| What do you tell potential clients when they say "Too M
I am curious as to the variety of answers people give when potential clients balk at a price you give for a wedding ceremony, private party, recital requests, etc... because it is too expensive.
I ask this because I have heard some very great and polite comebacks and others are rather snotty. The snotty ones usually don't result in a callback and that is okay if you really don't want the gig anyway.
But here goes:
- You can always get a $25 trumpet player from the high school
- Yes, I play trumpet because I love it and I don't work for free. Are you an accountant because you love it? Do you work for free too because you love it so much?
- I can't start my car - brush my teeth - get out of bed - open my case - for that kind of money
- Unlike a lawyer that charges $400/hour to practice law, I won't be practicing music at your wedding. I will be performing music. If you want to pay someone to practice at your wedding, call a lawyer.
- I know what I have to pay professionals in order for your guests to have a good time at your party with the music you want. If you would rather an amatuer band, I really can't help you out.
I actually experienced this last one many years ago when I lived in Washington DC. The church was all decorated up, downtown in Georgetown, and the brides maids were on the alter. The organist turns to me and says, "Don't play". I was rather shocked, but followed her instructions. After several tense minutes, the father of the bride came up to the organist and asked, "Is there a problem". The organist said, "Yes there is. You stiffed me and the the last two trumpet players on the last two daughters that got married here. You owe me and those trumpet players for those ceremonies and you still owe me and this trumpet player for this one." The father's eyes got very big and he quickly whipped out his checkbook and wrote several checks. I later asked the organist why she did that druing the ceremony. She informed me that she has been chasing that guy to get paid for over 4 years and he continually ignored her. At the time, I thought this was a rather drastic way to handle the situation. A couple weeks after the wedding, I then learned that this father of the bride didn't pay anyone and that the incident in the church was a big hit at the reception.
So, any other comments regarding how you handle clients no matter how funny, scary, ridiculous, etc... should prove fun, interesting and eye opening for some of the younger players.
To quote Greg Wing, "The music business is not about music. It is about people." And people are what/who you deal with to get the gig, play the gig, and then hopefully, get called back again. |