue, who recommend me as does the recommended caterers and photographer
They have met with a number of DJ’s
All day services from 3pm-midnight to include Ceremony Music, Aternoon Music and casual MC as well as the evening disco


I met with the couple yesterday, gave my usual talk etc and quoted a price. I received an email today asking for a £45 reduction on the price which would be exactly what they had budgeted for. The bride did make me aware that another very reputable local DJ was quoting the same price including uplighting, however she did not want uplighting and found him too pushy, hence not going with him.

If it makes any difference, my quote was £945 and she asked for a £45 reduction on this to match her budget.

So how would you have replied to this request for a reduction ??

[DazzyD]

It all depends on if you can make a profit, that you're happy with, out of the remaining £900. What does it equate to? A 5% reduction? And what is the likelihood of you filling the date with another gig for £945 if the client walks away from the booking?

Once you've answered these questions, it will make it much easier to decide how you should reply.

But, if you're wanting a "What would you do?" answer, then I'd probably agree to the discount (my profit margin is a lot higher than 5%, after all!) but I'd word it so they know I'm doing them a big favour. Something along the lines of:

"It's not my usual policy to reduce the fees I charge as they have been carefully assessed and costed to provide the perfect balance of quality of service with value for money. However, I want you to be able to have your big day the way you want it and that includes you having the very best entertainment service at a price that meets your budget. Therefore, I am happy to let you know that, on this occasion, and for you only, I am willing to meet your budget and agree to providing you with the services booked for £900. I'm sure you'll agree that this is a very generous gesture on my behalf and I look forward to being of service to you on your big day."

That's the way I'd do it - but I don't get many £900+ bookings!

EDIT:
Just re-read your post, Chris, and realised you've already answered and got the booking (didn't sink in first time around!). So I'd be interested to hear just how you did reply!

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

It all depends on if you can make a profit, that you're happy with, out of the remaining £900. What does it equate to? A 5% reduction? And what is the likelihood of you filling the date with another gig for £945 if the client walks away from the booking?

Once you've answered these questions, it will make it much easier to decide how you should reply.

But, if you're wanting a "What would you do?" answer, then I'd probably agree to the discount (my profit margin is a lot higher than 5%, after all!) but I'd word it so they know I'm doing them a big favour. Something along the lines of:

"It's not my usual policy to reduce the fees I charge as they have been carefully assessed and costed to provide the perfect balance of quality of service with value for money. However, I want you to be able to have your big day the way you want it and that includes you having the very best entertainment service at a price that meets your budget. Therefore, I am happy to let you know that, on this occasion, and for you only, I am willing to meet your budget and agree to providing you with the services booked for £900. I'm sure you'll agree that this is a very generous gesture on my behalf and I look forward to being of service to you on your big day."

That's the way I'd do it - but I don't get many £900+ bookings!

EDIT:
Just re-read your post, Chris, and realised you've already answered and got the booking (didn't sink in first time around!). So I'd be interested to hear just how you did reply!


What he said.

Unless you've got all day gigs paying like that coming in left right and centre then it's better to take a £45 hit to gain £900 rather than dig your heels and lose the whole lot.

It's a tough one but I'm much more willing to budge on price when it is a high paying all day gig. For standard evening ones there's no leeway at all as I'm priced fairly and it doesn't make any financial sense from my end to drop my price.

[ppentertainments]

EDIT:
Just re-read your post, Chris, and realised you've already answered and got the booking (didn't sink in first time around!). So I'd be interested to hear just how you did reply!
I will leave this thread running to allow replies for a few days then reveal my reply.

[Excalibur]

I will leave this thread running to allow replies for a few days then reveal my reply.
1) Bog off
2) Yes of course I can reduce the price, but that means I shan't be bringing a PA.
3) When I've googled the meaning of the word discount, I'll get back to you.
4)Please do not ask for a price reduction, as we have found that a smack in the gob often offends.

Be honest, one of those has to be right. :D

[par6]

£900 for a disco, background music, mc'ing, etc is truly truly remarkable, well done.

[yourdj]

I would be inclined to go for that level of discount for an all day especially if I
knew the venue and was happy with it all as it makes things very easy. Go for it.

i would probably not even counter offer with a free service especially if they have met with lots of other DJ's.

Get it all signed up if I were you as £45 is not much off of £945. Beats sitting at home if you dont get booked.



£900 for a disco, background music, mc'ing, etc is truly truly remarkable, well done.

Its a bit more than that as he is also the MC which takes lots of pre prep and work on the day.
No chance to eat sandwiches behind the decks as all manner of things happen that you are responsible for. ;)

I must say I did an all day where they had a toastmaster the other day and I was bored out of my brain!!
I literally had nothing to do all day and did not feel the clients £1000 investment was being utilised properly!!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Discount or not I bet they have booked.......

[ppentertainments]

Discount or not I bet they have booked.......
My initial thoughts, would I lose the booking or not :D:D:D

To add another question into this - the discount was 5% (give or take), would asking for this discount make any difference if it was on an all-day booking or just the evening ??

[musicologydisco]

Seems a reasonable negotiation to me. I would have agreed and therefore much pleased them and that would strengthen the relationship.

[ppentertainments]

Just to update this thread, as promised.

I did give the discount, based on the fact I am gaining a good working relationship with the venue. However I was suprised at the amount of replies saying to give a discount, as it seems drummed in through various sources that discounts should not be given - you should stick to your fee and that is it.

I also wonder how many would give the same discount on an evening only booking ?? I will openly admit that of late, although most my weddings are for all day, I do seem to be giving more and more discounts, however still make a good income - is this a trend everywhere ? Do certain facebook groups and forums have any bearing on this ? or is it just me getting too soft in my old age ;)

[funkymook]

as it seems drummed in through various sources that discounts should not be given - you should stick to your fee and that is it.

I've always seen that written with the caveat 'unless it's to your advantage' - it's up to the individual to determine if a particular job at a particular price is right for them.

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Just to update this thread, as promised.

I did give the discount, based on the fact I am gaining a good working relationship with the venue. However I was suprised at the amount of replies saying to give a discount, as it seems drummed in through various sources that discounts should not be given - you should stick to your fee and that is it.

I also wonder how many would give the same discount on an evening only booking ?? I will openly admit that of late, although most my weddings are for all day, I do seem to be giving more and more discounts, however still make a good income - is this a trend everywhere ? Do certain facebook groups and forums have any bearing on this ? or is it just me getting too soft in my old age ;)

As I said, a £50 discount that will bring you in £900 is a savvy move if you think the booking hinged on that.

A £50 discount on an evening only booking where they were likely to book you anyway doesn't make sense.

[funkymook]

A £50 discount on an evening only booking where they were likely to book you anyway doesn't make sense.

Depends how much you're charging for the evening of course :D

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

Depends how much you're charging for the evening of course :D

I would imagine for the majority of us it is still a sizeable chunk I mean say you're charging £500 which the vast majority won't be, that's a 10% wage cut and only gets bigger the less you charge.

Looking at it logically, certainly with evening only bookings it doesn't make much sense.

Say the bride or groom checks me out, really likes my site, has good recommendations etc... and is going to book - giving a discount serves no purpose for us so why do it? A lot of brides will ask for a discount as a matter of course. A bridal shop charing £1k+ per dress can give all the discounts they want, I'm a 1 man operation so why should I be expected to take a personal financial hit?

Or

Let's say the bride quite likes me, but also likes you, we come in at the same price (or thereabouts)

She asks me to drop my price, I drop it by £50 (for talking's sake)
Then you drop yours by £50.

She still can't decide so what is going to sell it, whoever goes lower and the ultimate result is that we've both lowered our prices, we both essentially lose out.


I don't know about the rest of you but I feel that by not discounting or being too soft actually works in my favour. When you're confident enough to charge what you charge and stick to that, it sends out a message that you're worth that price. If the person won't budge then that's their loss, if you budge it gives the impression that you start overpriced and they've talked you down to your true value so to speak.

- - - Updated - - -


Depends how much you're charging for the evening of course :D

I would imagine for the majority of us it is still a sizeable chunk I mean say you're charging £500 which the vast majority won't be, that's a 10% wage cut and only gets bigger the less you charge.

Looking at it logically, certainly with evening only bookings it doesn't make much sense.

Say the bride or groom checks me out, really likes my site, has good recommendations etc... and is going to book - giving a discount serves no purpose for us so why do it? A lot of brides will ask for a discount as a matter of course. A bridal shop charing £1k+ per dress can give all the discounts they want, I'm a 1 man operation so why should I be expected to take a personal financial hit?

Or

Let's say the bride quite likes me, but also likes you, we come in at the same price (or thereabouts)

She asks me to drop my price, I drop it by £50 (for talking's sake)
Then you drop yours by £50.

She still can't decide so what is going to sell it, whoever goes lower and the ultimate result is that we've both lowered our prices, we both essentially lose out.


I don't know about the rest of you but I feel that by not discounting or being too soft actually works in my favour. When you're confident enough to charge what you charge and stick to that, it sends out a message that you're worth that price. If the person won't budge then that's their loss, if you budge it gives the impression that you start overpriced and they've talked you down to your true value so to speak.

[funkymook]

That's all true of course - it was a tongue in cheek comment...

[ppentertainments]

That's all true of course - it was a tongue in cheek comment...
But what a reply :D

[Excalibur]

To add another question into this - the discount was 5% (give or take), would asking for this discount make any difference if it was on an all-day booking or just the evening ??


As I said, a £50 discount that will bring you in £900 is a savvy move if you think the booking hinged on that.

A £50 discount on an evening only booking where they were likely to book you anyway doesn't make sense.

Ah yes, but the discount on an evening booking wouldn't be £50, would it? On a £350 it would be £15 to £20 assuming rounding up or down from £17.50
Actually seems a bigger discount like that than in the first case, funnily enough. :confused:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I recently discounted a booking by just under £500. I'll leave it toy our imagination to how much they were spending with me...:)

[musicologydisco]

willy waver!

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I recently discounted a booking by just under £500. I'll leave it toy our imagination to how much they were spending with me...:)

£600? :D

[funkymook]

willy waver!

That costs extra......

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

willy waver!

Only a person charging £30/hour would say that...:rolleyes:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

£600? :D

Correct.:beer1: