Attending rehearsals

I have attended one rehearsal and charged for it. Since we were doing the music and audio for the ceremony she asked us to be there to know the cues, etc. I explained to her that it would not be an issue if we were not to be there, but she insisted. I must add that $ was not a factor in this bride's budget.

We don't include it. We will do it if requested and charge for it. We charge normal price but the several we've done have included a rehearsal dinner/party.

Most that ask decline after hearing that it's not really needed and the price.

Same as above, I dont include it and will do if they show me the money.

By the time you figure in the extra work and possibly an extra night of hotel, the cost to the Bride and Groom gets a little prohibitive, after all that is another night gone from my inventory

So do you bring any gear to the rehearsal and for those who say they charge a fee, what is the fee you charge? Do you charge by the hour/half hour? Just having fun since I get told I'm always asking about price. As stated above a bride on a tight budget won't even consider paying a thing if you said it's not included with their wedding.

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

So do you bring any gear to the rehearsal and for those who say they charge a fee, what is the fee you charge? Do you charge by the hour/half hour? Just having fun since I get told I'm always asking about price. As stated above a bride on a tight budget won't even consider paying a thing if you said it's not included with their wedding.

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I charge $750 plus travel expenses hotel, fuel, meals, I've had one person hire for the rehearsal in 30 years

as of today i have never been ask

rickryan.com said:

BTW, this bride called me about an hour ago. She was asking about moving the ceremony, costs, mics, etc. I took the opportunity to talk with her about the rehearsal and explained to her how it was better to fit the music to her party's timing rather than trying to cue the party off the music. She said she was much more comfortable and thanked me. Crisis averted.

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excellent communication, I am stealing this

tunes4046 said:

I charge $750 plus travel expenses hotel, fuel, meals, I've had one person hire for the rehearsal in 30 years

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Can you imagine why in 30 years you've only had 1 client ask you to do a rehearsal with them?

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

Can you imagine why in 30 years you've only had 1 client ask you to do a rehearsal with them?

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Mix you have no idea what you are doing, Friday is a day I can work and make money I do a lot of events in the $500 to $750 dollar range on Friday nights, should I charge them less for a rehearsal and loose money, I don't think so, I know you are a fan of doing things cheap you always say you aren't but when you get asked what you charged it's never very much, When is the last time you were paid over $500 to do a gig hell when is the last time you were paid over $200, I got $300 for a two hour gig on a Thursday afternoon and they where super happy with the results,

tunes4046 said:

Mix you have no idea what you are doing, Friday is a day I can work and make money I do a lot of events in the $500 to $750 dollar range on Friday nights, should I charge them less for a rehearsal and loose money, I don't think so, I know you are a fan of doing things cheap you always say you aren't but when you get asked what you charged it's never very much, When is the last time you were paid over $500 to do a gig hell when is the last time you were paid over $200, I got $300 for a two hour gig on a Thursday afternoon and they where super happy with the results,

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I have no problem with you getting paid to do the rehearsal. My thing is how much you actually charged the bride. How often have you had in 30 years someone wanting you to do a rehearsal? If it's 5 times in 30 years and that one bride agreed to that price, then fine. If it's say 20 brides and only one agreed to that price, then I say that you need to rethink how much to charge for this.

Almost all of our weddings have the ceremony attached to it. I tend to like to attend them, some times I charge and sometimes I don't. It depends on distance etc etc. I have found for me it allows me some time with the family and the wedding party and getting to know them a little bit. I also find that I tend to be the most experienced person there. Many have family members or friends doing their first wedding.

We are probably one of the higher priced single ops around. And we have earned a great reputation in our area for customer service. Unlike many of you guys we only strive to do about 25 to 30 weddings a year. So its really not that hard to attend. In my day job I work to about 3:25 and most rehearsals around here start at about 5:00. I just changed my clothes at work and drive over there most being within a half hour drive from my work location.

For the rehearsal we bring our Denon Envoi speaker my Iphone 6 with their music for the ceremony on it. And I just blutooth it from there. If I need a mic which most of the time I don't. The Envoi has a decent hand held wireless mic. If they insist I be there then we charge 150 to 250 dollars depending on location. Many times such as last week he had an over planning, planner. The details were very very tight but being there helped us nail it, so much so that we even beat out the over planning, planner.

I always tell our clients that if I'm available then I will try and make it. I do it like that in case we get an event for that day. Then they have nothing to say, I also let them know that there is a value placed on me being there (250 dollars). So they know that if doing it for free then they have just been given a very nice gift. Just another way of having them realize the level of service they are actually getting for their money and our graciousness, and trust me they know. )

MIXMASTERMACHOM said:

So do you bring any gear to the rehearsal and for those who say they charge a fee, what is the fee you charge? Do you charge by the hour/half hour? Just having fun since I get told I'm always asking about price. As stated above a bride on a tight budget won't even consider paying a thing if you said it's not included with their wedding.

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I think your wrong Mix, sorry bro but I do these all the time. Most brides are super concerned about their ceremony. Ask the pukers lol and they will pay, if they see you as a great resource of knowledge. You would be surprised how often I have seen a planner or friend try and put this together and get everyone attention. And I just look at the bride and say do you want me to handle this. And with a nod and a air of confidence and authority haven taken control and get everything started with in 30 seconds.

Brides do pay for this but you have to sell it to them. I'm always the best dressed at the rehearsal as well. Slacks, dress shoes and business button up with our logo. So they know that I will be running the show the next day. Again just another reason for me showing up at these things. They will know me and will be following my lead most of these young cats have nothing on me at 55 I have wit and humor and put the guys in line pretty fast by the wedding day. I love it when they see me and kind of chant DJ Dave DJ Dave with a grin.

nextgen1 said:

I think your wrong Mix, sorry bro but I do these all the time. Most brides are super concerned about their ceremony. Ask the pukers lol and they will pay, if they see you as a great resource of knowledge. You would be surprised how often I have seen a planner or friend try and put this together and get everyone attention. And I just look at the bride and say do you want me to handle this. And with a nod and a air of confidence and authority haven taken control and get everything started with in 30 seconds.

Brides do pay for this but you have to sell it to them. I'm always the best dressed at the rehearsal as well. Slacks, dress shoes and business button up with our logo. So they know that I will be running the show the next day. Again just another reason for me showing up at these things. They will know me and will be following my lead most of these young cats have nothing on me at 55 I have wit and humor and put the guys in line pretty fast by the wedding day. I love it when they see me and kind of chant DJ Dave DJ Dave with a grin.

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I get that brides will pay for this. My issue had to do with Tunes saying he did one once and got paid $750.

You said your price is between $150-250. That sounds reasonable. To me $750 is crazy just for a rehearsal. Brides can find a DJ to do their wedding for that price and may also get the DJ to do the ceremony as well. That's why at that price I say in 30 years he's only done one.

The thing I do is when I commit to do an event I stick to that agreement. If another inquiry comes and they have more money to spend for the same date I don't take the gig. I tell them I'm not available and let them look elsewhere.