Navigating a Friend's Unenthusiastic Show Booking

[KHocutt]

I had a friend's wife book a show for Sept 29th. When she booked it she really didnt seem all that excited about actually doing it, and for the past week she has been MIA when I've tried to call her about getting the invitations out. I was finally able to talk with her yesterday and she said that her son had been sick, she'd been busy,etc. So, with it being 2 weeks out I told her if she emailed me the addresses I would get the invitations out on Monday, but she emailed me saying that she cant find her address book and that she may have to cancel. I really think that was her plan all along. Now I'm worried that I'll be cutting it close for SS1. And it puts a lot of pressure on sales for my last show on the 28th.
But if she offers to reschdule her show should I do that? Or push her back till November and maybe things will change with her? I dont know..I just thought maybe someone would have some insite or suggestions.

 

[BethCooks4U]

I ALWAYS let a host reschedule rather than cancel. Experience has shown me that about half of them will never do a show or if they do it will be low in sales but the other half will have a good show on the new date.

I urge the host to keep the original date but if she doesn't want to do it she won't have a decent show anyway. It's better to let her reschedule and stay happy with you and PC. Sometimes they will try extra hard on the new date just to make it up to you.

One thing I suggest though is, if you can, give her a new date in a week that you already have your preferred number of shows scheduled or a day of the week that you don't usually book easily - that way if she cancels again you still have your schedule and if she doesn't you get the bonus sales (you didn't count on her show).

 

[Deborah Czarnecki]

Help of a different kind?

My question would be, did she come to you or was this a sort of "favor" for you as a friend? I have to say, if she really doesn't seem to want to do the show, it might be better to let it go. Of course reschedual if she's willing to, but if she seems as if she's just picking a future date to get rid of you NOW, give her the option of opting out. It's important for us to get bookings, but it shouldn't be the cause of bad feelings. If I sense someone feels more obligated than interested, I'll give it up. Maybe she knows someone who would like to do a show? Maybe she'd be willing to pass it around her office (or to her friends) if YOU have a catalogue show? If you let her know that she can give up hosting a show with no hard feelings, she might be glad to try to get you a booking from someone else.

D.C.

 

[KHocutt]

she actually came through

I guess maybe I was reading things wrong, or she had a change of heart or something. She emailed me all the addresses (36) and I was able to get them in the mail that same day. So hopefully she will have a great turn out and a good show. She did seem a little more "in to it" when I spoke with her, so maybe she did just have too much going on the 2 weeks that I tried to get in touch with her. Sometimes things do work out.