Craigs List Response

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Chuck The DJ

Chuck The DJ

I know people.
Sep 28, 2006
8,671
3,571
Sebastopol, California
www.chuckthedj.com
I know that I am posting this on more than one site,,,, but...

I normally let the ads go by, but since I'm home alone while my wife is on the Mainland, I'm in a mood so I took the time to respond. You can click on the ad if you want, but basically he said he would beat any DJ on Maui's price.......

That lead to this...

Aloha Matt / Shaka Productions,

Saw your ad... http://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/evs/945305120.html

Interesting.... Just wondering why you would want to work for less than you are worth?

It says that you will beat any DJ on Maui's price, why?

You should at least meet their price and make more money.

Sell your service and your quality, not your price.

I am not slamming you but rather than everyone trying beat each others price, we could all make more by having a standard and make a living wage.

Feel free to e-mail me back if you like, or call or whatever because I'm always up for networking and seeing if we can all make a living wage here, rather than fighting each other.

Aloha and Mahalo,

Chuck "The DJ" Lehnhard
Maui Mobile Music
www.chuckthedj.com
808-344-0057
 
good response chuck. who knows, he may end up becoming a friend. He may not now how else to market himself other than price.

way to network rather than attack!!

for his sake, I hope he takes you up on his offer
 
Also mention that he should spell check his nice color ad before saving as a jpg.

Or are you all "freindly" out there on the islands.
 
Much better than the response I gave an emailer yesterday. I got this email from a Bryan calling himself DJSkyhigh offering to do Christmas parties up to 5 hours for $300. I replied asking him how he can afford to do that when renting equipment cost at least that much.

Haven't gotten a reply yet.
 
The key to undercutting other DJs is to set your price and let the customers realize that your price seems to be the best deal in town. :)

The key to dealing with DJs who undercut other DJs to the point where they're paying to DJ is to sit back and let their business fail.

The key to dealing with DJs who charge above the market for their services is to let them live in their own world.


I'm not sure what range your price falls in your market, Chuck, but if you command a higher price in the market and this guy is trying to be the least expensive DJ on the island, well...I think that neither of you should be concerned about the other.
 
I guess in some ways I see it differently. It is nice that Chuck didn't attack the guy, but my way of handling it would be not to handle it at all. I don't care what others charge. Or, rather, I would not presume to talk to another DJ about his rates. That is his business; I would concentrate on my own.

Really, what Chuck just did was a minor version of GWYW.
 
True, I've got to give Chuck props for trying to help the guy. Helping others in your market helps your business at the same time.

That being said, unsolicited advice can backfire. Not to minimize Chuck's effort ~ I believe Chuck is sincere. Yet some people in this biz are simply gig pigs and honestly believe that the ticket to making money is to sell for less. And as Ducky mentioned, they'll learn the hard way.

This practice is an easy hole to fall in to and one that's very difficult to dig one's self out of. By the time the guy realizes he's losing money he's already set the standard for his service. Once he figures out that DJ companies in the area routinely take in four times what he's been asking it's too late. How many clients are gonna buy a 400% price hike overnight, especially when the service is the same as it was the week before?

Thoughts?
 
wow... so many well thought out responses... I applaud you all.

I haven't heard anything back yet.

But as for my motivation,,, really, my wife is gone and I'm home alone. LOL

But to be honest, I'm all about helping the local guys out. I know that they are there and we live on a very small island so I feel it's better to network than back-stab.

As far as where am I in regards to pricing... I'm really about the 3rd highest priced DJ on Maui, so that would put me at the upper end here I guess.


I too believe that there are DJ who are charging too much and I'm not really a GWYAW guy. I guess it came across that way. But I do not or have ever been one of "those" DJs.

I feel that each DJ has to do what he feels is right for his business and his lifestyle.

And yes I know that goes in contrast to what I sent to that DJ. But improvement can be had with DJ like that.

I know, I'm all over the place in my thinking. I take a bit from here, there and everywhere and it all jumbles up in my little brain and makes me who I am,,,,, ummm,, wait, who am I?

There is a big line in the sand here... DJs who can do destination events, and the local "mokes" who do da kine local parties. I would think that 90% of the destination stuff goes to about 4 or 5 of us.... This guy is a "local" DJ.

Local events just don't pay as well, one of the reasons I haven't been doing them. But with the economy like it is I might start marketing that way...
 
Chuck,

Don't hold your breathe waiting for an intelligent response. His USP screams VOLUMES about the quality of his service.
 
Maui is a tough market already.....and now its been polluted by Craigslist!!!

I know you have extra time on your hands, but why not spend it learning how to improve SEO and ORM (if you know what both acronyms mean, you can ignore my advice).

Too much time is spent worrying about what others are doing.....instead of just focusing on your own business.

Destination brides will NOT book their Maui wedding from Craigslist.

The really smart ones (especially Bay Area brides) are going to look at Google, then check Yelp, CityVoter, City Search, or another reliable UGC site for corroboration of on-site testimonials.

I did a Google search (pretending to be a Destination bride from Northern CA):

[Maui Wedding DJs] - found Maui Mobile Music at bottom of Page Two. Just putting the word "wedding" into the Title tag would have resulted in a much better SERP. (current tag = Maui Mobile Music - Professional DJ / Disk Jockey on Maui, Hawaii)

Once you get the word "wedding" into your tags, then I'll tell you how to get Page One for "Maui Weddings"
 
Actually, your letter is a crime.
No kidding! Soliciting him to support a standard price on Maui violates
business laws regarding "price fixing." (U.S. Code Title 15)

Now, before you turn yourself in to Five-O realize that your profile probably doesn't justify the price of prosecution. But, if you were the CEO of Microsoft - you'd be the next news item right behind the Governor of Illinois.

In the future limit your letters to this:


Aloha Matt / Shaka Productions,

Saw your ad... http://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/evs/945305120.html

Interesting....

It says that you will beat any DJ on Maui's price?

(I like to) sell (my) service and (my) quality.

I'm always up for networking. Feel free to call or email.

Aloha and Mahalo,
 
Chuck The DJ said:
I know that I am posting this on more than one site,,,, but...

I normally let the ads go by, but since I'm home alone while my wife is on the Mainland, I'm in a mood so I took the time to respond. You can click on the ad if you want, but basically he said he would beat any DJ on Maui's price.......

That lead to this...

Aloha Matt / Shaka Productions,

Saw your ad... http://honolulu.craigslist.org/mau/evs/945305120.html

Interesting.... Just wondering why you would want to work for less than you are worth?

It says that you will beat any DJ on Maui's price, why?

You should at least meet their price and make more money.

Sell your service and your quality, not your price.

I am not slamming you but rather than everyone trying beat each others price, we could all make more by having a standard and make a living wage.

Feel free to e-mail me back if you like, or call or whatever because I'm always up for networking and seeing if we can all make a living wage here, rather than fighting each other.

Aloha and Mahalo,

Chuck "The DJ" Lehnhard
Maui Mobile Music
www.chuckthedj.com
808-344-0057
Click to expand...
Do you know that what you are suggesting can be viewed upon as a conspiracy/price fixing? In some states that can be illegal. Be careful what you send out in print. Read here! http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/guidelines/primer-ncu.htm
 
Chuck The DJ said:
There is a big line in the sand here... DJs who can do destination events, and the local "mokes" who do da kine local parties. I would think that 90% of the destination stuff goes to about 4 or 5 of us.... This guy is a "local" DJ.

But with the economy like it is I might start marketing that way...
Click to expand...


No reason you can't do both, Chuck. I do. Besides different packets, I also have 3 different types of business cards. It's just a matter of

1) Targeting your market

2) Establishing the absolute minimum you will work for.


While I average around 1100.00 for the top events ( in my case corporates), I have established an entirely separate market for which I am willing to charge 125.oo/hr 4 hour minimum ( or a min 500.oo fee. I use per hour in case of overtime).

Though lower priced, by using a different (smaller) setup and limiting travel radius, I am able to do this and still be profitable. Believe me, during the slower times it comes in handy.


EDITED A DAY LATER: I should have added that by targeting, I meant as in separating. In this manner you can gain reputations in both markets, without changing your rep in the higher end. Another thought is using a different business name for the lesser events.
 
Send 5-0!!!! Yes I knew that,,,, but I trust all you not to turn me in, and I really didn't mean it that way.

I have a new SEO guy Matt,,,, and yes I don't know crap about it that's why I hire professionals to do it for me. What the job done right? Hire a professional.... But mahalo for your suggestion and I am going to copy and paste it and sent it to Travis....


any help is appreciated!
 
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