As expected, the meal was wonderful,
but we had trouble getting
started.
The menu listed easily over 120 selections.
They ranged from a few familiar favorites,
like "Broccoli Beef", to lots of vague items
like "Gold and Silver Platter", "Pu Pu Platter",
and "Happy Family".
Huh? What are all those?
A quick conversation with the waiter
set us straight. After asking about our
preferences, our appetite, and our budget,
he described
a few excellent options, and
we made
our selections.
I'm happy to say everything worked out
very well.
But at the beginning I felt like the eager
bride-to-be who calls me and starts our
conversation by asking "Hey Robbie,
What's your fee?"
Now don't get me wrong. Her question is
perfectly
understandable. I get it --
Unless the money
is right,
nothing else matters.
Sometimes the budget REALLY is her
highest
concern.
Sometimes we ALL have to shop around
for the best price.
But too often, "What's your fee?"
is the ONLY question she asks.
In my experience, this bride-to-be is
often just as bewildered as I was in
that restaurant.
She just needs
help getting started.
And I'm always glad to help.
Back in the restaurant, I knew that
if I began by asking about the price,
I'd overlook some important options.
And as it turned out, they made an
enormous
difference.
So to help this bride, I always recommend
that she understanding her options.
What are her possible choices? What is each
choice like? What are the pros and cons of
each choice?
We'll have a nice, helpful conversation.
We'll talk
about the mood she wants to
create at her
wedding, where she plans
her celebration,
and how many guests
she expects.
We'll also talk about what she wants her
celebration to LOOK like, and more important,
what she wants it to SOUND like.
We'll talk about special features she wants,
like songs she'll request for her ceremony,
cocktail party, dinner party, and dancing.
Does she want a band (and what style?),
or a DJ, or something else?
Once I know all that, I can recommend
the perfect band for her wedding. T
he
best size, and what
instruments to include.
I'll always want to help her, but ONLY THEN
can I answer "What's your fee?".
Sometimes we can get to this point faster.
I LOVE it whenever anyone calls me about
planning music, ESPECIALLY when they begin
by asking me "What are my options?".
That lets us jump
into this productive
conversation right away.
So for example, the next time you or a friend
are planning music for a wedding or a party,
and you "sort of" know what you want but
are "lost in the woods" about choosing.
You can call me. Let's talk about your options.
