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tunes4046

tunes4046

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Jul 24, 2008
5,276
9,185
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Fennimore Wi
I had a bride facebook message me if i was available for a wedding, that was the entire message no date no location, So I ask her the questions, she won't call, all communication on facebook messenger, she is looking for Aug 20th from 5-9 pm in a local village hall I thought I was doing her a favor as I was open, I have a bar gig that night but I can still make that if I am done at 9, she was "on a budget" her words, so I quote $695, her response, "that's more than the entire rest of the wedding cost including my dress" please bear in mind my normal rate for up to 7 hours of service is $1295, I didn't delve any deeper to see what she had wanted to spend, I wished her well and moved on.
 
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I would bet dollars to donuts that you get a followup inquiry in a week or 2 asking if you can come down $200 .. let's make this a game ..
 
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rickryan.com said:
My response, "Wow, that's the cheapest-ass wedding I've ever heard of."
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no reason to make her feel like crap, ther are a few of these in my area, potluck food village hall rents for $50 if you clean up after yourself cousin Billy DJing for free food and beer, they happen, I just kinda forgot about them as it been a while since I've been asked about one, If only MIx lived closer it would be right up his alley, probably do it for free so he could showcase his skills and equipment
 
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Many people feel spending $15-25k, or more, on a one day event is a waste of good money. It's a down payment on a house, it's a car, it's almost a year's salary for many young people.

"So, you want 2 weeks of my income to play music for 5 hours? No way!" is a common way of thinking.
 
IceBurghDJ said:
Many people feel spending $15-25k, or more, on a one day event is a waste of good money. It's a down payment on a house, it's a car, it's almost a year's salary for many young people.

"So, you want 2 weeks of my income to play music for 5 hours? No way!" is a common way of thinking.
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Not among 20-something females.
 
Middle Class People who host a wedding spend the money necessary for a once in a life time event. The normal Middle Class Family earning 5oK a year or more house hold income usually spends $10,000 minimum on their wedding including the wedding rings, dress etc..

The type of client you describe is probably in the poor house.

People who throw a wedding and treat it light a get together at their house are not our clients.
My sister threw a graduation party for her son a few weeks ago at their house. We BBQed all the food, and she spent over $600 on the food and beverages alone including the utencils etc.
 
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IceBurghDJ said:
Many people feel spending $15-25k, or more, on a one day event is a waste of good money. It's a down payment on a house, it's a car, it's almost a year's salary for many young people.

"So, you want 2 weeks of my income to play music for 5 hours? No way!" is a common way of thinking.
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Some don't plan properly for that special day. They don't think of putting money to the side for their wedding over time to make things come together. If they can't afford that much then I say do the best you can. $695 is more than what her whole wedding cost? I wouldn't want to be a guest at that wedding. What will you get for a meal hot dogs and a burger? For those who drink I guess you'll have to bring your own booze. That's the cheapest wedding I ever heard of in all my years as a DJ. My guess is they are looking for a DJ that will do it for $200 or less. Tunes you tried to be a nice guy. That's a hell of a thing for you to cut your price by $600. They weren't willing to take that deal. If it were me they could kiss my whole entire ass.

Just curious. What would you have provided them for that $695? I bet it would have been more than the hack DJ they get.
 
If someone was only spending $695 on their wedding...
that probably means JC Penney dress, supermarket cake, and the hall is either free of super cheap.
That kind of client probably wouldn't be hiring a DJ to begin with.
You're not doing yourself or anyone else a favor by dropping your pants to get the gig.
 
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I've had weddings where my service was the biggest expense at under $500. It actually makes me feel that having a decent DJ was important to the cash strapped bride. Sometimes they're in love and want to get married. And they want something more special than going to the justice of peace. It's the well off folks looking for a cheap DJ that bothers me.
 
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Jas said:
I've had weddings where my service was the biggest expense at under $500. It actually makes me feel that having a decent DJ was important to the cash strapped bride.
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Me too. There have been many times I was the most expensive part of the day. I've seen people opening envelopes to pay me at the end of the night too
 
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I too would rather be underpaid by a client who is really in need of a "good deal" than have wealthy client try tell how strapped for cash they are, I know those 200 monogrammed chair covers weren't cheap
 
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I've been at many weddings like that - last wedding when it was cake cutting time since i always ask if htey know what to do (most don't) I say 'cut the bottom layer, etc' - more and more i'm hearing 'tha'ts not real..only the top is. the guests are getting sheetcake from the back'.
SO the cake is decorated styrofoam. I'd say 50% of the weddings this year.
Last wedding also was dry..cheaper.
One before that it was a cash bar.

Ausumm said:
If someone was only spending $695 on their wedding...
that probably means JC Penney dress, supermarket cake, and the hall is either free of super cheap.
That kind of client probably wouldn't be hiring a DJ to begin with.
You're not doing yourself or anyone else a favor by dropping your pants to get the gig.
Click to expand...
 
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IceBurghDJ said:
I've been at many weddings like that - last wedding when it was cake cutting time since i always ask if htey know what to do (most don't) I say 'cut the bottom layer, etc' - more and more i'm hearing 'tha'ts not real..only the top is. the guests are getting sheetcake from the back'.
SO the cake is decorated styrofoam. I'd say 50% of the weddings this year.
Last wedding also was dry..cheaper.
One before that it was a cash bar.
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I had one of those last year. They had a "cake" that was 6-feet tall and there was only one itty-bitty slice that was actually cake. It was pretty but really, having a memory of my styrofoam cake (which everyone knows is fake) isn't what I'd call a good memory.
 
IceBurghDJ said:
Last wedding also was dry..cheaper.
One before that it was a cash bar.
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I may have had 2 in the last 10 years that weren't a cash bar and one of them was only the first hour
 
Jeff Romard said:
I may have had 2 in the last 10 years that weren't a cash bar and one of them was only the first hour
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the trend I have seen in the last year is partial pay typical beer in a bar in this area is $2.75, so the bride and groom will have drinks beer or rail mixers for $1 for the first two or three hours they cover the rest of the cost with the venue, then drinks switch to normal pricing
 
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tunes4046 said:
the trend I have seen in the last year is partial pay typical beer in a bar in this area is $2.75, so the bride and groom will have drinks beer or rail mixers for $1 for the first two or three hours they cover the rest of the cost with the venue, then drinks switch to normal pricing
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Again poor planning. You can go to Home Liquors and get a bunch of different things to drink and depending on how much you spend they will give you a discount. I spent over $500 once and got a decent discount. My guess was about $40 off.
 
rickryan.com said:
having a memory of my styrofoam cake (which everyone knows is fake) isn't what I'd call a good memory
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True, but probably a better memory than a home made cake that had the top layer slide off, or the whole cake just falling apart!
 
MIXMASTERMACHOM said:
Again poor planning. You can go to Home Liquors and get a bunch of different things to drink and depending on how much you spend they will give you a discount. I spent over $500 once and got a decent discount. My guess was about $40 off.
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The hall had the liquor license and bartenders you can't bring in your own booze must be purchased from the hall, and served by a licensed bartender, we may be redneck but this isn't the hood
 
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