When your artist cancels the show.
The world of touring is unpredictable. Artists, hosts and agents have many opportunities to make scheduling mistakes that get discovered days or hours before the show. Performers can have missed or canceled flights, driving delays and breakdowns.
As a sharp host, you don’t want your promotional efforts to go to waste when these things happen… so what can you do to prepare for late cancelations?
- Have a list of great local artists who would be delighted to play a show on short notice.
- Have your mailing list and guest list up-to-date so you can announce a last minute change of program.
- Be prepared to scale down the show due to the changes. Fewer chairs, less food, etc.
A local act can even work if your main act is 2 hours late but still wants to play. For example, the local act might set up on the patio to play a set, allowing the act to set up undistracted inside when they arrive. Guests who can’t stay late can still have a great show. The opening act might receive a flat donation from the host, in exchange for the opportunity to connect and sell CDs.
This kind of preparation doesn’t take much effort, and can turn a potential disappointment into a surprisingly fun event. If you need help finding great talent in your area, visit www.ListeningRoomNetwork.com and click on Artists.
