[Dixielandjazz] Quoting a price for services over the phone

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

Absolutely.  If you give them a price anywhere near to the beginning of the 
conversation you have a very good chance of losing it.

You have to keep control of the conversation.  That doesn't mean you talk 
all the time.  Ask questions like Steve suggested.

Follow Steve's blueprint.

Another killer question is what kind of music do you play?  Again engage 
them and find out what they want.

When I first started booking a band frankly, I was terrible at it and lost 
at least 75% of the calls I got simply because I broke the rules.

Let me add.  Never quote a price by E-mail.  Get their phone number and call 
them.  After losing the first three E-mail bids I learned.  That's a 100% 
loss.    Even when I was a beginner I did better than that.  If you must use 
e-mail then break it up the same way you direct a conversation but I highly 
recommend not doing it.
Larry
StL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen G Barbone" <barbonestreet at earthlink.net>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 4:15 PM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Quoting a price for services over the phone


> I'm with John McClernan.
>
> What works for me is finding out as much as I can about the gig before  I 
> get around to quoting a price. I try and keep control of the  conversation 
> by asking questions like:
>
> What city is the is the gig in? What is the venue? How many attendees?  Is 
> there a theme for the gig? Do I need to bring a sound system? How  many 
> hours? What day/night of the week? Does the band get fed? (if the  gig is 
> during a dinner hour, or it is a wedding) etc., etc., etc.
>
> That we I control where the conversation goes and get a feel for how  to 
> price the gig.
>
> Obviously if it is a private party or wedding in a posh country club,  I 
> quote a higher price ask because those folks usually expect to pay  more 
> and if you charge s pittance, you stand a good chance of being  judged as 
> a lousy band without them ever hearing you. But if it is a  Pizza joint, I 
> would be inclined to charge less. And Saturday nights  are twice as much 
> as weeknights. etc., etc, etc,
>
> Then I handle the price objection is it arises. And if there is a  finite 
> budget that does not met my minimum for the 6 piece band, in  that 
> particular kind of venue, I offer them 3 or four musicians  instead of the 
> 6 piece band..
>
> We rarely lose a gig because of price, and usually get quite a bit  more 
> than competing bands.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve Barbone
> www.myspace.com/barbonestreetjazzband
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for the Dixieland Jazz 
> Mailing list, or to find the online archives, please visit:
>
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>
>
>
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com