Some people !!!

[djdave01]

I took a booking for a kids party for Sunday 8th November, back on the 15th Sept. As normal i posted a booking form and waited on it to be returned for which i allow about two weeks.

After 3 weeks the form hadnt been returned, so i phone the client to be told 'id lost the form, but ive found it now and will post it today'

Today, another 3 weeks later, still no form, so i phone the client again, 'Hi, is that Leanne?' 'Yes' 'Hi Leanne, its Dave here from DSF Discos phoning about your booking for the 8th November', she hung up!

Why cant people just call and say that they dont want the booking? Its only a kids party, so its not a big loss, but i wish people would have some consideration. I know ive turned away at least one other job i could have been doing.

Dave

[rob1963]

Today, another 3 weeks later, still no form, so i phone the client again, 'Hi, is that Leanne?' 'Yes' 'Hi Leanne, its Dave here from DSF Discos phoning about your booking for the 8th November', she hung up!

That's one of the problems these days.

Loads of people don't know what manners are.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I've had the opposite this morning. Someone I quoted a job for around 2 months ago for february and forgotten about has just sent me an email to say sorry for the delay but if I am available, they want to book me.

I know it's weird mate. I always expect an answer back straight away and find myself itching to send them a follow up email or call them. I suppose some people just don't think it's much of a big deal when they book a Disco but when it's your living and you turn down other bookings then it IS a big deal to us.

I think you did the right thing and although she didn't book in the end, I would take it (a) as experience and (b) blacklist her!

[TonyB]

I had this happen to me in the past - sent booking form, don't get it back, phoned client who makes up some excuse for not returning it, then ends up that the gig doesn't go ahead and I had turned away enquiries for the same date.

Now I give them 14 days to return it. Send a reminder after 10 letting them know that if it isn't returned the date will no longer be reserved. After 14 days I make the date available again and contact the client to let them know that it is no longer being held.

[rob1963]

I now I give them 14 days to return it. Send a reminder after 10 letting them know that if it isn't returned the date will no longer be reserved. After 14 days I make the date available again and contact the client to let them know that it is no longer being held.

I also give them 14 days to return it, although I'm not quite as strict as you if they don't.

I'll send them a reminder a day or two after the 14 day period has expired asking them to return it within the next few days if they still want to go ahead, or to let me know if they don't.

If I don't hear anything, a week later I'll send a letter confirming that I've cancelled the booking as the paperwork had not been returned & because I'd had no reply to my subsequent letter.

Fortunately this has only every happened once.

[deltic]

i just make it clear that until i have a signed booking form back the function is not confirmed and as such the date will still be available,having said that luckily people on the whole are very good don't have to chase many.

[djdave01]

It is a very rare thing for forms not to be returned, and of those that decide not to go ahead with a booking, they do usually at least call me. This one annoyed me because she just hung up the phone.

On a slightly related note, months ago i had an enquiry, again for a kids party. I quoted a price and got the usual 'we call you back', obviosly i forgot all about it.

On the date of the party, the phone rung 'why arent you here for my daughters party?' I explained on the phone that she'd never phoned back so i assumed she'd booked someone else, but to save the party i raced down there.

I got the impression from the adults at the party that it was my fault and was made to feel very unwelcome. I only played for an hour so reduced my usual kids party fee and still got moaned at.

I caught her out though when she asked 'have you brought the prizes?' I explained that we never supply prizes at parties, so she must have booked someone else.

While i was packing up, she was still moaning to people about how id ruined her childs party.

[simonp]

Annoying when that happens (OP)

I had a similar thing earlier in the year - I was asked if I was available for a wedding at a particular venue on certain date etc. Checked the diary and I was already booked for a wedding on that date at that venue (deposit paid, booking form back etc etc), and I know the venue only caters for 1 wedding at a time i.e. not a multiple venue.

After telling the person on the phone this, she (understandably) started to panic a bit - I said I'd speak to the venue and find out what was happening and would get back to her within half an hour.

Spoke to the venue, and they aware of the original booking but told me it had been cancelled.

I phoned the original Bride up, and she as matter of fact just said, "Oh, we split up, there is no wedding, sorry forgot to tell you".

You just feel like giving them a verbal blast down the phone but have to bite the tongue (which is hard for me sometimes) grrrrrr

[soundmaster mobile disco]

If i dont get the booking form back i normally phone the client and chase it up,you can normally tell from the tone of there voice that they are at it,this has happened to me before dave where i tried numerous times to contact the client about the booking,i was thinking about writing to them to tell them i was now unavailable on that date when i got a text to say that the party was of.

Why do people cancel the booking with the hotel then not tell us untill we contact them?

That was just rude to put the phone down on you like that .


Ps i dont have any bookigs for the 8th november so if there is anyone else its not me david.

[rob1963]

Why do people cancel the booking with the hotel then not tell us untill we contact them?

Because they are rude, selfish & have no manners.

[Mayhem 1]

As you gentlemen know Children’s parties are my bread and butter work so I can not afford to let this kind of thing happen.

The way I handle it is:

Enquiry comes in and I take the details and I ask them if it is a definite booking because I do have that slot but I would need to know now if it is a booking,

I then explain the booking contract system which is when they get the contract they read through it and make sure all details are correct as discussed, sign and return back to me as soon as possible or at the latest 10 days because all bookings remain provisional until it is returned to me, and if it is not back or no contact is made then I will take another booking and I can say it works very well.

I have had one hiccup though, I had a party booked at a venue which was 1.5 hours drive, the call went well and the booking was secured.

Contract came back with the deposit job done or so I thought………..

I always contact the hirer two weeks before the event and then one week before the event just to make sure all things are ok and note any changes.

I could not get any answer when I phoned and after 6 phone calls and several emails at all times of the day still nothing .

I managed to get the dad on his mobile 2 days before the party and he said oh we don’t need you for the party, we have moved and booked somebody else!!!!!!

I then asked him if he had read the cancellation clause in the contract and he hung up!!!! I phoned back and got his wife and after saying who I was she just screamed a torrent of abuse about cancellation fees and said no way was she paying it and I had no proof I said that I had the contract signed by her husband……

3 days later = balance arrived in the post!!!!

So in closing my advice would be is to keep in touch with the hirer if you can and make sure you have a cancellation section on your contract.

[djdave01]

Ps i dont have any bookigs for the 8th november so if there is anyone else its not me david.


Hi Gary, not worried if someone else is doing it lol, just annoyed at the situation.

[djdave01]

So in closing my advice would be is to keep in touch with the hirer if you can and make sure you have a cancellation section on your contract.


Great in theory mate, if she had actually returned the contract to me id be able to do something lol

my terms state that if an event is cancelled within 4 weeks of the events date, then the full balance is payable, but the stupid cow had never returned the contract.

Legally theres nothing i can do :bang:

[StarZSoundS]

, but the stupid cow had never returned the contract.

bang:

Reminds me I had a cancellation with Swine Flu as the (mmmm....probably....) excuse.(six weeks ago).

Anyone else lost one to this??

[amplified]

yes i have had this a number of times and it makes it all the more annoying and frustrating when i have had other enquiries for that date and i have had to turn them down.