Online Planning

[Draconic Pride 0]

I've seen a couple of sites which offer handy tools for your site with regards to online planning for the clients.

DJEventPlanner and DJIntelligence.

 

Both come at a price, and one seems to offer more than the other at quick glance.

 

Anyone use them?

Are they worth it?

Which is best in your opinion?

 

[Rothgar 0]

I use DJ intelligence, clients like the fact that they can preselect playlists and use the event planning and timeline tools.

 

It's very customisable and I don't yet use half of the features available.

 

I used the trial version of DJ Event Planner, very similar to DJ I but more tools available to the DJ in the way of finance and staff. It's more expensive than DJ I. Both versions allow you a trial version so you can see which suits you best.

[vokf 0]

I've seen a couple of sites which offer handy tools for your site with regards to online planning for the clients.

DJEventPlanner and DJIntelligence.

 

Both come at a price, and one seems to offer more than the other at quick glance.

 

Anyone use them?

Are they worth it?

Which is best in your opinion?

 

 

I use DJEP, I chose it over DJI due to its accounting/reporting features. They both offer similar tools, and for me the availability checked, event planning (for the DJ), and playlist creation (for the client).

 

As an example, I can see my income on a monthly/yearly basis and also by gig type (kids/weddings/adult parties), with average price, and expenses per gig, and also income per gig.

You can do this on a speadsheet (indeed, you need to keep track of it for tax reasons anyway).

 

The planning is led by "next action", with a drop-down with many options (and you can create your own), with a due date.

There is a main dashboard, showing the all activity (gigs/enquries etc), and their status - all color coded.

Once a venue is added to the system, if you get another gig there, its avaible as a drop-down - so no need to enter venue details, or contacts at the venue (or venue notes).

 

 

There is much more, its difficult to sum in a post- and everyone has different needs.

 

Both systems will provide a trial and both have been helpful with regards to support.

 

 

Alex (Alex Entertainment) is (I think!) the UK Support for DJEP, so worth getting in touch with him.

 

However, its worth evaluating both solutions.

 

Hope this helps,

Jason

[AlexEntertainment 0]

I've seen a couple of sites which offer handy tools for your site with regards to online planning for the clients.

DJEventPlanner and DJIntelligence.

 

Both come at a price, and one seems to offer more than the other at quick glance.

 

Anyone use them?

Are they worth it?

Which is best in your opinion?

 

 

Hiya,

 

As the UK Support and Sales rep for DJEventPlanner I'm a little biased... however I originally was just a user and still am! I signed up for the trial and within 2 weeks I decided to become a paying member. Since signing up for DJEP I found work increased almost over night.... Quotes would come in, and I would chase... and found more people were happier to book as they could see I was transparent and fair with my pricing.

 

I had tried other packaged but found DJEP the most easiest to use and setup.

 

I won't go into all the differences between DJEP and DJI as I'll be here all night and Jason(Vokf) did a pretty good job already hehe, however one thing that I love is the fact that DJEP has everything in one package.

DJI is ok for tools, but to run reports and finances you need eWebmin as well.

DJEP is also backed up in various locations too, and it's held across servers so everything is safe and available.

 

One thing I like about DJEP is it's support options.... it has it's own forum with user to user support along with official support.... and we now have a UK Support team.

 

I'm currently working on UK based tutorial videos and I'm about on most of the forums so you can always PM me too on there.

(Quick intro and setup video: http://www.alexsdesign.co.uk/djepintro/DJE...troduction.html ... so you can see the interface and how quick and easy it is to use.... please bear in mind this is a ROUGH demo and I'll be creating more proffesional videos shortly)

 

I found DJI tricky to customise and intergrate into my sites, but with DJEP it was very very easy.

My site: www.alexentertainment.co.uk

my kids entertainer: www.magicportsmouth.co.uk

previous design client: www.sp-e.co.uk

 

If you have any questions regarding DJEventPlanner (DJEP) please feel free to email me alex@djeventplanner.com

I can also provide you with a link to a demo account... and provide the demo login details so you can have a play.

 

If I'm awake I'll usually reply instantly and I work all different hours (sometimes right into the early hours LOL) but I ALWAYS try to reply within 12 hours on all occasions.

 

One last thing... Our free trial is completely risk free! If at the end of the trial you don't want to carry on, just leave it.... the account will NOT charge you, and will NOT carry on unless you want it to..... can't say fairer then that :)

 

Like I said... get in touch with me via the email above and I'll be happy to answer any questions you have.

 

Kind Regards

 

Alex Taylor

AlexEntertainment

www.alexentertainment.co.uk

---------------------------------------------------------------

DJEventPlanner UK Support

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[Dukesy 0]

Not wanting to detract away from the good work which Alex is involved in, but personally I just see such things as a means of automating tasks and reducing the amount of personal one to one client communication as automatically a 'good' thing in a heavily weighted and extremely competitive and saturated service industry like ours.

Since every client and their requirements is often unique (or at least slightly different to the last) I would usually prefer to discuss aspects like price etc with a client over the phone, and at the same time increase the chances of sealing a deal based on cultivating both a rapport and growing the clients confidence in my abilities whilst gently selling my services to them at the same time, rather than having an automated piece of software quote an online price on my behalf, effectively selling me on nothing but the PRICE.

 

Its also quite possible, that in the absence of nothing else to retain their interest or open a communication dialogue, that a client may get an 'automated' price from one website, and then enter their details on a competitors' site, which is followed by a return call within the hour from the owner of the business, who then takes 20 - 30 minutes to explain what they offer, mention the fact that they can supply references, and answer all of the clients questions and concerns confidentally and in detail there and then, and in a lot of cases, also seal the deal there and then, with no need for the client to move on to the next competitor, or god forbid, start comparison shopping - on price alone.

 

As far as 'event management' goes, well i'm a sole trader operating just one booking per night / day, not an agency with 60 Dj's working for me, so even an oldie like me can usually remember where I'm due to be on any particular given weekend

 

The customer feedback / testimonials form is also a good idea, but I suspect that something similar could be done for free, and also with better search engine / public presence, by setting up a company entry on consumer review sites like Ciao or Reviewcentre and then sending follow up emails / phone calls after the gig inviting your clients to write their feedback via these entities - you can of course also link to your businesses' review site entry from your own website as a kind of independant testimonials page , If you are also lucky enough to find a review site which allows external site links, which are set to 'dofollow' and if the site itself also has a good PR it can also help a little with your own websites' ranking . In addition clients will probably take more notice of feedback on 'known' independant third party consumer review sites, than a bunch of initials and a paragraph of praise on the site owned and maintained by the actual business. This is why sites like Trip Advisor ultimately are hugely popular and have such an important role in the hospitality industry, and ultimately their popularity will generate a lot of business for the sites listed

 

There are certain qualities to these planners which are useful, but whether they are worth the price tag alone is down to individual expectations and personal requirements, and also what else exists on the market which will do the same thing and how much it costs in comparison.

[vokf 0]

Dan,

Its not compulsory to automate everything. I quote manually, call clients, and meet them. The online tools do not distract from the personal service I offer, but DO allow easier ways to manage the businessm and also provide some level of control for the client.

 

Of course, this could be done with Google Calendar+TODO lists, or any other free tools.

 

The planning tools have been very well received by brides and other clients, and so as a selling point, this should not be ignored.

 

I also take on parties from non-internet savvy clients, and still manage the booking via this system, but the client contact is all over the phone.

 

For the internet savvy clients, they lap up the service. Brides compile their playlist during working times... and they can check/amend timescales and other details.

 

I could have coded this myself, but time=money etc, and I feel this has paid for itself as I could work on paying projects instead.

 

As the system also aids in record keeping, expenses and travel costs, there is more to it than simply client facing tools, even for the single DJ sole trader.

The ability to check my availability is also good - if I'm available, clients then complete a simple form and I'll call them back.

As my contact details are also on the website, they can still call/email as always.

 

I would not provide an automated quote system, although I know some experienced DJ's have published their hourly rate and ways to calculate a price on their website in the past - so these DJ's could benefit from an automated quote system.

 

The automated system is optional, and I do prefer to manually reply to each enquiry (normally after calling them).

 

 

In these grim times, anything that projects a professional image of a well managed system, can only help. I have personal had unprompted comments from couples saying "it looks very well organised", and simple things like seeing the booking status change.

I can automate some messages (but with customisation and placeholders to use their firstnames etc), but currently still prefer to keep contact manual.

 

For busy DJ's this stuff will really kick in with gig management, and will ease some of the problems they face with admin.

 

I think as with anything - don't knock it until you've tried it.

 

[AlexEntertainment 0]

Indeed... automation is completely optional :)

 

You can either use the " Request Info " form... which takes the details you need/require/want and from there you contact the customer to do the sale ... (incidentally, the request info feature stores them ready for you incase the booking comes off and you can easily put them into your system without having to retype) ..... or you can give an INSTANT quote and automated booking service online.

 

The choice is completely up to you :)

 

The one thing all my clients have loved is the "client area"... which allows them 'complete' control over their booking. When I say complete control, I allow certain access to certain areas depending on the event type.

 

While I completely agree... there are free alternatives out there... for example "Wufoo" forms and things like that (which I did use to use LOL)

I found they only went so far in easing my admin side.

 

TBH.... all the planning tools out there are aimed at making your admin side easier. The website tools are added " extras " which you can use to possibly increase business, depending on your area.

 

For example... the Instant Quote thing works well here in Portsmouth as no other DJ's in my area are upfront about their pricing... which means the client see's I'm honest and fair to all... and trust me there are some around here who are NOT fair at all!!

 

But thats not to say it would work in say... Derbyshire or London...

 

I've always said when it comes to business... try things! If it doesn't work... stop doing it! I learnt the hard way running mx5parts.com

Every month, my goal would be to try something new.... something that the customer might like... after running the new feature/thing for a month I would look at the impact on my sales .... if it worked... it stayed. If it didn't... I would remove it :)

 

It's all about the A/B conversion tactics... but thats a whole other thread! LOL

 

One final thing... I use to quote based on different situations... but found generally my prices were usually around the same per hour for most events.

I decided to have set HOURLY rates based on a few factors and created different size packages based on the event type....

 

For example... on my site if you select wedding... I have two packages which only show for weddings..... as these have a slightly higher price.

These wedding packages do NOT show on the likes of Birthday parties....etc... so it's completely adjustable.

 

I found around here, a lot of people prefer the quickness and ease at which they can book me... (not sure how it's going to work when I go multi op... could be interesting LOL) .....

 

 

Ohhhh I rambled on a bit for 6am in the morning.... time for some sleep me thinks :)

 

 

xx alex

 

PS: By the way, I'm off to benidorm on friday for a week... so if anyone needs support or has any questions.... please either FACEBOOK message me (www.facebook.com/alextaylor1983) or email me!! I'll reply to any emails I have when I get back.

Alternatively jump on the eventplannerforum.com forum... and troy will help you out :)

 

 

 

[Paul The Party DJ 0]

This is a topic I've been meaning to look at for some time.

I know Alex and have seen him present the package.

I've just had a good look at the video he mentions in post no. 4 - it's very informative, he's does a good job explaining the basics.

If you are interested in a system watching the video will be well worth your while.

Cheers, Paul

[Dukesy 0]

I think as with anything - don't knock it until you've tried it.

 

I have, several of them in fact all with various differing features, non of which compelled me to utilise any of them as a more permanent feature. Non of these are especially new launches, DJ Intelligence has been around for years, probably as long as if not longer than DJU, in fact a member demo'd their version at a DJ Show arranged by several members here back in 2005, called 'DJUMAX'

 

In fact if the truth be known, I have in the past been offered a heavily discounted version of one of these planners in return for advertising on the forum.

 

Even if I had have accepted the product at a discounted rate, I seriously still wouldn't value its worth enough for use within my own business - my opinion - my call.

 

Of course I didn't take up the kind offer on that occasion, any more than I've taken up offers of discounted pli and various other gratuities / discounts which have been extended over the years, as I prefer not to be seen to have any personal bias, (construed or otherwise) and so when I post a negative / positive comment regarding a product or service its usually because, as a working DJ myself, I've either used it, or at least seen it in use. :)