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TheDean Inner circle Reno, Nevada 2164 Posts |
Passionately invested 30+ years of my life into the professional wedding industry as a total solutions provider for over 1,000 brides and their ‘Spectacular Wedding’ day.
This (Truthfully, like most markets) is a highly relational market… less high tech, more high touch will work for you if you are ‘appropriately’ proactive with your target hearts. (…it’s a highly ‘emotional’ purchase!) Please don’t try to be ‘slick’… just be real with your honest, open value and how you will serve them on their most spectacular wedding day. The number one cardinal sin in this market is to NOT KNOW YOUR MARKET… intimately! - NOT just from the so-called ‘strategic marketing’ side, BUT rather their biggest dreams, desires, aspirations, wants AS WELL AS their biggest FEARS and dominate reasons to avoid buying so you can eventually actually SERVE them as a trusted advisor and wedding day friend. Mushy? Kinda’, but this is their most memorable celebration of their most intimate relationship. – Miss this and miss out! A few quick recommendations: - Join and SERVE with the local “Wedding Network” in your area to get stared. - Shut your mouth, open your ears and LEARN first! - DO genuinely network and support other wedding professionals in your market. - FIND ways to add massive value to your brides, grooms and their family and friends! (Before, During and After Their Wedding Day!) - BE AWESOME! (On every level!) If you can’t BE AWESOME please do NOT work this market… this is the single most important planned day of their lives this side the birth of their first child… DO NOT mess with their lives and wedding celebration if you can not be 1 Million Percent AWESOME! (Talent, Service [before, during, after] in ALL ways!) In a rush… back out for another event. Just wanted to chime in. I am at Your Service and In HIS Service, Deano (Serving You) in Reno <><
Dean Hankey, *M.D. - The Dean of Success Solutions!
Serving & Supporting YOU and Your Success! "Book More Shows... Make More Money... SERVE MORE PEOPLE! - Not Necessarily In That Order…" (*Marketing Doctor) |
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patrick1515 Regular user 142 Posts |
Not responding here to pick a fight with Robert Smith, as I was simply sharing a personal experience I had at one of these wedding fair events back in 1980. Congratulations Mr. Smith that you are fortunate to have thousands of dollars to spend on marketing, not everyone is as fortunate. Perhaps before you pass judgment on others in the future, you will take a moment to consider how it makes you appear in the eyes of others; words are just as telling of an insight to your integrity and professionalism. Wishing you continued success!
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
This has been a very nice thread. Thank you to all who kindly shared.
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TheDean Inner circle Reno, Nevada 2164 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-10-05 13:19, TheDean wrote: By the way... I would suggest that the same is true largely of ANY/EVERY market and people/target groups you hope to serve. (Duh!) Meant to say that earlier, just had to fly! Thanks! Dean <><
Dean Hankey, *M.D. - The Dean of Success Solutions!
Serving & Supporting YOU and Your Success! "Book More Shows... Make More Money... SERVE MORE PEOPLE! - Not Necessarily In That Order…" (*Marketing Doctor) |
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
I had a quick question regarding this subject as there is an upcoming wedding expo I was thinking of having a booth at.
Does anyone recommend having prices listed? I ALWAYS get asked that question, and am thinking of just providing a range of prices. That way I get even more qualified people inquiring instead of those hoping to spend 75 bucks. Any thoughts? |
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Anyone have any recommendations on showing prices? I've also thought of putting a Silver, Gold, & Platinum package as options, instead of simply putting a range of prices.
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MichaelDouglas Special user Portland, Oregon 766 Posts |
I just attended a wedding show last week and will go to another this Sat. I didn't see prices listed....just as I don't list prices on my web site. I feel it best to have a description of the packages but then have prices available after they've been enticed toward a particular package. But, I'm also still working towards figuring out the best strategies for this market. I wish you the best.
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Close.Up.Dave -
I don't have too much experience with marketing shows for weddings. However, I do market for other shows. I have tried sending customers a nice brochure along with rates sheets (several options at different prices), and it still worked to book shows. * So, I would say give it a try at your booth. The great benefit of this is that you don't have people haggling about your prices, and that you'll get people who call you ready to book their show (with almost no selling required on your part)... and sometimes it isn't the least expensive option! There isn't the back and forth process that happens with a group decision, because they have your information before they call to inquire or book. BTW, I got married last year, and attended a bridal fair a few months before the wedding. We looked at booths, took information, met with people, etc. Price was not the biggest factor in many of our decisions. For example, we hired the best photographer that we could find, and his prices reflected that! We also hired one of the best magicians around to perform at our reception. No, not me. Some photographers were up front about their prices, and some weren't. Same for caterers. Same for other vendors. - Donald P.S. * note - I think that giving a brochure with rates sheet is different than having prices online. In this case, you are asking about having materials to give away to prospects at a wedding show / bridal show.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Thanks for the feedback Donald! Always helpful.
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
One other small tip.
If you do give away a rates sheet, put a time limitation on it. For example, "January 2013 Rates... these rates are valid if you call within 60 days, booking for any future date. After then, please call for a current quote." You can also communicate about the location (for example, on some of my materials, "Victoria area rates.") - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Fantastic points! I just made friends with a guy who owns a business card printer and cutter. I think I may make some custom cards just for this event and use those ideas. Thanks so much.
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sjbrundage Loyal user 239 Posts |
Was just reading through this thread. I have been lookign at some upcoming wedding expo events. Prices for booths are around $550. Typically I HATE paying an event to perform at. LOL. but last time I did an expo 4 times as small and booked two solid wedding from that and made a lot more than a spent. I'm also trying to think of a good rate to charge the weddings.
Typically when I Book out local rate for corporate eventertainment I have a flat appearence fee of $1500. I typically don't care how many hours that is.. It could be for 1 hour.. or 3. As long as I fufill their needs. Obviously if they only want me for 1 hour and have a tighter budget I do my best to work with them. With wedding I think this rate would probably be a little too high for most couples. I am tempted to say that I am offereing a 1 time super discount off my normal rates. Half off to anyone who books me within 60 days. So they get the price of $750 for the evening. That would either cover 1 or two hours of strolling magic. |
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lou serrano Special user Los Angeles, CA 671 Posts |
Steve,
I dislike the idea of giving discounts when the client isn't asking for one. I think it makes you look like a "discount magician". I don't think that's a good image to have. I think it might be a better idea to have a set price specifically for weddings and offering that as your wedding package. Some people have huge budgets and you might be surprised how much people are willing to spend to add a touch of magic to the most important night of their lives. There is one way to find out for sure and that is to test it. If you decide to showcase at a couple of wedding expos, you can offer the 60-day discount at one event and not at the other, and see how many weddings your able to close from each. All the best! Lou Serrano |
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sjbrundage Loyal user 239 Posts |
Lou,
Awesome advice. I think you are right. After reading your comment and giving it some though it makes sense that some clients would be book me at that normal rate. Like some comments earlier in this thread it would probably good to offer 3 different packages all listed at different rates. Each package would minus somthing. So the highest package would be 2 hours of strolling and a 10 minute short stage presentation. The lowest package would be maybe just one hour of strolling magic. That way I could find exactly what the client is willing to spend without losing money from clients who can afford it. I do like the idea of giving somesort of discount if they book me shortly after the expo. Maybe it could even be $100 off if you book me within a month. That way its not a HUGE discount.. but somethign to give insentive to book me sooner than later. |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
I've been following this thread for three years now, and while there has been a few bits of good advice, most of what I see is poor advice from those with little or no experience that may have perhaps "dabbled" on the fringe of the market or a few isolated bookings as it pertains to the market. Like Dean I have worked extensively in the wedding market with my performing and agencies, and have produced several hundred Wedding Shows/Bridal Fairs since 1984 with my production company.
You often hear the term "thinking like magicians" when referring to the way a magician approaches their show or performing and related mentalities. I believe there is another level of "thinking like magician's business" which is what I've seen a lot of here since the beginning of this thread. The Wedding market is a very unique performance market, which I consider both a consumer market AND a professional market. This alone offers some "uniquenesses." I thinks magician's business thinking has prevailed here quite a bit. As previously stated, one really needs to become properly educated to this specialty market. This combined with everyone seems to be thinking fro the perspective and needs of the entertainer, not at all teh needs, interests and perceptions of the clients (except for RobertSmith which git jumped upon for his advice). |
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
Quote:
On Jan 12, 2015, Mindpro wrote: Thanks for bring this to the readers' attention. Though this is not a market I pursue, I believe it is critical to constantly be reminded not to slip into a "me first" mentality. |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Especially with regards to weddings. There is no other market where so much is centered around and directly about one single person - the Bride. The second most important and crucial person in the wedding market is what most almost always get wrong - no, it's not the Groom.
This was my point - the wedding market is unlike other markets and is not as it appears to most at a glance. Combine this with the always best business practice of working, thinking and executing to the needs of the target rather than our own and this market really becomes foreign to most. It then becomes very obvious by the advice and insight offered. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I would think that would be the brides mother and the grooms future mother in law is the next most crucial.
The problem with weddings is that it is a day girls have been planning since they were old enough to know eventually they would get married, and the mom has been planning them since HER wedding and the groom is the jerk trying to bring it in under budget. (That reads as a joke but it is very serious. That description of a wedding tells you how to sell it, and how to make it a success all very succinctly.) I avoid them like the plague because of this dichotomy.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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TheDean Inner circle Reno, Nevada 2164 Posts |
Like ANY market and even MORE exacting in the wedding market is the number one cardinal rule: "Know Thy Market!"
More than most (not all) markets, this is a precise KNOWING of the market wants, need, desires and highly emotional, RELATIONAL outcomes! What MindPro and Danny refer to are true and (Like I said, Even MORE Than Most) You simply MUST know and UNDERSTAND the market on a very intimate level for long term success. Personally, I LOVE the market and the entire passion, point and reasons for the celebration, (Don't get me started... hehehehe!) but I know I'm a bit odd in that way. I am at Your Service and In HIS Service, ~ Deano <><
Dean Hankey, *M.D. - The Dean of Success Solutions!
Serving & Supporting YOU and Your Success! "Book More Shows... Make More Money... SERVE MORE PEOPLE! - Not Necessarily In That Order…" (*Marketing Doctor) |
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