Re: [Callers] Confirming Bookings - Best Practices?

The local series is good that way, with their confirmations. Those are pretty close to the date, so I tend to follow the Check Their Sites/Pages thing. Others in the region are pretty good with a run of communication to set up and one to later confirm. Again with something closer to the date. Again I'll do a check on the lead up, mostly by having a look on my own for promo material. One dance series had the caller I was replacing still listed on the site, so I wrote about a month and a half out so I knew if I was free to rebook, do other things, or simply enjoy the evening as a dancer. With a series, where there's a bit of pattern to the behaviour I have little concerns. Also the communication tends to be pretty good and established. For one off dances I may do a bit more asking, esp. if there have only been early enquiries. On occasion a "definitely want you" has fizzled, on other occasions what appears to be a casual inquiry really was their idea of a firm booking, for myself and the band. A band I do regular ONS work with (anniversary, wedding, fund-raiser gigs) and I are seriously considering asking for a financial deposit for some bigger one-off affairs. Esp. if there's travel, rental of equipment, accommodation (that we must book) and such. So, mostly nothing earthshakingly different than what a number have commented on. Cheers, John -- J.D. Erskine Victoria, BC Island Dance