"Can we come & see you performing?" Advice please

[rob1963]

A number of potential clients are asking if they can come & see me performing before they book me.

The answer is no, as most of my work is weddings, and there is no way I would ask a client if some strangers could come to their reception because they want to see me performing before they decide to book me.

I can understand potential clients asking this, but I'm concerned that I'm losing the bookings when I say no (even though I politely explain why!).

So, do you have any tips on how to respond to potential clients (without losing the booking) when asked if they can come along and see you performing?

Any advice is welcome :)

[ross@rds]

Hi mate i dont like to ask can someone come to your event ?? lol. So i just say no as clients dont want people turning up they dont know so ive been recording most my events and making a dvd to send clients so they can see me in action.

Luck for me my mate does all the camera stuff so i'm getting it done free. But you could use a Digi camera or video recorder to do the same.

[rob1963]

Hi Ross,

That's a great idea!

I have a digital camera which also takes video, so I could film a few gigs, but rather than make up dvds to send out, I could just put a short clip on my website.

Then, when I explain why people can't some & see me performing, I can direct them to my website & tell them there is a video clip there which shows the actual disco in action. That should do the trick!

Thanks again for the advice! :)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

A number of potential clients are asking if they can come & see me performing before they book me.

The answer is no, as most of my work is weddings, and there is no way I would ask a client if some strangers could come to their reception because they want to see me performing before they decide to book me.

I can understand potential clients asking this, but I'm concerned that I'm losing the bookings when I say no (even though I politely explain why!).

So, do you have any tips on how to respond to potential clients (without losing the booking) when asked if they can come along and see you performing?

Any advice is welcome :)


I do the same - you just can;t invite clients to come to someone elses function.

The way I deal with it, is to explain that every disco and DJ is tailored to individual clients and what they might see or hear might not be what they want.

For example, they could see you work in a pub, dressed in jeans, playing the kind of music that you wouldn't necessarily play at a wedding. Or you could be DJing at a wedding where the client has specified cheesey music and lots of chat and the prospective client wanted mainly dance music and no chat, so would get completely the wrong impression.

[BeerFunk]

That's a great suggestion Ross, I might look at recording a good hour or 2 of a gig myself - so they could see the consistency, and not just 'selected highlights'

[rob1963]

The way I deal with it, is to explain that every disco and DJ is tailored to individual clients and what they might see or hear might not be what they want.




Good point, Darren...but don't you think Ross's idea was great?

I just thought of taking it one stage further...so instead of sending potential clients a dvd of the wedding disco in action, I can just upload a short clip onto my website, and direct them there!

Problem solved! :D

[BeerFunk]

Good point, Darren...but don't you think Ross's idea was great?

I just thought of taking it one stage further...so instead of sending potential clients a dvd of the wedding disco in action, I can just upload a short clip onto my website, and direct them there!

Problem solved! :D
I wouldn't say the problem was solved at that - a short clip won't go that far to convince them. Sending a DVD filled with a good bit of footage would make a much better impression, and they can hand it around friends and family for opinions too. I would also highlight the point I made about showing your consistency, so showing lengthy clips from different functions would be a good idea too, I would think? ;)

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

That's a great suggestion Ross, I might look at recording a good hour or 2 of a gig myself - so they could see the consistency, and not just 'selected highlights'

Do you really think people will watch a video for that long?


Good point, Darren...but don't you think Ross's idea was great?



It's something I already use on my site, although it needs updating, as it's a few years old now.

[rob1963]

I wouldn't say the problem was solved at that - a short clip won't go that far to convince them. Sending a DVD filled with a good bit of footage would make a much better impression, and they can hand it around friends and family for opinions too. I would also highlight the point I made about showing your consistency, so showing lengthy clips from different functions would be a good idea too, I would think? ;)

Fair point, Beerfunk, but I think even a short clip will go a fair way to showing them what your disco is all about, as they can see what it looks like, and they can also provide as many requests as they like.

I think I'll start with a clip on the website & guage the reaction, and then decide whether to get some longer dvds made up to send out.

[BeerFunk]

Do you really think people will watch a video for that long?
No, I wouldn't expect them to watch it all, unless they were really bored - but if you made chapters they could skip through it and get the jist of the evening - hopefully showing an active dancefloor for most of the night, and shiny happy people! :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

No, I wouldn't expect them to watch it all, unless they were really bored - but if you made chapters they could skip through it and get the jist of the evening - hopefully showing an active dancefloor for most of the night, and shiny happy people! :D

When I did my video, I just made sure that there were different styles of music being played and lots of dancing.

The wedding I got the footage from was a fantastic night (luckily)

[rob1963]

It's something I already use on my site, although it needs updating, as it's a few years old now.

Darren...I've just seen the video on your site, which I think gives potential clients a good idea of what they can expect...

...and it's good to see that you play all the same cheese that I do!!! :D :D :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Darren...I've just seen the video on your site, which I think gives potential clients a good idea of what they can expect...

...and it's good to see that you play all the same cheese that I do!!! :D :D :D

I made sure all the tracks featured were well known and generally work for weddings.;)

[ross@rds]

Hi everyone

You dont need to make it long just 5 min clips from a number of gigs showing your diffrent set-ups and events you do etc.

Has worked well for me putting them on your site is also a good way as alot of bookings come from there.

[Stephen_N.I.]

Hi.
I'll just give my opinion.
Over here in NI a few disco suppliers have convinced people not to accept videos as proof of work as "they can be edited to be better than they are."
It seems to have put potential clients off.
Just something to think about.

[Dragonfly]

Its a tough one this I know some who do it very successfully yet I totally agree with Darren that each event is tailored to specific requirements that may not be what the "having a look client" wants to see? I have in the past offered to let people come to venues prior to the start of an event say if ive had an early set up to have a look and listen ..... although they get no more from this really than looking at the website?

I think with some its a power thing they feel important and in control if they have had a look. The kind of person that wants to come and have a look at something you are selling on ebay never mind the 72 pictures you have got on there.

Of course footage will be edited to show your discos best side as it is an advertising tool.

I offer meetings for any client that wants one to put a face to a name and dicuss in person what I do and offer , but don't offer to hold them at shows.

[Shaun]

The way I deal with it, is to explain that every disco and DJ is tailored to individual clients and what they might see or hear might not be what they want.

For example, they could see you work in a pub, dressed in jeans, playing the kind of music that you wouldn't necessarily play at a wedding. Or you could be DJing at a wedding where the client has specified cheesey music and lots of chat and the prospective client wanted mainly dance music and no chat, so would get completely the wrong impression.

This is exactly how I've handled this situation in the past.

They're more than welcome to view my testimonials from past clients if they want to evaluate the type of service I offer.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I had this in february. A girl called me as she wanted a DJ for her 16th birthday party in June. She said she had seen the website and was impressed with the way I was on the phone and the customer feedback I have received. We agreed on a price and I sent the booking forms, then 2 weeks passed and I didn't get the forms back or the deposit so I rang her to make sure that she had received them. She put her mum on the phone and her mum was...well..not rude but wanted (and rightly so I guess), to know the in's and out's and everything.
She talked on the phone for ages and asked me if she could see me in action (ooer!!)....she wanted me to email her some dates of my whereabouts and I wasn't that keen on doing so but next to each function or event that I was doing / am doing, I added a little note to say what the music style and set up was etc...
For example :
Friday - Shakermaker - Indie/Alternative club night - This will not really give a true impression of what I would do at a 16th birthday as it is a club night and a specific genre.
Saturday - Wedding - As this is a wedding, I feel that it would not be suitable or adviseable to turn up on someone elses big day to check out my services.
Friday - Request Fest - This is at the local pub and is a small set up (no lights etc) and again, is not the type of thing that I would do at a 16th birthday.

It was stuff like that, worded better of course but it gave a good, clear indication that the dates I was doing would not give the right impression of me.

The mum called me again after the email and surprisingly said words to the effect of "Well, I would like to book you but I won't until I see what you are like. I am sure it won't matter if I poke my head round the door for 10 minutes at the wedding you are doing" - I disagreed totally and asked her how she would feel if she had some stranger poking their head round the corner just to see what the DJ was like. She said that she would be ok with that but I think that's rubbish.

Anyway, I still haven't heard from them and my guess is that she has found someone else which is fair play. To be honest, I did get the impression that she thought I may have been making excuses so that she couldn't see me in the hope that she would book me anyway. Looking back on it, I think I did give that impression but it was not intentional. It's a tough one really isn't it.

[CRAZY K]

I do the same - you just can;t invite clients to come to someone elses function.

The way I deal with it, is to explain that every disco and DJ is tailored to individual clients and what they might see or hear might not be what they want.

For example, they could see you work in a pub, dressed in jeans, playing the kind of music that you wouldn't necessarily play at a wedding. Or you could be DJing at a wedding where the client has specified cheesey music and lots of chat and the prospective client wanted mainly dance music and no chat, so would get completely the wrong impression.

Well Ill go against the flow here although as you know I dont do Discos every week and possibly clients view things slightly differently and my dress code is always the same---Silly Hat and check shirt---he he!

I have a few clients who are considering booking me for Barn Dance /Disco Weddings and want to see me " live" before booking because it aint cheap!

My approach is not to get them along to other Weddings which I agree can be obtrusive but try other things maybe like a 40th Birthday where in my experience often the Party person says-yeah no problem well be having a good time anyway--- I did this last year at several events and there was absolutely no problem and I got 3 Wedding gigs on the strength of that for this year.

I did ask some people to see me at a Wedding once as I knew the Bride--- and after the first Dance they said--yup were booking you for ours---cheerio!

I do make it very clear that the people "looking" will simply come up to the DJ unit and talk to me and look--they will be less obtrusive than a couple of roadies.

Clearly you have to be selective, careful and professional.

There is the downside--for no good reason the booking bombs out:eek: and you look very naff.

The alternative is to ask satisfied clients to give you a recommendation--again that doesnt always work as some cant be bothered--and some can.

Just my experience---no one has been offended at any time by any of this--
well actually no--one client who was happy to let other people see how great his party was ( now theres a physcological approach to this) said to me --where are those people who were coming to see you--they are missing a great night--:D

So some people actually LIKE it:D because its telling the people out there what a great popular person they are ( large ego maybe)

Anyway tread carefully.

Are you loving this Rice?:D :D :D

CRAZY K

[theoloyla]

I must admit I am very uncomfortable about people coming along to gigs to see if I am "any good". There are some venues and occassions when it is possible for someone to unobtrusively get a quick look - and usually that is all they want. The video idea is of course very sensible and yes of course they can be edited but then you arent going to show potential clients your turkeys and bloopers - same as you will only show them good references and press cuttings etc - not any letters of complaint etc. It isnt rocket science.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Hi.
Over here in NI a few disco suppliers have convinced people not to accept videos as proof of work as "they can be edited to be better than they are."


But the same could be said about any form of promotion or advertising surely?

Car adverts being a prime example...

[rob1963]

Over here in NI a few disco suppliers have convinced people not to accept videos as proof of work as "they can be edited to be better than they are."
It seems to have put potential clients off.


Hi Stephen,

I think videos give potential clients a very good idea of what a disco looks like, & disagree that they "can be edited to be better they are", unless of course someone films in a nightclub & then passes it off as their own disco!

The aim of all advertising is to sell a product or service, and it will therefore always show that product or service at it's very best. There is nothing wrong with this, and I think most people have enough common sense to know this is the case.
For example, there are 3 photos on my website which I took myself, but I didn't just take 3, I actually took about 50-60, and then spent ages going through them all - in order to pick the very best ones for my site.

I've also decided to use my digital camera to take some video of a gig, and will then put a short clip on the website to show potential clients what my disco looks like. However, I might have to take my camera to a number of gigs before I get a really good one with loads of dancing, which, of course, will be the one that I film and then put on my website.

As I said, it's not about making you look better than you are, it's about showing you at your best, which you NEED to do in order to sell your services, and I see nothing wrong with that. It's the way advertising works.

[Stephen_N.I.]

Hi Guys.
I agree to with you's.
You could say the same for photos that they could be editted blah blah. But the annoying thing is that if I offer videos as proof of work, because clients have heard elsewhere not to accept them, this has put them off.

[Corabar Entertainment]

Out of curiosity, what are these other companies who are telling people not to accept them saying they should do instead?

[Mayhem 1]

I am going to be filming a bit of my week end at Brean if anyone is interested in seeing it!!!!!

Cheers and Beers

Mayhem 1

[Ricesnaps]

Now if Crazy was here, you know what he'd say...

"Here's the number of the person I did last Saturday, give them a call and they'll tell you what I'm like"

I find that very very hard to do, but I'm sure Crazy swears by it

[Corabar Entertainment]

We ask customers to complete a questionnaire after the event
(some do, some don't). On the back of the questionnaire, we ask them if they would mind being a referee for future customers and, if so, how they would prefer to be contacted: you'd be surprised how many agree to allow other people to contact them to ask about us.

Very few customers ASK to contact previous customers, but we have a nice long list of potential contacts for them if they decide they want to - and just having that list gives potential customers some peace of mind.

[Gary]

this used to happen to me and my mate a few times.

its sort of invasive for the punters whos party the visitors are crashing but if you tell the visitors to come later like after 9 clock then youve probly got the party going well by then.

[Steve the DJ]

I like the idea of a video and have been considering doing that for some time but until it is ready there are a variety of ways you can handle this question, some of which have already been covered.

With Wedding enquiries if this query pops up I will sometimes say "of course you can see me in action".

"Great" they tend to say, "we will only pop our heads round the door for 10 minutes to get a feel for what you do".

"Oh no that won't do!" says I, "You cannot judge accurately the way I work and the service I offer in 10 minutes, what if you pop in when I am playing some music you hate but it is a specific request from the Bride & Groom? I wouldn't want you to think that was my "usual" style just because you could only catch 10 minutes!"

"The only way Miss potential client that you can get a fair and more balanced view of what I do is if you stay all night. Of course I will contact the Bride & Groom to let them know you want to come along, by the way, how many potential clients can I bring along for the evening at your party??"

Just wait a second for what you have just said to sink home and it won't be long before the client agrees it isn't really practical after all...:rolleyes:

[Stephen_N.I.]

take note of no. 5.
This is my local comptitor/disco
http://aidenyoung.web-spaced.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=27

[rob1963]

take note of no. 5.
This is my local comptitor/disco
http://aidenyoung.web-spaced.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=27

I wonder if they really ARE "Northern Ireland's ONLY professional DJ & disco agency"

Probably not.

I HATE websites which are full of :Censored:



Over here in NI a few disco suppliers have convinced people not to accept videos as proof of work as "they can be edited to be better than they are."



If I was an old cynic, I might think that companies which tell you NOT to accept videos as proof of work are the companies which DON'T offer this service themselves...and who don't want to lose work to companies who DO!

[Corabar Entertainment]

You can put the same negative spin on any form of promotional stuff - videos, customer comments, pictures - only show the best ones; hotel recommendations might be because the hotel is receiving a referral fee, etc etc etc

BUT, if you put together a POSITIVE all-round package (ie don't go for negative statements of why you shouldn't book someone else), most people will work things out for themselves!

[Dragonfly]

absolutely Angela sell what you do not what someone else doesnt . I've got to the stage now where I really dont care what those around me have or offer .... I do what I do and have what I have ... and charge what I charge I've said it a million times if this stops working I'll give up.

[mike8863]

Why not just say, yes you can watch me perform, "BOOK ME"....!!!
Works for me!.
Mike

[CRAZY K]

Well Ill go against the flow here although as you know I dont do Discos every week and possibly clients view things slightly differently and my dress code is always the same---Silly Hat and check shirt---he he!

I have a few clients who are considering booking me for Barn Dance /Disco Weddings and want to see me " live" before booking because it aint cheap!

My approach is not to get them along to other Weddings which I agree can be obtrusive but try other things maybe like a 40th Birthday where in my experience often the Party person says-yeah no problem well be having a good time anyway--- I did this last year at several events and there was absolutely no problem and I got 3 Wedding gigs on the strength of that for this year.

I did ask some people to see me at a Wedding once as I knew the Bride--- and after the first Dance they said--yup were booking you for ours---cheerio!

I do make it very clear that the people "looking" will simply come up to the DJ unit and talk to me and look--they will be less obtrusive than a couple of roadies.

Clearly you have to be selective, careful and professional.

There is the downside--for no good reason the booking bombs out:eek: and you look very naff.

The alternative is to ask satisfied clients to give you a recommendation--again that doesnt always work as some cant be bothered--and some can.

Just my experience---no one has been offended at any time by any of this--
well actually no--one client who was happy to let other people see how great his party was ( now theres a physcological approach to this) said to me --where are those people who were coming to see you--they are missing a great night--:D

So some people actually LIKE it:D because its telling the people out there what a great popular person they are ( large ego maybe)

Anyway tread carefully.

Are you loving this Rice?:D :D :D

CRAZY K


Just an update--a couple came to "view" my show last night at a Golf Club and were happy with what they saw so they booked me for their Wedding.

As I said before this can work well if you have the right venue to ask them along to--as it happens there was so much noise and dancing going on no body actually noticed them arrive even though I had mentioned it to the organisers.

I appreciate inviting people to a Wedding is not so easy--but then again I have invited some to people to "view" my show at a Wedding im doing shortly--which may sound a bit cheeky but the people who are getting married viewed me at someone elses function---:D so they are not bothered.

Are you still loving this Rice:D :D :D

CRAZY K