Can you do it for that price....?

[leighinstoke]

Had a housemate who lives with a friend of mine ring last night just as I was off to bed (she works shifts and did apologise for the late hour) who asked if I could help them with a disco after being let down.

So - despite being in bedtime mode, switch to 'enquiry and booking mode';

"So when is the event?"

Friday.

"As in this Friday - the 20th?"

Yes - we've been let down for the Hockey Club Ladies Night.....


"Ah...ok....what times and where?"

About 7.30pm to 1am and we are are at ****** (about 15 miles travel for me)

"Right....hang on....(does quick calculation).....£175.....ok?"

<QUIET AT THE OTHER END> That's a bit more than I was expecting.....we've been quoted £80 by another guy who's let us down*......ermmm....ummmm....." ('cause he's probably doing a £175 job instead!!!)

"Well....that's my price with the travel, a hour of setup and a hour of pack up and I will actually be on my own as it's short notice..."

Can you do it for £80 at all?
(So can I do it for less than half price?)

"My cheapest price I do local is £140.....and I think £175 for that distance and time is fair.....so sorry £80 is out of the question....."

Well....the other guy has let us down....and there are only about 30 of us......I know it's short notice......etc....etc.....hence he quoted £80 (Not my problem love....did you sign a contract with him, pay a deposit - oh stop trying to tug at my heart strings!)

"Can I text you back.....let me see what I can do....."

Ok....thanks....

- So - what would you do? Let's see your responses and fill in the poll with your answer.....

Leigh.....

[Vectis]

Given the last minute nature of the gig and if I had a clear diary I might negotiate a little on price, but I wouldn't go below my minimum rate which is calculated based on overheads and the lowest hourly rate I'm prepared to work for. Only if there was a charity element, or excellent promotional prospects would I go out for any less.

[Danno13]

Nope. They're hardly in a position to be negociating on price, in fact its ****ed cheeky of them to expect you to work for half your fee at this short notice because they didn't book a proper DJ to start with.

I'd have a nice evening in front of the tele, or maybe drop to £150 if i could do with the money.

[TonyB]

5 and a half hours for £80 plus travelling/set up/pack away time? I would say no. Do it for one and you get a queue of people wanting the same. I'd stick with £140

[Dragonfly]

simple answer "I charge £80 to let people down too" stick to your guns rightly or wrongly I may take 20 quid off or so for mates but thats it as its a business not a registered charity......

they have learned a valuable lesson I had the same today 2.30pm stuck for tomorrow night the £100 dj had cancelled can you help or do you know anyone that can and we only have a 100 pound buget..

firstly sorry im already out and secondly I can gladly give you some numbers but none will go out for 100 pounds last minute my friend if at all. gave him one or two numbers and left it at that the least I would have gone out for would have been £160 and thats if it was really last minute and the tv was rubbish that night.

[Penfold42]

No - I would'nt do it for £80 and i'm new - don't mean to sound hard but should have made sure contract was signed as someone already said, the guy can't be to bothered to do it or has a better offer as someone else has again mentioned. Can't really add to to this but there maybe a positive side if you can get her to up the offer....

Just think of all those women (30ish) screaming your name and dancing about........:p :p oh yes....:D :D

[Vibrant Sounds]

Not a chance. My minimum charge is £140 and depending on times, distance, amount of kit and venue rises from there. I may come down to that figure to help out, but I will not work for less than that.

[TonyB]

Just think of all those women (30ish) screaming your name and dancing about........:p :p oh yes....:D :D

On second thoughts, £80? No problem :D

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I voted no. Don't people ever learn?

[spin mobile disco]

I voted no as well, if you do it for one you'll do it for others and become known as a soft touch. Your in it for the money so why take less.

[ross@rds]

If you had nothing on then mayby take £140 bout £80 no way!! sadly thats what the public have to look out for the cowboys that charge this sort of money and then days before the event say they are not doing it.

[LastMinuteDJs.net]

I'm a big fan of working rather than not.

£80 is a dishonour for them to even ask so a bit of negotiation based on the fact that you will turn up, your show is likely to be so much better (in theory) is in order. If i could get them up to splitting the difference between what I quoted and what they wanted to pay then i'd probably do it.

I hate people getting let down and left without entertainment and try to help out as much as possible. If they can be convinced to take the hit a little with a bigger fee, i'd do it.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

If it was a 3 hour job and local I would've negotiated hopefully to £125.00 just to keep them happy if I wasn't working but £80.00 for a longer session and one that is a distance to travel?...No way!!! In MY opinion (and that's all it is), whoever they are they are seriously taking the michael or they live on a different planet! If they were quoted £80.00 and there are only 30 of them, surely they can all dig in their pockets and come up with £2 each to make it up to at least the £140.00 minimum you'll go out for? (and pay BEFORE you start too!).

Some people eh!!?

[PropellerHeadCase]

<QUIET AT THE OTHER END> That's a bit more than I was expecting.....we've been quoted £80 by another guy who's let us down*......ermmm....ummmm....."

This is what always gets me.

His name is mud because he's let them down, yet somehow they're still prepared to take his word for what is a reasonable rate.

My response would probably be to suggest that just maybe he quoted £80 to get the job (it's a fair bet that a local sports team won't have a huge budget) but has now been offered more money (in all likelihood what he would normally charge) so he's dropped the lesser paying gig. The reduced (because I'm a nice guy) discount of £140 is less than £5-a-head - how many pints is that?

Where was that quote about buying cheap and paying twice?


Then again I have done gigs for similarly low rates as a favour, but no sub and only a couple of lights, and plenty of beer for the night. OK, so not professional, but neither was the fee, at least that way you can off-set the cost by convincing yourself that it's socialising. :beer1:

[Candybeatdiscos]

sorry but i would have said £175.00 no negotiation.

At the end of the day all they had to do was come to this place, pick a good dj who would turn up at quoted price.

!

[soundmaster mobile disco]

definatley no way .you have a business to run,even if it was a local venue i would still say no.i might haggle a bit with them to up the price.(if they are desperate they will pay your asking price).
as has been said before you wont call out an emergency plummber and tell him youve only got £20.

[leighinstoke]

Well - cheers guys - it's not just me being a tight sod - even my wife said "No way - you're not going below your minimum even if it's a mate's housemate...." and she was exceedingly adamant in saying that too.

£140 is the minimum and people rarely flinch at that - especially when they get a professional service, proper details and confirmation from me and a very professional attitude from start to finish.

I also didn't feel bad about letting her down - I feel my mate probably told her my prices and also the fact that £80 is criminal and I'd probably be higher...

Oh well - you can bet she's paid more now for someone to get her out of the poop and as for the women there screaming my name.....not being too nasty or stereotypical, but from what a mate told me who plays for a county mens hockey team, most of the women there have women of their own!!!

Leigh....

[Have a disco]

Had a housemate who lives with a friend of mine ring last night just as I was off to bed (she works shifts and did apologise for the late hour) who asked if I could help them with a disco after being let down.

So - despite being in bedtime mode, switch to 'enquiry and booking mode';

"So when is the event?"

Friday.

"As in this Friday - the 20th?"

Yes - we've been let down for the Hockey Club Ladies Night.....


"Ah...ok....what times and where?"

About 7.30pm to 1am and we are are at ****** (about 15 miles travel for me)

"Right....hang on....(does quick calculation).....£175.....ok?"

<QUIET AT THE OTHER END> That's a bit more than I was expecting.....we've been quoted £80 by another guy who's let us down*......ermmm....ummmm....." ('cause he's probably doing a £175 job instead!!!)

"Well....that's my price with the travel, a hour of setup and a hour of pack up and I will actually be on my own as it's short notice..."

Can you do it for £80 at all?
(So can I do it for less than half price?)

"My cheapest price I do local is £140.....and I think £175 for that distance and time is fair.....so sorry £80 is out of the question....."

Well....the other guy has let us down....and there are only about 30 of us......I know it's short notice......etc....etc.....hence he quoted £80 (Not my problem love....did you sign a contract with him, pay a deposit - oh stop trying to tug at my heart strings!)

"Can I text you back.....let me see what I can do....."

Ok....thanks....

- So - what would you do? Let's see your responses and fill in the poll with your answer.....

Leigh.....

Gee when will people learn if you book at crap price you get YEP crap service LOL should have said £240 to teach him a lesson (late minute booking fee) on top as well???? no fool like these old fools 30 people or not what a plonker

Have been down this road so many time at this late stage its an emergency cover nothing more nore less everything goes through the roof for these events at last minute

[BeerFunk]

Some harsh words said here... and yes, you'd have to be mad to do it for £80. However, if they are willing to meet you halfway, you might as well do it? Providing you don't have anything else to do :)

[mikeee]

There appears to be an underlying trend in these posts against the client.


Gee when will people learn if you book at crap price you get YEP crap service

Since when did the client know better???
I know it is dangerous to assume, but humour me for a moment. There are 30 Ladies at this bash, we don't know if any of these had used the guy before, or had seen him work. For all we know, they may have booked him because he had been seen / used and was (in their eyes) brillant, just what they wanted, and the price is comparable to others in the local directory / or other source.

Why did the other guy cancel??

Why I try and help?? Yes

Would I work for £80?? No - But I would offer a deal at very short notice.

Earning something is better than sitting in front of the box earning nothing. I see one person booking and 29 potiential clients for the future.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Would I work for £80?? No - But I would offer a deal at very short notice.

Earning something is better than sitting in front of the box earning nothing. I see one person booking and 29 potiential clients for the future.

And you are the man who says we should be charging £400+ if we are in the South?

Slightly hypercritical Mikeee.

[Penfold42]

.....not being too nasty or stereotypical, but from what a mate told me who plays for a county mens hockey team, most of the women there have women of their own!!!

Leigh....

LOL
Ooooeerr....or is that just a mans ego...:rolleyes:

[mikeee]

Hypercritical, just a little, but if you read through the thread, the client is being critisized, the DJ is being critisized and all based on one phone call. OK crap happens, and as professionals in a world where we are generally viewed as "just playing CD's", we need to be slightly flexible to get the message accross.

Yes I charge £395 to £450+, (and so should everyone else - LOL) but if I'm not working and a "late call" come's in of course I'm going to go after it, I'm in business. Yes I will discuss price. Every person in that room is a potiential client for the future, which if you do the job right will generate more income at the proper price.

[CRAZY K]

:eek:
There appears to be an underlying trend in these posts against the client.



Since when did the client know better???
I know it is dangerous to assume, but humour me for a moment. There are 30 Ladies at this bash, we don't know if any of these had used the guy before, or had seen him work. For all we know, they may have booked him because he had been seen / used and was (in their eyes) brillant, just what they wanted, and the price is comparable to others in the local directory / or other source.

Why did the other guy cancel??

Why I try and help?? Yes

Would I work for £80?? No - But I would offer a deal at very short notice.

Earning something is better than sitting in front of the box earning nothing. I see one person booking and 29 potiential clients for the future.

Is that 29 potential bookings at low rates Mike ? :eek:

Sorry, I dont buy into repeats from cheap bookings--you just get people saying but you only charged my friend xxxxxxx

You end up like a friend of mine in a Band who is locked into a "lower pay scale " because they keep getting "repeat bookings" at low prices.

I also dont have any sympathy for people who buy cheap and get let down--

I dont believe anyone with any sense believes you can get a reliable Disco for £80. Not for a whole evening ( rather than a kids party)

As we say here in Northamptonshire --you buy cheap you pay twice--
regards

CRAZY K

[Penfold42]

There appears to be an underlying trend in these posts against the client.



Since when did the client know better???
I know it is dangerous to assume, but humour me for a moment. There are 30 Ladies at this bash, we don't know if any of these had used the guy before, or had seen him work. For all we know, they may have booked him because he had been seen / used and was (in their eyes) brillant, just what they wanted, and the price is comparable to others in the local directory / or other source.

Why did the other guy cancel??

Why I try and help?? Yes

Would I work for £80?? No - But I would offer a deal at very short notice.

Earning something is better than sitting in front of the box earning nothing. I see one person booking and 29 potiential clients for the future.


Agree with some of what you are saying but -

Why did the other guy cancel?? - would you cancel i think not, you know why because you are a professional. :) Lets just say you are ill or family matters come in the way - what would you do? I imagine make arrangements for cover - then why didn't this guy.

Would I try and help?? - he has helped at this short notice, i know it would be tight for me to do in that short notice - checking gear, making sure i've got everthing, ringing the venue - etc, etc - lot of work!

Would I work for £80?? No - But I would offer a deal at very short notice.
Looking at the posts i think Leigh has made an offer - his best offer - better than the one she has now which is nothing.

Earning something is better than sitting in front of the box earning nothing.I agree 100 percent- better than the kids driving me up the wall...:p
I see one person booking and 29 potiential clients for the future - what at £80 each because these girls will talk.....

At the end of the day nobody want to be in this situation not good for anyone especially us as we all get tared with the same brush.

I would get the girls to place an add in the paper somewhere along the lines of - ''Lost - one six gun and stetson goes by the name of............'' :p :p

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Yes I charge £395 to £450+, (and so should everyone else - LOL) but if I'm not working and a "late call" come's in of course I'm going to go after it, I'm in business.

So would I, but at full price. There are principles involved here.

How many other businesses would send out someone last minute to do a job cheaper?

[Dragonfly]

agreed with some points raised here we don't know why it was cancelled so we can't start the shouts of cowboy straight away . Yes you do get what you pay for and personally I wouldnt expect alot for £80 turn up thats about it.

Service wise though the least I would try and do would be to make sure the client had a disco for their event even if it was out of my pocket. We all are in the position that maybe one day we will have to cancel last minute for whatever reason but the service aspect says we must do our best to make sure the client is not let down for the sake of our own reputation.

and I agree with your comments totally Darren, although I have a totally different outlook on cheap gigs to most others.:D :D

[Penfold42]

so we can't start the shouts of cowboy straight away

Alright....how about.....YEEEHAAAA...:p :p

TAXI...:D

[CRAZY K]

So would I, but at full price. There are principles involved here.

How many other businesses would send out someone last minute to do a job cheaper?

Exactly its about time people realised we are in a business--not a hobby for making a few bob at the weekend.

A lady phoned and said--can you do this booking cheaper as youve got nothing else on next week--

I said--do Dynorod charge less for emergencies then :eek:

Clunk!

That was me putting the phone down--I wont deal with idiots.

CRAZY K

[Dragonfly]

That was me putting the phone down--I wont deal with idiots.

CRAZY K


Well said I hate stupid people ....hhhmmmm ..... maybe I should put an intelligence test on my enquiry form and tier quotes using the results??

can't discriminate because of your colour
can't discriminate because of your weight
can't discriminate because of your looks
can't discriminate because of your age
can't discriminate because of your sex

thank the the lord I can say no because you're a moron :D :D :D

[leighinstoke]

Would I work for £80?? No - But I would offer a deal at very short notice.


She did actually speak to me later Mikeee in a second call and £140 was still out of the question - she went back to the '£80 for the other guy line' so I blatantly said I couldn't help to avoid being talked down.

Last £80 disco I did was in 1989!

Leigh.....

[Penfold42]

thank the the lord I can say no because you're a moron :D :D :D

LMFAO.....


I've already had this at work people saying 'Your expensive' my answer is 'I'm not your just used to buying :Censored:'' ......and smile at them.
I'm not moving - i've set my stall out....:)

Even though I would like to do the gig but i am not lowering my price.

[mikeee]

Um, some very interesting comments here - I'll sleep on them tonight.

[leighinstoke]

LMFAO.....
I've already had this at work people saying 'Your expensive'....


.....I often think, when people say "that's too much", is how they would react when a mechanic, etc, gives them a price or when they have just had their hair cut - £10 to do my hair....that's too much....can I give you a fiver? etc....

Leigh....

[ross@rds]

Lol thats it they would not say it. If your car brakes down during the night you know it will cost you , if you lock yourself out your house it will cost you , if you call a plumber out coz your pipe has burst you will pay more so when it comes to a disco why do you think its any diffrent.

[Penfold42]

I agree with Ross and Leigh...but it's human nature to try and save a few pounds but people should not try to take the .....

I take it by this Leigh you had a night in by the tele then.....:D

[leighinstoke]

I take it by this Leigh you had a night in by the tele then.....:D

No - took the family shopping and we eat healthy so it can take ages reading labels but thank god Sainsbury's close late.

I then got a call from a mate at about 10pm who needed some help nearby as she sings and needed someone to carry the gear out for her as she has a bad wrist and been forbidden to lift anything.

So was busy enough but not pimping myself for 80 notes and in bed for 11pm.

Leigh....

[Penfold42]

No - took the family shopping and we eat healthy so it can take ages reading labels but thank god Sainsbury's close late

:lol:



carry the gear out for her as she has a bad wrist and been forbidden to lift anything.

Sucker for a good cause....:p



not pimping myself for 80 notes


:approve:

Nice one....:D

[Dragonfly]

I then got a call from a mate at about 10pm who needed some help nearby as she sings and needed someone to carry the gear out for her as she has a bad wrist and been forbidden to lift anything.

Is that a free service then :D :D only as of September I'm on crutches for 3 months :D :D

[Corabar Steve]

Is that a free service then :D :D only as of September I'm on crutches for 3 months :D :D

Could you not use a zimmer with a trolley fitted? :sj:

[Dragonfly]

genius as usual or ...... thinking of another thread put castors on my sub a lawn mower engine and a tow bar .... job sorted.

[BBoy-Gnash]

I voted no, our minimum rate is £200.00 for local venues that book regularly otherwise its starting from £249.00 for end users.

You get what you pay for and they got there £80.00’s worth. :eek: