Price talk, in the client's language
Corporate buyers think in cost per head. When the marketplace opens to corporate clients in January 2027, the vendors who speak that language make the planner's job easy. Vendor mode divides your fee by expected and attending guests and by hours on site, then sets it against the all-in per-guest ranges in B&W Productions' 2026 cost guide.
| Format (B&W 2026 cost guide) | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-day conference | R650 | R900 | R1,400 |
| Year-end function | R650 | R1,200 | R2,200 |
| Gala dinner | R950 | R1,600 | R2,600 |
| Product launch | R1,200 | R2,400 | R4,000 |
All-in per guest, excluding VAT. Your fee is one line inside that number, which is the whole point: it shows the client what share of their spend your act or service takes. Pick the format closest to the gig, set the guest count and a realistic show-up rate (not everyone who RSVPs pitches), and the tool does the rest. Use the attending-guest figure in your pitch; it's the honest one.
How to use the number in a pitch
Put the per-guest figure next to your fee, not instead of it. "R18,000 for five hours, about R150 per attending guest at 120 guests" tells the client the price and the value in one line. If you deliver something measurable (photo-booth prints, edited clips, posts with real impressions), add it in the optional fields and the one-pager shows cost per content piece and an equivalent media value at a CPM the client agrees with. Keep it honest: media value isn't revenue, and a good act doesn't guarantee sales.
Planner mode, and why we skip the magic multipliers
Planner mode is the full calculator: cost lines, show-up rate, and an objective (pipeline, retention or brand). ROI is (gross profit − cost) ÷ cost, using only numbers you enter, with break-even and a sensitivity table. B&W's own ROI calculator uses illustrative multipliers for a quick read; this one is built for the finance conversation.
Getting gigs? Read how DJs and bands get booked for corporate gigs, work out your power draw for your profile, and build your artist profile or apply as a vendor.
Frequently asked questions
Which mode should I use?
Vendors (DJs, bands, MCs, bars, caterers, photo booths, AV crew) use vendor mode to turn a fee into cost per guest. Planners and in-house event teams use planner mode for a full ROI business case.
Where do the per-guest ranges come from?
From B&W Productions' 2026 cost guide, Table 1: all-in cost per delegate for each event format, excluding VAT. They're planning ranges, not quotes.
Should I quote my fee with or without VAT?
Show both if you're VAT-registered. Corporate clients usually compare excluding VAT. South Africa's standard VAT rate is 15%.
Can I claim my act delivers a return on investment?
Only with evidence. If you can show content delivered or real social impressions, vendor mode turns them into a media value at a CPM the client agrees with. Don't promise sales results you can't measure.
Does the tool use industry ROI multipliers?
No. Every number that drives the result is something you enter. That's what makes it believable to a finance team.
Is it free to list on HowzitLive?
Yes. Free to list, no lead fees, and you set your own rates. The marketplace opens to corporate clients in January 2027.
Got the goods? Get the briefs.
Free to list. No lead fees. You set your prices, and payouts land the Friday after each event. Marketplace opens to corporate clients in January 2027.
List free on HowzitLive →Related guides
Sources
This calculator projects outcomes from the numbers you enter. It applies no industry “return multiples”. Benchmarks are published planning ranges, not quotes. Attribution of revenue or retention to a single event is uncertain; present results to finance as scenarios. Not financial or tax advice.