Organising an (Indian) dinner/dance event
Discussion
SWMBO is of Indian origins and we've been to lots of related weddings / events over the past 15 years or so but we went to one in Slough a few years back which was essentially a wedding reception type event but without the wedding. There was a nice hall/room, posh tables and chairs, DJ, dance floor, food (buffet) and bar. It was great for family / social groups where they want to do more than just meet at a bar or restaurant and then go home.
In conversation today we were discussing how good this idea is assuming the numbers stack up and how relatively low risk this would be to organise as we'd need only a venue, DJ, buffet company, bit of security, bar and that's about it. We'd only aim to run one a month to begin with but with some good branding and marketing/promo it could be a regular thing potentially (trying not to get too carried away).
Anyone done anything similar?
In conversation today we were discussing how good this idea is assuming the numbers stack up and how relatively low risk this would be to organise as we'd need only a venue, DJ, buffet company, bit of security, bar and that's about it. We'd only aim to run one a month to begin with but with some good branding and marketing/promo it could be a regular thing potentially (trying not to get too carried away).
Anyone done anything similar?
I have in the past done a bit of DJing for these sorts of events companies. Done right, it can be a big earner and something I have looked at myself.
The biggest challenge is gaining initial traction and the soaking up the risks involved. You need to book a venue and all the trimmings and you may not know full ticket sales before the week before the actual event. Cancel an event and you're toast and unlikely to recover.
The companies that ran the events I DJ at had been around a long while and covered everything from corporate to weddings. They tended to run the theme nights during the times of the year when the corporate and wedding events were less in demand.
I'm not 100% sure but I believe they were in the main, contracted by the venues rather than run them themselves.
As with anything like this, best to start small.
The biggest challenge is gaining initial traction and the soaking up the risks involved. You need to book a venue and all the trimmings and you may not know full ticket sales before the week before the actual event. Cancel an event and you're toast and unlikely to recover.
The companies that ran the events I DJ at had been around a long while and covered everything from corporate to weddings. They tended to run the theme nights during the times of the year when the corporate and wedding events were less in demand.
I'm not 100% sure but I believe they were in the main, contracted by the venues rather than run them themselves.
As with anything like this, best to start small.
I imagine timing and getting commitment would be an issue. You wouldn't want to commit to all the expenditure required - quite a few K - and only sell 16 tickets. If it was me I'd want all the ticket sales in and paid for before booking anything - but how do you sell the tickets if people don't know what's in the show?
Then again, if this is a private party - ie guests go for free - then the host will have to pay the whole shebang, as if it was a wedding. That makes the maths a bit more certain. Whatever all the suppliers charge you, you charge the host (say) 20% more. So you need to start talking to suppliers and hammering out some rates/credit terms I think. Then you know what you're selling and what you can charge for it.
Then again, if this is a private party - ie guests go for free - then the host will have to pay the whole shebang, as if it was a wedding. That makes the maths a bit more certain. Whatever all the suppliers charge you, you charge the host (say) 20% more. So you need to start talking to suppliers and hammering out some rates/credit terms I think. Then you know what you're selling and what you can charge for it.
Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 21st October 12:01
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