You do know I'm being sarcastic and playing devil's advocate, right? Geez....you've been playing in the sandbox too long with Bob.
Quoted my first bride with the "inclusive pricing" next year
- Thread starter DJ Ricky B
- Start date
You do know I'm being sarcastic and playing devil's advocate, right? Geez....you've been playing in the sandbox too long with Bob.
You do know I'm being sarcastic and playing devil's advocate, right? Geez....you've been playing in the sandbox too long with Bob.
If Bob were rubbing off on me I wouldn't ranted about not tolerating your ignorance and belittled you for asking such an asinine question.
What cable companies do is to offer a price to get you hooked on their brand and when the promotional period is over then the price goes up. Most will offer up to 2 years for their promotions so that by that time you feel you can't do without it. DJs couldn't do that because we don't get the same people spending money with us every month as a whole. Some people we do an event for them and never hear from them again.
What the cable companies don't tell you is how much the price will be after the promotional period. I know this because I've asked that question.
Some people want custom and some want no hassles and easy.
Package says easy - you are the pro and know what they need, will do that and they can have a good time, care free!
Custom can bring in controlling folks whom you may never satisfy, discounters wanting the minimum, and either way it will take a lot more of your time to do the sale.
I offer packages for brides for photography and almost always when they call they tell me they want to meet and are interested in X package.
I have them based on hours of coverage, number of photographers, album type/size.
Easy to do that for DJ - some gigs are 4 or 5 hours, some are 6, some need two systems.
And in fine print offer "We will gladly customize a package to suit your needs"
Package says easy - you are the pro and know what they need, will do that and they can have a good time, care free!
Custom can bring in controlling folks whom you may never satisfy, discounters wanting the minimum, and either way it will take a lot more of your time to do the sale.
I offer packages for brides for photography and almost always when they call they tell me they want to meet and are interested in X package.
I have them based on hours of coverage, number of photographers, album type/size.
Easy to do that for DJ - some gigs are 4 or 5 hours, some are 6, some need two systems.
And in fine print offer "We will gladly customize a package to suit your needs"
Of course one needs to define all-inclusive..maybe there is a better term?
"Complete Wedding Package"
No worries package
Party all night
"essentials"
"Dream Wedding Package"
Or the olde (boring) stand by of Silver Gold Platinum?
"our packages are all-inclusive - we don't charge extra for wireless mic, subwoofers, dance lighting, announcements"
"Complete Wedding Package"
No worries package
Party all night
"essentials"
"Dream Wedding Package"
Or the olde (boring) stand by of Silver Gold Platinum?
"our packages are all-inclusive - we don't charge extra for wireless mic, subwoofers, dance lighting, announcements"
I have created this package according to how most of our brides/grooms book us, and what their typical needs are. This package should be sufficient for at least 70% of our wedding clients in 2016.
The "All Inclusive Wedding Package" has a paragraph stating what is included. Price only changes according to month/day, or if additional time is needed. Travel charge for locations over a 90 mile drive @ $1.50 per mile.
Up to 6 hours of performance time
Up to 3 sound system set ups, but in the rare case that a 4th system is needed we will provide that at no extra charge
All pre planning via email, and unlimited phone communication with the DJ.
1 in person consultation, or Skype video meeting.
Additional time is available at xxx per hour.
Sound system capability to handle up to 300 guests at the event
We also offer custom quotes for our clients that only need 1 sound system set up and a performance time less than 6 hours for their wedding. Contact us for a custom quote if this is what you are looking for.
The "All Inclusive Wedding Package" has a paragraph stating what is included. Price only changes according to month/day, or if additional time is needed. Travel charge for locations over a 90 mile drive @ $1.50 per mile.
Up to 6 hours of performance time
Up to 3 sound system set ups, but in the rare case that a 4th system is needed we will provide that at no extra charge
All pre planning via email, and unlimited phone communication with the DJ.
1 in person consultation, or Skype video meeting.
Additional time is available at xxx per hour.
Sound system capability to handle up to 300 guests at the event
We also offer custom quotes for our clients that only need 1 sound system set up and a performance time less than 6 hours for their wedding. Contact us for a custom quote if this is what you are looking for.
sounds pretty good.
Sears found, and it's been proven over and over and still applies today (what, 3 iphones are available, right?) that it's best to offer 3 things.
So an entry level price leader you don't want to sell.
the one you do want to sell
the Whopper.
Aka good better best.
So you could offer a single sound system, 5 hours, $700
the package you have for $1000
And then one with everything you sell and maybe more - monogram, uplighting, photobooth - $5,000!
Sears found, and it's been proven over and over and still applies today (what, 3 iphones are available, right?) that it's best to offer 3 things.
So an entry level price leader you don't want to sell.
the one you do want to sell
the Whopper.
Aka good better best.
So you could offer a single sound system, 5 hours, $700
the package you have for $1000
And then one with everything you sell and maybe more - monogram, uplighting, photobooth - $5,000!
I would definitely have a reception only package available, you really need to have more than one option the "menu" selling system is a proven money maker in a lot of industries, gold silver platinum or whatever, you can still be all inclusive. just have them choose the package that suits their particular needs.
Right now what you have seems a little sketchy, to me it reads we all inclusive pricing but if you don't need every thing call and we will adjust to suit your needs,
To me all inclusive if there is only one option means just that, and there should be no reduced price for using less. it's like going to the buffet, yea it's all inclusive but I can't ask for a deal because I'm not gonna eat everything.
Right now what you have seems a little sketchy, to me it reads we all inclusive pricing but if you don't need every thing call and we will adjust to suit your needs,
To me all inclusive if there is only one option means just that, and there should be no reduced price for using less. it's like going to the buffet, yea it's all inclusive but I can't ask for a deal because I'm not gonna eat everything.
The Point I am making with the packages is that they are value packed. If a client tells me they need 6.5 or more hours, but only 1 sound system, then the inclusive package price would prevail because it's value packed at a discounted price. However if a client only needs 4 to 5 hour reception and 1 sound system offered, then I can custom quote them a lower price tailored to their needs. However, once they get to 6 hours or more than the inclusive package price prevails because booking us "a la carte" with all the additional time added in will actually yield a higher price than the package price.
Also, another incentive with booking us at the package deal is that IF they want up lighting, we are offering a 20% discount on our up lighting packages. ...A la carte clients will only be offered the full price if they want to add up lighting in.
I think I will leave it this way for a while, and see how the inquiries respond. I am also meeting with my other DJs about this in a couple weeks. If they tell me they think the prices are too high or this isn't a good idea, I may re think it. Looking at my own bookings in 2015, this package would offer what most clients needed for their weddings, and at a set price so I don't have to custom quote each client.
You need to have some common sense and logic in there. You offer 3, or even 4 soundsystems. But if I only need 1 then yes, I want a discount. Sorry, but I'm asking for 1/3 to 1/4 as much stuff...and you still want the full price? Not logical.
What I see you have is the whopper- the big one with everythign in it. Which is great, but offering two lower packages builds value in that top one. If ONE system for 5 hours is $1000 then 4 systems for 7 hours at $2500 is a bargain. But without the lower package how do I know that?
A lot depends on your market and your place in that market. In my county which is typically what I've considered my market, $500 w/ lighting is a pretty good, but not outstanding deal. If a bride wants to spend $400 then maybe i'm not her guy. But there are some brides that have $900 to spend...i'm coming in too cheap I think to capture that market. I need to decide if I can get it, do I want it? Sure, double the money is great, but if I only get 30% as many bookings my total income is lower. Can't have that!
Hence my thought of trying to offer small wedding, med and large wedding (guest size) as a way to get a higher ticket price. I've offered 'off season' discounts in the past..offering a friday discount would generate calls. If a bride is having a feb wedding she'll pay the price i ask..my discount isn't going to get her to move a wedding to feb. Most friday brides pick that for the discounts they get.
What I see you have is the whopper- the big one with everythign in it. Which is great, but offering two lower packages builds value in that top one. If ONE system for 5 hours is $1000 then 4 systems for 7 hours at $2500 is a bargain. But without the lower package how do I know that?
A lot depends on your market and your place in that market. In my county which is typically what I've considered my market, $500 w/ lighting is a pretty good, but not outstanding deal. If a bride wants to spend $400 then maybe i'm not her guy. But there are some brides that have $900 to spend...i'm coming in too cheap I think to capture that market. I need to decide if I can get it, do I want it? Sure, double the money is great, but if I only get 30% as many bookings my total income is lower. Can't have that!
Hence my thought of trying to offer small wedding, med and large wedding (guest size) as a way to get a higher ticket price. I've offered 'off season' discounts in the past..offering a friday discount would generate calls. If a bride is having a feb wedding she'll pay the price i ask..my discount isn't going to get her to move a wedding to feb. Most friday brides pick that for the discounts they get.
I think that 3-tier is exactly the right approach. Before adding photo, we were actually offering 4 tiers; basic for tier-1, then 2 pkgs at the same price but one with dance lighing+live-pics or uplighting for tier-2, then the grandaddy for our tier-3. With tier-3 at $1500, I was seeing roughly 33% booking rate. In the end all three tiers booked equally well.
You want options .. not too many .. but the incentive to move up.
If you are an "event" company, then most likely everything is a la carte.
If you are an "event" company, then most likely everything is a la carte.
Another thing with a single sound system package, it's harder to create a package for this. The problem with clients who want "1 sound system for just the reception" is that their budgets for this tend to be ALL OVER THE PLACE. If I create a firm price for 1 sound system, 4 hours, and stick to it, I'm almost certain that I will be turning away potential clientele without even getting a chance to talk to them or correspond to their email. I have 3 other DJs to book as well as myself, so it seems a bit more challenging to work solely off of packages online.
Perhaps I should mention a line about stating "We have Wedding DJs starting at xxx for clients who only need 1 sound system, and a shorter time frame than 6 hours. Single sound system wedding durations longer than 6 hours will have the all inclusive package price prevail"
Perhaps I should mention a line about stating "We have Wedding DJs starting at xxx for clients who only need 1 sound system, and a shorter time frame than 6 hours. Single sound system wedding durations longer than 6 hours will have the all inclusive package price prevail"
My rates start as low as $199 and it's true I will do a ceremony only on any day of the week except Saturday for $199
I just did a 1.5 hour karaoke show for a small church group for $100 on a Tuesday night this past week! LOL. In 16 years, my first ever gig at $100...Even the first bar I deejayed in paid me $120 for 4 hours using their house system back in 1999. So it appears if the circumstance is rare, and a week night, I might actually leave my house for lower than the specified starting price for parties. Outside of that karaoke party I haven't booked anything below $315 in the last 3 years. For weddings, I have been known to do some $500 contracts for weddings, but they were always during winter, or April at the latest, and on an un booked date that wasn't far out. So I know the typical price I book single sound system receptions for, but I'd hate to lose a potential client over a basic package price say at $750, and their budget was only $600...especially if it was for a date with no demand. There there are in demand Saturdays. If someone wants 1 sound system and 4 hour reception at a Washington, D.C. location on a Saturday in September. I am going to quote over $1,000 for that, and gladly turn them away if they are on a tight budget. I'd like to be flexible and book that local $600 client on a Friday or Sunday if the opportunity presents itself. So I look at a base package price as tough to post online.
So you didn't say, was it worth it? How much gear did you setup and how many people did you have fussing because you didn't have the song they wanted to sing?