New meeting trend?

I like meeting at coffee shops or Panera, I too, think it would be wrong for some of those business not to allow small meetings. Heck I'm an avid coffee drinker itgives me an excuse to drink more coffee

Never seen nor experienced it... but it's entirely reasonable for a business to expect patronage for use of their space. A private business that is open to the public is not required to allow use of facilities to anyone on demand.

Evidently there were far too many cheapskates having meetings there!!!

My last 2 meetings were at Dairy Queen and the deli area in a supermarket. Most of my meetings are 30 or more miles away. To have an office would put me out of business. I do more weddings 30 miles or more away and having an office in a rural area would be stupid business.

Kacimlangford said:

My last 2 meetings were at Dairy Queen and the deli area in a supermarket. Most of my meetings are 30 or more miles away. To have an office would put me out of business. I do more weddings 30 miles or more away and having an office in a rural area would be stupid business.

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So get an office 30 miles away where you do business...

In which direction? If I get one in Alexandria, I am 60 miles away for Little falls. If I get one in LF, I am 60 miles away from St. Cloud and Alexandria. But then I am 100 miles away from Wadena. If I get one in Wadena, well, you see where I am going with this.

Not sure where you do business but when you are in rural and your weddings are in a radius usually 30+ miles away each week, it is impossible to have a set location. I would lose too much business.

I don't want to side track this thread but honestly how long does it take to do a sales presentation and provide quality customer service ?

I don't see how anyone could spend more than 1 hour and typically mine are 30-45 minutes. Unless you are fully planning the wedding that meeting and still that shouldn't take 2 hours if the bride is prepared. I always pick non-peak times to go to Starbucks or any other typical meeting place. Always buy myself , bride and groom something. From the first initial phone call I always tell my brides to be prepared by looking at the website for music selections , introduction list ..etc

I actually prepared a wedding from nothing and the wedding was 5 days away and it took me a hour meeting with the couple at Starbucks. Typically my first meeting I do my presentation and go over our wedding planner paper work and get them to commit. Since most weddings are typically 6-12 months away they take home the wedding planner and can complete it once they commit and sign the contract.

I can understand why some places would be mad if someone was taking up 2 hours for a measly 2-3 cups of coffee.

Steve Lynch said:

The Starbucks in Roswell Ga. is banning sales presentations now from what I hear. I have a dedicated office, and I prefer an office, as it allows me to control the environment, and the experience. As a business owner, I would not want some DJ tying up one of my 5 or 6 table areas for two hours. I think it's fine if you're just shooting the poop, but using their office as your office is tacky. if you want to make the big bucks, spend some money. and if you meet the couple there, you better be there earlier than them, and be the one to pick up the tab.

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LMBO! You think DJ's meeting at Starbucks/Panera/etc., is bad... I know therapists who, when starting their private practices, try the Starbucks route till they're making enough cake to share office space with someone. I mean really, the whole foundation of therapy is trust...how the F can one maintain confidentiality, privacy, and trust sitting and discussing confidential matter with a client in a f-ing Starbucks?!?! Holy $#!+ -Z-

I also do the coffee house meetings. They know me, and are happy to have us expose their place of business to new potential customers (my potential clients). Yes buy coffee or a beverage for your guests.

dmcclure said:

I don't want to side track this thread but honestly how long does it take to do a sales presentation and provide quality customer service ?

I don't see how anyone could spend more than 1 hour and typically mine are 30-45 minutes. Unless you are fully planning the wedding that meeting and still that shouldn't take 2 hours if the bride is prepared. I always pick non-peak times to go to Starbucks or any other typical meeting place. Always buy myself , bride and groom something. From the first initial phone call I always tell my brides to be prepared by looking at the website for music selections , introduction list ..etc

I actually prepared a wedding from nothing and the wedding was 5 days away and it took me a hour meeting with the couple at Starbucks. Typically my first meeting I do my presentation and go over our wedding planner paper work and get them to commit. Since most weddings are typically 6-12 months away they take home the wedding planner and can complete it once they commit and sign the contract.

I can understand why some places would be mad if someone was taking up 2 hours for a measly 2-3 cups of coffee.

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It depends on what your goal is for the meeting, when we meet, I offer drinks, wine, beer etc..we chill out..talk, chit chat about them, get cozy and it can last 30 minutes or it can last an hour....or hour and a half..but typically I keep them to an hour..

Looking at the posts, it seems like there are many valid reasons to schedule a meeting (sales or planning) at a coffee house, including no office available, people like coffee, ease of location for the client and the vendor, etc... I absolutely agree that something should be purchased, the clients should be offered something, and any employee or server taking care of the "meeting" should be tipped. Besides us DJs, tons of other wedding professionals I know (planners, photographers) use these as convenient and comfortable meeting locations.

But, I don't think our special event industry is alone in using these places. Realtors, insurance sales ... heck, I'm never surprised to walk into Panera and see (and overhear) a table of people with computers and charts planning political strategy or political campaigns.

Anyway - I was surprised by the sign, and it's been interesting to get some feedback from other areas. We really like having our office for meetings, but I'm happy to meet a client somewhere else if they require that, and I'd rather not go to their home or to a bar ... so the coffee house model is perfect.

By the way, I do remember a DJ sharing with us on this website that all of his meetings were at Panera, and he saved money because he "never" bought anything. It sounds like there might be a few too many using the free meeting space technique ... at least in the coffee shop where I took the picture here in Columbus.

jodi said:

By the way, I do remember a DJ sharing with us on this website that all of his meetings were at Panera, and he saved money because he "never" bought anything....

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Bragging about being a cheap d-bag??? Nice!

You and your clients should be the kinds of customers that make the management and staff eager to see your faces at their door, if you take advantage and never spend money, then YOU are the reason if that business fails and ceases to exist. Remember, a friend will pay full-price to see you succeed!!!

dmcclure said:

I don't want to side track this thread but honestly how long does it take to do a sales presentation and provide quality customer service ?
.

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One of the reasons I dont use coffee shops is I stopped doing "presentations"... so ya, my meetings can last about 2 hours.. as we do talk about everything..

but if someones meetings are lasting that long (like mine), a coffee shop is not the best place..

having said that though..

in my younger days, me and my friends were HUGE coffee hangout people.. a 2 hour "coffee" was NOT unusual.. any coffee shop that expects people to sit down for only 5 minutes and have a coffee is not a REAL coffee shop in my eyes..

I don't think I'd brag to the client about how you can write off their coffee or meal on your taxes, as a previous poster said. To me, that statement is a turn-off to the client making you look cheap.

hippydog said:

One of the reasons I dont use coffee shops is I stopped doing "presentations"... so ya, my meetings can last about 2 hours.. as we do talk about everything..

but if someones meetings are lasting that long (like mine), a coffee shop is not the best place..

having said that though..

in my younger days, me and my friends were HUGE coffee hangout people.. a 2 hour "coffee" was NOT unusual.. any coffee shop that expects people to sit down for only 5 minutes and have a coffee is not a REAL coffee shop in my eyes..

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At least you realize it's probably not a great idea. I also talk with my clients about other stuff but maybe I'm just a fast talker.

Been meeting clients in coffee shops for years. Starbucks has been the favorite because I can always find one somewhere.
I try to find a spot AWAY from the front area that has all the noise. And I ALWAYS purchase my coffee & the clients' before we "get down to business". I've had meetings in various Starbucks all over the Chicago area & have never had an issue with their management. And 99% of the time I am not the only one having some sort of "client meeting". Oh - an FYI - my booking rate after having met possible clients in a Starbucks is 90%.

The only problem with Starbucks is making sure the client goes to the correct one Even in our town of 50,000 we have three, including two within 300 yards of each other. I just don't like all the noise in coffee shops.

I've also tried meeting at the reception hall. That seems to work well at the hotels because of lounge areas and being able to do a walk through the room (after calling ahead and talking to catering manager). It's also a good way to intro yourself to that hall manager and if they choose to poke in on the meeting, for them to be impressed.