| Recent conversations with, and observations of other | | | | me. Her lecture continued with the mistaken notion that |
| wedding vendors have led me to the conclusion that I | | | | like her, I should take advantage of the good times and |
| made the right decision long ago when determining to | | | | make more money with less effort. After the |
| keep my pricing moderate and performance as high | | | | economic meltdown hit, the last few (short!) talks I had |
| as possible. | | | | with her involved listening to her complain about how |
| Most discussions with wedding vendors have begun | | | | hard it is to find clients, and concerned various ways I |
| with their asking me nervously, "So, are you keeping | | | | could help her out by "teaming up" so I could help her |
| your calendar full these days?" and the simple answer | | | | absorb business expenses…AS IF!!! |
| is yes. The follow-up is typically "I'm not, what's your | | | | The other is a budget DJ with a low price and even |
| secret?" and my response is always the same: it's no | | | | lower level of service. This company survives by |
| secret at all. In fact, solid business practices have been | | | | quantity, not quality. I recall the owner (who hires |
| around for millennia. Of course I realize that everyone | | | | inexperienced DJs to do the jobs for him) telling me |
| is struggling to make ends meet right now, and that's | | | | that if 8 of 10 events go right, that's fine with him and |
| just a practical reality with the cycles of commerce | | | | he can still make money. What about the 2 out of 10 |
| and economy. I'm writing about the fringe vendors with | | | | that don't? A search on the website with almost 70 |
| extremes in pricing and performance who are going | | | | complaints provides one part of the answer. Other |
| out of business at an alarming rate. I'll use two (names | | | | sites such as complaintsboard.com, my3cents, |
| withheld!) to illustrate my point. | | | | insiderpages, etc. begin to complete the picture. The |
| It wasn't long ago that I was admonished by a | | | | sad truth is that some companies just don't care if you |
| wedding photographer for having my video and dj | | | | happen to be one of their dissatisfied customers |
| rates set too low, according to her. She had started | | | | because they feel they can just find more with |
| out at a fair price, but after receiving an award | | | | aggressive marketing techniques. |
| decided she was worth much more and doubled her | | | | Unfortunately as times toughen, many unscrupulous |
| prices. Then came another substantial rate hike during | | | | and shady characters would rather prey on some |
| the boom times. Keep in mind her quality and service | | | | people's willingness to find a cheap cost without due |
| had not improved, only her perception of it. In fact, her | | | | diligence, than provide an honest and reliable effort for |
| imperial attitude, enormous ego and unwillingness to | | | | a fair price. Conversely, some well intentioned folks will |
| cooperate with anyone at all left a couple of brides in | | | | depend on a high investment as assurance they will |
| tears on their wedding day, and left me with a mess to | | | | receive quality service. I still believe that moderation in |
| clean up after she left, anxious to spend time | | | | all things is good, and in the digital age, a minimum |
| elsewhere. Furthermore, these poor brides unwittingly | | | | amount of online effort goes a long way to |
| paid double or triple for the same photography service | | | | discovering the true intent of the wedding vendors you |
| because they had the misfortune of being married | | | | are considering. I hope you are able to do well with |
| during good economic times. | | | | yours! |
| "What is wrong with you?", this photographer opined to | | | | |