I want to club them to DEATH!!!

[bloke]

Im venting my spleen major big time here!!!
Times are tough enough nowdays, but, bands make it the absolute faaarking pits!!!!! , I had a band book some time, nothing huge, but, every $ counts. In the meantime, I get 2 enquirys about time available that week, "sorry Im booked", and as they have some sort of (real or imagined) deadline, they go elsewhere.
I just got a call from the origional band who have decided to cancel.
"We'll get back to you" (uh huh), but can we have the same rate we organised!!!
.
Now, all this is nothing new, and at least they did call to cancel (a lot dont), but, just at the moment I wanna get a baby fur seal mask, stick it on the nearest band member and club it to death!!!!!!!
BTW, part of my mood is from reading a local forum where some bands have been complaining about lack of support!!!!!!!

[Mike Tholen]

next time you should get a 20% or more deposit for 'unbumpable' time, if they don't want to do that, tell them that they may be bumped.
it's that easy.

unfortunately we are forced to deal with the sticky side of any normal business all the while trying to remain in a positive and creative vibe/state of mind when it comes time to do our job...

[bloke]

Your absoluty right Mike.
But can I still club them to death??,, just a little bit????

[toolskid]

always get a deposit - makes me f****** sick

[denial]

At some point in a studios life you end up having to produce a policy that your business adheres to. How flexible or rigid is something only you can decide.

If all studios employed a similar policy it would become standard and all clients would have to consider their booking arrangements more carefully.

You may want to consider a deposit in order to make a booking official.

All this is somewhat unfortunate but it is the way of the world and a simple hand shake doesn't cut it anymore.

For further information on the topic, I'd like to refer you to my solicitor.

[NathanEldred]

I always get a 50% non refundable deposit. If they don't have the deposit to me a minimum of 3 weeks ahead of time (people around here don't book very far ahead of time, must be a Florida thing) then the date remains open, first come first serve on the deposit. I also have a lengthy recording contract regarding payment, proper credits, minors in the studio, and all liabilities. So far this has saved me any and all grief.

[De chromium cob]

No need to club them (although it WOULD be fun)- Karma's a bitch and they'll get whats coming to them....I predict they come back with storys of how they should of kept their appointment because they got screwed by your competition or something similar. I cant count how many times thats happened......

[bloke]

Thanks guys, I will definatly do the deposit thing.
After its all said and done,, cant I pleeeeeeeeeeeease club just a few to death?????? just a few little ones?? huh huh huh???
In all honesty I am sooo close to giving the whole game away, theres bugger all money in it here, it seems like 90% of the bands have absolutly NO idea of pitch, timing or melody, I can REALLY relate to the shove a stick in my ear thread, ( I prefer a screwdriver myself, you get a better grip).

[Jose Mrochek]

being the worst business man myself, I would suggest someone else taking care of the money talk. Some sort of manager. That keeps the good vibe between everyone.

[alnico]

Yup, the deposit is the only way to go. If they wanna fly on the plane they have to reserve a seat. A 48 hr notice of cancellation is another option you may wanna use. If they don't notify you then they forfeit the deposit. Get it on paper. if they balk at the paperwork then you know they are jive.

[verystrange]

This may seem like an ass-hole thing to do but whenever I book a gig for less than our "rate" it is automatically bumpable time. It is not uncommon here in nashville to get (or make) a call saying "sorry man, I gotta bail... gotta master that came up, you know how it is". Session players here are known for it. They call it the "stack and bail". You have Post It notes on your calender and then you stack them on top of one another on the same day. As the date of the master gets closer and it looks like it is gonna happen you bail on the demo rate session.

That is the good and bad thing about it being such a business down here... people almost always understand when you have to bail for a better paying gig... but then the music ends up being all business too.

[bloke]

Im enforcing the deposit thing now, some understand, some arent that happy about it, but, tough titties to the non compliant ones.
Mind you I still feel like clubbing just a few, just for the sins of previouse jerk offs.