I have a question for the one night gig workers.

When you do bookings, certainly for a popular time of year like Christmas, there are only a specific amount of days. If you do children's birthday parties there is only a certain number of weekend days. So if you have 2 shows for the same day, or two requests for the same day/time what is your policy?

Do you just tell them you are booked? Do you send someone else? Do you try to get a higher price from the second one and send someone to the first one?

I am genuinely curious and I think we can come up with some interesting ideas brainstorming and just hearing what everyone does. As I never have the problem I have no opinion, just a burning curiosity. I have seen some creative solutions and hope we can get some out here.

I have done three in a day during the Christmas season just spaced them apart. Some were luncheons others were pre dinner or after dinner.

I guess I am asking about conflicting times and dates. That is a great way to work. GTFM while you can! 3 a day must be a tiring schedule as I should imagine they are in all different locations? (I know PAINFULLY little about one night gigs.)

That happens a lot. I tell them I am booked at that time, then I always ask them if they are flexible on the day and time. I often say that I can do their event before or after the other one. I find out their location, usually I already have that info, but I try to get the specific address so I can figure out travel time. Then I can tell them something like "I'm available any time up until 2pm, or I can do 5pm or any time after that". I may also say something like "I'm available the next day 3pm or any time after, but I also have some other times open the weekend before or after". Offhand, at least half the time they want me specifically and they are able to work around my schedule. For preschools and summer camps they are almost always willing to work around my schedule because they usually have plenty of other days in the summer they can do it. Back around 94' I was turning down conflicting gigs so much I started booking other people, and that turned into me having a full time entertainment agency for 10 years. But now I don't want the hassle, so if I can't do a gig I may refer them to someone else, I do if they ask, but I don't try to make money from that, though I can see why others may want to do that.

Yes

I will recommend a few trusted friends (no commission involved).


Absolutely not! If I book with a client I keep my word no matter how good the other gig appears to be.

I guess if I were interested in being a booking agent, my answers might be different. But like Dan above I have no interest in that.

The best example is the 3 weekends before Christmas, especially the first 2 weekends for some reason. Everyone seems to have their Christmas party on those weekends.

The only ‘trick’ I have is to make good notes for next year. What was the most lucrative gig, most fun gig, least travel, etc. Then start early in trying to book those gigs the following year.

The reverse is true too. If I had a gig on one of those popular weekends that didn’t like, not only will I NOT contact them for next year, I will try to have a legitimate reason why a cannot book this year in case they call me (too far to travel, I already told another prospect that I’m holding the date for, etc.). This way I free myself to take something new and more to my liking.

Thank you guys! Keep it coming.

I’d imagine it is like most markets and doing 100% of what you say will go a long way.

Here is my own situations. I primarily, for 9 months of the year, have worked schools - K-12 and colleges. For the K-12 schools, I can do two schools a day M-F, so there are ten avails. When a school calls for a booking, this is explained to them. They can choose one of three options...1. The morning time slot, 2. The afternoon tine slot, or 3. A block booking coordinated with other schools in their area for multiple days and multiple am and pm time slots.

In the prom season, fundraiser seasons, and grad night seasons, all of my shows are typically between midnight and 5:00 am. I am the headliner so essentially all events and activities are based around me and my show's time slot and availability. The same applies here, as I offer two time slots early 12-2 or 3-5 am. The slots are on a first come, first served basis. I have often turned down up to 200 schools during this time of year because they either contacted too late or I was simply already booked for both slots (most school all have their events on the Saturday nights in a 4-6 week period greatly limiting my avails and the amount of schools I can accept.) This has led to a booking frenzy, with most schools handing me a deposit check when I'm doing the gig the year before. So at his year's event they would pay their deposit for next years event even though in most cases the committee is not even yet formed. It is simply a supply and demand. All it takes is one year of them not being able to get their date and they start reserving their date a year before. One school missed the booking avails two years in a row. They asked me what schools I was booking that night, we looked it up and told them. Then right there on the spot the Principle asked if they could reserve and book their dates for the next ten years in advance to assure they could get their dates. They actually went to the school board to determine the dates that far in advance just to insure they could book me. (Of course, I turned this offer down.)

I would never think of or even consider booking another performer. Not after all the work and positioning it took to get to the position I am at with these people.

It's not just for Christmas time. This issue comes up a lot. On April 4th I actually have 3 shows at 3 very different locations. Usually, when I start talking with someone I'll get the address so I can figure out the travel time. I have set buffers between the start and end time of shows to have a safe area.

The last one who booked for that day asked when I was available that day. I told them anytime 7pm or after. Reason being my previous show is 5pm and will be over by 5:45. I'll be on the road by 6. It's a 30 minute drive so I have the safe 30 minute buffer. (She ended up booking for 7:30)

Sometimes timing just doesn't work. Yesterday I got contacted for the day after that, April 5th (Easter). Unfortunately it was for a time I already have a show (6pm) and it's opposite sides of the valley. So I had to pass. This happens fairly often. I never cancel something else because one pays more. Nor would I book and send someone else. If they ask for someone else to contact I of course have recommendations.

Anyway, that's how I do it.