A WORD TO THE UN-WISE (09.30.04) 

 

I NEED TO VENT REAL QUICK... 

Some people really need to learn about decorum and professional etiquette! My band and I were scheduled for a function put on by a foundation in the near future and the contract was signed and everything. I dealt with one person, though I was told to send the contract to another who was basically over the money aspect. 

I get a call EARLY yesterday morning while I'm barely awake from the second individual. Pardon me, but Dr. Monotone-Voice proceeds to tell me that they can't pay my band what they had signed and agreed upon because funds were not going to be secured as previously expected AND then proceeded to ask me if we could lower our price. First off, you don't tell someone this AFTER the contract has been signed, and then insult them by asking to lower their price. People, there are proper ways to go about this and that is one example of how NOT to. But wait...there's more. She goes on further to say that they may have another event earlier that funds from it could rectify the situation about the money...right there, she should have stopped and just let it go. Common sense says, don't drop the bomb until you realize there is no other way around it and she still had enough time in the contract to cancel the agreement without being in breach. Also, she should have relayed that to her associate who booked us in the first place because I cannot stand dealing with more than one contact/point person, especially when I have never even corresponded with the other person except through my contact person. I'm half awake and slightly irritated but I tell her I'll call her back with and answer after I confer with my band mates, but as I start to wake up, I already begin to realize they aren't going to go for that, 'cause I wouldn't either. I call the contact/point person I had been dealing with from the jump to tell her what's up and how I wasn't pleased with how things were being handled and she apologized acknowledging the was a better way to go with that. I told her that unless they can honor the original agreement, we would have to decline, but no hard feelings except just to be a little more cautious should there be a next time. 

Anyway, I call back Dr. Good-News-in-the-Morning and tell her we cannot do it (with the understanding of how things were termed from our last conversation but with the opening of renegotiation if they are able to cover us)...but she's like "okay"...and that's it! There was no, "I apologize again for the inconvenience, for waking you up, or attempting to hit you back should we secure the funds"...just a straight "bye". I call back the contact person and let her know that I wish for her associate know that I wasn't feeling how this was being handled and asked her to speak for me, so as to be nice and avoid any irritation I was already experiencing. She said she would because she didn't want me to take matters into my hand, until she realized that I said that she didn't offer us any options and just bluntly ended it like that...then she said that I should at least tell her how I felt. 

I swear to you and beseech you brethren and sistren that I had nothing but the calmest and professional tone of voice as I told Dr. Obnoxious that I did not think that her approach was the best one, though I told her I understood what she was TRYING to convey, and that in the future, whether it be us or another band, that she should be a little more cognizant of how to go about agreements made and changes that need to be made to it--that's it! Dr. Oh-No-She-Didn't asks me if I was finished then slightly raises her previously monotonous voice to tell me that she doesn't appreciate what I had to say and that she didn't care for me "reprimanding" her. FYI--a reprimand is for a child and I was not addressing one, at least to the best of my knowledge, so I did have to politely interrupt her and tell her that I was merely advising her and not reprimanding as that is not a professional way to handle things. She then abruptly cuts me off with a louder and imperative tone of, "NO...YOU ARE FINISHED!" 

"Oh, hell no", was the thought that ran through my head, but my actual response was, "did YOU just TELL me that I was finished?! No, ma'am, WE are finished--thank you", was my response before I promptly disconnected a very annoying and irritating phone conversation. She tried to call back but there was nothing to be said so I ended it there. It may seem childish to just abruptly hang up, but you will not raise your voice to me like I'm your child and expect me comply when I do not speak to you in such a way. I have made and maintained many valuable business relationships, even with people I am not overly fond of, because I know how to use the proper decorum and protocol when I address an issue with those I do business with. That even goes into my personal life. We all are susceptible to wanting to "go off" at times but you have to try to think of the best possible solution in how you address a situation, or at least how to resolve one when you may have gaffed, but don't burn a bridge by reacting emotionally and end up saying stupid stuff...especially to ME! 

f you're reading this Dr. I-have-a-doctorate-and-can-talk-to-you-however-I-wish--know that you played yourself! 

THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS...Don't do that...that isn't nice. 

See, even though I put the situation on blast, I didn't name names, though I easily could have (and was tempted to). That's called discretion. The music circle is a very connected and small one, so how you treat someone within it can get around to others who want to know what to expect. I'd still do the gig, just not if she's directly involved with the entertainment. Oh, and for those who do events but don't treat musicians right, that's not cool because we're working professionals just like you, unless you feel you have the skills it takes to do what we do and dedicate our time and resources to perfect our craft and artform. 

 

THE WEEK'S PICKS... 

Debuting this Thursday, at the last day of the month of September, you need to check the following joint out because this is QUALITY! If you're not feeling the current club scene and the music you are inundated with, along with the pretentiousness but still want to move ya body, this has got to be one of the best alternatives to hit the scene...

but right before that, you probably want to hit up Cotton Club for the ASCAP Liquid Soul Cafe (Doors @ 7:30p/$5 Cover--free for first 50 peeps) featuring...

 

HEAVY w/ Phillippia, Brodie, and Salakaida

(I can speak for Phillippia and Brodie--HOT...but you gotta check out Heavy--outta NYC--I got their advance EP--WOW!!! ) 

FRIDAY, October 1st: THE JAZZY LOFT (formerly 201 COURTLAND) - THE NEW HOME FOR "JAZZY BLUES SOIREE", the HAPPY HOUR EXPERIENCE. Same hot vibe, same hot band, less expensive drinks, complimentary valet parking until 10PM, full menu, VIP lounge and a beautiful & professional crowd. Doors open at 6PM and live music from 7:30-10 by Sol Factor. The second Jazz band comes on at 10:30PM. Membership cards may be purchased on site. Click here for more details. 

SATURDAY, October 2nd:  Hands On Atlanta Join more than 16,000 Atlantans for the nation's largest city-wide day of service on Saturday, October 2. To learn more about the event, click here. To register, click here.

 

Check out Free Salsa Lessons every Sunday!

AfriSalsa Sunday Socials 6:00pm - 9:30pm

Free Before 6:30 5$ after

NEW LOCATION

Mezcolanza Center for Latin Culture

www.mezcolanza.org

In Closing...

I forgot to tell you all, if you didn't already figure it out, that the music you are currently listening to (if your computer allows you to hear it) is my band, THE FORMULA, live at Tarrazu playing our completely made up and unrehearsed version of Miles Davis' classic, "Tutu". I'm on keys, Andre' Bowman is on bass, Che' Marshall is on drums, and we had an impromptu guest sitting in on alto sax, Andre' Killian, newly transplanted from Buffalo, NY. It's hard to explain how we get down, so this is just a sample of things to come. If you'd like to book us (and you already see what NOT to do ) e-mail me and we can make your event come out that much nicer! Lemme know what you think of this session, as well.