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Topic: A most unusual turn of events... |
JamesMCross
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2004 4:22 pm |
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When we showed up for our gig Friday night, there was another band already set up. They were just tweaking their monitor mix when we rolled up.
We contact the club owner, and he says the other band was cancelled two weeks earlier, due to a death and that's why he had us booked.
The other band says No, they didn't have any deaths, it must've been their recently fired drummer who cancelled the gig out of spite. Now they're out a 2-night gig, and probably several more.
Club owner, ourselves, and the other band reach a compromise. We can play Friday and they can play Saturday.
They roll up their gear and take off, we set up and play the gig.
Now, here's the unusual part....
It's a door gig, and we did not draw enough people to cover our normal fee, we're maybe $100 short.
The club owner puts in the extra $100, and then he pays us our full fee for Saturday night too, even though we already have the night off !
He says he just wants to make sure we don't get mad and cancel the rest of our bookings at the club, which is 2 nights every 4 or 5 weeks or so for the rest of the year.
Most unusual, in my experience anyways.
Happy New Year! |
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Rich Young
From:
Georgetown, TX, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2004 5:06 pm
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| Huh? Can you clone this guy? |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2004 5:11 pm
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Wow James! This isn't one of those tales about Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, and benevolent club owners is it? 
Good for you & your band! You must've done something right eh? That club owner certainly did!!!
Funny you should mention spiteful drummers... My British pal, Gerry Hogan & I just parted ways with a tire-slashin doozy of a drummer. It's scary that we actually allow those guys to play with pointy sticks.[This message was edited by Rick Schmidt on 19 January 2004 at 05:27 PM.] |
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Chris Lasher
From:
Blacksburg, VA
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Posted 19 Jan 2004 5:18 pm
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| That club owner is a good man. I hope he's rewarded for his actions. |
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Bill Ford
From:
Graniteville SC Aiken
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Posted 19 Jan 2004 6:25 pm
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Hey James,
You better stay with the guy as long as he'll let you.Most club owners will try to stick you for part of what you rightfully earned...This guy sounds like an exeptionally OK Joe!!!!
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Bill Ford |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 19 Jan 2004 6:29 pm
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It's a guy that knows how to get a band back.
I've been paid for probably 90% of "double bookings".
Bandleaders must reaslise that if it's because of their incompetence or not having a contract that it lowers the bar for commitment of band members. In that case, the one time recently that it happened to me, I booked another job for the "remaining weekend" because "I didn't trust them".
I treat my musical obligations like my non-musical ones. Handshakes are binding. Paper contracts mean less. They're no better than the hand that signs them.
Le ricompense per la lealtà e la fiducia.
EJL |
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JamesMCross
From:
Houston, Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2004 7:26 pm
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All good points, thank you.
I worked the same club for the same owner but with a different band in 2002. Our last time there, we brought in $500 over and above our guarantee on the door, and we were counting our blessings (and extra pay) all the way through the third set. But, he kept it and paid us only our guarantee. We did not have a written contract, only the gentlemen's agreement between club owner and band leader.
So, that band hasn't been back. But the new band will be back, and we are very happy to have the gig too....!
Crazy business, this.
[This message was edited by JamesMCross on 19 January 2004 at 07:29 PM.] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 3:41 pm
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Talk of "double booking" and contracts brings to mind a little story I'll share with y'all.
Many years ago, my band was scheduled to play a large club in central Baltimore, and we didn't have a contract. Shortly after we started setting up, in walks another band, and they had a contract. The leader of the other band got into a heated discussion with the owner, and we just kept setting up. The owner apologized to the other band, and said he'd made a mistake, and would give them "traveling expenses" of $50 ($10 each) for just showing up, but that he really didn't have room for, nor was he going to pay for, 2 bands. Well, the other band's leader got very indignant, and pointing to us said...
"Do they have a contract?"
The owner said..."No, but they were here first, they're already set up, and they're ready to play."
Irate bandleader says..."Since we have a contract, you'll have to pay us the full amount!" ($250, I believe.)
The owner thinks a minute, and walks back into his office and brings out his copy of the contract. He stands there and reads it for a few minutes. Then he looks at the irate bandleader and says...
"Why don't you fellas just take the $50, and go home?"
"No!" The irate bandleader, says..."No way!"
The owner takes a $50 bill out of his pocket, and looks at the irate bandleader, and smiles..."It says right here in your contract that I can designate where you set up and play."
"Yeah.......so?" Mr. Irate says heatedly.
The owner then says..."The men's room is right over there! If you want your $250, then you'll have to set up and play your 5 sets in there!!!"
After only a few seconds deliberation, Mr. Irate grabs the $50, and storms out of the club, followed by his bandmembers.
Clubowner chuckles, turns to us, and says...
"Now...ain't you guys glad you didn't make me sign a contract?"
We all got a pretty good laugh out of that one! 
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 3:58 pm
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Great story Donny! It amazes me though that somebody actually had a contract to play a $250 club gig. I guess that band leader must've paid up to $30 or so for one of those "How to Make it in The Music Biz" books.
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 4:26 pm
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| Our Band has gone thru dbl. booking a few times. Once the owner of the club denied he had booked us, the other band was set up already. The five of us and our wives and girlfriends stood outside the door and told everyone not to come in,that the owner/manager was dishonest. Eventually the police came and made us leave,pointing to the bouncers of the club and saying tey didn't want to see anyone(us!) getting hurt, so we left and all went out to dinner. |
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