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Booked a show, better one came along same night now what?

#42
buldog5151bass said:
Tell the second place you are already booked that night, but really want to play his place - what else does he have open.
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This. Had to do it with a place this summer. Asked us for two dates, both were booked. Told them we were booked up and looking at fall instead. Now we have 4 shows in the fall.
 
#44
A story in the general vein of staying committed to gigs. A drummer I worked with was in a St. Louis-based band in 1966 that was playing all over the country (but just on weekends, he was still in high school (!)). These guys were getting 500 per person per gig in 1966. They had a gig booked in Kansas City on a particular date. Their agent called and offered them an opening spot for the Beatles on that date in St. Louis. No pay, but still, the Beatles!

The band leader declined the Beatles gig and insisted on playing the Kansas City gig. But it had nothing to do with the prestige of opening for the Beatles or keeping his word to the KC venue. His sole consideration was: $500 per man or zero per man? No brainer. We take the dough.
 
#46
It's not what you think is right, it's what the person being cancelled out will think - and do about it! At best, he'll totally understand. Mid range is he won't book you ever again, and worst case is he tells the world how you let him down and cost him money on Facebook!

We got a request to play live on national radio, for no fee. One of the band was moaning until he suddenly said "how many million people listening?"
 
#47
paulears said:
It's not what you think is right, it's what the person being cancelled out will think - and do about it! At best, he'll totally understand. Mid range is he won't book you ever again, and worst case is he tells the world how you let him down and cost him money on Facebook!

We got a request to play live on national radio, for no fee. One of the band was moaning until he suddenly said "how many million people listening?"
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Yep. Pretty much. Depending on the band and gigging in the area in question...booking people can have a bunch of attitudes. One or two places I know will drop you off the schedule for causing any kind of waves and that means even an extra 5 or 10 minutes to hassle with a fill in. There are lots of bands that will keep things running smoothly and want the gig, and the booking guy probably wears about 20 hats around the club or bar anyway so the less they have to think or do for a booking the happier they are. One place I used to book would do a whole season's booking in a 2 or 3 day window about 4 months in advance. The booking person would say "call me on June 15th and we'll discuss fall" and if you didn't call him that day or the next, you didn't play that fall.

Of course other places may be totally relaxed about booking. And if you work your way into 'you're our bar staff's favorite band we have' status, you're in good shape maybe to get some leeway. We also pick up gigs from those people beyond our regularly scheduled ones because we're first call if people do drop. Most places I know are also happy that we won't book with them if we've got another gig in the same town within 2 to 3 weeks...so we're not killing anyone's draw when we do play.
 
#48
two fingers said:
Well, it all depends on a few factors.

1) How much does the first place pay and hw much does the second? If we're talking a couple hundred bucks difference it's not worth bringing up.

2) What is your relationship with the first guy? Has he been loyal to you for a long time?

3) Do you guys play for a living or are you weekend warriors?

You see, everyone's knee will jerk into "Don't be a douche" mode without knowing all the facts. I have long-standing relationships with lots of club owners. I can think or several I know I could call and reschedule with. And I could even tell them why. They get it and would be totally fine with it. And they'll hug my neck next time I pull up to load out. They use all kinds of bands and it would be nothing for them to call some hometown guys down the street and plug them in the spot. Heck, I have even called other bands before hand and then called the club owner and said.....
"Hey, Mike. We would love to go play a swanky place in Myrtle Beach on th 27th. The Hoss Kats can do your place that night. Is that OK with you?"

(On that occasion Mike said sure as long as I bring him a Margaritaville T-shirt.... which I happily did.)

So there aren't any absolutes here. Most guys here take bar gigs WAAAAAAAAAY too seriously. We're playing rock n roll and selling beer. We're not saving the world.

If you know the guy well, call him and ask. Just be honest. And if he holds you to the date show up with a smile and play a great show.
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Agreed!

But let's also consider we are in an industry with ZERO honor, where a persons words mean very little when opportunity and advancement are concerned. Have you ever had a club cancel a booking because they could get a better/national act? They won't blink at sh*t-canning a band for that.

I say based on very careful and informed decision making, dont be a douche and take the other gig if it truly is the better gig.

The club/music business ultimately thrives upon taking advantage of the weak just like any other business. They would step on you in a heartbeat....its business, nothing personal until it inconveniences the buyer. But of course, you have to evaluate which is truly the better opportunity.

But as TwoFingers said, "we're playing rock and roll and selling beer". That's it. In a club environment, you are selling beer and putting warm butts in somebody else's establishment where they can profit from your hard work and your hard earned following, and nothing more.
 
#50
Even if the guy is cool with the change, if he even casually mentions what happened to others in the biz, it could lead to a rep that you are not reliable. That's the last thing bands at this level need.
 
#51
I would see if the better gig night can be changed. Failing that, I'd talk to teh first guy and see how he feels about rescheduling, but only if in my judgment, the first booked client would be cool with a conversation like that. Another thing to consider is the potential for follow-on work with each client. If the first guy is willing to be regular with you, I wouldnt' want to jeopardize the repeat business.
 
#52
If you tell a booking guy why you want to skip out on a date, you essentially are telling him what he's worth. "Hey, bud, I got another gig that day that's four minutes closer" tells him he isn't worth the four minutes, which would tick just about anyone off. If you say, "Hey, sorry. I just got booked for 20,000 people at the biggest arena this side of the state" then he at least gets a subconscious message that that's the field you're placing him on. I think psychologically there's a big difference, though business-wise they're the same: bailing out.
 
#54
As a bandleader, I've had players back out of gigs when a better opportunity came along. While I understand the financial involved in being a working musician, this also earns a Scarlet U for Unreliable. And so long as they're cool with that, so am I...Do you want to brand your band as flakes?

Do the gig you booked, book the other place next month or something? Then develop steady ongoing gigs at BOTH.
 
#56
JaredBT said:
Hi there, just curious if its common to try to get a different night at an already booked venue if a better paying venue comes along on the same night??? I feal kinda douchy calling to reschedule with the first guy... just want to run it by him though and will totally stick to my word if the conversation starts going south.... any thoughts? Oh, it's regarding Aug 22nd so it's not like it's short notice... or maybe that is ?? I don't know....
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i would recommend not asking. even to ask, i believe, would require some sort of extraordinary circumstances. however, if you do ask, maybe you could make it up to them by offering a freebie?
 
#57
BrentD said:
If you tell a booking guy why you want to skip out on a date, you essentially are telling him what he's worth. "Hey, bud, I got another gig that day that's four minutes closer" tells him he isn't worth the four minutes, which would tick just about anyone off. If you say, "Hey, sorry. I just got booked for 20,000 people at the biggest arena this side of the state" then he at least gets a subconscious message that that's the field you're placing him on. I think psychologically there's a big difference, though business-wise they're the same: bailing out.
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All booking is about leverage. It just is.

In bands that comes from having a certain level of following and/or popularity. In clubs its having a place that has a reputation and a built in audience. If bands are falling all over themselves to get into a room because it's a 'scene' room or known to be a 'good room for live music' the club has leverage because everyone wants in. If your band is booked up and getting calls rather than making them, the band has leverage. When you start out with a band, you don't usually have any of that leverage and you take what you can get...until you've built relationships and a following...
 
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