E-Mail to a B&G

[Chuck The DJ]

I'll be honest, I have a Craigs List add that I throw up from time to time. I don't get many inquiries from it and I have never booked anything from it, but I got one this morning for a date that I am already booked.


Greeting
I am interested in a DJ for a small outdoor wedding reception in Kenwood from about 7pm to 10pm.
Can you let me know your rates and a sample of your work.
Thanks
Tim

So I said this....
Hello,

I am sorry but I am already booked on that date.

You can find a DJ at whatever price that you want, but remember that a DJ is going to set the tone for your day. They are going to bring the celebration and are the single most important vendor when it comes to giving the day your vibe. The music, cocktail, dinner & dance is a reflection on you and what you enjoy in life.

Look on YouTube for "Wedding DJ Fails" see the problems that you can have by hiring a cheapo DJ. In our world the saying "you get what you pay for" is true.

You could get a cake from Safeway, and you could put disposable camera on the tables, I am betting you have a nice dress and a good suit in your closets to wear, but I am betting you didn't cheap out with those.

At the end of the night when people are saying goodbye to you and telling you what a great party that was and they had so much fun, do you think they are talking about your flowers? No. All your wedding professional are a team and are going to help you create a wonderful & beautiful day, but if any one of them fails, your day is ruined. But really, if the flowers are a tad wilted, does that mean people will have less fun?

Look at your budget and look at what is most important to you. Maybe the music isn't that important. Maybe dancing is just not your thing. Maybe having an MC isn't that big of a deal, that's cool and up to you.

What your DJ does is more than just "push play" and if you look at the percentage of your guests that are going to get enjoyment (or not) from a wedding vendor, the music/DJ will rank right up there as one of highest.

Why am I telling you all this? Why should I care? Well truthfully I just want you to have a great time with many memories and I do not want one of those to be that the DJ was terrible. Whoever you choose, meet them first. Face to face.

Sending a sample of their work doesn't mean anything. Each DJ, each GOOD DJ is going to feel your crowd out and make your day unique. Sending you a sample of my work, truly doesn't matter. What if I send you me playing YMCA and you hate YMCA, what if I don't send you YMCA and you LOVE YMCA?

No, you need to talk to your DJ, meet them, see if they are going to be someone who is going to represent what you want on your wedding day to your guests. Someone professional and full time. There is a reason that a DJ is full time. Does it always guarantee that they will be great? No, but it's a good starting point.

This is without even getting to the MC part of being a "DJ". Is your DJ going to announce your Grand Entrance? Your First dance as a married couple? How is he, or she, going to handle the cake cutting or the Father/Daughter dance? Maybe you'd like a "Love Story" entrance or a "Circle Of Love" ending. This is all on the DJ/MC to bring to your day.

This may seem look like a lot to think about, and it is, but you have the time. This day, this ONE day in your life has to be perfect. 30 years from now (and more) you will still remember this day, I hope that you remember it as one of the best days of your life. Congratulations.

 

[Scott Hanna]

Nice Chuck.

Btw, I don't think there is anything wrong with having a Craigslist ad.

It's just the overpromise and under delivering ones.

 

[Chuck The DJ]

True....

 

[DJ Ricky B]

I wonder if that prospect responds after that email.

The email while honest, and thoughtful comes off as being a bit defensive. You also didn't offer him any detail of what a Great Wedding DJ should be charging. He might have DJs quote him $300, and others quote him $1,250. ...Will the email help him spend the $1500 on that other DJ? hhmmm.

I booked 17 events off of Craigslist between 2010 and 2011. It was HOT back then. ...A couple of them were above $1,000 as well. Sometimes real Techy type of people who do have money to spend on their wedding utilize Craigslist to look for vendors.

I haven't booked anything off of CL in a long while now though. I only put up a couple ads a month these days.

 

[redhotdj]

You can find a DJ at whatever price that you want, but remember that a DJ is going to set the tone for your day. They are going to bring the celebration and are the single most important vendor when it comes to giving the day your vibe. The music, cocktail, dinner & dance is a reflection on you and what you enjoy in life.

What you said here is 100% true. I've said this for years and some people here chewed my ass out for saying that, But I don't care. You can do a wedding without a cake you can do a wedding without flowers but no dj its a pretty dull wedding. That's my story and I'm sticking with it

 

[MIXMASTERMACHOM]

I wonder if that prospect responds after that email.

The email while honest, and thoughtful comes off as being a bit defensive. You also didn't offer him any detail of what a Great Wedding DJ should be charging. He might have DJs quote him $300, and others quote him $1,250. ...Will the email help him spend the $1500 on that other DJ? hhmmm.

I booked 17 events off of Craigslist between 2010 and 2011. It was HOT back then. ...A couple of them were above $1,000 as well. Sometimes real Techy type of people who do have money and to spend on their wedding utilize Craigslist to look for vendors.

I haven't booked anything off of CL in a long while now though. I only put up a couple ads a month these days.

So how much should a bride spend to book a great wedding DJ? What should that DJ provide to be a great wedding DJ? Please explain.

 

[tunes4046]

So how much should a bride spend to book a great wedding DJ? What should that DJ provide to be a great wedding DJ? Please explain.

A bride should spend what she is comfortable spending, she should find a DJ who she clicks with and is comfortable working with , That DJ should provide quality reliable service, and at least meet and preferable go above and beyond the clients expectations

 

[SEDJ]

Ive been staying away from posting on CL, but have thought about putting up a ad just to see what type of leads come in.

 

[redhotdj]

ask anyone who has been to a wedding, lets say a year ago. Ask them what color was the brides dress, how many in the wedding party, what did they have to eat, what was for desert I'm sure they wont remember but if the danced the night away that happens only one way

 

[Randy A]

So how much should a bride spend to book a great wedding DJ? What should that DJ provide to be a great wedding DJ? Please explain.

If you were to hire yourself, how much would you pay? Seriously, what do you think you're truly worth? And, do you consistently get that amount when you're hired?

 

[steve149]

I've never been a fan of the "DJ is the single most person .. yada yada". First, I don't think that's true and second, it just sounds smarmy (I like that word).

 

[SEDJ]

I've never been a fan of the "DJ is the single most person .. yada yada". .

Ive noticed there are a lot DJ's that feel that way, and the event is all about them

 

[Jas]

I've heard other vendors say that a DJ can make or break the reception. If not the most important, the DJ is more important than most other expenses for the night. Of course if the DJ breaks rather than makes the night - probably wasn't that important!

 

[rickryan.com]

One question for Chuck. Why in the world did you bother writing all that stuff if you were already booked?

 

[Jeff Romard]

Ive been staying away from posting on CL, but have thought about putting up a ad just to see what type of leads come in.

Any advertising that is free is good advertising. Don't look at it like running a free ad to attract cheap brides look it as part of a bigger marketing plan to create TOMA. The more places they can find you the better off you are

 

[SEDJ]

Any advertising that is free is good advertising. Don't look at it like running a free ad to attract cheap brides look it as part of a bigger marketing plan to create TOMA. The more places they can find you the better off you are

Ive used CL in the past, so I might give it a try again.

 

[Jeff Romard]

I use Kijjiji ( Same as Craigslist up here in Canada) from time to time. I use it mainly in the booking season (Dec to March). A lot of the inquiries I get from there are tire kickers looking for the lowest price but I've also booked some great gigs there too.

I have done and still do a lot of reading on marketing. One thing that is stressed and stands out is TOMA. Another thing almost any professional marketer will tell you is the average person looks in at least 3 to 4 places for a product or service these days before they make a purchase. The more places your name is seen the more likely you will develop a TOMA at least with that client

 

[SEDJ]

I use Kijjiji ( Same as Craigslist up here in Canada) from time to time. I use it mainly in the booking season (Dec to March). A lot of the inquiries I get from there are tire kickers looking for the lowest price but I've also booked some great gigs there too.

I have done and still do a lot of reading on marketing. One thing that is stressed and stands out is TOMA. Another thing almost any professional marketer will tell you is the average person looks in at least 3 to 4 places for a product or service these days before they make a purchase. The more places your name is seen the more likely you will develop a TOMA at least with that client

One of the reasons I was holding off on posting on CL is I didnt want to be associated as or with all the bottom feeding DJ's .

 

[Proformance]

Honestly, I quit reading after the second paragraph and in all likelihood so would the prospect.
They sent you a two sentence email and you responded with an editorial.

Nothing after the statement: "I'm already booked" is warranted. They asked you two specific questions and you really didn't answer either of them.

IMHO, you wrote a lecture based on your underlying negative opinion of Craigslist yet, you are phishing the very same site? I think you should make up your mind about Craigslist and decide why you are posting there. Is it really to find work or does writing these long winded responses just make you feel good?

 

[Proformance]

I use Kijjiji ( Same as Craigslist up here in Canada) from time to time. I use it mainly in the booking season (Dec to March). A lot of the inquiries I get from there are tire kickers looking for the lowest price but I've also booked some great gigs there too.

I have done and still do a lot of reading on marketing. One thing that is stressed and stands out is TOMA. Another thing almost any professional marketer will tell you is the average person looks in at least 3 to 4 places for a product or service these days before they make a purchase. The more places your name is seen the more likely you will develop a TOMA at least with that client

I think you are confusing recurrence with what you are calling top of mind awareness. To be seen each place a prospect searches is just advertising recurrence, not top of mind.

Top of mind branding is beyond your capacity. It means your name is already in the head of people who have never hired you even BEFORE they search anywhere. If I say "cola" you think Pepsi or Coke - without searching anything. Developing TOMA involves a whole lot more than simply being at the top of each advertising list. You don't have the resources for that.

At best, you can maintain TOMA only with your existing client base which serves you by way of direct referral, not a top-of-mind response from new prospects.