eshta amar
New member
Hi everyone! I have to vent!!!!! Here I am sitting in a gorgeous new costume with fabulous hair and makeup and nowhere to go! Why???? Because I was just cancelled on 30 minutes before a show! GRRRRRRRRR!
I was asked yesterday to perform at a convalescent hospital by a woman who interrupted my class in order to get my business card. Not a good start! I knew that she probably didn't have a big budget. In Los Angeles the standard party rate is $150-$200 I charge between $150-$175 for a 15 - $20 minute show. I offered her a charity rate of $100. This was to be for their candlelight dinner party but she wanted me to perform at 2:30 on a friday - weird. So ok - I'm dressed, packed, ready - eyelashes and all and I get this phone call. Usually when the phone rings before a party I have a feeling something is about to go sour......She says" I can't afford $100 we don't have the budget.....schwarzenegger and his budget/no money....poor seniors....blah blah blah....I can pay you $60 for maybe a shorter show." Seriously peeved am I!!!! I say" Ok I'll do it only because I have already spent the time getting ready but it will be a shorter show." "How long?" she asks. About 10 minutes I said.
She then starts to tell me how many songs she thinks I should do. I explain that I am a professional and that the show will be an appropriate length. So she declines my offer. No apology nothing! I am shocked!!!!!! I call her back. I start in on this whole thing about how it is very inappropriate to cancel like that and how I have already lost time and money preparing for her showing. I suggest a cancellation fee knowing I will get nowhere. She starts laughing at me and says I can get a dancer for less than $50 and hangs up on me. I have written a letter to her boss. Doubt it will do any good!
Moral is STICK TO YOUR RATES!!!! Which I am glad I more or less did! And don't do a show for the Golden State Colonial Convalescent Hospital!
But question is......what sort of contract does everyone use? How do you protect yourself from just this problem with cancellations?
Oh well.....might as well practice in my new costume!
I was asked yesterday to perform at a convalescent hospital by a woman who interrupted my class in order to get my business card. Not a good start! I knew that she probably didn't have a big budget. In Los Angeles the standard party rate is $150-$200 I charge between $150-$175 for a 15 - $20 minute show. I offered her a charity rate of $100. This was to be for their candlelight dinner party but she wanted me to perform at 2:30 on a friday - weird. So ok - I'm dressed, packed, ready - eyelashes and all and I get this phone call. Usually when the phone rings before a party I have a feeling something is about to go sour......She says" I can't afford $100 we don't have the budget.....schwarzenegger and his budget/no money....poor seniors....blah blah blah....I can pay you $60 for maybe a shorter show." Seriously peeved am I!!!! I say" Ok I'll do it only because I have already spent the time getting ready but it will be a shorter show." "How long?" she asks. About 10 minutes I said.
She then starts to tell me how many songs she thinks I should do. I explain that I am a professional and that the show will be an appropriate length. So she declines my offer. No apology nothing! I am shocked!!!!!! I call her back. I start in on this whole thing about how it is very inappropriate to cancel like that and how I have already lost time and money preparing for her showing. I suggest a cancellation fee knowing I will get nowhere. She starts laughing at me and says I can get a dancer for less than $50 and hangs up on me. I have written a letter to her boss. Doubt it will do any good!
Moral is STICK TO YOUR RATES!!!! Which I am glad I more or less did! And don't do a show for the Golden State Colonial Convalescent Hospital!
But question is......what sort of contract does everyone use? How do you protect yourself from just this problem with cancellations?
Oh well.....might as well practice in my new costume!