Not going on a major rant here... believe it or not, I've actually matured a bit in a year's time and am not the angry old man I used to be! Just wanted to pass along to the bands here on Rockpage a little advisory.
Our band, One-Eyed Jack had some trouble dealing with Woodchux's, a little neighborhood bar in Cumberland, MD. We booked 4 dates with them at the beginning of the year and it appears they cancelled us out at the last minute (about a week before the first show) when they discovered another band that I'm assuming they liked better, would be available. We were told they had "double-booked". I discovered later that the decision to book the other band was more intentional than accidental.
I also know they have treated at least two other bands in the fashion. Certainly not a precedent you want to establish. Feel free to PM for more details if you are interested or curious.
I know my lead guitar and several other fellow Cumberland music-types participate on the boards here, and while I have taken an extended sabbatical from posting, I hope to become more active in the future.
Peace
Woodchux's
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Ray Wagner
- Active Member
- Posts: 42
- Joined: Sunday Jan 21, 2007
- Location: LaVale
Woodchux's
I've been around the block so much I need new tires! Ray Wagner on MySpace
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bassist_25
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Monday Dec 09, 2002
- Location: Indiana
Yeah, that's a tactic used by a lot of shifty club owners. We've had it happen to us before. Personally, my ego isn't hurt if you can get a higher-drawing band for the night, but I believe you should be a man (or a woman) about it, and not pull the "Uhh duuuurrrr, I musta double-booked yins with dis other band." If you have a higher drawing band, then let the other band know in advance so they have time to fill the date. We've cut those venues out of rotation who pull shit like this. There was a particular venue owner (whose club is named after a celebratory event that happened on the day that came before today, if that's any hint) who liked to pull the whole cancel five days before a gig move. Once, Rob even moved dates at other venues to accomodate this owner when he wanted to shift our date there, only to have him cancel the new date. 
Awesomely enough, we've found another venue in the same town (that's named after a medieval fortress if it were also an English drinking establishment 
) that treats us with respect and that we're building a great relationship with.
Not to get all "Stephen Covey" on everybody, but I believe that any business person who focuses solely on the bottom-line ends up screwing themselves in the longrun. While a club owner or promoter may make a quick profit by being shifty, in my experience, they end up getting fucked in the longrun after they've alienated everybody. I've been learning as of late that you truly do reap what you sow.
Awesomely enough, we've found another venue in the same town (that's named after a medieval fortress if it were also an English drinking establishment ) that treats us with respect and that we're building a great relationship with. Not to get all "Stephen Covey" on everybody, but I believe that any business person who focuses solely on the bottom-line ends up screwing themselves in the longrun. While a club owner or promoter may make a quick profit by being shifty, in my experience, they end up getting fucked in the longrun after they've alienated everybody. I've been learning as of late that you truly do reap what you sow.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.