Now, not all venue recommended suppliers are a scam. In fact, most venues recommend suppliers that they like, know and trust. The suppliers they feel will suit their clients and do a great job.
These are the venues we LOVE being on the list of as recommended suppliers.
However … there are SOME venues that don’t play it this way.
I wrote an article some time back about a certain venue (which for legal reasons will remain nameless) that was playing a less than reputable way of recommending suppliers. Then yesterday … IT HAPPENED AGAIN!
A different venue, playing the same game.
So what IS that game?
Simply, PAY to be recommended.
The phone call came in, the woman seemed very polite and said that they have been researching our company and have been impressed by our online presence, awards and customer feedback and would like to recommend us as their main supplier of entertainment.
So far so good, and that isn’t too unusual.
However, it seemed strange when she asked if I had worked at the venue before. (I have, but only a few times, it definitely isn’t one that I see more than once a year, so it seemed strange they would want to recommend me since they hardly see me).
I asked “If you are recommending me, surely you know I have and that is what you are basing y our recommendation on right?”
Her reply was that she wasn’t sure and that she was simply calling on BEHALF of this venue.
“Oh okay, so they asked you to call me?”
Not exactly. She just found us on the internet and liked what she saw.
I knew exactly where this scam was going. She was going to ask for money to be put into the venue’s brochure (or whatever) as a venue recommended supplier for entertainment — NOT because they had actually seen what I do, NOT because they actually trust what I do, but just because I would be willing to pay some money to be their “preferred supplier.”
I pre-empted her sales spiel by telling her “Sure, I’m happy to be recommended. We are recommended by many venues that have seen our work and think we would be a good match to their clients. However, in the past there was a venue that actually wanted me to pay money to be recommended! Can you believe that? How disgusting that a venue would, instead of thinking of the best interest of their clients, just recommend someone they might not even know just as a money grab!”
She went quiet.
REAL quiet.
She said sheepishly “Well … actually this recommendation does come with a financial outlay, but the amount of work you would get from it will outweigh the investment”.
I answered “I don’t think you understand my viewpoint. It’s not the money. It’s not the financial outlay. I don’t care how much it costs, it’s the lack of integrity behind the entire idea. Let’s be honest, you don’t know me from a bar of soap. You don’t know if I would be a good match for the clients or not. This is where my problem is. This is just a money grab at the expense of the client who TRUSTS your recommendation, who ASSUMES your recommendation is based on your past experience with the provider. They don’t know it’s just because they fronted up the money to be recommended. That is entirely wrong and goes against everything I believe good customer service stands for. So, thank you, but no thank you.”
Beware of Fake Venue Recommended Suppliers
Sorry, this article turned into a bit of a personal rant, but I get livid when I come across venue recommended suppliers chosen not for genuine experience, but purely as a money grab.
I am often booked as the first thing (as wedding planner, wedding celebrant or wedding entertainer) even BEFORE they have booked a venue. (Which is great because I then help the couple find a venue that suits them). Imagine if I made venues pay to be on MY recommended list! No, that’s not cool. I want the best for my couples so recommend venues based on their needs and wants and what I know suits.
Rant over!
Nik Reeds
