There’s a common rumor that telling a vendor that you are planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah or wedding will automatically make them charge you more. That’s simply not true.
Why you need to tell them it’s a Bar or Bat Mitzvah
Letting your vendors know that you’re planning a Bar or Bat Mitzvah gives a variety of information without you sharing anything at all– the party will likely be 4-5 hours, there will be a mix of kids and adults, some of the items that may be on the timeline (hora, kiddush…)… Then from there, each vendor will have questions about your specific event (number of guests, location…). Your vendors want to provide you with the best service possible and to do that, they need to have all of the facts about your event. Armed with all of the information, they’ll be able to make recommendations that they’ve seen work well in past and provide options that will work well for your party.
Why it shouldn’t matter for your price
If you’re getting a service, you understand that it costs money. Any vendor, regardless of the service they provide, needs to be compensated for their time, equipment and experience. The price you pay reflects those factors. If you are hiring a reputable vendor, it shouldn’t be a different price based on the type of event, but rather the difference in service that they are providing.
Yes, there can be a range in price but there is also a wide range in quality and experience. If you wouldn’t expect to pay the same price for a Saturn sedan as you would a Rolls Royce, how can you expect to pay the same price for a brand new DJ/MC with a low budget sound system as a DJ/MC with years of experience and high-quality equipment? Or a photographer just starting out with a single camera vs. a full-time photographer with years of experience, multiple cameras and lenses?
How to make sure you aren’t paying a “Mitzvah premium”
Still not convinced that you aren’t paying a “Mitzvah premium”? Contact at least 3 vendors in that category with a similar level of experience and check the price that they’re quoting you and what is included in that price. The prices should be within a relatively narrow range for a similar type of product. However, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. For example, do all of the DJ packages include a DJ, MC, 2 dancers and dance floor giveaways? Or does one have an advanced lighting package plus a dance stage? How much experience do all of the DJ/MCs have?