Normally I would not single out a potential client or e-mail in a post unless it was a situation in which I can better educate my readers and develop a better understanding with them of the industry or of what I do. This is a lady that e-mailed me for a quote originally on June 30th for her wedding on August 28th, less than 2 months before her wedding she is booking her entertainment, the most remembered part of any event.
The first reply back immediately impressed her. “Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!” was the first line of her reply e-mail. We agreed to meet and I sent her a reminder e-mail about a week before and the following was the reply. The point i want to make should be obvious, however I will explain it after the quoted e-mail.
**Hi Teah-Jay!
I got a few other quotes and they were quite a bit lower then your first one. One of them was $595.00 w/ any additional hours at $75.00 and travel was 125.00. And one of the others that got back to me was $575.00 plus 0.13/km for travel.
I would really rather spend that much for a DJ but I really liked how you presented yourself and you seem really organized and dedicated which is why I would much rather go with you…is there any way you could match these prices?? I could send the other quotes to you if you would like but I will need a response from you soon because I don’t want to tie anyone up for that weekend.
Thanks,
**
It is not unexpected to have people gather other quotes, I encourage it, you will also see the similarity in prices from the other two companies with the main differences being in the travel charge to their event. They are multi-op businesses; one company employing several DJs.
The Point I would like to make is, she points out all the ways that she feels what I can provide are superior to the other companies, based on my web site and a couple of e-mails in correspondence, yet would like me to lower my price to match the lower quotes. What is the point in offering the best service possible and investing the amount of time that I do if I am going to charge like the rest?
To explain why there is such a difference in price will take some faith on the part of the reader. I have worked for and managed a Multi-op DJ company in the past that employed 17 DJs so I speak from direct experience. Some of the DJs would work for more than one company, so I have an idea how they operate which was very similar.
Firstly, when you hire from a Multi-op you will likely never know or meet your DJ. Most DJ’s are chosen for each event about a week before they happen and are given only the basic details of what is going on. You will be served with a pre-packaged product that is engineered to work in most situations; in short you are buying a product in bulk and in no way truly customized to your event, beyond a few basic details. Most Multi-ops will have limited contact with their clients, often no more than one or two meetings and a couple of phone calls to confirm the basic details. The DJ will show up 1 hour before they start, do 20-45 min of set up and you will see your DJ for the first time when you enter the hall, or they do, depending on when you would like them to start.
For this lady, this may be a better option than booking my services, because the planning time is so short I would only increase her stress load trying to customize her reception. A pre-packaged DJ might only provide an average, common experience, but at least she will not feel the weight of making even more decisions in a short amount of time. I was simply shocked however that even after noting it in an e-mail that I was making the effort to provide a superior product, use my talents and skills, she remained only focused on price and not the real overall benefit of what being organized and dedicated will do to benefit her. Especially being organized on one of the most important days of someones life.
In the end it is up to the client to choose what best suits their needs and budget. I wished Anne the best and offered to still meet her if she would like so I can better explain the differences in what I do and I understand if her choice is based primarily on meeting the constraints of a budget. I understand full well that people don’t often have faith in finding true entertainment in a DJ or feeling they have received value. I understand what I offer is completely alien and unheard of here; but trust me what I am offering is not new and I can point out numerous DJs in the US who provide the same or even improved services. I am still learning and educating myself in new trends, but they also have costs which I hope turn into new values for all my clients and those that do book me end up thanking me for helping them create a memorable event.
I encourage you to always ask not how your entertainer is like everyone else, but how they are different. Don’t look at hiring a DJ like you would shoes or napkins. Think of the talents that each has, how comfortable and reassured do they make you feel? How confident are you in their presentation that it is the right fit for you and your event, and certainly make sure you have the time necessary to properly communicate with them.
Do have an unforgettable wedding or event.
TJ the DJ