Thread: An opinion poll for the promoters out there

Out of personal curiosity I'm interested to know how you would/do react if/when a performer sends you a list of "terms & conditions of booking".

T&Cs would include things like details of the performer's fee, a clear due date for the payment, the performer's tech spec (i.e. props they need you to provide - a chair for example), details about where/how to obtain promotional images of the performer... that sort of thing. It would not be a contract, or a legally binding document, merely a clear summary of the booking details and requirements.

I have created a poll here (http://www.polldaddy.com/p/567778/) and have kept the results hidden for the time being in order to prevent opinions being swayed. Please go and express your opinion.

Please take part in the poll before reading the comments that I imagine this post will generate - I'm all for making this as fair as possible.

The text on that poll is a bit small so I'll copy and paste it all below. The options are:

1. No problem, as all professionals should communicate clearly with regard to precisely what service is being expected/provided by the supplier/client

2. Feel comfortable in the knowledge that you knew exactly where you and the performer stood in relation to one another

3. Feel a little intimidated, but appreciate that it has potential to prevent conflict later down the line. You would remain as keen as before to further the booking enquiry.

4. Feel a little intimidated and would think twice about confirming the booking, but are likely to go ahead with the booking if you can meet the performer's requirements.

5. Feel a little intimidated and would think twice about confirming the booking, before even reading the T&Cs.

6. Would immediately cease all enquiries regarding this particular performer and look for someone without any T&Cs.

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Interesting poll Beatrix, will you be posting the results when you have a decent number?

I'm not entirely sure...

This is genuinely a personal interest of mine, inspired by my own thoughts. I'm a little paranoid that if I make it public it may come across as a slight toward performers that do/do not issue T&Cs or against promoters that do/do not feel T&Cs to be appropriate.

Ah, the showbiz tightrope!

From what I have read it sounds like the T&C means the performer knows exactly what they need to perform - the more performers like this the better. Of course I'd only like the T&C after I've agreed to employ a performer - if a performer sent it to me on the end of a cold calling style job request e-mail then I would see that as being a little ahead of themselves.

I've not done much promoting but I'd go with number 2. I always felt weird at Blue not knowing who had confirmed with the owner and who had said they might help out. Sometimes I'd be running around like a headless chicken trying to book acts, only to be told that they already had someone.

Getting things in writing sounds very sensible.

Originally Posted by Claudia Atlantis

Getting things in writing sounds very sensible.

Oh, hell yes! I've learned 2 very important lessons over the past few weeks.

1. It makes written communication much easier if you start your email with the booking status
(i.e. BOOKING STATUS: ENQUIRY (TO BE CONFIRMED))
2. Send email confirmations of all telephone correspondence. It's amazing how much potential there is for full sentences to be misconstrued.

x

1. Always. It's just good business practice... not very burlesque and bohemian, but the indication was towards promoters...

As a DJ there are so many ways a client can try and get money back from you - before, during or after the event - that it is very foolish not to have T & C, in the litigous 21st Century.

All my bookings are via signed contract, signing that contract guarantees that I will be there as booked - not leaving the client wondering if I will stand them up as I have found a booking that is better paid. If they read the T & C's then they should know - and can prepare accordingly - so it goes to plan on the day.

For Example (from my T & C):

"..The booking representative shall ensure the venue will allow adequate access time for the setting up and taking down of any equipment. If the performance start time is delayed due to the inability to gain access to the performance area, or any other delay beyond our reasonable control, no liability will be accepted and no refund will be given..."

Now I have recieved bookings where the client will be having a meal (i.e. wedding breakfast), and will expect the disco to be in, set up and running in the time it takes for them to nip out for a loo and fag break - and will then cry 'refund' when they come back in to find you still loading stuff in from the van.

By pre-empting this - both myself and the venue staff can work together to get it all in and set as quick as possible, everyone is happy. So T & C are there to help you as a promoter (unlike the legendary Van Halen / brown M & M's rider clause which was there to catch the promoter out) so your night goes as planned.

Pagan, your T&Cs sound wonderfully thorough As a DJ, have you ever felt you have lost a booking by being too meticulous with your requirements? If so, how do you feel about that?

Originally Posted by Beatrix Von Bourbon

Pagan, your T&Cs sound wonderfully thorough As a DJ, have you ever felt you have lost a booking by being too meticulous with your requirements? If so, how do you feel about that?

I have never lost a booking due to my T & C's; These are only sent to the client, with the booking confirmation / invoice, once time, date, venue - and price - have been agreed.

I have lost plenty of work from the 'How Much Do You Charge?' type of enquiry - these people are not interested in the quality of my service, that my roadshow is essentially a mobile night club; all they want is the cheapest price possible.

That kind of client I have no reservations about saying 'No' to - there are plenty of cut-rate cowboys out there to fill that end of the market.

However it is always gratifying to get a callback agreeing your original quote because their 100 quid DJ has no Public Liability Insurance / no PAT testing certificates for their equipment and hence won't be allowed in the venue...

Also you occasionally get a last minute panic call, as their 100 quid DJ has found a better paying gig and has let them down - without a contract, the client has no comeback on that one if they can't find someone at the last moment.

How that would translate to the original point of the thread, is that if a performer just says 'Yes I will be there' on the phone and you settle for that - if they don't show for your night then you once again have no comeback for you being let down. In the case of your DJ and sound / light system for the night, it might even mean the cancellation of the event with the subsequent financial losses.

hey B,

i have a list of T&C if i am doing a large job that has not been booked by an agent ...

i would usualy expect an agent to take responsibility otherwise.

i would not send it out to small burlesque and cabaret jobs either, it is easy enough to speak to them on the phone or via e mail.

as a producer of festival cabarets, i voted 1 - it is always better to have too much info than not enough. I can always say sorry but we cannot provide such and such then the artist knows to work around it .

x x x

sarah