The gig that never was!

[rob1963]

I turned up at a nice pub in East Sheen tonight for a gig I was booked for through my friend's agency.

However, on arrival I was told they'd been expecting the disco LAST NIGHT! :eek:

This was a new one for me, as I've turned up to find I'm double booked before, but I've never turmed up on the wrong night!

I apologized for the fact that my friend obviously got the date wrong, and then came home for an unexpected night off.

My friend is doing a gig in Milan tonight, so I won't be able to moan at him until he gets back in a few days.

Has anyone else out there turned up for a gig on the wrong night, either because you got it wrong or the agency gave you the wrong date?

[Shaun]

Has anyone else out there turned up for a gig on the wrong night, either because you got it wrong or the agency gave you the wrong date?

Only once, many, many years ago.

Local venue, I arrived in the afternoon to set up, as I always do in that particular venue. The hall keeper and I chatted away, neither of us thinking to mention what type of gig it was to be later. So, I set up and went home. I arrived at the venue later in the evening to start, and i saw a band wheeling their equipment in. I spoke to the band members, and said I didn't know a band was playing too?. They told me they didn't know a DJ was playing tonight alongside them.

A quick chat to the hallkeeper and I realised that I was there 24 hours EARLY!!. I've no idea how I got the dates mixed up but it was an awkward position to be in. It all worked out fine though. The band and venue were more than happy for me to keep my equipment set up and move it further to the back of the stage ready for the gig the following evening... which I did.

Luckily the mix up was me arriving a day early, and not a day late.

I never made that mistake again, and to this day I've no idea how the mix up occurred.

[andyw]

no we haven't ,did they manage to get cover for you that night,i would be furious if i was given the wrong information like that.i don't work through agencies normally but always like to ring the client in advance to talk through the event and use that as an excuse to check all the details i have is correct

[rob1963]

no we haven't ,did they manage to get cover for you that night,i would be furious if i was given the wrong information like that.i don't work through agencies normally but always like to ring the client in advance to talk through the event and use that as an excuse to check all the details i have is correct

Hi Andy,

No, they didn't get any cover for the disco last night.

It's extra annoying, as I WAS available last night, so I could have done the gig if I'd been given the right date in the first place.

[andyw]

sorry to hear that it's bad enough for you but imagine what it was like for the people at the party last night

[rob1963]

sorry to hear that it's bad enough for you but imagine what it was like for the people at the party last night

It wasn't too bad Andy, as it wasn't a particular person's party, just a pub disco...

...although they told me loads of people turned up!

[Vectis]

...although they told me loads of people turned up!

Looks like the punters knew which night you were coming then... ;) :D

[rob1963]

Looks like the punters knew which night you were coming then... ;) :D

:Laugh:

[daz226]

thankfully it has never happend to me but i did do a engagment party that was booked in one place but all the guest turned up at another it was funny but i had to feel for the women as she looked quite upset. but eventually at about 10 30 all the guests arrived in the correct venue i played for 1 hrs and that was it as we had to be out by 12

[soundmaster mobile disco]

Never had this happen before but when i worked for a company before i set up my own business i came across this situation where i would be setting up and along came another disco and claimed they also had the booking.It turned out that they had the booking and not me.This happened to me on more that one occasion.
Sean do you remember the Blue Light Disco in levenmouth about 2 years ago,you sent Gary from Lewnics along he got the booking from Kerry and i missed out.(that was the company that i was working for at the time that arranged the bookings and not me).

[yourdj]

I mostly do weddings although i did a bar in southampton tonight, which was a nice change. I could actually play the music i like for once.

I dred the day i might :Censored: up a booking as i have them all over the place now. I really hope that this never happens, which it should not but you never know with missing booking forms in the post etc.

I do not want too end up on rougue trader like that :Censored: last year LOL.

I would never forgive myself if i messed up a wedding !!!!

[daz226]

ere you're DJ its your fault i am so busy next year...... i was reading when you you went to your first wedding fair and decided to do the same and bing all the booking keep comming so thank you .....

[TR2K Productions]

ere you're DJ its your fault i am so busy next year...... i was reading when you you went to your first wedding fair and decided to do the same and bing all the booking keep comming so thank you .....

What!

nope never happened to me, i have turned up at the wrong venue once though, luckily it was only 5 minutes down the road so i managed to rush down there and get set up on time

[daz226]

What!

nope never happened to me, i have turned up at the wrong venue once though, luckily it was only 5 minutes down the road so i managed to rush down there and get set up on time

what i was saying here was its yourdj is the reason i am so busy next year from his advice

[Boogie Boy]

Well, I had a phone call the night before the gig (from an agency who'd booked me into the venue on a regular basis, to cover for his planned Karaoke night, but just as a disco, as he was ill and couldn't do it) only to arrive and be told they had another DJ and the agent's karaoke night wasn't until the same day in a week's time.

I sent him an email merely stating "arrived at gig, told your karaoke night is next week, grrr" and have never heard from him since! I could have been much more angry, I could have balled him out on the phone, BUT I was an understanding guy about it and........look what I got?

[Shaun]

Sean do you remember the Blue Light Disco in levenmouth about 2 years ago,you sent Gary from Lewnics along he got the booking from Kerry and i missed out.(that was the company that i was working for at the time that arranged the bookings and not me).

Yes, I remember. That's not the first time I've heard about that kind of situation with the company you used to work for.

I remember a similar situation with the same company. I arrived to set up for a wedding and he was setting up. After a quick discussion with him it was apparent that we were both there for the same client. We both waited for the client arriving. He told me there was no way he was packing up now that he was there and set up, and that I should just go. I just stated that we should wait and see what the clients wishes are, and that she would be here shortly and should be able to resolve the situation. I can understand why he was annoyed at the situation, but couldn't quite understand why he was getting angry at me personally.

The client arrived and was pretty confused as to why he was there, as they'd only briefly spoke on the phone and he had never sent her any paperwork out. With the lack of communication from him and no paperwork she decided to look for another company. She informed the other DJ that he wasn't needed, and that she had no confirmation from him that he was going to perform at her event - hence why she booked another DJ (me). He then started to argue with the bride stating that they had a verbal agreement, he then turned to me, and to the brides amazement said "I'm set up already, so you better go, the bride and me have a verbal agreement". At this point I pulled out a copy of my booking form. I replied "I have written confirmation for this event, but I'll follow the brides wishes if she decides to use your services instead". The bride asked him to leave.

Luckily I've only had this situation the once. It was very awkward for the other DJ, the bride, and myself.

[leighinstoke]

Have gone to my Saturday venue on Friday to find it all locked up due to looking at the clients details on the booking sheet to discover they've accidentally written Friday as the day and Saturday's date.

Rang the proper Friday venue to find they've just opened the doors and look forward to me arriving as plenty of time to set up.

Phew.

Leigh....

[theoloyla]

What!

nope never happened to me, i have turned up at the wrong venue once though, luckily it was only 5 minutes down the road so i managed to rush down there and get set up on time
I remember doing that once in the 70's. I was convinced the gig was at a regular venue I did and set off to find it was at another venue entirely. Had to ring them to say I would be late. Very embarrassing. I also remember arriving at a hall to do a gig and finding it had been cancelled but no one had told me. I had to send them a letter to get my fee. They werent very happy but they had to pay.

[Excalibur]

I remember doing that once in the 70's. I was convinced the gig was at a regular venue I did and set off to find it was at another venue entirely. Had to ring them to say I would be late. Very embarrassing. .


Been there, done that mate! ;) :D Working for a Cricket Club, where I had been on more than one occasion, turned uip at the Club, nearly persuaded the Disco that was there that they had the wrong gig, until it became apparent that as it was a big function, they had hired the Village Hall a couple of miles away! Embarrassing or what? :confused: :o :o :o

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Many years ago I turned up for a gig, only to find I was a year early...

[Danno13]

So did you just wait?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So did you just wait?

Yeah, took my time setting up, you know the sort of thing you do when you're early. :D

[Excalibur]

Many years ago I turned up for a gig, only to find I was a year early...

Someone always has to go one better, don't they? ;) :D :D :D

[theoloyla]

I've almost done that. Turned away work for a particular night but then realized in time before I set out that it was for a year later.

[Shaun]

Many years ago I turned up for a gig, only to find I was a year early...

Ok...you win. :D

[Kernow]

"Typical these DJ's

You wait 24 hours for one (;) ).........

......and then two turn up at once !!! :D"

[UltraBeat Entertainment]

I remember doing something like this when i was roadie ing for another DJ in my teens. pulled upto a village hall to find a band unloading. DJ said: "I didn't know we were working with a band tonight" with the reply of "your not":confused: .

Turns out the event had been canceled and they hired the hall for "band practice". He was a bit red in the cheeks to say the least:)

Still got paid though. never done it myself thank god.