here is something I feel should not be happening to any artist in 2009 or 2010 or anytime.
I was offered a booking at a UK midlands folk club,some 18 months ago,which I accepted[it was part of a week long tour]scheduled for june 2010, six months before the gig,the gig was cancelled,the reason given,was that there were too many squeeze boxers in a period of six weeks.
what has happened at the club is this:the previous booking secretary is now very ill,the person that has taken over the bookings now,has discovered that a third person,in an interim period booked a few people.
my booking was made 18 months ago,by the original bookings secretary ,
on receiving the email cancelling my booking,I replied offering a compromise: a reduction in my fee,or a possible alternative date, the problem[in this situation] is this that every club has their schedule arranged further than six months ahead,neither of the suggestions I offered appear to have been thought suitable by the present Folk club bookings secretary.
of course every folk club bookings secretary has a perfect right to book who they wish.
however cancellations at short notice should take into account the fact that an artist is on tour from another country,that other comparable artists who in fact live locally,are not going to be so inconvenienced[as regards finding accomodation].
I understand that folk clubs are run by amateurs,most of whom are professional in their attitude and who treat guest artists in a decent manner,but in my opinion the treatment given to me by this club, should not be given to any guest artist,and is not acceptable.
even if I was to be offered an alternative date,there is no guarantee I can make it part of a tour,[bearing in mind the original fee was a tour fee not a single one off fee]
is it surprising that so many talented performers give up [to the detriment of the scene], when they get treated in such a cavalier manner,look at all the talented performers who have given up over the last 15 years.
in fairness to the UK folk scene,this is probably only the third time this has happened in 30 years,but it should not happen at all.