[Dixielandjazz] Gig Pricing/Marketing

[Stephen G Barbone]

Following upon the suggestions from Bob Ringwald and Kash, here are a  
couple of things that work well for us.

1) With weddings, we too use a trio for the cocktail hour and then the  
full band for the dinner/dancing. We also suggest the bride/groom,  
burn a CD or two of their favorite songs which we play through our  
sound system on breaks. This allows them to have a few rock songs if  
they desire, and/or whatever turns them on besides our band offerings.  
Simple enough to hook up my CD player to the sound system. Thus the  
different kinds of music satisfy all age groups in attendance while  
eliminating the need for a DJ. It also works well when the couple has  
a favorite song, by a favorite group, for their first dance. We just  
play that CD.

2) With gigs that come through an agent, or through the venue, we  
adjust our pricing to allow the agent or venue to make a profit on  
supplying the band. For example, if a night club or restaurant offers  
us a one time gig, we, like Kash, determine who is paying. If it is a  
client of the venue, and the venue is putting the entire package  
together, we suggest the venue charge our regular gig price for that  
type of client. (e.g a corporate party which is higher priced than a  
restaurant gig) We then tell the venue what we would charge if we  
booked that client direct. Then we adjust our price to the venue down  
a bit so that the venue can charge the client what we would have, but  
since they get a discount, the venue still makes a profit on the band.

We may lose a gig or too here and there when the restaurant who books  
us for their own gigs finds our corporate price much higher, however  
it also reinforces their belief that we are giving them a good deal  
and builds a good future relationship.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone
www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband