An amazing thing happened today – I got, at almost the same moment, two emails from clubs, each dealing with cost and budgets. One email stopped the conversation cold with a “You’re out of our budget” while the other opened it up, letting me know their budget and asking to discuss a way to make it work for them.
The first email said: “My entertainment committee thinks your cost is too high since we do not charge more than $25 a ticket. We would need over 150 seats filled to even begin to break even. We don’t think our members will pay more than that and since it doesn’t include food or snacks we don’t think we can get an audience.”
The second email said: “Our typical ticket price is $10 per person. I think we can get around 100 people, which is way below your cost. Can we discuss a way to make this work? We can cover your lodging, feed you, and are happy to book when you’re already in our area for another show. Please call me on my cell so we can discuss.”
For the second email we know how it worked out. I called and worked within their budget. If I’m already in the area and they can cover my lodging, sure… let’s do the show for what works for you. They’re not trying to get a good deal or scam me… they’re just trying to get their members an incredible experience within their budget. Why shouldn’t they try to get the best… the worst that could happen is I say no.
With the first email, the conversation was over before it could start. The event manager allowed their committee to say no without discussing options or seeing if it could be made to work. End of conversation. If they had just said “here is the budget we can commit to” then it would have worked out in their favor.
So why do we keep coming back to this conversation? I have written about cost twice before. Don’t Say No Because of Cost – discusses creative ideas on how to get the show within your budget making compromises. And, The Power of Taking Risks with Entertainment – discusses why you should sometimes spend more on an act or event and take the financial loss to offer your members a better experience.
My goal with these blog posts is to help event planners at clubs and associations get the best experiences for their members. We need to stop taking the path of least resistance. Stop allowing a committee to dictate what can and can’t happen. Stop allowing fear of failure to guide our member’s opportunities. If you want the best for your members – find a way to make it happen. Be honest about your budget, offer ways to help (lodging, etc), and never accept mediocre as the best.
About Michael
About Michael: Michael Gutenplan is the top rated entertainer for private clubs and corporate events. He is a third generation psychic and a mentalist for corporate events. He was named by Boardroom Magazine as “Best Club Entertainment.”
