Getting taken advantage of...or just good business???

[Doublestorm]

It's probably a little bit of both in this situation. This forum is a great place to VENT to people who understand - I can talk to my friends and they just kind turn their gheads sideways with a stunned look! LOL

I booked an outdoor wedding in Sept. Got to their house to fill out the reception planner and halfway through they asked "would it be any trouble to set up one mic and a couple small speakers for the wedding ceremony?" I figured, no big deal since I have a small powered mixer and a couple of small 10" speakers I could take along and quickly set up for their ceremony. Good business? Yah, probably.

I get an email today from the bride who is now asking if I can just play a couple of songs during their ceremony since I'll already have my gear set up for them to use the mic for the ceremony. NOW I'm starting to feel like I'm getting taken advantage of! I'm afraid next I'll be asked to perform the ceremony!!!

Anyone ever come accross this....what did you do? I already replied back and said I would do it. I think the little extras go a long way in maintaining that go-the-extra-mile reputation.....BUT, I don't want to get the take-advantage-of-them reputation either. A fine line to walk for sure.

[Sween]

A ceremony system costs extra. You should say 'yes', but charge accordingly. I charge an extra $200-$300 for a ceremony usually.

[Doublestorm]

I usually do as well....the ceremony is literally 50 ft from where the reception is...so I thought no big deal for just a mic and 2 small speakers. I didn't think it would run into THIS.

[Sween]

I usually do as well....the ceremony is literally 50 ft from where the reception is...so I thought no big deal for just a mic and 2 small speakers. I didn't think it would run into THIS.

If you are doing the ceremony from the same main setup as the reception with the same equipment, I would only charge them for the extra time.

[lburners]

...but if you are deploying a separate system charge accordingly.

[DJMC]

I include this in my quotes. TWO HOURS of setup time is mandatory. I always bring two complete sound systems to every event.

That's why its all-inclusive baby!

[sss18734]

Just do what the client requests of you this time around and take it as a lesson learned. You're already setting up a second system for free... Might as well play the music and not fight them over it.

[Kingbob182]

I did this for a friend. I was doing the wedding for next to nothing anyway (Total charge was like 200 for the night and that covered light hire.)

But they asked me to do the ceremony as well which turne out to be just a song when people walked in, I made a slightly edited version of a song for the bridal party to walk down the aisle and then another 2 songs as they walked out.

see if the church (or wherever the ceremony is) has speakers set up already. Most churches do and the sound will be evenly spread through the room. You might not need your speakers at all. In that case, I probably wouldn't charge much extra. I generally tell people I'll do those kinds of things for free or very little extra because they're generally paying enough that I'm happy to go the extra mile and make the day as easy and non-stressful as I can.

It's a bit like my day job. I'm a tyre wholesaler. Sometimes we have to take big clients out to lunch or give them loyalty bonuses just to keep them happy and if they're getting a better from us, it generally comes back and helps us out later.

BUT

Make sure you don't promise too much. You don't want to be playing music there and then rushing to set up your gear between the ceremony and the reception only to be not fully ready when guests arrive..
If it's a morning ceremony, will the reception hall be open earlier so you can set up before the ceremony starts?

[Will MaXimal]

It depends on how valuable you consider your time to be worth... Never undercut yourself.


Also be aware... one big part of this business is referrals! You dont want the buzz about you to be that you do things for free

[Biggerrigger]

I have the same situation at my next gig. Ceremony is outside and the B/G want sound and a mic outside. The reception is literally on the other side of the wall where my main setup will be. I just said sure no problem and did not charge them any extra. This gig was a word of mouth referral from another wedding I did at the same venue last year so I know the layout of the place and it is no big deal pull out a set of tops and stands to make her happy. Hopefully I will get more word of mouth business from this gig.