Donny…..this is one time I agree with everything you say.



After I did this post, I remembered what I used to do years ago (when I was imaginative) and it worked every time. Since I always got an answering machine, I would leave a message something like: “Hi Susan, I’ve been trying to reach you for weeks with no success. It’s not like you to not return a phone call because you’re very professional. So I’m assuming you’re probably not even getting my calls. Since I’m playing in your area next week, I’ll stop in personally to make sure we touch base and if you’re not around I’ll leave a message with administration that your machine might possibly be malfunctioning.

You can bet the rent money, to avoid a direct confrontation, I got a call the next day from the AD! It worked every one of the few times I had to do that. It’s called “fight fire with fire” (or fight BS with more BS!).

That we both agree on, but if it comes down to losing the account, I’m going to march myself right into the office of the top honcho there and tell him how she ignores the residents request for music and particularly how she doesn’t return phone calls from a musician who’s worked with her for some 15-20 years. If there’s one thing that really irritates me to no end, it’s “man’s inhumanity to man!” Don’t think about anyone else but yourself and ignore the needs of others (the residents in this case)!

It doesn’t matter if SHE likes me or not. She works for the residents……not for herself. And if the residents tell you to your face they want you to come back, then that's what counts.

I agree they must get hundreds of calls a day. Still that’s no reason for bad manners! Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.

I have no problem doing that, but I just love this place. And the residents are always asking me when I will be returning. And......that Yamaha grand piano makes me sound like Arthur Rubenstein. I’d play that piano for nothing.

I guess I wasn’t looking at it that way. Life ain’t fair and, I can now see, neither are AD’s. A friend said to me many years ago……”one of my biggest problems is I expect people to act like I do.” I would never dream of abusing people like she does.......both me AND the residents!

I tend to look at the world (and AD’s) through rose-colored glasses. Thanks for reminding me that it’s nothing but a free-for-all out there. Something like the World Wrestling Federation mega-matches where they throw 50 wrestlers in a ring about the size of a refrigerator and wrap it with barbed wire.

Mark

it is what it is and it has always been that way. Like you I too have had AD turnover that has cost me gigs. Not much you can do about that after you make your initial attempt to reestablish the relationship and it doesn't work out. Strangely enough, months later I will get a phone call from that same AD who suddenly heard about me or found my info in the files and the bookings resume. I suspect this is because I did not cause the new AD any problems but just moved on.

Right now I have more calls than I can play and how I got there was to simply move on and put my recruiting efforts in the new places being opened almost on a daily basis here. I too have several places I would not like to lose but I know it can happen and will adapt to whatever happens.

Some people just plain need to be told off so they don't do that to other people. I'm still ticked off about the whole thing. On Friday I'm going to drive to the location and confront her directly. If she's not there, I'll go to Administration and explain to them what's going on. People in the business world really need to grow up and do the job they were hired to do, and........do it CORRECTLY.

I'll keep you guys posted as to how it eventually turns out.

Mark

I have found t is much easier to change me than someone else. They are what they are.