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

[jasonrp]

Only backed out once. We had a freak snowstorm on Halloween a few years ago. Sucked too, we were gonna make 5 bills for it but the bar owner said nobody went out anyways.

 

[BurningSkies]

Only backed out once. We had a freak snowstorm on Halloween a few years ago. Sucked too, we were gonna make 5 bills for it but the bar owner said nobody went out anyways.

We did the opposite. Showed up at a place with a sub-zero watermain break outfront, the other band cancelled and we said "if it's all the same, we drove hours to get here, we'll play to an empty bar if needed". We posted a quick facebook update saying we were NOT cancelling and played twice as long...and got a whole bunch of people out. Got more pay for doing it.

The other band was pissed because the venue let on that they had backed out rather than playing, which wasn't really the case, they had been told the bar probably wouldn't open.

 

[Obese Chess]

Exactly. Also, canceling one gig to take another one is just crappy. Also, whoever booked the first will SEE that you're playing a different gig on that day. That's gonna kill your reputation and/or your chances to book the place again.

Yup, a band we recently were supposed to do a show with suddenly "dropped off due to personal issues" less than a week before the show. Turns out they booked a gig at a club just down the road for that same night.

Guess which band is having a lot of trouble getting another gig at either venue.

 

[EastCoastThump]

In this video, Richard Bona tells how he turned down $16k for a Lauryn Hill gig because he wasn't impressed with the other musicians...Was that a douchey move?

Turning the gig down? No. But talking publicly about how he said no b/c Lauryn Hill's "Small Axe" band isn't cutting it? It would have been cooler on his part not to broadcast that opinion.

 

[Eric Swaim]

Once you commit to a gig or booking, you better stay with it, regardless of how much the other gig would pay. Once you get the title of "flip flopper" no one will book you because they don't know you will follow through with your commitment. If I owned a club (which I don't) I would never book a band that did that to me. It makes the place seem like they are second rate compared to the other place. Gigs will come and go, your reputation will not, it sticks like a mouse trap. I realize it's about the money, but money gigs will be there if the band is good. My 2 cents.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I've signed contracts for gigs before which have made it clear that if we could not do the gig (for any reason) we would be legally required to provide an alternative act. And this is as a weekend warrior. Not something we'd necessarily have been able to fulfill if we'd got food poisoning the night before!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

If I owned a club (which I don't) I would never book a band that did that to me.

I have been in the position of running a venue. Advanced publicity to people back in the pre-social media days went out quarterly (and often still does). Changing a band in a line up is easier now, but it would have been a serious inconvenience then.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Only backed out once. We had a freak snowstorm on Halloween a few years ago. Sucked too, we were gonna make 5 bills for it but the bar owner said nobody went out anyways.

The lead guitarist in a band I was in got flu. I was playing guitar and keys so there was a hurried practice to see if I could cover all the keys and bass parts on keys only and the bassist could do the guitar.. but that was a bit optimistic so we just had to drop all the keys and make to with ersatz guitar solos from me. We were supporting one of our prog rock heroes so the show had to go on - gig was not cancelled!

 

[joelb79]

It's polite to find yourself a competent replacement for the first guy.

 

[paulears]

It does work the other way around - we travelled a round trip of about 500 miles. The venue wanted to do a door split, and we don't do that because some may well work hard to get people in, while others don't do anything. We agreed a fee, and did the gig. While we're playing I do the maths based on the people I can roughly count, and it's looking like a loss to me. We got 40% bank transferred before the event, but the balance as a cheque - which next day we were advised not to bank. Four weeks later, we still haven't had the money - but he's really nice and apologetic on the phone. At which point, if any, do the Facebook comments change from a good gig, to a bad gig because he's paying each date with no bank balance buffer?

We kind of feel sorry for him, but we're out of pocket - the expenses eating up a large chunk of what we have been paid so far.

 

[Honch]

I did once had to honor and play at my close friends wedding, which was half a year in advance, and bail out on another gig (which ALSO was a wedding, but someone else we didn't know). Wedding gigs are often half a year in advance, so it's ample time to get noticed, and let someone else sub for you. But if a regular club/bar gig came out half a year in advance, and I was asked to do a friends wedding, I would opt for that one, even if it was lower paid. Luckily, most club/owners knows this, and acknowledge this, and if it's a half a year in advance, they can get other ones to play too, within a reasonable amount of time.

However, if it's like a week or two, and you bail out, it's kinda "dick-move" or bad business conduct. As someone said, it may hunt you and come back to you in the long run, in a negative way. It'll bite you in the butt further down the road.

It's a different thing when you're ill, or as food poisioning that came up in earlier post, because then you can't play anywhere else either. Was in a band and the BL' wife died in an accident the same day, we had to cancel, and the club owner understood it. All us others phoned like crazy to get a substitute band and we made it to him. But then it is "force majeure" and we couldn't play any gig at all for a couple of weeks. It is just when doing another gig instead, that makes club owners wary...

 

[Sav'nBass]

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.

This is textbook how to cancel a gig with class... It is only Dbag when you either lie about it or totally leave them hanging with nothing...