So what do you think I should start doing about no-shows . . .

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chessrock

Banned
Alright, here's the situation . . .

So I'm finding my calendar getting pretty full, which is a good thing. I've got things going well in to April, and still getting calls for people wanting to squeeze in for a few hours here and a few more there in between.

All in all, I would almost have the makings of a somewhat comfortable mini-career going.

That is, if more than half of the artists/bands I'm slating time for were to actually show up for their sessions. :D

Up to now, it hasn't been such a big deal. I'm trying to generate a client base, so I do things moreless on a casual, hand-shake basis. And if I have 4 weekends booked in a given month, and only two wind up going through, then no big deal. But going forward, I'm wondering how I should handle this phenomenon. If I turn people away for a given weekend because I'm already booked . . . and then the time comes and the band's a no-show, I lost out on potential money.

Should I start charging a deposit in order to reserve time? How much would be fair and/or what would be a reasonable calculation? Half of the estimated session time? Do I have them send it to me in the mail? Drop it off in person? Paypal?

What if I just booked as many people as I can and just work with the first guys who show up? :D As gratifying as that might be, I'm wondering if that might just be opening up a whole new can of worms.

Any advice, ideas, suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
 
There's nothing worse than burning a day when they don't show and don't even bother to call. It's happened more times than I can count. I had a guy call me once on short notice begging to get in because he was going to Nashville in a few days and had to do a rush demo. I postponed a band that was scheduled to come in to clear a day for this clown and he was a no call/no show. Now I play it by ear. If someone calls and they strike me as being unstable, I charge a non refundable deposit.
 
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Just look at it this way...finally you'll have some free time to post at the BBS.

I use a 48 hour policy. Don't cancel 48 hours before? you pay 1/3.
Don't show? you pay. You could have booked somebody else and your losing money.The problem isn't the policy you choose, It's the how to get the money be it a small fine or full price.

Down payment I use on people I am extremly suspicious about.
 
What Shailat says. 1/3 when cancelled, full when no-show.


Herwig
 
One of the studios I worked in required a "reservation fee".
If you wanted to come in and record, you had to drop some cash to retain your time. Just like when you rent gear, there is dollar amount you pay before you walk out the door so that if you default, its going to cost you. Anywhere from 1/3 of the booked time plus equipment you had to rent or a flat fee of $250 or your day rate. Get it in writing everytime. Unlike most business', you have collect money from musicians up front. In alot of cases the fee will actually weed out alot of potential scammers who will try to get a recording for free. Works good unless its your mom or a friend. Set up some paper work, contracts that fully explain the consequences. Ive been thinking about making a downloadable form that can be filled and emailed for bookings. With my schedule posted on the website..whenever I finish the studio.

SoMm
 
And be careful about giving your client a cd to take home and listen to what they have recorded that first day. I had to learn the hard way. YOu see it was one of my first recording sessions and the guy was going to pay me $20 for the whole cd ( i know that that was cheap, but i was a begineer and i needed exspeareintce ( i also need to learn how to spell :D ) So anyway, he recorded for 2 weekends and then he ask me if he could have a cd copy of what he had done that day. So i thought that it would be ok. Next week, he was a no-show. And then a couple of weeks later he had the nerve to ask me if his band could practice in my studio :mad: !

Later on, one of my friends (which is a friend to the guy that ran off) told me How the guy had been in some money trouble around the time that he had been recording with me. ANd said that he would pay me for the studio time. Well it's been 1 year and 3 months and still no freak'in $20! Besides, If he had been in so much "Money trouble" when he signed up to record with me, then he should have had enough sence to not record at my studio.

Great. Now i'm all pissed of again! :cool:

Zeke
 
2 hour min. paid in advance. Lock outs for longer than one day pay half in advance. Once you burn me your fucked!

Kirk
 
Shailat said:
Don't cancel 48 hours before? you pay 1/3.
Don't show? you pay.
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Yea, but how do you collect? It's a great policy, in theory, but these are basically all first-timers here I'm refering to. If they're not showing for a session, I don't know how much luck I'll have collecting.

Originally posted by Son of Mixerman Ive been thinking about making a downloadable form that can be filled and emailed for bookings.
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Or faxed. That's a great idea. I could require them to provide a (valid) credit card number, as well. Not that I'm set up to use it or anything, :D but I'm sure it would be a major deterent, which is most important. I don't mind a skipped session here and there; I'm just looking to cut back on the percentages.

Thanks for the ideas, guys.
 
chessrock said:
Yea, but how do you collect? It's a great policy, in theory, but these are basically all first-timers here I'm refering to. If they're not showing for a session, I don't know how much luck I'll have collecting.
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No money = no booking. As long as you don't have your deposit, that slot is open for any other who does pay.
Let's say that 2 weeks for the session the deposit must be payed or the reservation is off and it is refundable up to 48 hrs before the session. Collecting the whole deal with a no show is trickier, that's true.

I'm surprised that you've put up with all these no shows so far.
Really, being a musician isn't an excuse for not being punctual or decent. It's time you be more of a businessman, chessrock.
 
christiaan said:
Really, being a musician isn't an excuse for not being punctual or decent. It's time you be more of a businessman, chessrock.
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You're right, and I appreciate the advice.


One thing I was thinking that would probably cut significantly down on the no-shows would be a blanket "No rap or hip-hop" policy.

Do you guys think people would take that the wrong way? :D I mean I can honestly say that is the music genre that accounts for about 99% of the no-show / no-calls. My only problem with that is that, well, obviously people could really take that the wrong way, couldn't they? And that's absolutely not what I'm about.
 
Im sorry for this late breaking idea....but if all else fails you could try the John Gotti method of "collection";)


Just kidding...

SoMm
 
chessrock said:
Do you guys think people would take that the wrong way? :D I mean I can honestly say that is the music genre that accounts for about 99% of the no-show / no-calls. My only problem with that is that, well, obviously people could really take that the wrong way, couldn't they? And that's absolutely not what I'm about.
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Tell them that you're specialized in Country & Western.
 
Jagular said:
We record both kinds of music here... :D
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I'll remember that. If all goes through like it's supposed to I'll be in Tennessee somewhere in august. Looking forward to it. The state of Country, Elvis and Western.




(500th post, woohoo!)
 
christiaan said:
I'll remember that. If all goes through like it's supposed to I'll be in Tennessee somewhere in august. Looking forward to it. The state of Country, Elvis and Western.




(500th post, woohoo!)
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:cool: & congrats.

where in Tennessee?
 
I take a deposit for half the time they plan to use the studio. The rest is due at the end of the last session. they get no reference copies or mixes until they are paid in full. (unless i personally know them or have good references from friends) I get all the band members full names, drivers lisc. #'s, workplace, etc. If they have booked several weeks and pull the no show/now call shit I still get half their money. It really doesn't happen to me too much anymore. The best thing is to call someone in the band and tell them how you personally know about 40 studio owners in the city, all the club booking agents, mastering engineers, the people in 100's of local bands, record label execs, a&r people, etc. and tell them their band is basically fucked unless I get my money. If it gets really bad I've done lots of biker bands over the years and mention to the flaking band this fact and the fact that they promised me if I ever need a favor to give them a call. Usually those two things work.
 
Jagular said:
:cool: & congrats.

where in Tennessee?
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We (me plus family) will be driving through half the US in 3 weeks with stops in Nashville and Memphis. I'll be inside the state borders for just a couple of days but I hope to suck up some of the musical atmosphere though.
 
christiaan said:
We (me plus family) will be driving through half the US in 3 weeks with stops in Nashville and Memphis. I'll be inside the state borders for just a couple of days but I hope to suck up some of the musical atmosphere though.
Click to expand...

:cool:

I live close to Nashville, just in case your family isn't keeping you busy enough :D
 
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