Do you always meet potential clients who request a meeting?

[scoopd]

Just curious.

[funkymook]

Just curious.

If they asked yes (unless they’re an unrealistic distance away).

But most of my client meetings occur after I’m booked so they’re not sales orientated at all.

[musicology]

As above. Yes if practical. Mostly they say they want to meet at some stage but usually end up not bothering nearer the time. I guess because they are happy with my communication and don't see the point if everything seems fine.

Edit: Oh you mean before they book? Again yes probably but I can only recall 1 occasion in the last 10 years when this has happened and I got the booking ok. They just seemed to want to meet me and check I didn't have 2 heads or something!

[Excalibur]

Basically yes. Lost one a couple of years ago, I think a cheaper quote came in afterwards. As Martin said, unless it's an unrealistic distance ( and unrealistic nowadays is a relatively large figure ) I'm happy to do so. I know some members ( particularly one Scottish one ;)) would charge a meeting fee for such services, I don't. I'm not saying which way is correct, just stating facts.

[Benny Smyth]

Before a booking is confirmed, it's a phone call. I have enough hassle trying to find convenient meeting times for my clients after they've booked me. :lol:

[Daryll]

Not as a rule for a general party , email is suffice , but a wedding I always have a meeting , as long as it is not to far away.

Daryll

[CRAZY K]

Just curious.

If its a large Corporate ( large FEE I mean:D ) and im probably working with my son we do sometimes, have been to one or two site meetings, one in Birmingham recently.

We probably wont do it unless the quote has been accepted, unless its round the corner.

Realistically phone, website, vids and emails should be enough.

For my personal work these days they have seen all my vids so they know exactly what I look like and how their event is going to be run.

I do understand for Wedding DJs it might be useful but as im not really into Weddings these days no worries.

[yourdj]

This would have made an interesting poll.
Yes if possible, at the venue or on Skype. :)

I don't have a day job so have time to spare and its all costed into my main price.

[CRAZY K]

This would have made an interesting poll.
Yes if possible, at the venue or on Skype. :)

I don't have a day job so have time to spare and its all costed into my main price.

And you only do jobs with easy access round the corner as I recall from previous posts:D:D:D

[Excalibur]

Before a booking is confirmed, it's a phone call. I have enough hassle trying to find convenient meeting times for my clients after they've booked me. :lol:


This would have made an interesting poll.
Yes if possible, at the venue or on Skype. :)

I don't have a day job so have time to spare and its all costed into my main price.

Hmmmm. Benny, I think you ought to take a leaf out of Toby's book. :)

[ppentertainments]

If asked, then yes, but I find very very few want to meet - which is fine by me.

I actually get quite a few bookings from couples saying other DJs were too pushy - insisting on meetings, time plans, etc etc


This would have made an interesting poll.
Yes if possible, at the venue or on Skype. :)

I don't have a day job so have time to spare and its all costed into my main price.

And that could be a interesting second poll - 'what is included in your fee'.

[Benny Smyth]

Hmmmm. Benny, I think you ought to take a leaf out of Toby's book. :)

I don't have a 'day job' either. Just awkward clients. :p

[yourdj]

Hmmmm. Benny, I think you ought to take a leaf out of Toby's book. :)

The trick is clever use of calendar management. I don't ever do more than 3 in a row or 4 in a day though. But they could come to you or a local venue near to you? I have always wanted a decent house with a cool office that is not attached to the actual house.

I prefer the venue they are getting married at, which as mentioned most often within a 30 min drive (20 usually). :)

Some clients just don't want to meet. Its a big part of our website, so its in their psychy from the start.
I find our resident venue clients can sometime be like that though. They don't see the benefit from meeting and lead busy lives. :)

Some people also find it a bit pushy as they may be forced into booking you.
I don't like sales meetings at all, unless i am 70% sure from a website or word of mouth.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

This topic has come up a number of times before if I remember correctly.
I only meet customers once they have booked me. It is mentioned when I reply to their email or phone call as part of the service in the quotation.
I always meet them around 2 weeks before their booking at a time that is convenient for both of us. It is mainly in the evening and at their venue or home and lasts around 45 minutes (depending on how many questions they have).

I have met 1 couple who wanted to meet me before they booked because they had a number of questions (which I have mentioned previously).
I'd had a very late finish on the Saturday night as I was doing a wedding out of town and this potential customer wanted me to meet them at their house on the Sunday morning. I arrived at the mansion which was also a 15 mile drive away and waited for a while until eventually after some time, they turned up. No apologies for the delay or anything and I immediately felt on edge.

They were having their wedding at the mansion and wanted the Disco to be held outside with additional speakers and other bits to create a kind of Ibiza / Club vibe.
In reality I wasted nearly 2 hours that Sunday because I answered all of their questions and assured them that what they wanted to do was possible etc.
All the time I was there I remember the guy being very enthusiastic but the woman was totally up herself and had a face like she had poo under her nose all the time.
I felt very uncomfortable and when I left the place I immediately thought to myself that it wouldn't be something I'd enjoy doing but if it came off, it would be a decent earner and a case of grinning and bearing it.

I had an email a bit later on thanking me for my time but they'd decided not to go ahead and book me. They didn't give a reason.

I know I could have made this a lot shorter but the main thing is - I didn't and don't like feeling like I am in some kind of audition and have to sell myself and prove myself to people. That was a waste of time and I said to myself I wouldn't do that kind of thing again. If people want to book me then great but I am not running around and wasting my time trying to get a booking by sitting down in what was almost like an interview too.

Toby, in the new house that I have bought there is a 24ft x 13ft garden room that I am going to make into a club house / office type place and I think what I may do is start inviting customers that have already booked me round there for the meetings. I have a few ideas for it once I am settled (mind you, it may change into a bar with pol table, dart board and projector screen etc!).

[CRAZY K]

This topic has come up a number of times before if I remember correctly.
I only meet customers once they have booked me. It is mentioned when I reply to their email or phone call as part of the service in the quotation.
I always meet them around 2 weeks before their booking at a time that is convenient for both of us. It is mainly in the evening and at their venue or home and lasts around 45 minutes (depending on how many questions they have).

I have met 1 couple who wanted to meet me before they booked because they had a number of questions (which I have mentioned previously).
I'd had a very late finish on the Saturday night as I was doing a wedding out of town and this potential customer wanted me to meet them at their house on the Sunday morning. I arrived at the mansion which was also a 15 mile drive away and waited for a while until eventually after some time, they turned up. No apologies for the delay or anything and I immediately felt on edge.

They were having their wedding at the mansion and wanted the Disco to be held outside with additional speakers and other bits to create a kind of Ibiza / Club vibe.
In reality I wasted nearly 2 hours that Sunday because I answered all of their questions and assured them that what they wanted to do was possible etc.
All the time I was there I remember the guy being very enthusiastic but the woman was totally up herself and had a face like she had poo under her nose all the time.
I felt very uncomfortable and when I left the place I immediately thought to myself that it wouldn't be something I'd enjoy doing but if it came off, it would be a decent earner and a case of grinning and bearing it.

I had an email a bit later on thanking me for my time but they'd decided not to go ahead and book me. They didn't give a reason.

I know I could have made this a lot shorter but the main thing is - I didn't and don't like feeling like I am in some kind of audition and have to sell myself and prove myself to people. That was a waste of time and I said to myself I wouldn't do that kind of thing again. If people want to book me then great but I am not running around and wasting my time trying to get a booking by sitting down in what was almost like an interview too.

Toby, in the new house that I have bought there is a 24ft x 13ft garden room that I am going to make into a club house / office type place and I think what I may do is start inviting customers that have already booked me round there for the meetings. I have a few ideas for it once I am settled (mind you, it may change into a bar with pol table, dart board and projector screen etc!).

I agree, its not like you are tendering for a £30,000 building job where you could make a massive profit and if you got one in 3 then you could factor meeting times into the pricing.

These days videos, pictures and websites and a phone call should be enough to make a decision for an evenings Entertainment.

Discussions afterwards after booking are a different matter.

[Benny Smyth]

Toby, in the new house that I have bought there is a 24ft x 13ft garden room that I am going to make into a club house / office type place and I think what I may do is start inviting customers that have already booked me round there for the meetings. I have a few ideas for it once I am settled (mind you, it may change into a bar with pol table, dart board and projector screen etc!).

Any clients that comes round to my house for their meeting always sit in my kitchen with a cuppa. I have an office upstairs, but you'll always end up in the kitchen at parties (and it's more relaxing) :approve:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Any clients that comes round to my house for their meeting always sit in my kitchen with a cuppa. I have an office upstairs, but you'll always end up in the kitchen at parties (and it's more relaxing) :approve:

Like I said, I usually visit them at the venue (where possible) or their house. Whatever is comfortable for them really.

[Benny Smyth]

Like I said, I usually visit them at the venue (where possible) or their house. Whatever is comfortable for them really.

Sorry, Gary. The reason I quoted you was because you were the last person to say something about converting a room into an office which you can use to meet clients. I just added my kitchen comment as I thought it was relevant. I wasn't singling you out, per se.

My general rule of thumb is if it's a venue that I have never performed at, then the meeting must happen there. If I have a run of gigs at a certain venue, then I hold clinics at that venue. Other than that, I tend to be flexible on meeting locations (although my kitchen obviously saves fuel costs. :p).

[Shakermaker Promotions]

No problem Benny. I didn't take any offence at all and wasn't niggled by anything you said.
We work along the same lines in that I will meet the customers at any venue I haven't been to before. The old "Kill 2 birds with 1 stone" thing I guess. I can check the place out, meet the customers and also arrange access and set up times with the co-ordinator or whoever is looking after the couple. If I haven't already sold them the Uplighting then I will also see if it would be viable to provide it and offer it, sometimes at discount to try and up the fee a bit and it usually works but saying that, it must be around 90% of my bookings that have Uplighting included in the booking anyway.

The reason I mentioned the conversion was that I thought it might be a good idea especially with the chilled vibe I have for the place but then saying that, I do really like the idea of me having a cool looking 'club house' where I can just get away from everything. The new place has 3 bedrooms and there are only 2 of us and 1 of the bedrooms is perfect for my office anyway so the big place out back may turn into something special.......eventually!

[Excalibur]

Interesting views lads, and I don't think there's a cast iron best answer, ( other than if it's a fresh venue, then meeting there is by far the best option.

Whether Benny's kitchen, or Gary's chillout lounge give a better impression than an office, well I genuinely don't know. There's a lot to be said for customer's homes, as they should feel at ease there.

There are plusses and minuses for each, and I've had meetings in venues, customers' homes, and my own. Basically, the customer has the choice.

[yourdj]

I didn't and don't like feeling like I am in some kind of audition and have to sell myself and prove myself to people.

Toby, in the new house that I have bought there is a 24ft x 13ft garden room that I am going to make into a club house / office type place and I think what I may do is start inviting customers that have already booked me round there for the meetings. I have a few ideas for it once I am settled (mind you, it may change into a bar with pol table, dart board and projector screen etc!).

Its horses for courses, a bit like the all day hosting it possibly only suits certain people perhaps? i have a great time when meeting with clients. i rarely sell myself, sounds like you got a bad one. i had a couple the other day and i literally got nothing back from them. They were lovely, but very shy. They had only booked the venue the day before, so did not know what to do so I think I baffled them with detail. They both did not work and were about 20/21, so I did not set my hopes high. Anyhow, they booked for a £1,500 package the next day and paid in full!! I emailed the photographer, priming him to bring a lot of content to keep the meeting flowing and they also booked the biggest package?? We think they have inheritance, won the lottery or something. ;)

Perhaps going into a sales meeting at "selling yourself" is a mistake, although it sounds like you met the sort of client I don't like to attract. Having said that you can get a conflict of personality, where no matter what you do the client will just not like you, my only complaint came from a blinding residency wedding. I went specifically to her house as she could not be bothered to come to the venue. We added in free uplighting and the disco was brilliant. My assistant says it was one of the best that year in terms of requests and dancing. Hey ho, her photographer and good friend said she was a "pain", but it still really upset me. :(

As per per sales meetings, answering their questions is the best thing and offering advice on other aspects of their event is really great as it shows your more than just another DJ. I tend to start each meeting with, how are your plans and what other suppliers do you need. I then email them later with my recommendations. Many people mention that I was not very pushy and passionate about what I do, which I suppose is the sort of sales person i would want to meet if I was planning a wedding.

Club house sound lovely! I think having a room with all your extras set up and a little bar seeing juices and coffees is great. You can also have a big telly, pretend you have to get some more milk and leave them watching a showreel that you don't have on the website. I like the idea of a little 1-2 bed chalet type house with bathroom/lounge etc. For circa £40,000 you can have somewhere to work from and get rid of the kids when they reach teenage years: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Award-Winning-3-Bed-2-Storey-Log-Cabin-Self-Build-Partial-Build-or-Turnkey-/121967348737?hash=item1c65d20c01:g:Ym4AAOSwNSxVCZj a

If we went for a self build i am wondering if we could build this first and then build the actual house a few years down the line?? Beats living in a caravan. The other option is to buy a small house in a nice location, build this and then develop the house bit by bit over 10 years. Big plot in Salisbury area with a small house £300, cabin and building costs £50. sorted. I think having that as a demo room really could not show your passion for your trade any more!! You can have a duplicate of most optional extras and demonstrate them in a Jules holland fashion, while they sip on an organic smoothie or latte. ;)

17846

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Interesting views lads, and I don't think there's a cast iron best answer, ( other than if it's a fresh venue, then meeting there is by far the best option.

Whether Benny's kitchen, or Gary's chillout lounge give a better impression than an office, well I genuinely don't know. There's a lot to be said for customer's homes, as they should feel at ease there.

There are plusses and minuses for each, and I've had meetings in venues, customers' homes, and my own. Basically, the customer has the choice.

I never conduct meetings at home (well now I've just brought a house that may change) but I prefer meeting at their home, venue or local pub/coffee shop.

In terms of the setting I think it should reflect the sort of personality dare I say it you are. I don't really think the environment has that much impact its more about the person.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I would like to add that in the 11+ years I have been self-employed and as a business I have never had a customer come to my house for a meeting. The only time they have is either to drop off a booking fee, memory stick or booking form etc because they have been passing or it has been easier for them to do so and I don't mind that at all.

The main reason I don't do it at the moment and never have done is because I have a big old boxer and obviously not everyone likes dogs!

Toby, one of my ideas of using the chill out area (once it's done) to host meetings etc is along the lines of what you said. If everything goes as I want it to then it will have some uplighting units in so that I can show the customers colour options. I can also have the iPad linked to one of my projectors for slideshows, videos and other bits.
The place is big and at least 50 feet away from the rest of the house.

With reference to my experience with the mansion and what felt like an audition - I think you're right. It appeared to me that the woman was the boss on that occasion and what she said was the law...ha! ha! The guy was absolutely fine with me and we got on well. He asked questions, I answered them. He asked if this or that was possible and I answered but she didn't seem interested. If I remember correctly, it was his parents mansion that I met them at. It was all very nose in the air and I guess she just wasn't that keen on me. I gave them (her) no reason to dis-like me so it must have just been a feeling or first impressions but remember, I felt the same about her and came away feeling uncomfortable anyway.

The likelihood in reality is that it will be a while before customers come to the house because I will have to get myself familiar with a lot of venues I haven't been to before so meeting them there will be preferable (for both of us I expect).

Like Peter said though, as long as the customer is happy and comfortable then that's what matters isn't it.

[yourdj]

I don't really think the environment has that much impact its more about the person.

its all about relevance I think? A bar or pub is somewhere people go to socialise so it makes sense. i don't like peoples houses as they are comfortable, but at times too comfortable. there are far too many distractions and people will react to them. My no1 bug bear is when they leave the TV on, pander about with a toddler demanding attention on answer the flipping phone!!




Toby, one of my ideas of using the chill out area (once it's done) to host meetings etc is along the lines of what you said. If everything goes as I want it to then it will have some uplighting units in so that I can show the customers colour options. I can also have the iPad linked to one of my projectors for slideshows, videos and other bits. The place is big and at least 50 feet away from the rest of the house.

it was his parents mansion that I met them at. It was all very nose in the air and I guess she just wasn't that keen on me.


Again i don't like people coming to my actual house as I feel they will judge me or I will have a distraction. With a professional designated meeting area that is alleviated. Its also somewhere to get away from the family and also to have some awesome parties!! :)

I have found that at BIG houses, understandably the client will be very selective who they have in their residence for the night. People who are self made are the worst as they are so scared to go back to where they came from. I was brought up in a large house so it means nothing to me as i was just as happy in the 4 bed my mum got after the divorce, living in a nice place and having harmony is key. Most probably it was his parents house if he was that laid back. If he booked the meeting then she may have had no say and you were just not what she wanted. i get that quite often with clients, which is why i try and maintain coms by email before, through information pages. At some point the other half will see it and they will both be on side prior to the meeting.

I the person actually owns the house and has lived like that for some time then it is not such an issue. :)