Pricing/Packages - your input please

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rickryan.com

rickryan.com

DJ Extraordinaire
ODJT Supporter
Dec 9, 2009
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Hendersonville, TN
www.rickryan.com
http://www.rickryan.com/#!pricing/c2v0

Would you guys mind taking a look at my pricing page? I'm re-vamping how I approach a sale. In the past, I've been a DJ who offers lighting and photobooth. The online ordering thing has worked well (at that price point) and it was nice getting emails and finding out you have money waiting. Since add Photography, I think a whole new mindset is in order on the sales process. These are bigger dollars and, of the ones I've sold so far, they all had a greater level of customer service on the sales side. Instead of doing a quote-builder, I think I'm going to offline that and just try to get a meeting. The new inquiry form sends email plus it sends a text to my cellphone. I've noticed a trend that, if I call/email them within a couple of minutes, it increases my kill rate, greatly.

I'm also going back to package offerings. While the shopping cart thing lent itself to ala carte, the brides have always seemed to better identify with multi-service packages, especially when there's a discount involved. Would appreciate any input you guys have and whether or not the graduated pricing structures make sense as well as the simplicity of the descriptions. Thanks in advance.
 
http://www.rickryan.com/#!pricing/c2v0

Would you guys mind taking a look at my pricing page? I'm re-vamping how I approach a sale. In the past, I've been a DJ who offers lighting and photobooth. The online ordering thing has worked well (at that price point) and it was nice getting emails and finding out you have money waiting. Since add Photography, I think a whole new mindset is in order on the sales process. These are bigger dollars and, of the ones I've sold so far, they all had a greater level of customer service on the sales side. Instead of doing a quote-builder, I think I'm going to offline that and just try to get a meeting. The new inquiry form sends email plus it sends a text to my cellphone. I've noticed a trend that, if I call/email them within a couple of minutes, it increases my kill rate, greatly.

I'm also going back to package offerings. While the shopping cart thing lent itself to ala carte, the brides have always seemed to better identify with multi-service packages, especially when there's a discount involved. Would appreciate any input you guys have and whether or not the graduated pricing structures make sense as well as the simplicity of the descriptions. Thanks in advance.
 
Looks fine leading with the Photo-DJ combos .. only thing is I would expect the full Platinum / Diamond bundles to have in them what is in the DJ only Platinum / Diamond and the descriptions don't say.
 
I've tried selling the photography as a 'consult' thing - since each bride and wedding are often unique (where getting ready, all in one place, 4 hours or 9, etc). I liked it but they seem to still call because of packages. So I do packages.

Now as primarily a photographer a photobooth was an add-on and with it I'd throw in a second photographer for free (since they'd be there to run the booth anyway, not a cost thing on my end really). Lots of ways to do that in a package.

When I added DJ it was tougher as I can't photo and DJ so one of those would have to come with labor attached to it. And what to charge, er, discount, for bundling has lots of perspectives to it. A lady that was with me at the time I was working on all this suggested I approach it as 'photog first' adn anythign else as bonus money. If teh cost of person for dj or photogbooth was $200 than anything I coould get over that was 'free money' for me. I agree with that concept but had a hard time selling it.

I tend to advertise as a DJ or Photog (diff names/sites but they are linked) figuring if they want a DJ they won't call a butcher, baker or photographer, and vice versa. Seems to be helping sell teh DJ side of things without hurting the photog side.

If I had an in-house person (my daughter is being groomed to be my DJ ass't) then I'll find it easier to sell her 'artistic ability' or whatnot as a separate thing and not confuse teh consumer.

Seems people view a photobooth as a 'thing' and not a 'person' or service or personality sale so that's an easier add on. I can get a lot more for it at a wedding than a grad party (same for DJ) so that makes pricing it on the website difficult. Still working on that.

i've not listed a package with everything - dj and photo, dj photo and booth...maybe I should consider it...if nothing else it would let me show a 'whopper' package that would make all the other seem inexpensive by comparison!
 
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IceBurghDJ said:
i've not listed a package with everything - dj and photo, dj photo and booth...maybe I should consider it...if nothing else it would let me show a 'whopper' package that would make all the other seem inexpensive by comparison!
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I'm betting you'll find a lot more "whopper buyers" than you might imagine. Remember, lots of these girls use daddy's credit card and if they can tell him, "I'm saving you $1,000" and they only ding his card one time, as opposed to 3 or 4, then it's a winner. FWIW, I also share you sentiment on the photobooth. For being a hired-out product, it's better profit than selling another DJ.
 
Merged the threads...Carry on as if you're normal
 
All this photographer talk has me thinking. Less equipment to carry and I really don't like much of today's music. There's a long time wedding photographer in my area that switched to just doing photobooth. He got tired of shooting weddings all day I guess.
 
Looks good ... very competitive pricing, especially if your photography is any good.

Is your wife doing the photography? If so, I would definitely be utilizing her face and presence on the site as well. I think it adds to the lure that you have a female involved. I have my lovely wife's portrait on our site to show that we value her input and advise for the business. Many brides have asked about her. Now that she's retired, I may bring her into the mix a bit more.
 
I would also add that most photographers have an all-day package that captures everything from their breakfast, make-up, etc....until their last dance. I know they tell me it's a long day, but it's the best pay day and one that is chosen most of the time.
 
Randy A said:
I would also add that most photographers have an all-day package that captures everything from their breakfast, make-up, etc....until their last dance. I know they tell me it's a long day, but it's the best pay day and one that is chosen most of the time.
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I've tried to talk the wife into that but she won't budget past an 8-hour commitment. Of course, the events we've already done have run 12 hours so I'm not sure why she's so staunchly against it. We're already doing a long day. Might as well get paid for it.
 
rickryan.com said:
I've tried to talk the wife into that but she won't budget past an 8-hour commitment. Of course, the events we've already done have run 12 hours so I'm not sure why she's so staunchly against it. We're already doing a long day. Might as well get paid for it.
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A friend sell the 'all day' thing and uses 2, somteims 3 photogs as some brides take the offer VERY seriously - he's a had a few that he starts shooting at 8 am (so his day starts 1-2 hours before that) and can go to midnight. There is nothing to shoot after about 3 hours of the reception - same people dance and a still shot of a dance looks like any other. So it's a long long 1-2 hours and you're tired...so you sit for most of it which doesn't look good to the customer IMO.
 
Jas said:
I don't take many photos since I'm the DJ, but getting good shots of people dancing is hard to come by from behind the DJ booth. And those are the kind of photos I want on my website.
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I feel your pain and tried for a few years to get photographers to send copies of their dance shots (they always claim they'll be happy to). Always was met with being ignored or would have some photographer who wants to sell me his/her shots. Best rule of thumb is to get a good quality camera and take them yourself.
 
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rickryan.com said:
Best rule of thumb is to get a good quality camera and take them yourself.
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I picked up an entry level DSLR last year so my photos are getting better. But what's difficult is composing good shots where everything is right including lighting, smiles on faces, people facing the camera, no backs of big white shirts etc.

To get better compositions I do screenshots (on my computer) of footage in the best frames. But that's a trade off for good focus and higher quality.
 
DJ Wes said:
Is Centerpiece Uplighting really defined as 'Provides a club-style, dance lighting system for your dance floor.' ;)
I sure wish I could get/offer that many options to my clients.
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Centerpiece Uplighting .. sounds like 2 different requirements.
 
Jas said:
I don't take many photos since I'm the DJ, but getting good shots of people dancing is hard to come by from behind the DJ booth. And those are the kind of photos I want on my website.
Click to expand...

rickryan.com said:
I feel your pain and tried for a few years to get photographers to send copies of their dance shots (they always claim they'll be happy to). Always was met with being ignored or would have some photographer who wants to sell me his/her shots. Best rule of thumb is to get a good quality camera and take them yourself.
Click to expand...

I've been taking photos for several years. I've only had a few couples that have requested I don't. They aren't photography quality, but I can do a bit of editing on them to get them looking pretty good. Right now, I have a Nikon 3200 w/ stock lenses. I also utilize the images via my FB page and tag the B&G, who in turn tag their family & friends. Tagging, sharing, using for profile images; all great ways for additional exposure. I'm sure this will turn into 'you have to get releases, blah, blah, blah ..... but if I get someone that requests an image gets removed, I take it down. That's explained with my follow up emails to clients.

DJ Wes said:
Is Centerpiece Uplighting really defined as 'Provides a club-style, dance lighting system for your dance floor.' ;)
I sure wish I could get/offer that many options to my clients.
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For myself, (I bold that to show I'm not talking gospel, just sharing) I quit doing the packages. I have lighting. I provide lighting that fills the avenue or event. Sometimes that may mean more than other times, but as an average it all washes out in the end. I prefer the K.I.S.S. method of presenting details and investment options to my inquiries/clients. Same goes for my Accent Lighting; I'm a flat rate. Sometimes that means 20 lights, sometimes that means 40+ lights, but I use what makes the venue look the best.
 
Jas said:
I don't take many photos since I'm the DJ, but getting good shots of people dancing is hard to come by from behind the DJ booth. And those are the kind of photos I want on my website.
Click to expand...

I can throw on a 3 minute song, grab my camera and walk around the room and catch about 20 images and still have time to pick the next song when I get back to the booth. :)
 
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