Categories: uncategorized
Date: 10 November 2008 10:22:57
"Have you had any of those credit crunch brides yet?", was the opening conversational gambit from a friend in the same line of business as me. I thought about that for a while, and considered the recent dealings with people who have wanted our string quartet recently. Well - there was the father of the bride a couple of weeks ago who was in charge of our cheque at his daughter's wedding... At a suitable break in the proceedings, I sought him out and lightly & discreetly brought up the subject of envelopes. "But you haven't finished yet!", he boomed, attracting a crowd of strapping ushers. "Well, no - but we'll be finishing just as you're about to start the speeches, and in my experience, it's not a good look to have a musician coming begging just as you take the mike. I promise we'll keep playing even after you've paid us". "Hmm - how much did you say it was?" I told him, and he reached slowly into his jacket pocket... "What about for cash?". (sigh). "No - it's the same amount, however the money comes. It's the amount we agreed several months ago". Eventually, the cash was grudgingly handed over and we launched into a celebratory rendition of 'Makin Whoopee'.
Then there's the bride with whom I'm still in e-mail negotiation for her wedding next summer. Originally she wanted us for the ceremony, drinks reception, meal, and (most unusually) the evening do as well. She thought that having one group for the lot would be cheaper. However - when we'd priced up the cost of having a quartet at your beck and call for over 8 hours, she balked. Now I'm just getting e-mails claiming that she has found a cheaper quartet, and although she realises they might not be as good as us, couldn't we drop our prices to match them? "I'm afraid not - you've already got a reduction on the price we should be charging you". And how about if she pays us the deposit now instead of the month before her wedding? "No - it still costs the same". And how about if it's cash? "No, I'm sorry - we're all paranoid about our tax returns and we all declare everything. Cash really makes no difference".
And then there was the charity film premiere event. They phoned with two days' notice to get a quartet to an event where a cinema full of people had all paid £30 for the priviledge of watching James Bond whilst wearing black tie. We gave our usual quote. No - sorry - far too expensive. OK, a discount if we get to come and watch the film as well (we'll be in evening wear anyway). Not a big enough discount. We could do you a trio for three quarters of the price? Still not cheap enough - how about the trio for a pittance plus some free advertising in our glossy magazine. I gave up when the fee stopped covering my petrol and parking.
So - how has the credit crunch affected the quartet work? Well - we've added a cheaper 'trio' option to our services. It's cheaper for the clients because obviously they only have to pay three of us, but we don't get paid for the cost of buying the extra music, holding rehearsals to learn the new repertoire, or for the effort of giving it more loudy at the gigs to make three players project as much as four.
What is music worth? More in part two, following shortly.