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Protocol/ethis for hiring/un-hiring a band...
Marilynn Knight
Oct. 9, 2001, 4:13 p.m. (Message 27818)
How common is it to book a band and then bump them for another with the reason given that original band doesn't have enough name recognition? Do we as committees have an ethics standard to uphold? What kind of oversight is there? How does preferred band deal if/when the action is known? I'm sure there may be a separate group online that know/discuss such matters, but, as dancers/groups scheduling, I feel we need to treat our musicians with utmost respect and encouragement. Ignorance of musicians' feelings/schedules can be very damaging all around. To treat a local group of musicians badly, one that is loyal, extremely competent, in favor of another with name recognition can be very counter-productive. How many dancers would boycott such a dance week end if they knew of the insensitivity? The analogy might be to form a demo group of local dancers, but, then, bump them for others from away. How much good will does that create?
Marilyn,
Interesting subject! I think a lot would have to do with the timing of
the hiring. If a local band was preparing for a dance for weeks, it would be
unkind and disgraceful to un-hire them. It's somewhat a kin to breaking a
date with a person in favor of a more appealing lass or lad. Musicians do
need more respect than that. They generally don't get paid much and spend
many hours preparing for their job. Our branch is well aware of the
importance of our musicians. They never end a set without a round of sincere
applause.
I don't think I would boycott a dance but surely, the parties that be,
would hear displeasure at their lack of ethics. We are fortunate in the San
Francisco Branch to have many top rated musicians. I believe that this
problem would never arise. Happy dancing all.
Bob Mc Murtry
Felton, Calif
Marilynn Knight wrote: > > How common is it to book a band and then bump them for another with the > reason given that original band doesn't have enough name recognition? Good grief! As if we would ever have this possibilty! There is only one band which will come to Switzerland - so we have to make to do with that. Alan P.S. They happen also to be one of the best bands I have ever experienced, so they wouldn't get bumped anyway <vbg> P.P.S. If you're interested, initials are SC
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)
I don't know how often this practice occurs but I consider it the height of rudeness. If it becomes known that the band hired was bumped in favor of another, the group runs the risk of being boycotted by musicians in general. "don't take that job, you might have it pulled". It would make subsequent bands ask for a hefty deposit the next time you try to hire them. If it was a local band that was bumped, you will lose all loyalty they might have towards your group. Remember that any time something goes poorly, there will be many folks who are vocal about it while when something goes well, the will be less widespread praise. Just don't do it. Cheers, Sylvia Miskoe, Concord, NH USA
I usually lurk on this list, but I feel very strongly about this. A band can be booked tentatively for an occasion with an agreement on both sides to confirm or withdraw by a certain date. In such a case, it would be okay to unbook them in favor of another group as long as it is by that date. Otherwise, unhiring a band in favor of one with greater name recognition seems to me to be demeaning and unethical. Legal considerations aside (a booking is a contract), such an action is unlikely to benefit a dance group in the long run. The unhired group will likely think twice about booking with the organization again after being treated in such a manner. It is also quite possible that the chosen group, on learning they have been put in the awkward position of putting other musicians out of a job, will also be more cautious in future. To place it all in another perspective--if a dance group booked a band for a weekend workshop and the band then cancelled in favor of a gig that was better-paying, would the group book them again? I admit all my own experience playing as a freelance musician was not in this country and in classical music, where a group carrying out such a change would still have to pay me the full fee. But a colleague with freelance experience here immediately said that if such a thing happened to him, he would not work with that group again if he had understood the booking to be a confirmed one. SCD musicians may work more informally, and may be quite accommodating in schedule changes, etc., but there is still the matter of basic respect for your musicians (and fellow SCD enthusiasts) who are an important part of the SCD community. Nancy Lorimer Mountain View, CA