Had a bar double book us for the very first time....

Tony G · #1 07-12-2007, 03:14 PM

...and it really pisses me off. We've had this gig booked months in advance, they have us clearly written on their gig calender, but the guy that books the gigs promised it to his friend without even looking at his calender, and just bumped us right off. He tells me that he promised the show to an important colleague on a handshake and forgot about it. Why that should be our concern I have no idea.

So apparently, our front man went down there today to get the full scoop on it. His understanding is that a bad named "Old Wood" is playing instead of us. Apparently, a "mistake" was made when they booked that band. However, the band has been assocated with this bar for many years, plays there often, and is a sponsor for their softball team, and helps with their business. A member of the band actually saw our name on the marquis and naturally complained that they were supposed to be playing. The place opted to keep them on the schedule, though they felt very badly about it. They did mention that we could possibly play next Friday, and replace the scheduled band, but I'm not available as I'll be out of town.

So that's that. I have no gigs this weekend, and I'm pissed.

Fli · #2 07-12-2007, 03:33 PM

I'd be pissed also...

Just 2 weeks ago we got screwed kinda like this. The owner booked us and 1 other band 2 months in advance... when we got there we found out one of the bartenders booked 4 other bands (he got his ass chewed out)... To make things worse they had a sound guy that NEVER worked there before, he was running around like a madman; they even made the sound guy tell all the bands they would only have 30 minutes a piece. Needless to say everyone was pissed, there were bands from out of state.
So we cut up the setlist, played for 30 minutes, took our money and got the hell outa there.

Tony G · #3 07-12-2007, 03:52 PM

Yeah, that definitely isn't cool. This is the first time this has happened to me, and it is pretty crappy. I guess it was just a matter of time before this happened though. It unfortunately seems to be all too common.

IanStephenson · #4 07-12-2007, 04:01 PM

If it's a genuine mistake, then you can't complain too much - if they didn't bump you they'd be bumping the other band, so someone has to loose.

We got double booked earlier in the year - we'd confirmed one date, but the owner had written it in their diary on a different date.

No problem - we moved the gig to the next day. The owners appologies for their mistake (now they owe us a favour), and we went down and had a great gig.

IF i thought it was more than a mistake (like they were deliberatly cancelling our gig cause they got a band they prefered) i'd be pissed, but if they admit they're in the wrong you can "play the changes": Something i learned in engineering classes - the client comes to you and says "really sorry we want to change the spec - can you do X?", the answer is always "Of course we can but it's going to cost you".

Exactly what "cost" is is up for grabs - probably not money in this case, but you could hold out for a better night of the week, or a holiday weekend or something - remember they owe you now.

Ian

Tony G · #5 07-12-2007, 04:10 PM

Whether it is a genuine mistake or not, I'm not sure we'll ever know. Still doesn't make it any easier to deal with. It just plain sucks.

Steve · #6 07-14-2007, 06:56 AM

It happens. No blood, no foul. Sooner or later you'll be double booked and it'll balance out.

I have a lot of recurring gigs that are every first weekend, every second weekend of the month...you have to be really careful on the months that have a "fifth weekend". Some bars consider it the last weekend of of the month and some consider it the first of the next month.

I thought I had a gig last night, turns out it's next Friday because June had 5 weekends and I got double booked on June 29-30 for the same reason.

Well, that plus the fact that I'm not the one doing the schedule.

sedan_dad · #7 07-15-2007, 04:21 AM

That happened to my Saturday night job.
Oh well, it happens.
You can't get too bent about it cuz it does happen now and then.
I have another job Sunday afternoon at a Harley shop.
It should be fun as well.