It's cliche because it's true

I'm not much of a blogger. I'm more of a commenter, really. I hope that the powers that be have entrusted the right guy to provide thoughtful insights, funny commentary, and interesting questions to ponder (their words, not mine) in this space.

Every day SOMETHING happens that makes you go, "hmmmm..." (quick nod to C+C Music Factory on that one). Today, it was a phone call I took around noon. A young lady called in looking for entertainment for a new years eve party she was throwing with a friend. After a couple of questions she could not easily answer she ran them by her friend in the background who seemed quite put off at having to answer anything (as though I could quote a rate without even knowing where the event was or what they needed).

She gave up and handed her friend the phone. I eventually gave up and offered to give her some options to see what she was most interested in since you just kept asking, "Why do you need to know that?" Upon hearing the rate for the first option, the least expensive option, our Signature Show, she hung up. Not a word. Not a thank you, not a never mind, not a go-you-know-where, nuthin'.

I'm sure this is because, in her mind, the rate she'd just heard was outrageous. She's probably a lot like the young man I talked to on Saturday who was looking for a DJ for "$200 or less" for his wedding reception (YIKES!). So, it got me thinking...

You get what you pay for. We've heard it all our lives. So much so, in fact, that we instinctively seem to recoil from it.

"I'm not stupid, I know that!" has probably run through your mind more than once. I know it's run through mine.

But do we really know it? We're all smart enough to grasp the concept, but do we really apply it to our thinking when we're shopping? Do we understand that we don't get great quality stuff at bargain basement prices. The laws of supply and demand dictate that it simply cannot be so. One way or another we end up paying. Either we pay for what we really want, or we pay to have someone fix it, or we pay mentally for our displeasure or some combination of the three (insert trite cliche #2: there's no such thing as a free lunch).

In our line of work, like any other, our competition helps make us good. Often times they charge less than we do, which forces us to make sure our product is better than less expensive DJs and videographers in order to justify our rate. Also, as the largest mobile DJ service and event video service around, we are unable to charge a rate that would be considered commensurate with the services provided because our rates must remain competitive lest we not have enough events on the books to pay the bills and keep everyone working.

I have friends working independently in the industry, both locally and across the country, that do an excellent job. For a product similar to what we produce on a far grander scale, they tend to charge 2-3 times our base rates. That means $1200-1800 for a basic DJ service or $2000-3000 for a wedding video with one manned camera.

In my eyes, it's all about value. Because of our size Complete Music and Video is able to produce a product that is not only heads and shoulders above most competitors, we are able to do so at a rate in-line with "average" DJ and video services.

I'm really proud of the product that we produce. No one has more satisfied clients than our own locally-owned Complete Music and Video. Not because we're the cheapest or the most expensive, but because we do an excellent job of finding out what you want and giving it to you. Simple as that.

Well, maybe not THAT simple. Our DJs and videographers spend hours upon hours in training every year. For instance, did you know that even with our least expensive option, the DJ option we call the Signature Show, the DJ that is assigned to your event:

• is evaluated at least once per quarter by his/her supervisor on-site at an event?
• attends 12 hours worth of staff meetings each year focused on new developments in the industry for all varieties of events (weddings, mitzvahs, anniversaries, and so on)
• has an annual review with his/her supervisor to discuss performance, goals, and things to work on?
• attends on-going training designed for experienced DJs in our Complete Music University program via classes that are held monthly?
• has an assigned mentor that assists in their ongoing training and supervision?

The thing is, it isn't just the RATE that you're paying because the QUALITY of the good or service you are receiving is just as important as the rate. When you put that together you have the basic equation for determining VALUE. If you are shopping as an educated consumer, what you are really looking for is a getting great value for your dollar, not just the cheapest good or service you can find.

Cheap stuff breaks, but a great value is a great buy and a purchase of which you can be proud.

Given the price-point of our Signature Show, it would be practically impossible for us to provide that level of training and quality control without the overwhelming support our clients show by booking us and the dedication of a leadership team bent on providing the best entertainment you've ever seen at a private event.

I know that most people don't know what to expect when they're calling around, shopping for "music" for their wedding or other special event, but we hope that you'll find nothing less than the most professional, entertaining, and thoughtful service you will ever deal with in any industry. Anything less than that just won't do.

I just wish the young lady I talked to today had been willing to learn that about us. I fear her 1st annual NYE party may be her last. The groom I talked to over the weekend did stuck around, by the way, and we had a great talk about his wedding day. In fact, I just got off the phone with him. He put down his deposit and reserved us for his wedding next September.

I'm guess he knew a good buy when he saw one. That, or he figured this was one purchase he didn't want to get wrong!