Weddings Received an inquiry from a couple getting married at a high end venue...

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maestro

maestro

DJ Extraordinaire
Aug 30, 2006
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British Columbia
www.musicmaestrodj.com
Received an inquiry from a couple getting married at a high end venue and this is the reply I got back today after sending a detailed quote.

Thanks for getting back to us - we appreciate your detailed email but unfortunately, your quote is outside what we've budgeted. We'll let you know if anything changes.

Thanks!

There are just so many 'budget' DJs in the Vancouver area. There are so many bad ones that I may have to consider moving about 4 hours from here to Kelowna, BC where there are less DJ's to contend with. I know a good one out there who's base rate is double mine. Funny since houses here cost more than double there... confused.gif I am convinced that people living in the Vancouver area have less disposable income due to the high cost of real estate. My house was just assessed at $986,000.00. It is a 10 years old, rather large basement entry home on a 66' x 132' lot located in a suburb about 40 minutes from downtown Vancouver. A 'knock-down' home on a lot half that size IN Vancouver would cost you over a million $.
 
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This is why every chance we get we need to educate these clients on the perceived differences of DJ Services and the quality of what one may be getting. Did you quote Lighting and everything? If you did, sometimes it is best to start with the Basic DJ Fee and then upsell. They see a lower sticker price at the beginning and then get greedy for the Icing on the Cake!
BTW $986,000 will get you this in Houston.
As far as Housing come to Houston and get this which will save you about $400K
http://www.homes.com/property/2614-mockingbird-meadow-spring-tx-77389/id-222234770/
 
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Being top dog in any market isn't always the best place to be there may be more money long term in the middle if you market right

Quite honestly of I didn't know anything about the DJ business I would look for a number of quotes throw out the highest and lowest and go somewhere in the middle after checking them out online. To the less knowledgeable that would be good logic
 
Send some pictures of your work.. Explain to them that this is a once and a lifetime opportunity for a wedding, and you want to make sure that everything goes as planned with no hiccups. and offer them a small cut in pricing to show that you are bending in order to help them out. Also offer a free upgrade.. something like a free monogram or something of the sort... free pinspot.. something small to you but it could make a huge difference in their percieved value of your service..
 
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I think this one is a lost cause but I probably would reply with a simple "What is your budget range?" At least you'll know for certain what they were willing to pay. If it's anywhere close, what nightmare said holds water. You might be able to throw in a freebie and suddenly they get to book "that high end DJ" that they'd love to have, rather than settling on the cheap guy.
 
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Initial contact questions should include budget. One also has to give a presentation so that an offer can be made based on the excitement created in that Presentation. A simple Quote is not a Presentation. This is one of the reasons why Posted Package Prices can be hit or miss. Sure, one may be successful getting people to book sight unseen based on posted Package Pricing, however, how will they really know the amount of people they missed? Asking for budget figures after the offer is declined is seen as grasping at straws, desperation. Get the ducks all in a row before shooting! Sell a $5,000.00 perceived package and ask for $1,000.00 People like to know they are getting more for their money rather than less.
 
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I think it all comes down to what was in that detailed quote?
Did you pitch them what you could do - or why you should be the one to do it?

There is no such thing as a $5,000 package. You simply have to demonstrate a reason to spend $5,000 regardless of what's in the package.
 
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ahoustondj said:
Asking for budget figures after the offer is declined is seen as grasping at straws, desperation. Get the ducks all in a row before shooting!
Click to expand...

Sometimes, it is seen as "bargaining".
I'm sure there are a lot of potential clients who don't realize that DJ's have "set" prices.
Honestly, I know that I have a lot of wiggle room...
so I can see how some clients would think that agreeing on a price happens after a little negotiating.

ahoustondj said:
Sell a $5,000.00 perceived package and ask for $1,000.00 People like to know they are getting more for their money rather than less.
Click to expand...

And people will gladly sign up because they think they "negotiated" you down to THEIR price.
 
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