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strathspey@strathspey.org:27823

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Strathspey

Strathspey

RE: Protocol/ethis for hiring/un-hiring a band...

Oct. 9, 2001, 5:14 p.m. (Message 27823, in reply to message 27818)

I think that it should be looked at as two questions. Firstly if a specific
event/date has been booked and secondly if a band has always played at a
given annual function.

In the first instance, the situation looks clear. A contract, be it verbal
or written, has been entered into by the organiser who has booked the band.
In the event of cancelling that booking some compensation should be
offered - or more properly the band should be approached to determine what
recompense the band would consider accepting to break the contract - a
cancellation fee in fact. Speaking for my band that would depend upon a
number of factors, what the reason is, how long in advance the booking was
cancelled and whether any alternative bookings had to be turned down because
of the original commitment. In the circumstances as described below I would
take the view that this was unreasonable and to request the full fee unless
a replacement booking could be obtained. I would almost certainly not
consider taking further bookings from that society.

The second instance is more a question of individual ethics and politeness.
No band has the right to expect the same booking year after year but if we
had done the same function for a number of years it would be nice if the
society would inform us in advance if they intended to book someone else for
a future year. There is a reverse responsibility on the band as well - to
look at which functions have been regular over the last few years and not
accept a different booking without checking that we were not required by our
regular patrons first.

Finally we would not consider taking any booking at the expense of a band
that were already booked for that specific function. This would, in our
opinion, be highly unethical.

Having said all that I cannot think of a single incident where this has had
to be considered. There have been a number of cancellations over the years
and probably the majority have not had to pay a cancellation fee as
functions tend to be cancelled only in VERY serious circumstances.

Graham Hamilton
The Craigellachie Band
(Southern England)

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