The Wedding DJ Saga (this actually applies to all DJs)

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I have no problem with a bride asking me what I will do to entertain the crowd if they are running behind.
The answer is I will play good appropriate music and be working with the caterer and anyone else involved to make sure we are all on the same page to adjust the times. The difference with us is we are experienced enough to not let a timeline adjustment throw off the whole evening.

If someone is looking for someone to do magic tricks for their guests, we are not the company you are looking for. There is nothing wrong with wanting that, it's just not something we provide.
 
Interesting post guys, thanks for the feedback from the "other side."

If I may, for the rest of us, I don't think the "what makes you different" question can be answered in print. No matter what you type it will sound contrived or similar to what somebody else has said. What makes you different is you, your personality and how you relate to the bride as a person. Sure your actual answer may sound like others, but how you answer, how you connect with her, that is what makes you different. Make her laugh, make her cry, make her think, and for gods sake...listen to her, don't just pitch her.
 
I gotta get this off my chest....my website is being redone...I hate the way it was...why...I'm old fashion. To me customer service is still the way to go..give them what they want and then some. I saw myself starting to be like others....sorry not who I am.

So who am I......I believe in meeting the client the first time and again a month or so before....why. Because thats how I would like it done for me. If I need to take a call or email everyday for a month leading up to the event so be it...price of doing the job for my customers...thats why Im in business for my customers. Just me but I never have liked the saying time is money..I would rather be there for my customers...because down the road it comes back to me....just my thought on it.

After all the planning is done I still have 3 basic goals for the evening
1. I want the bride/groom to arrive ...relax...eat and enjoy the evening...all the planning is done already...I'll sweat the details that night
2. You have guests..family...friends...loved ones who are here to help you celebrate your special day....its my resposibilty to make sure they have a good time also
3. To make sure that the other vendors...serving staff ....photographers are all on the same page. I make sure before the garter/bouquet that not only the bride/groom are ready but the photographer knows its coming so they can get all the great shots they need to.

I want your quests to come up to you at the end of the night and give you a hug and then thank you for inviting them...we had a blast.

I dont talk about equipment ...to me that seems silly....you take your auto in for repair...do you ask if they have the right tools to fix it....if Im asked yes I can tell you but to me its just a given.

After listening to what the bride/groom are envisioning for their day I can begin to help paint a picture of how it will turn out...that is what I do....with what you want and what I know I can do...create the masterpiece that is your wedding day. Does it take effort...yes...but Ive been told I make it look easy....guess all those days acting in plays and directing them has paid off...lol

My best advise...and I give this to everyone who is shopping....when you have narrowed it down to the last 2 or 3 please meet with them...all the websites...phone calls or emails are fine...but meeting them face to face is always your best option...ever buy a car over the phone....usually you go look at it....sit in it...smell it....drive it...kick the tires....just dont kick me I bruise easy. Just sit there and get to know them some....make sure the person you are giving your day to meets the feelings and anticipation you have....
 
Have you set up a meeting to meet with any of these guys in person?
Just because a guy gives you all the right answers on the phone is not reason enough to hire him. In many cases, you may be dealing with a salesperson (who knows how to sell) but is not the person that will be your DJ.

As a prospect, I want to sit down & meet the person face to face & see if we mesh.
I too really don't care if the guy is a basket weaver in his spare time. I want to know what he can do for me.
 
Bill Kexel said:
Have you set up a meeting to meet with any of these guys in person?
Just because a guy gives you all the right answers on the phone is not reason enough to hire him. In many cases, you may be dealing with a salesperson (who knows how to sell) but is not the person that will be your DJ.

As a prospect, I want to sit down & meet the person face to face & see if we mesh.
I too really don't care if the guy is a basket weaver in his spare time. I want to know what he can do for me.
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As much as I would love to meet all the hundred or so DJs that came up in my search, I have to find some way of narrowing it down.

The question of "what sets you apart" spun from the fact that I'll get a quote from a $900 DJ and an $1800 that both offer the same equipment and services - in the same area! There's gotta be at least one reason that one DJ is charging double the amount of the other DJ.
 
DJ Ducky said:
As much as I would love to meet all the hundred or so DJs that came up in my search, I have to find some way of narrowing it down.

The question of "what sets you apart" spun from the fact that I'll get a quote from a $900 DJ and an $1800 that both offer the same equipment and services - in the same area! There's gotta be at least one reason that one DJ is charging double the amount of the other DJ.
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IN that case, the premium priced provider has failed to either create enough differentiation in your mind to warrant consideration or has provided NO differentiation. Either way, the failure exists.
 
DJ Ducky said:
As much as I would love to meet all the hundred or so DJs that came up in my search, I have to find some way of narrowing it down.

The question of "what sets you apart" spun from the fact that I'll get a quote from a $900 DJ and an $1800 that both offer the same equipment and services - in the same area! There's gotta be at least one reason that one DJ is charging double the amount of the other DJ.
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Yea Mr. $900 DJ is realistic depending on the market and Mr. $1800 DJ is probably a GWYW DJ.... and both may be fantastic at what they do. If everything about what they offer truely appears to be the same ask for a Promo video or a chance to see them in action at some public performance or letters of recommendation.... anything that might show you why they charge what they charge.
 
DJ J Mac said:
I personally want to know what is your background, what do you do outside of being a DJ, what is that one thing that you can bring to the table that no other DJ in your area can bring?
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DJ Ducky said:
I have phoned tens of DJs in the past couple of days. First of all, please answer the phone. If you are unavailable to answer the phone, please have voicemail; I need to know that I have called the correct number. If your spouse answers the phone for you, please have them prepared to take down information - and please, call me back. If I leave a message asking for you to call back after 5pm, please don't call me at 11:30am or look up my phone number and email my DJ account (I'm trying to keep businesses and personal stuff separated, as are many prospective clients.)

Most importantly, listen to me and respect me. Listening comes from the fact that as individuals, we are all different. We have different ideas for our weddings. Listen to what we want and don't push format or your own ideas right off the bat. Respect comes from the idea that you are speaking to an adult who is inquiring about your services.
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DJ Ducky said:
Websites are another issue. Most websites that these DJs have are pretty useful in information. There were actually more that had ballpark pricing on them than I anticipated, which is very helpful. (In my area, my company is the only one that does not guard its rates like a golden egg.)

My biggest gripe are websites that are stuck in the 90s - long-loading Flash intros, music playing, animated GIFs, multiple font colors/sizes, lots of scrolling. At the very least, please get rid of the sound because it doesn't always play at the same, quiet volume on everyone else's computers. The sound trouble has been my pet peeve for websites of DJs and photographers.
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DJ Ducky said:
Another concern I have is, well, why don't a lot of DJs want to meet face-to-face? I've run into many DJs who allow one free consultation to take care of the contract and discuss a little bit about the event, but that's all. I've had countless DJs push their online wedding planners, online request systems, and phone meetings. All I'm asking for is an initial meeting, so I can get to know the DJ and a second meeting about a month before the wedding. I just want to meet face-to-face...why should that cost extra money? I'll even drive down to your town's local Dunkin' Donuts to meet.
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Remember before reading you asked the question.....

From what I see from your posts is that you don't wan't to hear the sales shpiel, you wan't to know what they do beside DJ, you don't like voice mail, you aren't fussy about flash websites, and you want to meet several times before making a commitment.

Never once did you mention asking how much experience they had as a wedding DJ

You assume that everyone uses professional equipment that's not always the case

You assume everyone uses a contract.

You haven't asked for references or a promo video

You are asking questions and worrying about things that have nothing to do with the job at hand all while not getting to anything important.. I understand your concern in hiring but honestly I would have a hard time taking you seriously if you called me
 
jokerswild said:
Yea Mr. $900 DJ is realistic depending on the market and Mr. $1800 DJ is probably a GWYW DJ.... and both may be fantastic at what they do. If everything about what they offer truely appears to be the same ask for a Promo video or a chance to see them in action at some public performance or letters of recommendation.... anything that might show you why they charge what they charge.
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I have to agree with Ducky here if you are charging double your market value the onus should be on the DJ to show why not the client to dig it out
 
Jeff Romard said:
I have to agree with Ducky here if you are charging double your market value the onus should be on the DJ to show why not the client to dig it out
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I agree and the very fact that she has to ask should be a warning that the $1800 DJ may just be asking to Get What he Thinks he's Worth and not what he truly Worth.

She should not have to prompt either DJ for their justification on price... they should be falling over themselves to give it to her.

With every prospect I send them a welcome letter, my references, a link to reviews, and now a video as well.

This is how I set myself apart.
 
jokerswild said:
Yea Mr. $900 DJ is realistic depending on the market and Mr. $1800 DJ is probably a GWYW DJ
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Wow. Assumptions, prejudices, and conjecture.

Holla when you get to a fact.:sqwink:

See how you like this turn about:

Mr. $1,800 DJ is probably running a legitimate business with the requisite insurance, participation in continuing education and professional associations, non-leeched music libraries, professional equipment and the proficient and artistic ability to use it, respect of venue and other wedding service professionals, decades of successful performances and experience with events exactly like the clients', published and adhered to ethical standards, while Mr. $900 DJ is not and is merely a bottom feeder abusing uninformed and susceptible clients.
 
Jeff Romard said:
Remember before reading you asked the question.....

From what I see from your posts is that you don't wan't to hear the sales shpiel, you wan't to know what they do beside DJ, you don't like voice mail, you aren't fussy about flash websites, and you want to meet several times before making a commitment.

Never once did you mention asking how much experience they had as a wedding DJ

You assume that everyone uses professional equipment that's not always the case

You assume everyone uses a contract.

You haven't asked for references or a promo video

You are asking questions and worrying about things that have nothing to do with the job at hand all while not getting to anything important.. I understand your concern in hiring but honestly I would have a hard time taking you seriously if you called me
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We actually do ask about the contract; if they don't mention it, we ask for more specifics about the equipment; references are stage 2. As for experience, we were all rookies once.
 
DJ J Mac said:
As for experience, we were all rookies once.
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...and in every profession, except athletics, rookies are worth and get paid LESS!

Experience has value, real, tangible, compensable value. To discount that is an exercise in ignorance.
 
djrox said:
Wow. Assumptions, prejudices, and conjecture.

Holla when you get to a fact.:sqwink:

See how you like this turn about:

Mr. $1,800 DJ is probably running a legitimate business with the requisite insurance, participation in continuing education and professional associations, non-leeched music libraries, professional equipment and the proficient and artistic ability to use it, respect of venue and other wedding service professionals, decades of successful performances and experience with events exactly like the clients', published and adhered to ethical standards, while Mr. $900 DJ is not and is merely a bottom feeder abusing uninformed and susceptible clients.
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Point taken... :sqrolleyes::sqbiggrin:

Still to me the warning shot is this if neither of them can or are willing to justify or otherwise prove their price point is justified then there needs to be something there to make me want to dig for it... otherwise walk away.
 
djrox said:
Wow. Assumptions, prejudices, and conjecture.

Holla when you get to a fact.:sqwink:

See how you like this turn about:

Mr. $1,800 DJ is probably running a legitimate business with the requisite insurance, participation in continuing education and professional associations, non-leeched music libraries, professional equipment and the proficient and artistic ability to use it, respect of venue and other wedding service professionals, decades of successful performances and experience with events exactly like the clients', published and adhered to ethical standards, while Mr. $900 DJ is not and is merely a bottom feeder abusing uninformed and susceptible clients.
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Ah, but here you make assumptions as well. Without asking detailed questions and some tough questions, you will never know if Mr. $1800 DJ is overpriced or is asking a fair price. By the same token, you'll never know if Mr. $900 DJ is a bottom feeder or someone who can hold their own against guys who charge three times their rate.
 
DJ J Mac said:
Ah, but here you make assumptions as well. Without asking detailed questions and some tough questions, you will never know if Mr. $1800 DJ is overpriced or is asking a fair price. By the same token, you'll never know if Mr. $900 DJ is a bottom feeder or someone who can hold their own against guys who charge three times their rate.
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:sqconfused::sqerr: That was the point.
 
DJ J Mac said:
As for experience, we were all rookies once.
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If you are going to take the bother and time it interview them this should be your first question. I don't have anything against someone learning but I prefer they learn at someone elses event

This may well be the difference in the $900 and $1800 DJ also
 
DJ J Mac said:
Ah, but here you make assumptions as well. Without asking detailed questions and some tough questions, you will never know if Mr. $1800 DJ is overpriced or is asking a fair price. By the same token, you'll never know if Mr. $900 DJ is a bottom feeder or someone who can hold their own against guys who charge three times their rate.
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To that end what question do you propose to ask to help you to differentiate between them?
 
djrox said:
...and in every profession, except athletics, rookies are worth and get paid LESS!

Experience has value, real, tangible, compensable value. To discount that is an exercise in ignorance.
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Ah yes, but experience is a double edged sword. We've talked to DJs who have been doing weddings for 20 years and they've pushed the "traditional" wedding at us which is not what we want. We've talked to guys who have 3 years experience who listen to what we want. In this specific case, the value of experience is less than the value of inexperience.
 
Jeff Romard said:
Remember before reading you asked the question.....

From what I see from your posts is that you don't wan't to hear the sales shpiel, you wan't to know what they do beside DJ, you don't like voice mail, you aren't fussy about flash websites, and you want to meet several times before making a commitment.

Never once did you mention asking how much experience they had as a wedding DJ

You assume that everyone uses professional equipment that's not always the case

You assume everyone uses a contract.

You haven't asked for references or a promo video
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The phone calls only come after viewing the website...if we're still interested enough to call for a quote. Most of the websites we've encountered include information on experience and philosophy, as well as equipment. As I mentioned before, many of the DJs I've contacted have gotten put off by the equipment question. Of course I ask it. But once again, even though I consider laptops and powered speakers to be inferior to an amped passive setup and CDs (and those are different arguments), there are too many DJs who use the first set to discount them. Just because they use a different setup does not mean I'm going to discount them. I'm obviously not going to hire a DJ if they use the Radio Shack special...give me more credit than that, please.
 
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