I just love to see the excitement on the face of a client (bride, social, corporate or other) when they start to talk about their event vision.  The detail in which they describe what they desire is both inspiring and exciting; for us both.

As we start to discuss the event vision and design inevitably comes the question…..What does it cost?

Now I realize that every client is on a budget, yes even Donald Trump has one.  Who doesn’t these days? But there is another question here; a silent and invisible question.   What is it worth?

Recently we were asked to create an event design to celebrate a HUGE achievement that an organization accomplished.  They wanted the design to be “over the top”, lots of “bling”, lots of “WOW” and oh, it can’t look like a wedding.  No problem.  We can do that.  Let me preface that no budget range was given.

Fast forward to the presentation and the proposal.  It contained every must have; it was over the top, it had lots of “bling”, it didn’t look like a wedding and it packed a lot of WOW.  Now comes the sticker shock.  *Side note; dreams and reality are never the same, but that is another blog post in itself.

As I educated my client as to the charges of the custom design* the statement was made that the custom design was not “worth” the prices quoted.

*Note: Custom designs are those designs utilizing items unique and distinctive to the clients specific requirements.  These are not “cookie cutter” designs.
 

Let’s forget the fact that this statement was completely insulting and focus on the vernacular of cost vs.worth; as they are two separate things. Cost, is defined by Websters Dictionary as “the outlay or expenditure (as of effort or sacrifice) made to achieve an item.  Worth is defined this way; “the value of something measured by its’ qualities or by the esteem of which it is held”.   See the difference?

Cost is about price; Worth is about value and esteem.  They are not the same.

So the next time you tell someone, anyone, that the product or service they provide (in this case an event design) is not “worth” the price quoted, ask yourself these questions:

  • What is it worth to you to have  the peace of mind for a team of trusted and talented event professionals (or anyone for that matter) perfectly design, assemble, and seamlessly execute your event dream and vision so that you could sit back relax and enjoy your event without all the stress of having to do the work yourself?
  •  What is your time, talent  and energy worth?
  • What is it worth to you to not have to worry at the end of a long event night about removing all the decor, linens and chair-covers, and can instead go straight home to a nice warm bed while the event pros put in several more hours completing this task after already working a 10-12 hour day?
  • Do you work for free?

Yes, I understand that there is a cost to do business, to gain clientele.  We get that.  But just because a business may have the opportunity to reuse the items doesn’t necessarily mean that they will.  How long will this one of a kind design item sit in our inventory before it sees the light of day again?  There is a cost for this too.  Businesses have to make money; both the state and federal governments require it so that we can keep putting oil into our squeaky part of the economic wheel.  If for profit businesses have to store an item (or in this case 50 unique items) for a year or two before it is used again then the ROI (Return On Investment) is in the toilet and the business looses money; which correct me if I’m wrong defeats the purpose of being in business in the first place.

So there you have it.  They are in fact two separate things.  Let’s not confuse the matter.

Needless to say, we (the client and I) are returning to the drawing board to create an event design that meets everyone’s needs both financially and creatively.  In the end it is about finding a way to make it all happen so that everyone wins and now that we have a clearer idea of what their design and financial expectations are, it makes it possible for us to properly do our job.

 

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