When a wedding is NOT a wedding!!

[scott23]

Had a couple of these instances lately, When a customer gets a quote for a private party, then states that's is a wedding after. Pretty cheeky I think!

The first a few months ago, Someone called looking for a DJ for 5 hours in the evening and started with "whats the price, whats the price" Not interested in the service chat. So I said whats the event? "well its just a small thing, you know?!" No I dont know??? "Its a wedding but just 50 people, no first dance no need for anything wedding wise" Gave them a wedding quote! Ohh no thats too much, I am looking for someone for £100 quid. Ok Jog on then!!

The best, this week, Emailed back for a wee private party, gave a quote, then they said "can I mood light the room" , I said yeah of course , this is the price. Then as they kept asking to pay the deposit, I said I need more info? Ie type of party? your contact details apart from email.

"Ohhh its a wedding reception, but just a big party really as we are getting married in mexico". Ohh is that right?? well guess what, you werent quoted for a wedding reception. Here is yer quote!

What are people on these days? To be honest I couldnt care less if they go somewhere else, I just worry for the other DJ who turns up and figures out its not a private party but a wedding reception, has this ever happened to anyone??

[funkymook]

Funnily enough I was just talking about this to someone earlier.

I think it’s because every Bride FB group, magazine, blog etc says that suppliers add on extra for weddings so don’t mention what the occasion is when you book.

Now the big question is - are they right?

As you started this thread will you say what the difference in price is for the same number of guests for the same times at the same venue on the same date for a birthday and a wedding and why?

Myself - I charge exactly the same regardless of the event, my fee is based on the hours I’m there and distance travelled, my preparation is very similar for every booking.


And just another thought - if brides think they’re being clever avoiding mentioning it’s a wedding (and I think this will just become more prevalent) are dedicated wedding DJ sites on the way out?

[Nakatomi]

Had a couple of these instances lately, When a customer gets a quote for a private party, then states that's is a wedding after. Pretty cheeky I think!

The first a few months ago, Someone called looking for a DJ for 5 hours in the evening and started with "whats the price, whats the price" Not interested in the service chat. So I said whats the event? "well its just a small thing, you know?!" No I dont know??? "Its a wedding but just 50 people, no first dance no need for anything wedding wise" Gave them a wedding quote! Ohh no thats too much, I am looking for someone for £100 quid. Ok Jog on then!!

The best, this week, Emailed back for a wee private party, gave a quote, then they said "can I mood light the room" , I said yeah of course , this is the price. Then as they kept asking to pay the deposit, I said I need more info? Ie type of party? your contact details apart from email.

"Ohhh its a wedding reception, but just a big party really as we are getting married in mexico". Ohh is that right?? well guess what, you werent quoted for a wedding reception. Here is yer quote!

What are people on these days? To be honest I couldnt care less if they go somewhere else, I just worry for the other DJ who turns up and figures out its not a private party but a wedding reception, has this ever happened to anyone??

What difference does it make what the party is? Unless you're doing any extra work like having to be there most of the day or whatever surely a wedding reception from 7pm-12am would attract the same fee as any other 7pm-12am party.

There's a perception among the public that anything to do with a wedding automatically gets a number tacked onto the end of the quote. If the customer only wants the party part of a wedding service why would you expect them to pay a 'wedding' price?

[scott23]

To be honest its not that big a difference in price. Like £50! Its more to do with the extra work I put into a wedding reception, with regards to face to face meetings.

For me its just quite fly not to say its a wedding, and also to try to barter on the amount of people who are going to be there.

[funkymook]

To be honest its not that big a difference in price. Like £50! Its more to do with the extra work I put into a wedding reception, with regards to face to face meetings.

For me its just quite fly not to say its a wedding, and also to try to barter on the amount of people who are going to be there.

Why wouldn't a birthday or anniversary party also benefit from a meeting? What do you discuss at the wedding meeting that you couldn’t do over the phone or email?

(Try thinking of a prospective client asking these questions, which they will, and justifying the extra charge to them in a way that they’ll buy it).

[mattydj50]

To be honest its not that big a difference in price. Like £50! Its more to do with the extra work I put into a wedding reception, with regards to face to face meetings.

For me its just quite fly not to say its a wedding, and also to try to barter on the amount of people who are going to be there.

Often there is more work for a non wedding as, usually, you know who you are dealing with for a wedding (B&G) and they usually have a firm plan to work to. Other parties are often a much less organised affair and no one person is often in charge. Especially if its a surprise party for the birthday person where the organiser wont give you too many details in case the person finds out. As if.

I treat every function as a priority one, after all, that is what the client expects.

[Excalibur]

Funnily enough I was just talking about this to someone earlier.
Oh really? :whistle:



What difference does it make what the party is? Unless you're doing any extra work like having to be there most of the day or whatever surely a wedding reception from 7pm-12am would attract the same fee as any other 7pm-12am party.


Myself - I charge exactly the same regardless of the event, my fee is based on the hours I’m there and distance travelled, my preparation is very similar for every booking.

I cannot fault a word of the above posts. And bearing that in mind...............................


There's a perception among the public that anything to do with a wedding automatically gets a number tacked onto the end of the quote. If the customer only wants the party part of a wedding service why would you expect them to pay a 'wedding' price?


And just another thought - if brides think they’re being clever avoiding mentioning it’s a wedding (and I think this will just become more prevalent) are dedicated wedding DJ sites on the way out?

Is it not reasonable to expect an increase in clients following this policy, if they think it stops them being " ripped off "? Again, this would seem logical to many folk.

Might sticking " Wedding DJ " at the top of your website dissuade people from booking other functions? Food for thought.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

To be honest its not that big a difference in price. Like £50! Its more to do with the extra work I put into a wedding reception, with regards to face to face meetings.

For me its just quite fly not to say its a wedding, and also to try to barter on the amount of people who are going to be there.

Simple, charge the higher fee as your basic rate regardless of function. I've had meetings with people having sweet 16, older birthdays etc..

[Nakatomi]

Might sticking " Wedding DJ " at the top of your website dissuade people from booking other functions? Food for thought.

I say 'wedding & party DJ'. Does that make me a bad person?

[Imagine]

Didn't we have this discussion on the secret members board a couple of weeks ago? :whistle:

For a standard evening reception....there IS no difference (well, not for me anyway).

OK, I take a completely different rig to a wedding, plus things like confetti canons, which is the only reason my wedding price is £50 dearer than my standard price (which will be going up shortly to match the wedding price as as party's a party).

If I'm told it's a standard party, then they end up with my "standard" rig which is used for quick access in the likes of pubs etc., that's the only real difference. Obviously if it's an all day affair like early set-up, then the early set-up charges kick in.

Got to admit though, I'm a member of a lot of those wedding groups and some of the conversations are beyond belief. There's a real suspicion out there at the moment that people are out there to rip brides and grooms off at every turn.

What I still really don't get though without turning this into a pricing thread, is how the same brides that are moaning about the price of things like discos are prepared to pay more for things like chocolate fountains, candy carts and chair covers than they are for some of the prices they mention they're getting their entire evening's entertainment for.

[Excalibur]

I say 'wedding & party DJ'. Does that make me a bad person?
Yes. Next question, please. :D


Didn't we have this discussion on the secret members board a couple of weeks ago? :whistle:

Did we? :confused: Do I come here often? :daft: I forget a lot nowadays. ;)

[Imagine]

Did we? :confused: Do I come here often? :daft: I forget a lot nowadays. ;)

Does that mean you've also forgotten you offered to buy the first round of sherries at BPM? ;)

And Justin...."Wedding Host" is much worse ;)

[Nakatomi]

What I still really don't get though without turning this into a pricing thread, is how the same brides that are moaning about the price of things like discos are prepared to pay more for things like chocolate fountains, candy carts and chair covers than they are for some of the prices they mention they're getting their entire evening's entertainment for.

IMHO the 'industry' has been selling (and customers have been readily buying into it in droves) the 'importance' of having all that frippery for years now but conveniently for the vast majority of the time the 'decision helpers' have been overlooking the entertainment. Things are changing. Slowly.




And Justin...."Wedding Host" is much worse ;)

Surely a typo of "Wedding HOIST" though, no?

[musicology]

The OP is an example why people are getting peaved. 2 prices for the same job. Just because it's a wedding. I always point out to my enquirers that I don't "load" my price just because it's a wedding (because I know full well it goes on). My rate is the same for all and always has been. I reckon the wedding "industry" bubble is due to pop for all suppliers, not just Dj's, who are feeding on this market. I cite Love Letters as an example. Ridiculous prices!

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

A lot of assumptions being made that folk charging more for a wedding do the exact same job as they would for an 80th. Whilst I can't speak for everyone, I'll tell you right now that I put a lot more work, time and planning into my weddings and my price reflects that.

EDIT: What bothers me most about "wedding" pricing is that we offer a service so of course we can have different tiers for different functions and differentiate prices accordingly but we get lumped in with the product suppliers that are shilling out the same stuff whether that's cheap chicken dinners, chair covers, invitations or honeymoons who differentiate nothing but up the price. THAT isn't fair on the client.

[Excalibur]

A lot of assumptions being made that folk charging more for a wedding do the exact same job as they would for an 80th. Whilst I can't speak for everyone, I'll tell you right now that I put a lot more work, time and planning into my weddings and my price reflects that.

For heaven's sake Jim! No one is disputing that. The question here is when you turn up to a venue for a non wedding gig, having done whatever work you feel necessary, and find it's actually a wedding, is it acceptable to say " Hang on. It's a wedding. Weddings cost more"? Exactly the same amount of preparation as the 18th you did there the week before, and the same hours. Why an extra cost?

[funkymook]

A lot of assumptions being made that folk charging more for a wedding do the exact same job as they would for an 80th. Whilst I can't speak for everyone, I'll tell you right now that I put a lot more work, time and planning into my weddings and my price reflects that.

And I’m sure if that 80th birthday needed the same work, time and planning you’d charge the same rate - but would you necessarily know the workload before confirming? And at what point do you tell them there’s an extra charge?

Once confirmed any client can start taking up our time and increase our workload. If you had a birthday or anniversary booked and they sent you these requests a week before ‘we’d like to make a big thing of cutting the cake and there’s a few people who want to say a few words on the mic, I’d like to do a dance with my husband/wife to start the evening off, here’s all the songs we’d like played, what do you think?’ Is that any less than most DJ’s do for a wedding?

My argument isn’t that weddings shouldn’t be charged at a higher rate but that other bookings shouldn’t be a lower rate.

[SC Events]

Copied from my post in the Supporters section:

I charge £100 more for Weddings than I do general parties, as it covers meeting the B&G at their venue as well as the extra time to plan the sequence of events throughout the evening. My prices start at £350 for a maximum of 5 hours (playing time).

I have also done a Derek Pengelly Seminar/Workshop but it didn't really need to add anything to what I was/am already doing, so I guess i'm on the right lines.

I've been mainly focussed on Wedding DJ'ing for 4 years now and have still not yet done an all day Wedding with MC'ing etc, but i'm not really fussed and don't promote it. I'm quite happy to turn up at the venue to start at 7pm, finish at 12am and go home.

Also, there's a clause in my contract which states that if we arrive at the venue and the event is different to what has been booked - e.g. it's actually a Wedding, not a 40th Birthday - then we will not set up until the additional amount has been paid for what we would usually charge for that type of event.

OK, so once we arrive, there isn't really much to do differently apart from announce the cake cutting and first dance, however, it's the dishonesty that gets to me, so they can pay for it.

[Excalibur]

OK, so once we arrive, there isn't really much to do differently apart from announce the cake cutting and first dance, however, it's the dishonesty that gets to me, so they can pay for it.

Precisely. So if you haven't done all the prep normally associated with your weddings, how do you justify a surcharge? :confused: You haven't provided a higher grade of service, so why the higher price?

On occasion, I've had clients with a low fixed budget, and sometimes I've met them halfway by cutting down kit and frills. Seems logical to me.
Conversely, if I'm asked to provide more kit and services, the price rises. Simples.

[funkymook]

I charge £100 more for Weddings than I do general parties, as it covers meeting the B&G at their venue as well as the extra time to plan the sequence of events throughout the evening. .

What is the sequence of events that needs so much planning? Usually I’m told what time the wedding breakfast ends, speeches, the time of the cake cutting and first dance...what else is there that you do? What do you personally plan? (as opposed to being advised of).

Meeting the B&G - fair enough, that’s extra time and expense so needs to be covered, but surely all clients deserve the same level of service? If you think a venue visit is necessary then does it matter what the event is?

[Jim - Scotland's Party DJ]

For heaven's sake Jim! No one is disputing that. The question here is when you turn up to a venue for a non wedding gig, having done whatever work you feel necessary, and find it's actually a wedding, is it acceptable to say " Hang on. It's a wedding. Weddings cost more"? Exactly the same amount of preparation as the 18th you did there the week before, and the same hours. Why an extra cost?

No that's not acceptable, my point is, weddings do take more time and effort ergo the higher cost. To do that ^ IS just bunging on a wedding tax.

[scott23]

Well that was a healthy debate!

Ok I do see everyones points on it should be the same price for the same effort and same time. Why wouldnt someone wanting a birthday party, not want a face to face? Well tbh iv only had one in the last year that wanted a face to face..

The thing is if I have a face to face its generaly in the office complex where my gear is all kept, onlly thing is where the gear is kept isnt ideal for a face to face meeting, so not only does it cost me more time but I have to then pay £25 quid to use the meeting rooms for 1 hour.. Yeah I could try and meet elsewhere, but its convienent for the clients as city centre located with parking and I can have everything to hand quite easily and even take payments there and then issue recipts etc. On top of that I do go to the venue and meet with the events team there prior to the event, Even if I have been before and know the layout, as things might have changed or are going to be set up different than before.

Maybe I should do the same for birthdays etc, but If im honest alot of birthdays come in last min and I find it hard to get the time.
Now am sure most of you who say you put in just as much effort and time into other events deserve to charge accordingly. I know I do a good job for every event, but weddings do take up abit more of my time than birthdays. Shoot me down again im sure you all shall, but some people work different from others, I am succesful at what I do and I certainly dont rip of clients with crazy prices for their wedding.

The initial post could have been put better, id admit! I was more peved that a client would lie to me about the event type just to TRY and get it cheap. Yeah fair enough I could go to what im told is a 40th and it turns out to be a 21st! Now im sure a few heads on here wouldnt be happy about that?!

Anyways please dont think im some bad rip off dude and I do take note off everything you all have posted, maybe just adjust the prices by the £50 for all events and as you have all seem to say, that no difference then!!

Apart from that its always good to have a debate, i have a prowl on the forum every few weeks and not that much happening so glad at least got a wee discussion-- although seems its been discussed plenty on the secret/private forum ;-)

[funkymook]

although seems its been discussed plenty on the secret/private forum ;-)

Actually it’s in the members area (the subs are £1 a month which helps support the running of the forum) so it isn’t a secret and it’s open to anyone. The thread on there and this one are pretty much the same.

[yourdj]

I have don't really make any price differences between corporate, private and weddings unless a meeting is not required.

I have however had a dozen or so weddings this year who have booked me all day and have not wanted any speeches, cake cut or first dance etc. I do think in future if this is the case I will discount a bit if the access and venue is OK as its pretty much a party (minus the responsibility of the occasion), which is far less complicated. I feel I am over charging a bit, probably just a personal thing as the clients were made up with my casual approach, which involved sitting about al day or chatting to guests and not saying much in the evening. Dare I say it, letting the music to the "you know what" :p

I don't think however i would make any discounts for an evening only 'party' that still required coordination for first dance, cake cut and other usual things as i would still have the meetings and its still the same work isn't it?? It does seem that people book better DJ's for weddings in general and thats what comes with it.

A DJ that charges different amounts for what is effectively the same job, just because they know that the client will pay more, is a bit wrong and I agree with the them on that. :)

[funkymook]

I have however had a dozen or so weddings this year who have booked me all day and have not wanted any speeches, cake cut or first dance etc. I do think in future if this is the case I will discount a bit if the access and venue is OK as its pretty much a party (minus the responsibility of the occasion), which is far less complicated.


Why on earth would you volunteer a discount if you don’t have to? You are still booked out for that day and have no way of making up the difference, just doesn’t seem like a good business idea to me :confused:

[yourdj]

Why on earth would you volunteer a discount if you don’t have to? You are still booked out for that day and have no way of making up the difference, just doesn’t seem like a good business idea to me :confused:

Yes you are right. :)

i had a 1.5k booking deposit paid today and they only want microphones for ceremony (Ceremony music really is a responsibility!) and a pretty basic day (with photo booth mind you). I offered her a £100 discount. I don't know, it's a personal thing, but I understand where you are coming from. I don't discount very often, just on occasions above or when its a venue manager getting married etc.

but if the customer is happy then I should just stick to the same prices.

[Corabar Steve]

Might sticking " Wedding DJ " at the top of your website dissuade people from booking other functions? Food for thought.
Dedicated websites is the way forward

[ppentertainments]

Dedicated websites is the way forward
Definitely, the time of having one website to cover everything seems to be a thing of the past - unfortunately.

[Excalibur]

Definitely, the time of having one website to cover everything seems to be a thing of the past - unfortunately.

I'm a Mobile DJ. My website reflects this. Job done, I feel.



Now, if I was offering dancefloors, chocolate fountains, and a hundred more options not directly connected to being a Mobile DJ, I'd agree that one or more dedicated sites would be a good idea.

[ppentertainments]

I'm a Mobile DJ. My website reflects this. Job done, I feel.



Now, if I was offering dancefloors, chocolate fountains, and a hundred more options not directly connected to being a Mobile DJ, I'd agree that one or more dedicated sites would be a good idea.

Not necessarily I've found. I have a general site and a Wedding site. As a guess I would say 95% of wedding enquiries come through the wedding site. The other generates mainly 'other' enquiries.

Within my wedding site I also have other services I offer and have people booking these standalone - even though they are on a wedding dj site.

[Imagine]

Not necessarily I've found. I have a general site and a Wedding site. As a guess I would say 95% of wedding enquiries come through the wedding site. The other generates mainly 'other' enquiries.

This is something I really have got to jump onto.

I've got the wedding site up and running and have had for around 6 months , but that's it....I've never done anything with it like sorting out the SEO etc. Everything at the moment comes direct to my main site.