Thread: How would Bhuzzers

deal with people who DELIBERATELY hold workshops the same exact date of your event that you have advertised for MONTHS.......
and which, by the way, you have diligently made sure to the best of your abilities you weren't competing with anyone elses?

Comments, advice, stories to share?

(I personally think it's a crappy thing to do)

Err... if I may ask, how do you know it is malice (instead of oblivious idiocy)?

I think it's less personal and more about convenience for people. There are a couple of major events in L.A. every August and I seriously doubt that there's malice involved - self-interest in terms of schedule, yes, but who can argue with dates that work out for a person?

So, unless you know it's really really on purpose to hurt you, chances are it's just about them.

Be brave and talk to the person. Even if you think you know what is going on, generously give them the benefit of the doubt. Approach them nicely with the idea that you organizers can work together for the benefit of both events by choosing dates that don't conflict, promoting each other's events in your classes or mailing list. The dancing public only have so much time and money to invest in attending events, so why make them struggle with the dilemma of choosing between two events on the same date?

You will know by the response if the person is malicious or not. If she is, not much you can do but you will have taken the higher road. You can then redouble your advertising efforts for future events.

Originally Posted by tigerb

Err... if I may ask, how do you know it is malice (instead of oblivious idiocy)?

I don't know if it's idiocy or not, but, if you are dancing at person a's event, which was scheduled way in advance, then, deciding to hold a workshop on same date as event you are dancing in, and having to show up late to event you are dancing in......
just curious how bhuzzers would handle.

I just think it's an issue of wanting to be part of a larger community or "every man for himself" way of thinking......

Originally Posted by *maria*

I don't know if it's idiocy or not, but, if you are dancing at person a's event, which was scheduled way in advance, then, deciding to hold a workshop on same date as event you are dancing in, and having to show up late to event you are dancing in......
just curious how bhuzzers would handle.

Wow. Perhaps the option to perform in event a is no longer available to people who have to show up late? Said gently and regretfully, of course? I'm so sorry, we just can't accomodate you if you can't show up at xx time.

Originally Posted by *maria*

I don't know if it's idiocy or not, but, if you are dancing at person a's event, which was scheduled way in advance, then, deciding to hold a workshop on same date as event you are dancing in, and having to show up late to event you are dancing in......
just curious how bhuzzers would handle.

*smacks self in head*

Uhh, yeah. If it's not malicious, then it's just RUDE!

I guess I'd get all gracious on her: "Oh, I'm so sorry you have this sudden conflict. What a surprise (delightful laughter)! I'm sure it would be easier for you if you didn't have to race over to my event. How sad that this couldn't have been worked out in advance... maybe you could dance for us some other year, darling?"

I would have liked to do that, but it wasn't my place to do so.

Originally Posted by *maria*

I would have done that, but the event is question was by a good friend, and she's too nice! LOL!

Im confused. ..c:: A really nice, good friend is doing this? Booking over your event and double-booking herself? What?

Originally Posted by dunyah

Im confused. ..c:: A really nice, good friend is doing this? Booking over your event and double-booking herself? What?

No, my friend did not double book my event. It wasn't my event I was talking about. I was talking about in general........

sorry I wasn't clear!!!!!! I edited my post above to make more sense.

that's what happens when I bhuz with no coffee yet......

Correct me if I'm wrong, Maria, but it seems to me that the dance community in Denver is a small enough one that people should generally be aware of what is going on when and there are more than enough weekends to spread out events. Am I right? I mean, yeah, Denver is a big ol' city, but my impression of the dance community there is that it's actually pretty small in terms of numbers of dancers that are at the pro level, getting gigs, and promoting events. I'm really surprised that whoever it is couldn't have found another empty weekend. It just hurts everyone. I think I'd talk to the person directly. Maybe it's at an early enough stage that they could consider changing their date. (?)

Originally Posted by joanneraks

Correct me if I'm wrong, Maria, but it seems to me that the dance community in Denver is a small enough one that people should generally be aware of what is going on when and there are more than enough weekends to spread out events. Am I right? I mean, yeah, Denver is a big ol' city, but my impression of the dance community there is that it's actually pretty small in terms of numbers of dancers that are at the pro level, getting gigs, and promoting events. I'm really surprised that whoever it is couldn't have found another empty weekend. It just hurts everyone. I think I'd talk to the person directly. Maybe it's at an early enough stage that they could consider changing their date. (?)

the event already happened.

There is a calendar on line too that we all post our events. Joanne, you are correct, the community is really small - so......
I think that there is plenty of weekends available to host things without doing it the same exact day.

I bet that the dancer who pulled that trick was one of the featured stars, so you couldn't tell her that she's too late to perform. If she doesn't want to perform, she would have cancelled the performance (which would be rude, considering she was booked in advance). She must have been pretty sure that she could get away with it, otherwise she wouldn't hold a workshop right before the event.

I think if you are about to host an event, its common courtesy to check the calendar and confirm to the best of your ability that no other even is being scheduled. To have events too close to each (let alone on the same day or the same weekend) will hurt both venues. But of course, as the organizer you are only thinking about yourself so you would be thinking that it would hurt your event. I have heard of some people who even call local well known event organizers and ask them if they are going to host/schedule something on the date in question. I don't think its necessary to do this. As other bhuzers have pointed out, I don't think there is much malice involved if events are conflicting (unless you happen to have absolute proof or know for certainty that malice was involved). I think each hostess will schedule an event according to when its most advantageous for her. Its a free country so there is not much that can be done if events are in conflict. The best thing you can do is plan your event as far into the future as possible and post the date in public to the dance community and hope that if there is another event in the "works" that they will be decent enough to not schedule it on top of yours.