Reverandfunk 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I just love the way that everyone on here is right lol My personal experience tells me that if I quote £200 for a 40th then I won't get the job but as always everyone else knows best..... Link to post Share on other sites
UKHero 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I just love the way that everyone on here is right lol My personal experience tells me that if I quote £200 for a 40th then I won't get the job but as always everyone else knows best..... Not everyone tongue out icon Niks Roadshow Link to post Share on other sites
Cheesey1975 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Not everyone tongue out icon Im would just like to be able to convert some bookings at moment... lol It seems tooo quiet in my area at moment Folks any advice would be appreciated :damn: Richard Cheeseman RJC Discos richard@rjcdiscos.co.uk Link to post Share on other sites
Reverandfunk 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Ok not everyone Nik lol Link to post Share on other sites
NRG Roadshow 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 My Base price for the above example would be £200.......£25 extra if its upstairs & £25 extra if they add Karaoke to the Package. Not a problem getting that either, if your providing a service thats worth that, and the customer knows what they are getting they are happy. Link to post Share on other sites
Dukesy 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 My Base price for the above example would be £200.......£25 extra if its upstairs & £25 extra if they add Karaoke to the Package. Not a problem getting that either, if your providing a service thats worth that, and the customer knows what they are getting they are happy. Interesting point about the customer knowing what they are getting as I would agree this is important! Please could you provide a detailed breakdown of your £200 quotation, providing here an example for just a ground floor Wedding function, 5 hours (1900-0000) disco, 10 miles away from your home. Link to post Share on other sites
UKHero 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 Im would just like to be able to convert some bookings at moment... lol It seems tooo quiet in my area at moment Folks any advice would be appreciated :damn: Same here only one conversion for me last week and not many enquiries, I think people are holding on to there brass. There may be hard times ahead... Nik Niks Roadshow Link to post Share on other sites
Mr P 0 Posted March 10, 2008 Report Share Posted March 10, 2008 I am doing quite well, got about 4 Saturdays free now over the 5 months and every Friday in September which is quite unusual, but i decided to try my luck last Thrusday, the phone was ringing away and when i answered they gave me the information and asked how much - 50th b'day - local hotel, set up for 7pm and play through till 1pm, so i quoted £200, the reply was that is quite good, can i ring back in a couple of minutes just go to talk to hubby!" guess what - still not called back. SO i still cannot see where people in the West Midlands are willing to pay over £200 for a DJ, if anyone around here would like to give out gigs for over £250 then please take them on and email us guys here in the Midlands - at a gig for £250 i am sure we will give you a booking fee of £50!!!!! Each area is completely differant - we just need to face this fact. Link to post Share on other sites
Paul Smith 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Each area is completely differant - we just need to face this fact. Recently I have deliberately stayed away from debates about pricing - mainly because everyone has their own thoughts and also believe that they are right. If someone believes that the most they can get in their area is £200 then who am I to argue with them. What I can say, with some authority as I've done my research, is that in almost every area of the UK there are DJs who are charging double (+ more) the price I quoted above. OK this market is limited - not everyone is prepared to pay it and you have to sell your service to get it, but it's there - it's on your doorstep and really it's up to the individual DJ to decide if you want it or not, if you can convince the client that you are worth it and if you are prepared to put in the effort both prior to and at the event. From my analysis most DJs are content with aiming for a lower price and that's fine, but I'm afraid I don't accept the argument that the reason for this is location. I would suggest that this is a convenient excuse because it implies something that is out of the control of the individual DJ and what better reason can there be? So to those who are happy with their charges - good for you. For those who are not - don't blame where you are, don't blame your competitors for keeping the price low, don't blame your clients for looking for the cheapest. Instead look at your own methods of promoting yourself. Are you really doing everything you can? Are you really charging what you are worth? Are you really giving 100% in both your marketing and your service? I don't have all the answers for you but one thing I think I can say is that you are only worth what you think you are worth - you can use various reasons to justify this to yourself - location, competitors, going rate etc but it does come down to YOU. Every one of us provides a unique service - how can you possibly put a single price on that? You can't. It's up to each of us to decide what price we value our services at. Once we have done this it's then up to us to sell our service at this price to our perspective clients. Do you go for the 'sell em cheap, pile em high' method or in our terms 'lots of bookings for low fees' or do you go for the more exclusive market - 'less bookings for more money'. Both methods are OK and work but, as a DJ, you need to decide which one, because to attempt to go for both at the same time (as many try) will only result in failure. Having read that and if you are totally honest do you try to be all things to all people? Can you be all things to all people? Can you be a specialist in all things? Will people believe that you are a specialist in all things? Is your all-specialist (or non specialist) job title the reason why people will not pay a premium rate for your services? Are you trying to capture the whole market and be conceived as Jack of all Trades - Master of None? Is this the real reason why you don't achieve the rates you want rather than where you are? Enough questions for one post but I hope it gets at least one of you thinking ... Link to post Share on other sites
NRG Roadshow 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) ok.....Price for ground floor Wedding function, 5 hours (1900-0000) disco, 10 miles away from your home. £200. The thing that I have found astounding in this thread is so far 17 people have said that they would charge between £100-£150.........are you mad? No wonder some people are reluctant to pay a proper price for a disco when theirs people around that are willing to go out for peanuts. I dont provide anything too out of the ordinary, but highlighting these points to the customer does set their mind at ease that they are booking a professional and not a cowboy who will spoil thier big day. I would point out to the customer that they will receive the following benefits if booking with me: *A personal consultation regarding your requirements either in your own home or at a place of your choice. *We will attend your function appropriately attired for your wedding reception and will always be smartly presented. You can even specify to us what attire you would like your DJ to wear. *We can provide radio microphones for use during speeches. *We will arrive at your venue in plenty of time before your guests arrive to allow us to make sure all the sound levels, lighting tests and safety checks can be carried out without any disruption to you or your guests. *We are also fully insured with a £5 million P.L.I. policy, full details of this are available on request. Some D.J's do not have this cover, and if you hire a D.J. without the cover then you run the risk of the disco not being allowed entry to the venue and spoiling your big day. *We also take electrical safety of our equipment very seriously. All our equipment is tested every 12 months by P.A.T. Testing. This is also required by some venues and they may not allow access to a mobile disco that cannot produce these certificates upon request. *You will have full access to our online planning system where you can tell us about every detail of your wedding reception from the names of the wedding party to what time you would like events such as speeches to occur. This system will also give you access to our music request area where both you and your guests can login and request that we play your favorite songs, similarly in this area you can also request that we DONT play certain songs. *Once you have booked and given us your requirements you can relax safe in the knowledge that we will take care of everything to make sure you and your guests make the most of celebrating your wedding. *All bookings are accompanied by a legally binding contract. *At all times we are only a telephone call or email away so you can contact us if you have any concerns or would like to request anything extra. Edited March 11, 2008 by NRG Roadshow Link to post Share on other sites
Dukesy 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 ok.....Price for ground floor Wedding function, 5 hours (1900-0000) disco, 10 miles away from your home. £200. The thing that I have found astounding in this thread is so far 17 people have said that they would charge between £100-£150.........are you mad? No wonder some people are reluctant to pay a proper price for a disco when theirs people around that are willing to go out for peanuts. I dont provide anything too out of the ordinary, but highlighting these points to the customer does set their mind at ease that they are booking a professional and not a cowboy who will spoil thier big day. I would point out to the customer that they will receive the following benefits if booking with me: *A personal consultation regarding your requirements either in your own home or at a place of your choice. *We will attend your function appropriately attired for your wedding reception and will always be smartly presented. You can even specify to us what attire you would like your DJ to wear. *We can provide radio microphones for use during speeches. *We will arrive at your venue in plenty of time before your guests arrive to allow us to make sure all the sound levels, lighting tests and safety checks can be carried out without any disruption to you or your guests. *We are also fully insured with a £5 million P.L.I. policy, full details of this are available on request. Some D.J's do not have this cover, and if you hire a D.J. without the cover then you run the risk of the disco not being allowed entry to the venue and spoiling your big day. *We also take electrical safety of our equipment very seriously. All our equipment is tested every 12 months by P.A.T. Testing. This is also required by some venues and they may not allow access to a mobile disco that cannot produce these certificates upon request. *You will have full access to our online planning system where you can tell us about every detail of your wedding reception from the names of the wedding party to what time you would like events such as speeches to occur. This system will also give you access to our music request area where both you and your guests can login and request that we play your favorite songs, similarly in this area you can also request that we DONT play certain songs. *Once you have booked and given us your requirements you can relax safe in the knowledge that we will take care of everything to make sure you and your guests make the most of celebrating your wedding. *All bookings are accompanied by a legally binding contract. *At all times we are only a telephone call or email away so you can contact us if you have any concerns or would like to request anything extra. Great, and many DJ services offer the same type of pitch however, considering the customers point of view, there is still no transparent / detailed breakdown of your £200 cost? The point: If you are asked for a detailed breakdown by a customer, as a hire service, can you provide cost breakdown or not? By example, you've already made clear that it would be £25 extra if its upstairs & £25 extra if they add Karaoke to the Package but how much say is the client paying for your performance time or mileage? smile icon Link to post Share on other sites
UKHero 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 All interesting points and we do always seem to go around in circles when it comes to price v location... A DJ mate of mine will not work for less than £300 quid for a gig.. So good for him :Thumbup: Oh must add his last gig was September 2007 and not another in the book but he sticks to his guns and does about 4 a year.... Keep it up Rich :Thumbup: Nik Niks Roadshow Link to post Share on other sites
NRG Roadshow 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 The point: If you are asked for a detailed breakdown by a customer, as a hire service, can you provide cost breakdown or not? By example, you've already made clear that it would be £25 extra if its upstairs & £25 extra if they add Karaoke to the Package but how much say is the client paying for your performance time or mileage? smile icon Yes I can provide a detailed breakdown of what charge is for what. But for the purpous of this forum I dont feel that I need too, or should divulge that information, the information is given to my customers if they ask for it, I dont make a secret of it. Link to post Share on other sites
UKHero 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Yes I can provide a detailed breakdown of what charge is for what. But for the purpous of this forum I dont feel that I need too, or should divulge that information, the information is given to my customers if they ask for it, I dont make a secret of it. I agree I was just going through my breakdowns then though better than to post it here. Maybe Dukesy could give us a break down of his costs first.... tongue out icon Show us yours and we might just show you ours lol Nik Niks Roadshow Link to post Share on other sites
Gary 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 (edited) I'd like to offer a little caution, generally about replies along the lines of "some people in the poll are only charging that low price...are you insane?" etc... I speak mainly with reference to the forum code of conduct regarding the questioning of other members business conduct. Obviously the polls are anonymous, so the remark couldn't, and indeed wasn't aimed at any particular individual. Phew... Right, that said, back to the topic. Personally, I've stopped quoting variable prices - I charge a standard charge, across the board to the half dozen or so regualr venues which I work at. So, a wet Wednesday night in March at Venue # 5 is charged at no less than a New Years Eve at venue # 2, or of course, vice versa. I know all of the venues very well, as far as access, any stairs, poor parking etc - so there are no surprises for me to account for. The way I look at it, if I'm out at venue # 1, I can't be out at Venue # 6 - so, a booking is a booking in my book. The venues like it - and it works a treat with the customers too - they don't have to keep coming back to me for price amendments or re-quotes if they change the ending time, or the start time. From my side of it, I know that I'm not going to be expected to offer discounts if I'm only playing half the night, due to backing a band or singer, nor am I going to be asked to offer discounts for multiple gigs. My set price is THE price. Extra's that I might add in to a night, such as more equipment, or glowsticks or give-aways are generally at my discretion to make the evening run smoother, and are not surcharged above the set price. I've read a terrible/fantasic (depends on the individual) piece of marketing info, which states that you should never ever offer a breakdown of your package price, as it makes it more difficult to charge a higher fee for no extra reason. A sort of license to "charge-what-you-like-if-you-don't-quantify-it". This isn't meaning, in any way whatsoever that a disco who wont provide a breakdown of their charges definately falls into this category. After all, any charge in any breakdown can be manipulated to show/meet any end-figure required. I've even been told by/of some entertainers that their breakdowns are worked out "in reverse" as it were, if asked for...more a case of "how can I make that total, out of smaller charges?", rather than "What do all my smaller charges add up to?" For example: If I said to a client that the £320 quote is for me with 22 years experience, providing 6 hours entertainment, 8 DMX Lights, 800watts of sound, 2 radio mics etc... there are (at least) two possible issues. Issue #1) "The chappie down the road has 22 years experience, offers 6 hours, 8 lights, 800w, 2 mics etc... he's only £220...can you discount." (Ok easily countered...experience, customer service, prior-meet/talk through etc) Issue #2) "How much for only 5 Hours, 6 lights, 400watts, 1 mic..." etc,etc,etc.... Sometimes, it gets easier just to say that I charge £160 for bringing it in, £160 for taking it out and that the musical bit in the middle is FREE !!! (hey, I'll have to try that on my next tax return...). I suspect then...that some clients would offer that their guests would carry all the gear in and out for me...at least, some of those on a budget might How's this: A) If the right number (in your eyes) of people are paying your price, its the right price (for those people). B) However, if you're doing more gigs than you'd like to do, put your prices up. You'll get less gigs and less on-going experiences, but you'll doing closer to the number of gigs that you wanted. C) If you're doing less gigs than you'd like to, either slice a little off your prices, or offer significantly more for the same price. There is another thing which I've heard of recently, which isnt (at the moment, at least) related to any UK discos which I'm aware of, which goes along the lines of: Alledgedly, a whole load of London specialist construction workers are capitalising on the 2012 Olympic building works - a massive number of them have all got together and agreed to shove their prices through the roof (pun not intended, until after I typed it) - literally, they are charging 8 to 10 times their "non-Olympic" prices as soon as they are offered work that is in any way related to the Olympic building works. In the terms of their construction skills ONLY (isolating my comments from the fact that some of them could well be part-time DJs), I would have to agree with anyone who said that these workers were rip-off merchants. Hopefully, such practice would never make it through to the DJ profession(al). Edited March 11, 2008 by Gary Link to post Share on other sites
Dukesy 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Show us yours and we might just show you ours lol Performance and service time - I charge £100 an hour, mileage at £0.33p a mile. All bookings offer a discount, terms and conditions of hire, etc. Link to post Share on other sites
NRG Roadshow 0 Posted March 11, 2008 Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 ok basically mine is as follows..... £75 per booking as a standard charge for hire of equipment £25 per hour (only actual playing time is included in this) £25 for upstairs or difficult access £25 for Karaoke Milage is free upto 25 miles from home, after that its 50p per mile. Seems fair to me, Im doing the ammount of gigs that I want too, sure theirs still some that say Im too expensive. For example I had one guy telling me the other day that he would pay no more than £150 for a wedding disco which was an all afternoon and all evening event totaling 9 hours........but then they are the kind of bookings I dont want anyway, so its not a problem. Link to post Share on other sites
jukeboxdj 0 Posted May 28, 2008 Report Share Posted May 28, 2008 ok basically mine is as follows..... £75 per booking as a standard charge for hire of equipment £25 per hour (only actual playing time is included in this) £25 for upstairs or difficult access £25 for Karaoke Milage is free upto 25 miles from home, after that its 50p per mile. Seems fair to me, Im doing the ammount of gigs that I want too, sure theirs still some that say Im too expensive. For example I had one guy telling me the other day that he would pay no more than £150 for a wedding disco which was an all afternoon and all evening event totaling 9 hours........but then they are the kind of bookings I dont want anyway, so its not a problem. As i have said before ..... It doesnt matter who is charging what, if you are happy with your charges and are making a decent living from it then that is all that matters. Now saying that even i would not have taken the wedding gig at £150 for 9 hours and would have quite happily had the day off instead. Link to post Share on other sites
NRG Roadshow 0 Posted May 29, 2008 Report Share Posted May 29, 2008 (edited) £75 per booking as a standard charge for hire of equipment £25 per hour (only actual playing time is included in this) £25 for upstairs or difficult access £25 for Karaoke Milage is free upto 25 miles from home, after that its 50p per mile. I have now altered mine slightly......although it still gives a similar outcome to before, just keeps it more simple when working out prices. £40 per hour for general partys. £50 per hour for weddings (£25 per hour for dinner music, when DJ is not required on site) Double the above charges for any hours which are after midnight. 20% Discount off the total ammount for any events Sunday to Thursday. 10% Discount off the total ammount for any events on Friday till 3.00PM on Saturday. £25 for upstairs or difficult access. £25 for addition of Karaoke. Milage is now free upto 15 miles, after that its 50p per mile. This now makes my average charge for all events £184.51 Edited May 29, 2008 by NRG Roadshow Link to post Share on other sites
Dukesy 0 Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Have now increased mileage from £0.33p to £0.40p per mile. Link to post Share on other sites
UKHero 0 Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 For Corporate work I charge 50ppm this in respect of fuel, wear and tear, insurance, carage of kit and my time. Nik Niks Roadshow Link to post Share on other sites
jukeboxdj 0 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I have now altered mine slightly......although it still gives a similar outcome to before, just keeps it more simple when working out prices. £40 per hour for general partys. £50 per hour for weddings (£25 per hour for dinner music, when DJ is not required on site) Double the above charges for any hours which are after midnight. 20% Discount off the total ammount for any events Sunday to Thursday. 10% Discount off the total ammount for any events on Friday till 3.00PM on Saturday. £25 for upstairs or difficult access. £25 for addition of Karaoke. Milage is now free upto 15 miles, after that its 50p per mile. This now makes my average charge for all events £184.51 just out of curiosity does that include corporate events? Link to post Share on other sites
big mac 0 Posted June 14, 2008 Report Share Posted June 14, 2008 :rant: In cheshire no-one wants a dj for less than £200, they think you must be rubbish if your cheap. I put my price up £100 last year and renamed the disco and work actually increased a fair bit. The client probably wont see any difference between a cheap speaker or top of range jobby. Better to sell on personality and service than equipment because to be honest from their point of view we've all got pretty similar stuff. thats my tuppence worth Link to post Share on other sites
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