The venue double booked

[nebzero]

So, the only all ages venue in the area has screwed me once again. My band, The Lawnmower Incident, books this venue at least once a month sometimes more and brings about 100 people in to the venue each time. This is quite good for a coffee shop and about 10 times their normal crowd on most evenings.

About a month ago, I called to book three dates. Feb 1, Feb 21, and March 21. The owner said she didn't have a date planner for 2009 yet but she would write them down and update it when she got a new date planner. I called and e-mailed again about a week later and she said the dates were open and they were mine.

Here comes the problem... SHE DIDN'T WRITE THEM DOWN!

The Feb 1 date and the March date were still okay, but apparently in the mean time another band had e-mailed looking for a day to play and she offered the Feb 21 date. When I went in last week to verify my dates and give her line-ups and set cover charges, she realizes she screwed up.

I have already lined up four other bands (some driving around 3 hours) for the show and now she wants me to "jump on" this show that already (apparently, according to an e-mail I just got from the band that she booked) has two other bands on it.

Here's my question for you folks. Should I try and reschedule everyone for the day before (Friday)? Should I drop two bands and try and reschedule with them on different dates, possibly losing a promising show swap connection? Should I try and book a different venue and more than likely not be able to pay my travelling bands? I am freaking out!

I wish I had more venue selection in this town, but the all ages crowd is our bread and butter.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[ForSix]

Sounds like you have a good relationship with the woman.

Work with her.

[nebzero]

Originally Posted by ForSix

Sounds like you have a good relationship with the woman.

Work with her.

I am working with her, which normally doesn't work, my issue is working with the other bands.

I can't make the show a 7 band extravaganza, I'm just doing damage control at this point. My instinct says run from this show and let the other band that she booked for the date do their own thing (I don't think the musical styles will mesh) and reschedule my show. I was just wondering how you all would react in my situation, or if you were one of the other five bands I had lined up for this date.

[sevenyearsdown]

It's not your fault, so just talk it out with everyone involved. It doesn't sound like it should really be a big deal if you all just communicate what is happening.

[stylonpilson]

I'm sure that your travelling bands will understand the situation, and a month's notice is pretty good. You don't need to panic.

S.P.

[RobertPaulson]

Just tell the other bands what happened and offer to put them on another show down the road. These kind of things happen, if the other bands don't understand that, probably not worth playing with anyway.

[bigfatbass]

Double bookings happen, unfortunate nature of the biz. Try not to be too upset, you'll unfortunately get used to it. Sounds like an honest mistake and you say you have a good relationship with the venue. I think rescheduling the whole show is your best option. Any gigging/touring band will understand these things happen sometimes, and if you are already proactively trying to set up another show, that should go a long way towards getting them over this hurdle. Don't forget to update TB with what happens. Too often these threads never get updated with the results.

Welcome to the big time!

[IanStephenson]

Use the venues screw up as leverage. They messed up (and admit it), so they know they owe you a favour. When would you LIKE to play there? Public holidays? sepcific nights? Less bands on the bill?

Explain to the other bands what happened, make a plan, then go back to the venue and remind them they owe you a favour and you want a specific gig.