We've been let down by venues but always with a week or more notice, never less, and so we've got a replacement gig. Most bands we know will get another band in if they have to pull out of a gig. I would only name and shame [for band or venue] if the situation could have been avoided, or they're repeat offenders. We give people the benefit of the doubt the first time at least.
If you get us booked in next year we won't let you down. I can also recommend some very good and very reliable bands if you need. I can also give you a link for a good website to get bands at short notice, which I'll 'message' to you later.

It's a two way thing and generally speaking only happens on rare occasions and most decent bands and venue's will try to make amends when it does. lets face it we all need each other and we should look after one another, persistent offenders should be named and shamed and reported to the webmaster if booked via a particular website as it also gives the website a bad name. Maybe remove them from the website. What say you mr NWB......A.R.

points for prizes ? mr.NWB ?

Just a further look into this problem it seems that the band that did not turn up is not a NWB member....is that not significant..peer pressure from other NWB bands and the risk of losing face may just be enough ? but of course if they don,t join it is all academic anyway.

Been let down by the same venue twice this year ( NOT I hasten to add a member of NWB) We always confirm the gigs at least 1 week in advance so that we can start the promo ball rolling. On both occasions the venue came back with OOOOoooh I've booked a dj or similar
(Gone for the £50 quid option)?
So when putting the gig calendar together this particular venue is on the band blacklist.

I have booked bands for several years now as part of my Fundraising Activites for several cancer related charities. Its very frustrating when a band does let you down for silly reasons.

On the whole in the 7 years I have been doing this, I have been very lucky and only let down once badly,there was one other time,but I know for sure that was a genuine reason.

If I find out that the reason they gave to me for for not turning up is a lie. Basicaly I will never book them again or recomend them for future paid gigs. In the case of the band who failed to turn up or even ring me to say they wasnt coming, I have never put him or his band forward for paid gigs or asked them back. They did say they would come and do a gig for me, but I found out the excuse they later gave was a lie,so I will no longer work with them nor recomend them to venues such as your venue Michelle.

Its fair to say that a band can very quickly get a bad reputation for things like this and I think its true to say word does get round sooner or later.

I agree with all of this - whether it be band or venue it should be a two way street - if the band and the venue respect each other then they will treat each other well - and both benefit! Finding gigs at good venues that appreciate the work and distance travelled put in by the band is a wonderful thing but sadly these can sometimes be few and far between. BC have played at a few places where the term singing wallpaper springs to mind and this can be soul destroying - if a venue doesn't want live music, why book it!

Got to a certain Majestic Large Tree in Blackpool to be told they don't put bands on anymore. They told us that we should have been contacted by the previous manager. Three days later the manager contacted us......so they DID have a diary of contacts. Naughty that. Three cars from Preston full of gear, and one from Wigan......less than funny.

Easy to do: pick up your gear and play if you are able to do so. If you have a major problem, sure things will be ok in the end with the venue if you talk with honesty. But if you just can't be arsed to play, ring the venue, tell them the truth (not a lame excuse) and fuck up your reputation as it's quite likely you'll never get booked there.Easy, but people don't seem to get it and then we get lame excuses of all sorts. Somebody could actually start a thread about the best excuses for not playing a gig. I like the term PERSISTENT OFFENDERS used by Atlanta Roots, in fact sounds like a band's name, ha ha ha!

x

THE FABULOUS EGGS CANNOT BE TRUSTED DO NOT BOOK THEM

doh!

I book bands 9in a 12 month block...so i ensure that i have their availability etc. On rare occasions bands have cancelled on me, sometimes giving me notice sometimes on the day or even the 11th hour. I must say that i have believed they were all for genuine reasons...illness, bereavement etc and i have always been understanding. I have only ever cancelled one gig myself.....giving the band several weeks notice and this was due to an event occuring where the band would not have been suitable for the occasion.

Everytime i have been let down i have gone back to the little black book and then posted a message on this site. This site has been brilliant for the support...and i have found that even if a band cannot help they have phoned round themselves to try and help me out. A true testament to the community feel that this site has created. I have only been let down twice by the same band (im not going to name and shame) so i struck them off my list.
If you get let down then to avoid making endless phone calls back and forth its quicker and less stressfull to just but a message out on this website.