Asked to delay your performance

Uno · #1 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 05:02 AM

Every time I have posted a question, I have gotten so much helpful information. I'd like your input on the subject of being asked to delay the start of your performance.

What do you say to someone that has hired you for a specific time and, when you show up at the appointed hour, you are asked to delay your performance for one reason or the other. This has happened to me several times at birthday parties.

First of all, what sort of reply do you give the individual(s) that hired your?

Secondly, if you do delay beginning your performance, what do you do during the time you are waiting?

Nettie Belle · #2 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 06:33 AM

That has never happened to me, but it is very rude. What if you were expected to go to another function shortly after this one? You would either be late or cut this one where the rudies are shorter, and then they would expect to pay you less.

I always call ahead of time and double check the details (who, what, when, where, and how) but if there is something at the last minute to delay your performance, even a call won't help.

I suppose if you weren't in a hurry, and you have lots of patience and time ... maybe you could use that time to go to the bathroom. There is an unwritten law someplace that the minute you are in FULL CLOWN, Mother Nature will arrive on the scene and you will have to use the bathroom, but if you're like me, it's too much trouble, so I just postpone that. So ... if I had to wait awhile, I would probably find the nearest restroom to double check my makeup, costume, and use the facilities ... that way, when it is your time to perform, you will be in good shape.

Or ... you could use this time to bring in stuff, set things up for your gig, make a phone call from your car ... I don't know. I'm hypothetical here. It's never happened to me. I would make sure it didn't happen again if they called me back for a repeat performance by telling them at the time they call you that you DO have another gig that same day, and remind them that you charge by the hour from the time you arrive on the scene until you are finished. I'm sure you are charging close to $100 per hour ... believe me ... they will keep you on schedule.

Sometimes people take advantage of clowns because we are so nice. It kills me how many people expect a gratuitous gig ... I don't think they stop to think what goes into our performance, costumes, etc. That's a whole different subject though. Sorry ... I will now step down from the soap box, take a bow, smile and wave and make the little kids happy again.

Dylan · #3 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 09:17 AM

This has only happened to me once and I explained to the parent that I had other events\parties to do that day and that I could only delay my performance by about 10 minutes. I also explained to them, in another room away from children, that if I had to cut the party short due to this they where expected to pay me in full.

Ten minutes later I started the show, I cut out one whole set of props in my uggling show and was out of there in about the same amount of time. They paid me in full as well as a $20 tip.

A couple things I would suggest is to always have another show lined up, even if it is for your pets or children. That way you have another obligation and they cannot be upset if you have to leave at the scheduled time. Like Nettie said, always call and confirm the party.

When I was asked to delay I actually went out in my car and waited ten minutes then came back in. This prevented me from "performing" prior to my performance.

Fitzwilly · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2007, 10:58 PM

When you schedule a party do you ask what time the party starts and then plan to arive right then? I explain that it is best if the clown arrives about 30 minutes to an hour AFTER the party starts. This gives everyone a chance to arrive without missing the show.

Jolly Well · #5 (**permalink**) 11-02-2007, 01:34 AM

As stated above, it's always made things easier for me if I arrive after everyone has arrived and settled in. Even if I'm at the location (more for corp events or such than private parties), I'll hang out and relax for a bit and then make my appearance.

This saves time of parents chasing wayward children to come see the show or what-not.

tim · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitzwilly

When you schedule a party do you ask what time the party starts and then plan to arive right then? I explain that it is best if the clown arrives about 30 minutes to an hour AFTER the party starts. This gives everyone a chance to arrive without missing the show.

I've experienced the opposite end of this challenge, also. My standard question is, "What time would you like me to arrive?" with the understanding that I'll be there for an hour (or slightly longer, within reason, to finish up) from the time of arrival. The difficulty is just this, though, timing my appearance within the larger context of the party. It can happen, for instance, that the the person requests my presence later on in the planned timeframe than they perhaps ought to have, in which case I am asked to hurry things along so that everything remaining can fit in before the appointed time of departure for the party attendees. The concept of arriving 30 minutes to an hour after the start time announced on invitations seems like a very reasonable recommendation to give everyone adequate time to arrive, get settled, do whatever else might be planned, and still make the involvement of a clown something special which is given its proper place within the larger context of the event.

OkiDoki · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2007, 02:30 PM

I always sent a confirmation in whitch everything we have agreed on is repeated inclusive the times and agreed price. If they ask me to start later that is o.k. but then I always have another appointment (which I don't feel to have to justify, that isn't their bussines) later on to give me the escape to finish at a certain time. I mostly don't make a big fuss to start and finish a little bit later but there are borders to it. The time I have to wait I mostly use to do some jugglingtraining.

Willace-the-Clown · #8 (**permalink**) 11-03-2007, 02:45 AM

ive not had to worry about it yet. I did have a party delayed so the children could eat but the parint was nice enough to call me & ask if i could show up later then we first agreed to

Dale · #9 (**permalink**) 11-16-2007, 05:57 AM

when i started reading this thread, i knew exactly what i was gonna say. but now, im at the bottom. its all already been said. ho hum.

vslg1 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-09-2007, 04:03 PM

This happens to me all the time...in fact, it happened to me just yesterday...

Perhaps its the black community...but tardiness is not just a trend...its a way of life...lol

Even if I'm scheduled to be there half an hour or an hour into the party...often times a good portion of the guests haven't shown up...
The way I approach it varies from party to party and is based on what I have to do immediately following...sometimes how difficult the the customer has been...and if there are some pretty ladies around...(yeah okay...I'm weak)..

Yesterday, my show was at the Old Country Buffet and I was only scheduled to do 30 minutes...starting at 2:30...They arrived at 2:20 and sat down, took coats off and went to go get plates...so by the time they were ready...it was 2:50...I explained that I had to leave no later than 3:15...and they were comfortable with that...so I shortened my show a bit...and continued...

Its diffcult to compete with food...