Thread: Response to Gig

I just got another gig opp from Gigmasters and, if you can believe it, it's from my high school alma mater! How random is that???

Rolling around in my mind have been the various threads here on Bhuz about pricing, getting what one pays for, (un)realistic expectations, etc and thought I would try to sneak into my response something about professional rates. So here's my response, minus the little gushy part about my being an alumna of the school:

"For a thirty-minute time frame, I propose a performance, a mini-lesson and boogie-down time for everybody at the end. I have done this very thing for Grad Nights at Valencia [ed: the other high school in town] and other high schools and it seems to work very well. My usual fee for this type of event is $250-300, but I wish to offer a bit of a discount to my alma mater, hence the $200. If you would think a second dancer would add to the festivities, the fee would be $300. At this price point, you are guaranteed an experienced, professional performer.

Thank you for the opportunity to bid on this event! I look forward to hearing from you soon."

The school even had a realistic budget: $200-300 for the half hour . . . I was absolutely floored!

I was this close to adding something about being concerned that a bid lower than $200 might not be from an experienced professional performer, but I hope the more positively-worded sentence ("you are guaranteed an experienced, professional performer") is adequate.

So far, two more Gigmaster's folks have responded yes, 1 responded no, and 7 still haven't responded.

Man, I hope I get this one . . . it's for lunchtime entertainment as part of the school's homecoming celebration; what a blast that would be!

Deborah

At this price point, you are guaranteed an experienced, professional performer.

*steals*

That's going to be my mantra now.

Wow, I'm tempted to give gigmasters a try. I never got anything from partypop, though. I think it may be a regional (urban/suburban) difference.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

At this price point, you are guaranteed an experienced, professional performer.

*steals*

That's going to be my mantra now.

Wow, I'm tempted to give gigmasters a try. I never got anything from partypop, though. I think it may be a regional (urban/suburban) difference.

Wow! Mine too. Congratulations Deborah, and good luck!

Yes, that is a PERFECT line.

I got the same request. I declined. Too far.

Originally Posted by jody

I got the same request. I declined. Too far.

You're out in LA, right? Yeah, that's kinda a drive for you . . .

You know what, Jody, I've gotten about 7 (8?) gig opps so far in the past month and this is the first one from The OC. We gotta get these Orange Countians up to speed on the fact that they need BDers for their parties; there is a ton of money here -- I want them to spend it on hiring me!

..g.:

Deborah

In the last few days I have gotten requests for Santa Barbara and some other cities I have no idea where. It is like the more out of the way they are, the more they need a dancer. Go figure.

Originally Posted by jasani

Wow! Mine too. Congratulations Deborah, and good luck!

Me three! I've written back to clients about that idea before, but never had anything as succinct and yet still polite as that single line. Brilliant!

I get a lot of gigs from LA and OC as well, but I live in San Diego, so I bid high to pay my time and travelling since I have to leave my restaurant and party gigs here...so you can email me your addresses I will send them to your way....dkhoss@cox.net
and in the future you can hire me too...Did I say that I love the Armenian parties in LA...oh boy every time I do parties for Armenians it is well worth to cancel everything here and drive 3 + hours.