Thread: OOOOOOH I am so mad!!

See this is why the burlesque industry has little respect in the larger variety community - because burlesque producers screw you over in huge numbers

I'm furious!

I had a cancellation last week with only two weeks to go until the event. Since they told me the event management cancelled; they had no deposit money, Edd and I decided not to charge cancellation fees. We had worked for the promoter in the past and had future bookings with promoter for 09

Today, I open various social networks to see the poster for the event splashed EVERYWHERE...actually promoted by the promoter themselves and oh look at who's doing the show; lots and lots of newcomers who probably won't be charging.

I totally appreciate newcomers getting stage time , but this is corporate work and they are selling themselves short. If this event is going ahead, the promoter is being paid a hell of a lot of money, the performers aren't going to see any of that.

The promoter has obviously chosen to dial back on performers to get as much money as they can because the whole industry is in such dire straits at the moment.

FFS, this really sums up the 'take the money and run' attitude i see from so many so called burlesque promoters.

I'm sick of it I really am, why the hell should I make the effort and in most cases the really long train ride to an event only to be screwed over by someone who pretends to be doing you a favour by offering stage time !! It's all bollocks

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Sorry to hear this honey
its stuff like this that gives burlesque a bad name.
Big hugs
Diva xxxx

Oh honey - That is so crappy and unprofessional of the promoter - is it too late to charge a cancellation fee?
I'm not surprised you're fuming - Hugs x

Sadly yes, i stupidly did someone a favour and they have email proof that we won't be requesting a cancellation fee

That's it, my new years resolution for 2009 is to be a bad ass burlesque booker with tight contracts and bitch slapping protocols for twat-tastic promoters.

No more favours, no more 'mates rates' - these promoters have finally removed my sympathy gland and it shan't return.

One day these horrid promoters won't have performers who will fall for their tactics, we'll all charge correctly and performers won't be taken advantage of! Okay so thats a little pipe dream but goodness i hope burlesque picks itself up and starts to have some respect for itself as a viable entertainment commodity that can sustain an industry instead of a hobby

rrrrrraaaaaa!!

Hang on a sec - surely if you have said that you won't charge a cancellation fee based on what they told you which appears now to be an outright lie does your offer now become null - and further couldn't you sue them for breach of contract!?

ooh you know i was so angry i didn't think of that!

i haz showbiz lawyer friend who drew up our contracts for us so i'll call her in the morning.

Good thinking mr

xx

and speaking from an amateurs point of view - you get what you pay for. in the end they're screwing themselves over. Amateurs (with the occasional exception) won't get him rebookings.

That's awful, what a skanky way they go about their business. But ditto edn, I'd certainly let them know that you know what lying turds they are.

Oh dear - yes, newbies are a lot cheaper than a professional with an extensive performance CV, but it really is a case of pot luck with the newbies - if the promoter is ramming their show full of untested talent then they need to be cheap or be lucky. Charge too much to present a bunch of performers who cannot justify your price tag and you'd best hope your audience is very forgiving or the newbies are very talented.

To be honest Angel LaVey and I have found out that a well respected and established professional can really help to boost ticket sales this was certainly the case when we booked Wild Card Kitty - she did not dissapoint. But we did have to get to a point when we could afford more established talent - had we pulled the trigger too early we would have gone out of business before we even got started.

That really sucks Amelie but I think EDN had a good idea. I hope you get some money for them cancelling on you. And I don't blame you for deciding on no more favours and mates rates etc. You're a professional and you should be treated like one, not messed around by idiots like this.