Getting overpaid - owner wants it back

[bassmaster831]

I would give it back and honor the contract, it’s not worth 100 dollars to be looked at as an issue to book and booking agents/venues/managers talk. It would be the same if they underpaid you, you deserve the contracted amount. The contract should be honored both ways, it’s the right thing to do.

 

[db59]

Well certainly a lesson going forward....doink

 

[Roxbororob]

Give it back (an investment in credibility).

 

[buldog5151bass]

If an ATM or teller accidentally gave you an extra hundred, you'd have to return it. Same thing.

 

[ajschnitzelbank]

Wow. I’m stunned by the venue owners behavior.

If it were me, I’d send the money back in a check with something in the memo line like “band tip remitted” or “overpayment to band”. Make them go out of their way to cash it.

Then I’d try to never play there again if I could avoid it.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Now is the time for the more skilled arbitrators to deploy their "damage control & abatement" skills. As described, it's a nice venue, good crowd / turnout, pay was acceptable...I wouldn't mind returning under this scenario. The only hiccup is we have a manager who seemingly over-reacted to an easily addressed issue...he / she probably did you a favor by revealing his character. File this away for future reference as you'll find any number of annoyances which permeate the industry...this is NOT a one-off.

Riis

 

[Goatrope]

If an ATM or teller accidentally gave you an extra hundred, you'd have to return it. Same thing.

Of course. But this wasn't an "accident", it was clearly a tip.

 

[Luther]

Apologize for any misunderstanding. Offer the manager a $100 credit for your next booking at his/her club. If they refuse, return the money. Clarify these contingencies in the contract; Over payments are considered tips and are non-refundable.

 

[pepj]

Most of the places we play, we know the booker and if we havent actually met, introduce ourselves.
We are now 'friends' or certainly on cordial terms.

So, a degree of trust exists so no one is trying to screw over anyone.
If the relationship is not along those lines, likelyhood we aren't playing there again anyway.

 

[J-Bass RMR]

At what point was the extra $100 known to the BL?
Was it discussed at the time of the exchange, or did the manager just hand him a wad of cash?
Was it acknowledged by the BL (to the manager) at any time?
(not that it really matters at this point, but it would clarify the manager's intent.)

If it was the manager's intent to tip - they have an internal issue.
If it was an honest mistake/wasn't specifically mentioned, it won't help your reputation to keep the $.
Tacky move by the owner either way, but it's your issue to resolve now
("it never gets weird enough for me".

Should we offer to discount another gig?

Whatever the intent - it was THEIR error. - wondering why the owner wouldn't just offer to re-book you and consider it an advance.
Sort of tells you where you stand in this relationship.

Since you had a contract, and this is causing a dispute - a $100 - split- isn't going to change anyone's life...

Edit: Here's a scenario to consider;
Crazy owner fires manager. Manager ends up working at your favorite / best playing club....

 

[LAST_C]

To me, $100 is not worth the headaches. If there's a chance that the band will be hired again, I'd give back the money. I'd also give it back to protect the band's reputation.

If the owner is hustling you over $100, they probably need it more than you do.

 

[john_g]

If everyone in your band agrees, give them back the $100. Then...post it on social media so other bands know. Ridiculous.

 

[Nek07]

Of course. But this wasn't an "accident", it was clearly a tip.

Same to me, you cant give a kid a lollypop and then take it back...you just put the big person pants on and suck your own lollypop.

 

[HubbardsFate]

Holy crap. If the bar owner is gonna be this chintzy, she should be docking the bar manager, not the band...but in my opinion, she shouldn't be doing this at all, to anyone...her place can't absorb a $100 tip for a good band that (likely) contributed significantly to revenue that night?

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

IMHO, it is rude for them to ask for the money, but I would give it back anyway because you got a contract and it was apparently a mistake on their end and misunderstanding on your end.

 

[Bob Coldwell]

Bar manager "said he loved our playing and thanked us."

No indication that it was a tip. BL should have brought it up immediately.

It was probably an honest mistake. So what? Definitely give the money back. And yes $100 IS a big deal to most club owners.

 

[DirtDog]

This is a new one on me. We did a nice gig a few weeks ago. First time at the place. It was a warm spell that night here in NC. Club had the front doors open and a good crowd cycled in and out from the street, good vibes and a fun evening. After load out the bar manager paid our BL and gave him $100 more than was agreed on with the club owner. Said he loved our playing and thanked us. BL thought...that's pretty cool, and since we had pulled a good crowd he didn't think anything of it and took the cash.

A couple days later the owner called and said my guy over paid you $100. What do you want to do about it? The BL just told her we thought you appreciated our playing and the crowd we brought in so we accepted it. She made him feel like we did something wrong and we owe her something. Do we? Should we offer to discount another gig?

Offer to pay them back in exposure. Eg, we’ll mention your venue on our socials x many times.

Seriously, I’d just say, take $100 off of our next pay.

Even more seriously, what’s their motivation for asking for the money back vs chalking it up to experience? Pressure from the owner for making a mistake? Other cash missing from the till that night?

 

[Core Creek]

okay, firstly, taking a tip at a gig for $100 is not "something wrong" and there's no reason anyone in the band should have "known better"...

it kinda depends on how bad you want this gig, and also your rep. you could offer a $100 credit toward your next booking. you certainly could just say "it was a tip and that's it" but that probably won't do you any favors, even though you might be justified.

offering the $100 credit toward your next performance would be my first suggestion, see if that works. bars spill $100 in drinks a night

I like this approach because it leaves it to her to decide if she wants to book you again. If she says no thanks you probably weren't going to be getting another gig there anyway.

I would have assumed it was a tip as well and you shouldn’t be guilted I to someone’s mistake. I think it was pretty poopy of them to ask for it back.

 

[2saddleslab]

I would tell the owner that you took the manager at her word when she said she liked how the band played and considered it a tip, which is not unheard of and has happened in the past, but because there was an agreed upon contract the band would credit the $100.00 on the next booking.

 

[Core Creek]

On a tangential point, my BL has overpaid me, twice, the last few weeks. I noticed the error, contacted him and asked if I should send the $ back. He said just keep it and apply it to future pay…. And then he paid me again forgetting the extra pay he did.

This is the approach the bar should have taken… oh, we made a mistake, can we just deduct it from your next gig. These relationships are a two way street… trying to get the money back would make me think down the line there are going to be issues with getting paid.