A local Vets home, place where I’ve been playing for years, asked me, a couple of months back, to play for one of their biggest events...their volunteer banquet. I’ve done this banquet a number of times.

I was very careful to put the event date in all my calendars. That said, I’ve never missed a gig for this Vets home.

However, last Sunday evening, I received a phone call from the Vet’s home coordinator...

“Are you coming? The event has started”.

After a profuse apology to the Veterans event coordinator, I realized I had confused the Veterans banquet on my calendar with an event my grand daughter was in. No way could I make it to the volunteer banquet. Thing is, I wasn’t able to make it to my grand daughters event either.

I’m thinking that after several years of performing at this Vets home that ny time with them is over. This was a pretty big screw up. They had a number of folks they could have chosen for the banquet...but I was requested.

(Place whatever expletive/swearword you want here.) I just did a number on myself.

Doo-doo occurs. Happens to the best of us. I once booked two parties the same night!
Too bad though. Maybe you can do a freebie for them to make up for it and they will forgive you.

Sorry to hear that especially for our VETS who were all probably expecting a great night of entertainment who deserves it more then them,....but as Don said mistakes do happen,....although you apologized the repercussions that follow when your name is mentioned by them and others involved will never be good I'm afraid, chalk it up as a learning experience and move on.

While I was working full time I also worked some gigs nights and weekends. I was stuck in traffic on one of the interstates about 6 PM and I got a call from one of NHs play at. The AD said Steve it's 6 and are you coming to play the gig? Ooops I got my wires crossed she was very understanding and I played the following night instead.

P.S. Ed’s post reminded me, I played a venue the first time I had to call the AD because I was not feeling well. No problem she rescheduled, 2nd time I canceled I had a family emergency in Florida and had to cancel, the 3rd time I did arrive a few minutes late since that happened she hasn’t had me back. I was late the 3rd time to heavy rains during the late afternoon commuter period. It’s normally a 40 minute drive, I left almost 2 hours earlier because I knew there could be traffic problems. I still got there and played. She was in a panic at 6:25 called my cell phone and said you’re on at 6:30. I was literally 3 minutes away from the facility. I started playing about 10 minutes late. But I guess as they say “3 strikes your out.”

A very understanding AD forgave me for forgetting a date. When the next month's gig rolled around I was down with the flu and had to call in sick. He wasn't so forgiving this time and I lost the client.

In my 8 years doing this, screw-ups occur 2 - 3x yr.

Tx all for your thoughts.

This wasn’t just missing a gig. This was one of the Vet homes biggest events of the year. The banquet they have for volunteers. Planned months in advance. My guess is my playing days at this Vets home are over.

I have been playing there 6-12 times a year for the past 8 or so years.

🙁

Many years ago I was home on a Friday night, actually going through some songs I was planning to play at a gig the next night ... the phone rings and a woman asks "Tony, where are you? Why aren't you here?" I realized it was the woman who hired me for her parents anniversary party which I thought was the next night ... fortunately the venue was 15 minutes from my house ... I had my wife pick up my tux from the cleaners and bring it to the hall and I packed up as quickly as I could ... all in all, I started a little less than 1 hour later than I was supposed to and told the woman I was going to play the 3 hours with no break ... the night went fine from there, and everyone had a great time, but when she paid me the woman said the music was great, but she could never recommend me to anyone ...

I have to ask when they guy called you why didn't you just jump in the car and fly over there so you can play even though you would have been a little bit late?

In all the years I was an entertainer, this never happened to me. However, this may be because I have always been a stickler for keeping my contracts, calendars and schedules backed up with emails, confirmation phone calls and post cards confirming my performance dates. My wife says I'm too damned organized, but I don't think there is any such thing as being too damned organized.

Gary

Since Gary has the time now....maybe he can keep us ALL organized.
I know he could do it.
Eddie

By the time I would have scrambled to get there...everything would be over.

To me it seems weird that the Vet’s home coordinator didn’t contact you earlier just to check if everything was fine, since the arrangement was made so much beforehand.

Right, I bet if Gary had been in charge, this wouldn't have happened.

......A good idea is to always contact the job a day or two in advance to touch bases for confirmation or any last minute changes...take care

Now that is just plain COLD. Some folks are just mean, plain and simple.

Gary has to be organized because he sails to every gig, and that takes a long time.

R.