Multi-hour discount?

Hi Everyone,

I am speaking later today to the organizer of an expo, and I'm wondering if I should offer a discount. I just raised my rates at the beginning of the year and have already been told by two people who booked me at this rate that it's "reasonable" so I don't know if it's necessary. The expo is 7 hours. I haven't been offered anything yet...has discounting helped anyone book a large gig like this?

Thanks!

I haven't been in this situation before but in my opinion, if others are saying your rates are reasonable, I wouldn't feel pressured into lowering them. I'm assuming you're referring to somebody paying you by the hour. When I do birthday parties, I have a flat rate for the first hour, and then it does go down for the second hour. But if you're expected to be available for 7 hours, I don't you should have to offer a discount because that's a full days work! That would be like any other employee to get paid less and less for each hour they work. I would throw a price out to them and see how the feel about it. If you get some hesitation or they don't snag it up, maybe offer a small discount then. Good luck!

Thanks. Makes sense. Also, I realized they might have in mind to charge me a booth fee like a vendor and have me charge, but for this kind of event it seems like more sense to have it available for free to the public (and easier for me, of course).

I agree with FacialExpressionist... If they don't jump at your original offer then perhaps offer a small discount. But if you're being told that your rates are reasonable, then people are happy to pay them.

I do the following, and this is applicable to everyone:

1) Straight hourly rate with two-hour minimum booking
2) Half-Day rate (4 hours for price of 3.5)
3) Full-Day rate (up to 7 hours for the price of 6, INCLUDING breaks and set-up time). And if the booking is longer than 7 hours the additional hours are at full-rate.

4) Discretionary Rate I offer to non-profits/charities if I feel like it (4 hours for the price of 3.25)

I do offer a discount for longer hours. If it's a big event with a lot of people, I'd rather be there for 4 hours than 2. So if they're tight on a budget, they can look at my discounted 4 hour rate, and hopefully choose that over just 2 hours.

Here's my pricing breakdown:
1-3 hours = $60.00 per hour
4 hours = $220 (4 hours @ $55/hour)
6 hours = $300 (6 hours @ $50/hour)

when its a all day thing
DAY RATES
$450.00 for 1 Entertainer for up to 6 hours (with 2 - 20min breaks)
Perfect for fairs and festivals!
No further discounts apply.

what ever you do be ready to do the same for other events