I won’t deny it, when it comes to discounted prices or specials, I’m very quick to jump on the bandwagon and milk it for what it’s worth, but when it comes to event planning, you need to keep in mind that cheaper prices are not always better options.
If you have your heart set on hiring a particular service provider, but their rates are higher than you budgeted for, don’t just go for the next best thing because they happen to be half the price. Do your research and make sure you’re not compromising on quality, because cheaper is definitely not always better. Read on to find out why it may pay to spend a little more.
Sometimes you really do get what you pay for
I’m sure you’re familiar with the saying, “You get what you pay for.” Although it’s impossible to say that this is ALWAYS the case, there is still some truth to it, especially when it comes to choosing the cheapest supplier for your event, on price alone. Let’s use an example – hire a caterer at a rock bottom price after seeing their flyer at your local grocery store and then hire a caterer at a higher price that you found while paging through The Meetings and Events Planner. Chances are that the caterer you found in our reputable magazine is likely to do a better job than the cheap grocery store advertiser.
Don’t expect great service with deep discount prices
When you hire a supplier at a deep discount price, you can’t expect it to outperform its competitors. Most of the time, when a supplier’s rates are ridiculously low, it’s because it costs them less to deliver the service. Take the caterer example – if he can afford to ask half the price for his services, is he purchasing quality goods or is he getting the cheap cut-offs from his local butchery? Imagine the disaster if your caterer ruins your event by giving half your guests Salmonellosis. While deep discounted services provide savings up front, you really aren’t saving money in the long run if you’re event has a disastrous ending and no-one wants to attend it ever again.
Be very careful with food
Anything regarding food and food services is a risky thing to skimp on. When serving a large crowd of people, you want to be sure you’re serving quality. Think of how long restaurants stay open if their food is reputably bad. In a matter of months, they can’t afford the rent because they can’t get new customers and shortly after that, they close down. Good quality products cost money, combine that with a good chef and it costs more money, add excellent staff and you pay quite a lot of money, but at least your guests/attendees walk out happy and raving about your excellent food.
Electronics, bedding, lights – only expensive if you buy quality items
Hiring someone for AV and lighting may not be the most important thing when you’re doing slideshow presentations and only need a working microphone, but let’s say you attend an album launch and the AV company doesn’t even have the right equipment to ensure a smooth performance, wouldn’t that completely ruin your album launch?
When it comes to accommodation – low cost material often features a lower thread count and cannot stand up to everyday wear and tear like higher quality bedding, sheets and blankets can. The higher the thread count, the better the material will generally hold up. In addition, quality material has a more appealing feel. Low quality and discount bedding simply can’t hold up as long as quality made material and more importantly, it can have a rough texture as well. So, rather than booking low-cost accommodation for your speakers, ensure satisfaction by spending a little bit more on their accommodation – this will not only increase the chances of them helping you out again, but when important people in the industry are pleased with the service or attention you provide, they tend to speak very highly of you and your event.
There are exceptions to every rule
Naturally, there are exceptions to every rule. I can make an endless list of high-quality service providers who make it their mission to provide that service at the most competitive price in the industry, but it’s important to do your homework first. don’t fall for a cheap price tag if you have no guarantee that it goes hand-in-hand with great service. Make sure you make the right choice by reading customer reviews. Also keep in mind that the need for high quality depends on what kind of event you’re hosting, if you only need music for background ambience, then spending money on hiring an AV specialist and DJ would be a waste, but if you’re holding a concert for 10 000 people, the guy who does the sound at your local church simply won’t do…
