Recently, a fan asked why shows scheduled on the FreakShow Deluxe calendar sometimes just seem to “disappear.” A fair question, especially for FSD fans who are planning to see the show at various locations —
FreakShow Deluxe tries to only list shows that have been confirmed and contracted on our calendar. Occasionally, we list things on the calendar once we have a verbal commitment (which can constitute a binding contract in California, by the way – and we ARE a California company) for reasons which are known only to us and our web guy. It happens. Everything seems fine and great and we are ready to move on a show —
Then, sometimes, things happen. We know. We have been there.
Understand that FreakShow Deluxe, up to this point, has never canceled on a show we have been contracted for. In fact, we have never even canceled out on a show we have simply been scheduled for, either. In fact, the company has gone to extremes to accommodate promoters and venues who want to book the show. Even at times when a lesser company/show would have walked away. But FreakShow Deluxe does not have to.
In most of the Freakshow Deluxe‘s contracts, there is a clause allowing either party to cancel the Agreement up to a period before the beginning of the contracted period. This is to allow for the things that sometimes come up: events get canceled, funding falls through… that kind of thing. Sometimes, however, unscrupulous promoters take advantage of that clause to book us – THAT is what we do not like.
In recent months a couple of promoters have pulled some things that has made FreakShow Deluxe decide to adjust how we promote events we are scheduled for.
There was the promoter who booked us months in advance… MONTHS in advance for his venue during a big event in his city. We put off him having to pay our deposit at his request, but everything seemed on the up and up. We spoke with this promoter on a regular basis, we spoke to people working with the venue regularly about our upcoming performances, and everything seemed fine. We arranged our schedule to accommodate their schedule, and started doing everything we could to make sure the show would be great – and then, suddenly, the promoter canceled us. Apparently, according to his story, the promoter and his partner each booked a different company for the same days & times – and the promoter had to defer to his partner.
Our opinion is that the promoter was probably approached by this other show and — who knows? Maybe they offered a better deal than we did. They had something to offer that we didn’t. Maybe they had some kind of history… *shrug* Whatever the deal, we believe he booked them and then was too afraid to tell us about this screw up until he could not put it off any longer. So here FSD ended up – without a gig and, unfortunately, by the time he told us it was too late for us to secure another venue in time for the event. Not that we didn’t try – and it looks as though we already have a place booked for next year.
In another example, recently FreakShow Deluxe had made a great impression on a record label performing at a big annual festival they have, and then another concert event some months later. So good an impression, that the record label invited FSD to return to the annual festival this year. Like, the president of the company and the label’s biggest artist personally invited them to return. Things seem fine, then, until we actually talk to the promoter. See, it turns out this record label hires a promoter to book their big festival (understandable) – and apparently this promoter was a new guy who hadn’t done the festival the year before. So he doesn’t understand what we do – AND he doesn’t seem to get that we have been invited to return by the people whose festival it is.
SO – phone calls back and forth, contracts are sent off (just as with the other promoter) and, while things are not going as we would like, it is not the worse thing ever and seems to be okay. Okay, that is, until the day I get a hold of the promoter (to ask where the contract is) and he tells me he is canceling us because they are over budget with musical acts for the festival and so are cutting a lot of other things. Now this is only a couple of weeks before the event – so we are pretty angry – but what’s done is done and we are out of luck. So what happened?
People rioted, that’s what happened. FreakShow Deluxe cannot confirm that they threw things at some of the musical performers because we were not there. But we are pretty sure that’s why.
All this canceling and last-minute cancellations really make us mad because of what it takes to put the show together — and by that what we mean is TRAVEL. FreakShow Deluxe is based in Hollywood, CA, so it’s a hassle to travel to some of these locations. Especially by plane. YOU try explaining to TSA why your luggage has only one change of clothes, a chainsaw, straightjacket, 4 samurai swords, a scimitar, three bullwhips, an industrial stapler, hammer, nail, power drill, wheel grinder, crowbar and a bunch of skewers.
Though, to be fair, one time at LAX the TSA agents told Reverend Tommy Gunn that it was NOT the weirdest collection of things they’d ever seen in anyone’s luggage. That kind of creeps us out.
If you want to book FreakShow Deluxe (and we know you do), please work with us as best you can to get dates confirmed, contracts signed and returned promptly and, PLEASE, tell us if anything is going awry! We understand. We have been there ourselves. We will always work with you to make things happen – please show the same courtesy.
Do NOT lead us on while you search for a cheaper alternative, or before you have really figured out your budget. There is no show better than us – so if you go with someone else you will undoubtably be disappointed. And if you have not figured out if you can afford to have a show like ours – just hold off until you are sure you can, okay? We will wait for you.
Official FreakShow Deluxe Blog 