Thread: Canceling Due to Inclement Weather - WWBD?

Anyone who lives in a cold climate knows that it never fails to snow, sleet or storm when you have plans ,m::

There's a nasty ice storm and I'm scheduled for a gig tonight at 8:30, an hour away from my home. I just heard on the radio that there's a 32-car pileup just down the street from me

In my 3 years of performing professionally, I've NEVER had to cancel on a client - but after going through a nasty accident last year, I'm a little freaked out about the idea of driving in this mess. Especially since the gig is far from home.

Do any of you have a policy for bad weather? What's your last-minute cancellation policy? Halp!!!

I can't help you on the business end, but I think you should cancel if you're worried about driving. I'm sure your clients will understand. If the weather is bad at the event too, perhaps they will postpone it? I grew up in Minnesota, and nothing is scarier than sliding off the road or through a red light because the roads are so bad. Even the most skilled drivers can get into bad accidents.

If the roads clear up before tonight and you decide to go, make sure you have a winter emergency kit in your car just in case.

Yeah, and I'm very gun shy about driving from the wreck I got into last year. Assuming that I show up to the gig in one piece, I probably won't be in the best mental space. Ugh...

Gonna drop the client a line and see if he's going ahead with the party. Meanwhile, I'm sending out my feelers to see if any of my friends will be in that area tonight and feel like getting a last-minute gig.

Somebody remind me why I haven't moved to a warm climate yet? ,r:;,m::

I really don't recommend putting yourself in an unsafe situation just to make it to a party. Call them, apologize, refund their money (if you have a deposit) and if you can, give them the numbers of any dancers that are closer to them than you are. If there are none, I wouldn't feel too badly. It's an Act of God. Most events don't hold themselves responsible for cancellations due to weather. An ice storm and 32 car pile up is NOT a small deal.

Thanks for the reality check. I guess I take my perfect cancellation-free track record a bit too seriously, and I really could use the money - but my safety is far more important than $250.

Good news is, I found a friend who will be in that general area tonight and is willing to sub in for me. Winter sucks

Please be safe for yourself; I hope you do cancel. Do you have a bhuz/habibti-BD sister who's closer to the the venue that you could refer the gig out to as a replacement?? Then next time she gets on that's far from her/near to you, you can get that one?

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Thanks for the reality check. I guess I take my perfect cancellation-free track record a bit too seriously, and I really could use the money - but my safety is far more important than $250.

Good news is, I found a friend who will be in that general area tonight and is willing to sub in for me. Winter sucks

Haha:)) I was typing/posting at the exact same time as you... ..l;,

I would just be honest with them about your commute and concern. Put in a call and stick your feelers out first, ask them if other guests are canceling etc.

I've had to cancel last minute, too. The SF bay bridge had a big crack in it and they closed for almost a week. Needles to say traffic was a NIGHTMARE (traffic in the bay is bad anyway) and I would have had to tack on an extra 30 some miles and navigate 2 different bridges to get there. I told them in advance I wouldn't be able to make it if the bridge didn't re-open and they took their chances. Luckily another dancer was willing to do it when indeed the bridge did not re-open.

Things happen...and even though I tend to get anxious about stuff like this I try to remember that not having a belly dancer at the event wont ruin it, or ruin your career. Your safety comes first!

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Yeah, and I'm very gun shy about driving from the wreck I got into last year. Assuming that I show up to the gig in one piece, I probably won't be in the best mental space. Ugh...

Gonna drop the client a line and see if he's going ahead with the party. Meanwhile, I'm sending out my feelers to see if any of my friends will be in that area tonight and feel like getting a last-minute gig.

Somebody remind me why I haven't moved to a warm climate yet? ,r:;,m::

Looks like we all posted at the same time. ..g.:

I'm so glad you found a sub!

I've never had to cancel due to bad weather, but then again I'm known for my nerves of steel driving back and forth to Chicago in the most awful winter conditions. I have had clients cancel on me though, when their guests started calling and saying no way were they coming out with the roads so bad.

I think we were all typing at the same time ..l;,

I just e-mailed the client to let him know that I have a sub lined up, and his response was "It's only lightly raining here. Just take your time on the road."

Uhh....my sister just called to say that there was a 35-car pileup just a few miles down the street from the 32-car accident .w.: Methinks, this dude is getting a sub whether he wants one or not ,r:;

I've cancelled a gig for myself and 2 musicians without hesitation when I saw what kind of weather was outside during an ice storm. I'm still good friends with the client and although he was disappointed, never held it against me.

I'm from Michigan~where the weather could get quite nasty. I would never hesitate to cancel in bad weather. No amount of money is worth your life~especially when you're not alive to "make" the money!! And no matter how well you drive, accidents happen and not everyone drives as carefully as you....

Yeah,..... light rain + cold temperatures = sheet of ice .w.:
I'd stay home.

And I know how cold it is here, and I'm are at least 6 hours south of you. I expect it will freeze on the roads later tonight.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

I think we were all typing at the same time ..l;,

I just e-mailed the client to let him know that I have a sub lined up, and his response was "It's only lightly raining here. Just take your time on the road."

Uhh....my sister just called to say that there was a 35-car pileup just a few miles down the street from the 32-car accident .w.: Methinks, this dude is getting a sub whether he wants one or not ,r:;

Just another "good for you" at deciding to cancel!

In my regular work at the time, I drove 12 miles on a two-lane, twisty canyon road to take my daughter to daycare and return to work back near my home. On several occasions, I'd hit the mouth of the canyon and be socked in by fog. There was no way I was driving that road under those conditions with my baby in the car, so I'd go in early to work and take my little girl to daycare about an hour and a half later. I was never given any grief about it. (Of course, it might have been partly because I was a supervisor and my manager loved me and my daughter!)

By canceling the gig, you are, like I was with my daughter, reasonably attempting to avoid a negative scenario that was all too possible. I would never fault anyone for that.

Deborah

A little late to respond to this, but I'll just say that I once slid off the highway in a CT ice storm coming home from a gig. And I slid into another car on top of it. Fortunately no one was hurt. But I was stuck for several hours, cars sliding around me left and right, before finally being towed out.

In the end, it cost me WAY WAY more in insurance premiums than I ever made that night working the gig, so it was not worth it one iota.

Cancel.

You know what they say about New England....if you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes! I actually ended up doing this gig, because the temperature rose to 44 degrees through the afternoon and my friends who had gone out later in the afternoon were reporting a major improvement. Glad I made this decision, because it was only lightly raining when I left. Not bad at all, and the gig ended up being amazing.

But all this information is definitely helpful for the future. Any of you guys have a clause for bad weather spelled out in your contracts?

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Winter sucks

as someone who is living in a town that winter broke up with (it was a messy thing, winter isn't even calling us anymore, i think it wants it's stuff back too) i would love to take some of it off your hands for you! ^_~

This is an interesting idea - weather clauses. Here, we're just heading into high summer, and after the blistering one we had last year (= putting head in fan-forced oven), I'm wondering if I can put in a cancellation/amendment clause for extreme heat. Perhaps I can require that outdoor gigs provide shade (or can be completely cancelled if it's too hot), and sets can be shortened if the venue is not sufficiently cool. 20 mins of taxim anyone???

Last Feb we had a day of 46 degrees (115 F) and I had 2 hen's party workshops booked. I tried to get them to cancel with full refunds but they all wanted to go ahead. Ugh! Fortunately, one was in an air conditioned hotel that was remarkably cool. The other was outdoors late at night. It was still way too hot and they all ended up in the pool ignoring me. I lasted about 30 mins. Then got home to hear that half of our state was being wiped out by bushfires. :-(

I know it is a little late but in my contract, I have the following...

g) In the event of inclement weather that threatens the safety of the performer, the performer can choose not to attend the agreed event. In this case, the client will be refunded the partial amount paid and will be contacted at the number provided

I am coming across this very situation today. They are calling for 12"-18" of snow in my area with the winter storm warning starting at noon today. I am scheduled to perform at a holiday party at 1:30 pm an hour away from where I live (but also under the same warning with the same snow fall expectations).

I know it won't dump 1 foot of snow on us all at once, but I am wondering how good of an idea this is. I have contacted the company and they are going ahead with the party and said that they hope to see me there. Unfortunately, I have no one to sub this out to if conditions deteriorate rapidly. Dancers are few and far between in this area and a last-minute midday gig would be even harder to fill.

I guess I will forging ahead. I will be bringing the hubby along so I won't be alone. I am just crossing my fingers that I will be back home before the storm picks up intensity.

Have fun at the gig! It's great that your husband can come with you.

Everyone is excited about the snow, but I'm thinking, "Can it PLEASE wait until Sunday? I have gigs this weekend!!!!"

Originally Posted by ceydahazine

I am coming across this very situation today. They are calling for 12"-18" of snow in my area with the winter storm warning starting at noon today. I am scheduled to perform at a holiday party at 1:30 pm an hour away from where I live (but also under the same warning with the same snow fall expectations).

I know it won't dump 1 foot of snow on us all at once, but I am wondering how good of an idea this is. I have contacted the company and they are going ahead with the party and said that they hope to see me there. Unfortunately, I have no one to sub this out to if conditions deteriorate rapidly. Dancers are few and far between in this area and a last-minute midday gig would be even harder to fill.

I guess I will forging ahead. I will be bringing the hubby along so I won't be alone. I am just crossing my fingers that I will be back home before the storm picks up intensity.

Long story short... should have canceled that one! Fun gig, but the 1 hour trip home turned into 3 1/2 hours.

Originally Posted by SatinWorship19

Anyone who lives in a cold climate knows that it never fails to snow, sleet or storm when you have plans ,m::

There's a nasty ice storm and I'm scheduled for a gig tonight at 8:30, an hour away from my home. I just heard on the radio that there's a 32-car pileup just down the street from me

In my 3 years of performing professionally, I've NEVER had to cancel on a client - but after going through a nasty accident last year, I'm a little freaked out about the idea of driving in this mess. Especially since the gig is far from home.

Do any of you have a policy for bad weather? What's your last-minute cancellation policy? Halp!!!

I think ice storms pretty much cancel anything! You can't really drive on ice.

Other than that I think I cancelled ONE time because of weather, thinking back on some of the crazy trips (since I lived about 60 miles from my regular gigs) I'm amazed & glad it's over. Anyone who's worked at the Marrakesh knows they never close because of anything (except for Thanksgiving & 9/11)! I even used chains before I had good cars! (that would be chains on the tires, you young whippersnappers) ..l;,