Thread: WWBD? Can't get a hold of private gig client

This has never happened to me before, where I have been unable to make pre-event contact with a client via email or phone to confirm the last minute gig details. He has already paid the full fee...

If I don't hear back from him, what should I do? Should I go to the gig anyway and hope he was just too busy to contact me back. Or should I assume he doesn't need or want my service and not bother getting ready and driving out there?

Thank goodness the gig is close to me...at least if it's a wash I haven't driven that far.

You're much better off to have gone out there and not needed to go than to have not gone and been needed. If it's not too far of a drive then you should be alright.

Hopefully they will get back to you.

I agree with Mahsima.

If I have a signed contract and a deposit, IMO I am obligated to be there at the date and time indicated. In fact, the only time I make contact a few days before the event to confirm is if someone has booked me two or more months in advance. Otherwise, I just assume everything is as we agreed to.

Well, at least he already paid. That's a good sign in and of itself. Barring an extreme last-minute emergency, it would be pretty unfeasible for him to flake.

When's the gig? I'd attempt contact at least one more time, maybe via e-mail. Sometimes, I find that clients can't get to the phone because the gig is a surprise and the Guest of Honor's within earshot.

Since this guy already paid you in full, I'd plan on going to the gig even if I didn't hear anything else. If, OTOH, he didn't pay me or get me a contract, and if I had no luck pinning him down for it after a few attempts, I'd bail. I have a very strict "no contract/deposit, no shake my stuff" clause, and I try to make this very clear on my website, on my contract and during booking conversations.

Even though I've had a small handful of clients who were near-impossible to get a hold of until the last minute, I've only had ONE client actually flake on me. They almost always come through. Hopefully your client's just bogged down by last-minute party planning activities and will get back to you soon!

This event was planned a couple months ago and contracted and paid in full.

This situation was a little special, because he isn't the planner of the event. His friends are throwing the party and I'm a surprise guest/"gift" to thank his friends for having the party.

The gig is this Saturday night. I know it's only Tuesday, but he was very quick to respond via email before and he hasn't answered my email from a couple weeks ago, the email from yesterday or my call early today...

Originally Posted by AnnaTX

This has never happened to me before, where I have been unable to make pre-event contact with a client via email or phone to confirm the last minute gig details. He has already paid the full fee...

If I don't hear back from him, what should I do? Should I go to the gig anyway and hope he was just too busy to contact me back. Or should I assume he doesn't need or want my service and not bother getting ready and driving out there?

Thank goodness the gig is close to me...at least if it's a wash I haven't driven that far.

I would definitely go, but I don't understand why or what last minute details weren't confirmed?

He probably thinks all was taken care of.

I would definitely go, since you're paid for and obligated to show up.

If there's a party and you don't show up, you have to give them their money back and you've damaged your reputation with a customer (who may have hired you again or referred you!)

If the party has been moved/cancelled/etc and you DO show up, you get to keep the money and hey, you TRIED to contact him to confirm, so no guilt whatsoever. A few minutes of awkwardness (who knows, if it's at a public venue maybe you can even leave a card behind?) and you're home in your jammies eating ice cream in no time!

Don't worry...I'll go..I'll go..lol!

But I am concerned about the details..why we didn't work out the details ahead of time was because he booked a couple months ago, so we planned to "plan the surprise" via email as we got closer to the event and he could get some logistics. Since he isn't the organizer, he wasn't prevy to the details at the time. He wants it to be surprise, so I'm hardly a surprise if I just walk in without coordinating with him first...and this is at a private residence, and I wasn't asked to be there by the party's organizer...so you can see how this could get a little hairy. But such is private gigs sometimes...

Hopefully, you are right and he's just been too busy to contact me.

I don't do that many private gigs (not my favorite thing to do) and this is the first one where a client hasn't responded promptly...I do more corporate gigs and usually they will contact me to confirm, before I contact them...

Gosh NO...I wouldn't dream of not showing up and taking someones money, and not giving them a refund AND having a very good reason...

oh, wow. That's a bit of a mess then. I suppose you can show up at the event and burst through the front door, boombox blaring. LOL.

You'd need a hellacious boombox, though. And batteries. Probably a friend...

I think I'd keep trying to call up til the event. And then show up, tap on the door, and confide in whoever answers.

Lauren, you are so funny!!!...lol

I'm actually lucky. My husband is a cop and he's planning to come with me to this gig. He's RARELY off Saturday nights on a holiday weekend, so it's a fluk that his division change coincided with this gig, so I'll be able to bring him and a hercin' boombox with me...lol

Go, and if you can, bring someone with you. That way they can go in first and get the client to come out to you, so that you can plan the surprise part without walking into the party yourself.

That's what I was thinking too...

Thanks Daniela!

Seconding Daniella.

{{{HUGS}}}

It's all good ladies...He finally contacted me... we are all set!