Thread: Small but important victory. . . .

What do you do when someone reneges on a contract?

Many would say that a verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on, but I was ticked off enough to email the following (see post below). We were rehired in a flash! Hurray for small victories!


Khalida

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Dear members of the ******* entertainment committee,

On April 7th, one of your committee members, ******, confirmed that your organization would hire H**** of Oasis Dance Studio for a discounted performance fee for the Egypt Nights event on May 12. ****** requested one five-minute dance at 7 pm.

On April 8th, I received word from another local dance teacher saying that the entertainment committee was still looking for dancers as our fee was too high. This dance teacher subsequently replied that her group was unavailable.

On April 19th I received a voice mail from ****** again confirming H****'s performance and then requesting an additional dance performance at 9 pm.
Normally, a second fee plus waiting time is charged in these circumstances.

I left ****** a message stating that we were grateful for their committee's recognition and respect for our artform by accepting our discounted performance fee for H**** and that I and several troupe members would be delighted to perform the second dance at 9 pm gratis.

Today, April 25th, I received another voicemail from ******* saying that another committee member had found a dancer from a neighboring town who had agreed to perform for free and that your committee was therefore canceling your agreement with us.

I am baffled and disappointed by the lack of communication and professionalism amongst the members of this particular committee as well as the reneging of a verbal contract involving a professional dance artist.

I understand that this is a charity event and that the hotel is graciously providing the room for free as well as a discount on the food. And yet, surely someone somewhere will be compensated even partially for food, wine, set-up, wait staff, etc. Unfortunately, it is all too common a scenario that the artists are the last to be paid, if at all.

Perhaps one day your organization will consider a fund-raising event for starving artists all over the world, because it is exactly the above type of corporate mind-set that keeps them there.

As I have mentioned to many, my studio members and I are delighted to perform for free for several charities in the Kingston area. However, we cannot perform for free all the time; this is not a hobby or a pastime for the pro dancers at the studio; we offer professional performances and this is how we pay our mortgages and put food on our tables.

May I suggest in future that no-one from your committee extend a contract, verbal or otherwise, only to renege on it later. Setting out your parameters at the beginning and communicating these to all committee members so that you will all be on the same page will prevent this sort of confusing mess from happening again.

At the end of the day, we all want the world to be a better place and we are all working towards this in our own way. I truly wish you all a great and successful event.


Best wishes,
Kellye Crockett
Oasis Dance Studio

Well said!

wa-poosh! go girls

Very well said!!!
I loved it!!!

:-D

Elegantly and politely worded, but putting your point across very well. Well done!

Originally Posted by khalida777

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Perhaps one day your organization will consider a fund-raising event for starving artists all over the world, because it is exactly the above type of corporate mind-set that keeps them there.

Oh, I just love this bit!

It sounds like they were all over the place with their organisation (as is often the case with a bunch of volunteers organising events), but that they were well intentioned. I'm glad they re-hired you, and that they got educated in the process! Hopefully you've got it all now in a written contract.

How very elegant and professional!

And congrats on getting the gig after all. YAY!!

Thank you for spreading by your actions grace, professionalism and respect into the wide world of belly dance in such a classy way.

Well, we performed at the fundraising event last night and our show was a wonderful success; great crowd, very enthusiastic -- they loved us!!

Afterwards, the director of the organization came over and apologized again for all the confusion and to ensure that everything was smoothed over. All's well that ends well :)

Many thanks to you all for your kind words and support!


Khalida

Originally Posted by khalida777

Perhaps one day your organization will consider a fund-raising event for starving artists all over the world, because it is exactly the above type of corporate mind-set that keeps them there.

Brilliant.