We just had a situation at the small arts center where I work that has us a bit perplexed.

We booked a five-piece jazz group, not well-known but emerging, on their first tour of the hinterlands from their base on the West coast. They blew into town on a Monday, for a Tuesday night concert.

They used most of the afternoon on Monday to rehearse on our stage, then asked one of the tech crew where they might get a gig that night. He pointed them to a popular bar & eatery only about six blocks from our venue. They went down and did a gig on Monday night there - apparently for free, or drinks and a meal ??

On Tuesday night the turnout for their concert was underwhelming, about 40 people for a 250 seat venue, tickets at $10. One of our workers said he'd seen them the night before for "free" and they were "so-so".

I'm wondering if this was fair to our center for them to do a free gig so near to us, BEFORE our contracted concert. We needed 100 people to make money. They were guaranteed a flat fee, with a split over a certain amount. I feel that the local bar (not that they encouraged this) got a free performance on our backs, and that the band was irresponsible (we paid for their hotel rooms).

On the other hand, we don't own them, and their talent is theirs to use as they see fit. They also probably thought they were "drumming" up more attendance for their concert by putting out a free sample - but it obviously backfired !

I realize this isn't folk, but the principal is the same. What say you Mudcatters who have performed - was this fair ?