More & more clients want to meet me

[rob1963]

Until recently, most people just booked me on the phone or by email & didn't want to meet me before their wedding.

Over the past few months, I've had a noticable increase in clients who want to meet me for a chat before deciding whether to book my services.

In fact, I'm about to do an 80 mile round trip to meet some potential customers.

My website says that I'm happy to meet clients, and I'll always go out of my way to visit clients who want to meet me, as they ALWAYS go on to book me (not a single exception so far).

Is it just me, or are the rest of you getting more potential clients asking to meet you before they decide whether to book?

[Ricesnaps]

Maybe I just have a good telephone maner - generally have no problems converting over the phone.

However I ALWAYS go out and visit wedding clients prior to the wedding, so maybe that makes up for it?

[Shakermaker Promotions]

As above, I take the call but I make a point of saying that I will meet them for a proper consultation. They seem to like the personal touch.

[CRAZY K]

Until recently, most people just booked me on the phone or by email & didn't want to meet me before their wedding.

Over the past few months, I've had a noticable increase in clients who want to meet me for a chat before deciding whether to book my services.

In fact, I'm about to do an 80 mile round trip to meet some potential customers.

My website says that I'm happy to meet clients, and I'll always go out of my way to visit clients who want to meet me, as they ALWAYS go on to book me (not a single exception so far).

Is it just me, or are the rest of you getting more potential clients asking to meet you before they decide whether to book?

Er yes one next week and another in a month--another waiting for a suitable gig--this is the acid test--at a live gig to see how good I really am at my job. ( or not :eek: )

Did the Website lie:D

Are you loving this Rice:D

Only one not booked out of about 10 in recent years--and I never thought they were that serious--and a couple of no shows---they didnt book either:D

Presumably they are happy with your price--its just the confidence thing after that and whether you can deliver on the night.

Incidentally these are ALL for upmarket weddings--( I think :confused: )

Well anyway im charging upmarket prices anyway:D :D :D :D :D

CRAZY K

[theoloyla]

Is it just me, or are the rest of you getting more potential clients asking to meet you before they decide whether to book?
No. Its just you. If clients want me to visit them in advance of the gig (be it wedding or whatever function) I make a consultancy fee charge. If they want to come to my home and take up my time I also charge extra. They are welcome to come and see me at a gig if possible and/or discuss all their concerns on the internet/telephone/letter etc. My time when I am not working is my own and valuable too!

[rob1963]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

I've just got back from my 80 mile round trip to visit some potential clients who are getting married in April, and they booked me, so it was worth the journey.

I don't mind meeting clients beforehand. Sometimes they come to me, and if I visit them, it's usually fairly local anyway. Tonight was one of those rare occasions when they were a long way away.

I wouldn't charge extra for a visit though, as it's all included in my standard charges. In fact, they can have as many visits as they like!

As long as all the people I visit continue to book me, I have no problem visiting more people than before (up from under 10% last year to about 20% this year).

:)

[CRAZY K]

:D
Thanks for the replies, guys.

I've just got back from my 80 mile round trip to visit some potential clients who are getting married in April, and they booked me, so it was worth the journey.

I don't mind meeting clients beforehand. Sometimes they come to me, and if I visit them, it's usually fairly local anyway. Tonight was one of those rare occasions when they were a long way away.

I wouldn't charge extra for a visit though, as it's all included in my standard charges. In fact, they can have as many visits as they like!

As long as all the people I visit continue to book me, I have no problem visiting more people than before (up from under 10% last year to about 20% this year).

:)

Good news-- not wishing to be pedantic here-- shouldnt you reduce your charges for people you dont visit then if its already charged for in your standard fee?

Then charge like Theo as an extra if they want your time?

I charge for site visits---not that it happens very often:D

I guess its back to the-- how do you charge for a Disco--- thread again:D

CRAZY K

[PropellerHeadCase]

Theo, can I suggest that, being 57 makes you inherently more trustworthy, in many people's eyes, than a DJ in their 20s or even 30s? Admittedly most politicians are over 50, but people don't tend to hire them for discos :D

People are increasingly keen to feel comfortable with their chosen entertainment, at a personal level, given how personal music can be this seems reasonable - so, yes, I agree that more and more people seem to want to meet with the DJ.

My response has been, in setting up my business, to have the meeting as standard and covered in the charge, as Rob has said.

Alan (Crazy K), my rationale is this:

If I meet with them I get a really good idea as to what type of people they are and a better understanding as to the music they want, if I don't meet them then I have to work harder figuring this out and building a rapport on the night. To my mind a two hour round trip and a glass of wine is easily worth the same as the first hour of a difficult gig.

[rob1963]

shouldnt you reduce your charges for people you dont visit then if its already charged for in your standard fee?
I guess its back to the-- how do you charge for a Disco--- thread again:D
CRAZY K

Hi Crazy,

You're right...this is going back to the how do you charge for a disco thread!

I always like to keep things simple, which is why I have set charges for my small & large discos (subject to just 3 criteria: Discos in Surrey, up to 5 hours & evening set up). My prices include a visit, if they want one...but there are no reductions for the majority who don't!

Prices are on my website for all potential clients to see. This stops the "How much..." brigade, as I really don't want to waste my time replying to those kind of queries. Also, as they know my prices when they contact me, I don't have to ask them a load of questions before I'm able to give them a quote.

:)

[CRAZY K]

Theo, can I suggest that, being 57 makes you inherently more trustworthy, in many people's eyes, than a DJ in their 20s or even 30s? Admittedly most politicians are over 50, but people don't tend to hire them for discos :D

People are increasingly keen to feel comfortable with their chosen entertainment, at a personal level, given how personal music can be this seems reasonable - so, yes, I agree that more and more people seem to want to meet with the DJ.

My response has been, in setting up my business, to have the meeting as standard and covered in the charge, as Rob has said.

Alan (Crazy K), my rationale is this:

If I meet with them I get a really good idea as to what type of people they are and a better understanding as to the music they want, if I don't meet them then I have to work harder figuring this out and building a rapport on the night. To my mind a two hour round trip and a glass of wine is easily worth the same as the first hour of a difficult gig.

Alan as you now know--im not a regular DJ so my suggestions are not always from experience, and I only cover Weddings and Parties.

However I think the dreaded playlist would cut out a lot of time spent in trying to work out whats needed.

Rice and I swapped many e mails about this subject :eek: but eventually I think even he agrees that you have to take note of the customers preferences --as long as they arent obviously going to kill the party :(

Rob, just to mention even though I plaster prices in big red letters on my Contact pages TO AVOID TIMEWASTERS--I still get people putting their budget price on enquiries less than the web site stated prices--you cant win sometimes:D

CRAZY K

[rob1963]

Rob, just to mention even though I plaster prices in big red letters on my Contact pages TO AVOID TIMEWASTERS--I still get people putting their budget price on enquiries less than the web site stated prices--you cant win sometimes:D
CRAZY K

Crazy,

I know exactly what you mean...sometimes people ask me "If I book you, will the prices be the same as on your website?"

D'oh!

:bang:

[ian8limelight]

No. Its just you. If clients want me to visit them in advance of the gig (be it wedding or whatever function) I make a consultancy fee charge. If they want to come to my home and take up my time I also charge extra. They are welcome to come and see me at a gig if possible and/or discuss all their concerns on the internet/telephone/letter etc. My time when I am not working is my own and valuable too!

I would agree with you Theo. I can't remember the last time I was actually asked to go out and do a consultancy and yes, if asked, I would charge for this.

As part of my contract, I include a Wedding/Function Questionnaire to enable the client to decide the type(s) of music they do (and don't want) at their Wedding/Function. This will then be discussed with them a few days before the event itself.

That's not to say that I won't spend time talking to them on the phone (sometimes, quite lengthy) but this,along with the questionnaire, provides the client with answers to all their questions.

With three under 12's at home, my time when I'm not working is very valuable.