How should I do this?

I have a school where I have DJ'd before, and have talked to the PTA president more then once and she has expressed interest in booking all of their events with me. The school just got a new principal, so I want to get my name in early. In talking with her today, she asked me to email her my contact info, as well as packages and rates. How would you do this? Usually my rates are the last thing I give up, I sell the package well enough that the rates 90% of the time aren't as big of a deal then if I had told them the rates first. What would you guys do, how would you write this email? Should I just send them my school packages and rates, or should I just send them the packages and tell them that we can negotiate the rates later?

Brian

i was typing out this long reply when you called so you know what my suggestions are

kyle

I would offer a slightly discounted rate and stipulate in the contract that I must be notified about each event as soon as possible and no later than 3 months before the chosen date. Within 3 months, there is no guarantee of availability.

When I was heavily into schools I had 6 schools that hired me every year for all their dances. At the beginning of the year, I would send then a package of 5 or 6 or 8 contracts one for each date and they signed them and sent them back.

If they have seen you, you don't need to sell anything. They know what you do, they seem to like what you do, so there it is. If they have booked you before, they know what you charge and if they know that, then you don't have to worry.

You can tell them that to make it not get boring that you will adjust your system to each event, maybe bringing in more red lights for the Valentines dance or whatever... But you don't need to sell, you have already sold yourself.

As far as discounts go, I never did that. The bottom line is that I was busy and if I didn't work on XYZ date for them I would be at another school. So I didn't want to lose any money.

If they want you, they will pay your price. If you are not busy, and you want to make sure you have some dates, then sure give them a deal, but then don't get mad if you have to turn down a regular paying gig because you gave them a discount.

Send your info with a nice cover letter saying you will contact them in a few days to discuss their needs and rates. Problem solved. When you quote them you will know their reaction as you usually do in face to face. You can address any questions and know where they stand, what any objections are and will leave them with a fantastic business impression.

Send your info with a nice cover letter saying you will contact them in a few days to discuss their needs and rates. Problem solved. When you quote them you will know their reaction as you usually do in face to face. You can address any questions and know where they stand, what any objections are and will leave them with a fantastic business impression.

That makes perfect sense, I wish I had seen that sooner!

Thanks Val!

Kill em with kindness and tell them what a model student you are.. jk

Dunno if this will help but I'll try.

Back during my tenure of DJing middle school dances I came to the time when a new principal arrived. I was usually booked by teachers or the student SCA committee so it didn't really make much difference.

Or so I thought. When the new principal arrived on the scene, my 7th grade dance client told me ahead of time that the new principal would be at the forthcoming dance. They all wanted to make a good first impression. If the new guy wasn't positively impressed there may not be no more dances.

Please bear in mind ~ I started school in the early '60s and remember principals as guys with butch haircuts who dressed in black suits and stood in the hall holding a wooden paddle.

The "new guy" turned out to be a lady who was almost young enough to be my daughter. :eek: She couldn't find a sitter for the night so she brought her little pup with her. I thought to myself... uh boy... this is gonna be a challenge. If she sits at that table minding the pup all night she won't have any fun.

We had several parents there as chaperones so I mixed it up a bit and played some popular buckle polishers that the "older" folks knew. Used the mic and got the new principal to line dancing with some students and slow dancing with some of the guy chaperones. She had a great time and gave future dances her blessing. :)

I didn't care for the Green Jelly requests nor some of the Juvenile or Method Man stuff but mixing it up gave everybody a chance to dance and have some fun. Hootie & The Blowfish were still popular at the time and crossed over to AC.

Make a good first impression on the new principal. That's what matters. :)