14 Nov
2018
14 Nov
'18
10:47 p.m.
Cold and flu season is on us. Where is the line between cancelling on a gig and forging
ahead despite how I feel? I guess it’s a matter of how composed I can be and how quiet I
can keep my conditions from the dancers. Medication can help, but can interfere with safe
driving.
If I feel I must cancel, what’s the right amount of notice to give? Who finds the
replacement if I have to cancel?
14 Nov
14 Nov
10:57 p.m.
Bob --
I've called an entire English dance so debilitated by a sinus infection
that I had to lean against a wall the whole time. It's not ideal.
Cancel if you're contagious. Cancel if you're enough under the weather
that your performance will suffer. Cancel if it's not safe for you to
get there and back. Don't risk your life and health or anybody else's.
As a series programmer, I think I would prefer honest communication as
soon as you know there's an issue. I'd way rather hear on Thursday, for
a Saturday dance, "I'm starting to feel under the weather and if this
gets worse I may have to cancel." Once we're in touch we can work out
whether you'll find a replacement or I will. (In my case, I'm in a
caller-dense area and I have the addresses of a lot of callers, so if I
have a day or two of notice I can likely find somebody I'd want to hire
anyway, or call the dance myself if I need to. I call some outlying
dances where if I'm not up to making the three-hour drive somebody else
will have to, in which case my finding an acceptable substitute can be a
mercy.)
The one thing that makes you less popular with a booker than canceling
at the last minute with no replacement is canceling at the last minute
and lining up a replacement that dance series would never want to hire,
so talk to your booker.
-- Alan
On 11/14/2018 7:47 PM, Bob Peterson via Callers wrote:
Cold and flu season is on us. Where is the line
between cancelling on a gig and forging ahead despite how I feel? I guess it’s a matter of
how composed I can be and how quiet I can keep my conditions from the dancers. Medication
can help, but can interfere with safe driving.
If I feel I must cancel, what’s the right amount of notice to give? Who finds the
replacement if I have to cancel?
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List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
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11:48 p.m.
I agree with Alan on this. It's not only arranging for someone the series
hasn't qualified - even if the replacement performer is a series regular,
there's the issue of balancing appearance frequency and creating harmonious
performer groupings. As much as we like to think of our community as all
happy together, there are some performers who have strong preferences re:
whom they work with.
Give the booking person an opportunity to manage the mix or accept your
help before contacting others.
-Don
On Wed, Nov 14, 2018 at 10:57 PM Winston, Alan P. via Callers <
callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
[snip]
The one thing that makes you less popular with a booker than canceling
at the last minute with no replacement is canceling at the last minute
and lining up a replacement that dance series would never want to hire,
so talk to your booker.
-- Alan
15 Nov
15 Nov
12:27 a.m.
Hi Bob,
I would suggest that you talk with the programmer first as early as
possible, alert that person and get feedback on their preferences. Offer
to find a contingency caller -- maybe say a few possible names, get any
feedback even if subtle (like an extended silence). Then visit with the
band if possible. Like Don pointed out, ask if they have any preferences
one way or another.
Your health and safety come first. And the health of everyone you will
come in contact with during that gig (including the musicians and
organizers).
Good luck with it,
Woody
------------------------------------------------------------------------
On 11/14/2018 7:57 PM, Winston, Alan P. via Callers wrote:
Bob --
I've called an entire English dance so debilitated by a sinus infection
that I had to lean against a wall the whole time. It's not ideal.
Cancel if you're contagious. Cancel if you're enough under the weather
that your performance will suffer. Cancel if it's not safe for you to
get there and back. Don't risk your life and health or anybody else's.
As a series programmer, I think I would prefer honest communication as
soon as you know there's an issue. I'd way rather hear on Thursday, for
a Saturday dance, "I'm starting to feel under the weather and if this
gets worse I may have to cancel." Once we're in touch we can work out
whether you'll find a replacement or I will. (In my case, I'm in a
caller-dense area and I have the addresses of a lot of callers, so if I
have a day or two of notice I can likely find somebody I'd want to hire
anyway, or call the dance myself if I need to. I call some outlying
dances where if I'm not up to making the three-hour drive somebody else
will have to, in which case my finding an acceptable substitute can be a
mercy.)
The one thing that makes you less popular with a booker than canceling
at the last minute with no replacement is canceling at the last minute
and lining up a replacement that dance series would never want to hire,
so talk to your booker.
-- Alan
On 11/14/2018 7:47 PM, Bob Peterson via Callers wrote:
> Cold and flu season is on us. Where is the line between cancelling on a gig and
forging ahead despite how I feel? I guess it’s a matter of how composed I can be and how
quiet I can keep my conditions from the dancers. Medication can help, but can interfere
with safe driving.
>
> If I feel I must cancel, what’s the right amount of notice to give? Who finds the
replacement if I have to cancel?
10:12 a.m.
When I got laryngitis the morning of a gig out of town, I contacted callers I knew in the
town and asked if they were going to the dance if they would call a couple of dances. We
had a coordinated "open" mic which worked well and I shared the fee.
When I was a booker and someone canceled, I really appreciated that they gave me a small
list of callers they had already contacted, who were available if needed. That made my
job so much easier.
The more notice the better of course, but we don't always have that luxury and we need
to take care of ourselves and those around us and not spread germs.
Donna Hunt
16 Nov
16 Nov
6:34 p.m.
Thanks everyone for the replies. Those were unsurprising and pretty much what I expected.
* Give as much notice as possible (days in advance).
* Cancel if you’re contagious, or can’t perform well or drive safely.
* If you go ahead, expect to be as alert, lively, and cheerful as usual.
* The organizers contact and pick the replacement, not the cancelling caller. Organizers
may ask you for help, but don’t be proactive by contacting other callers.
I’ll add: Take good care of yourself as a performer so you won’t have to cancel. (Nature
may interfere with that plan despite best efforts.)
\Bob Peterson
On Nov 15, 2018, at 10:12, Donna Hunt via Callers
<callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:
When I got laryngitis the morning of a gig out of town, I contacted callers I knew in the
town and asked if they were going to the dance if they would call a couple of dances. We
had a coordinated "open" mic which worked well and I shared the fee.
When I was a booker and someone canceled, I really appreciated that they gave me a small
list of callers they had already contacted, who were available if needed. That made my
job so much easier.
The more notice the better of course, but we don't always have that luxury and we
need to take care of ourselves and those around us and not spread germs.
Donna Hunt
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List Name: Callers mailing list
List Address: Callers(a)lists.sharedweight.net
Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/callers@lists.sharedweight.net/
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5 comments
5 participants
participants (5)
-
Bob Peterson -
Don Veino -
Donna Hunt -
Winston, Alan P. -
Woody Lane