Clowns letting down customers.

[Bubbels]

From time to time I get a phone call from a client who needs a clown "urgently" because the clown they thought they had booked just cancel an hour before he'she was suppose to do the show. Sometimes, like last week, I actually am asked "as the registar of the South African Clown Register" what legal action the client can do.
WOW!
The way that my clown family and I have ALWAYS worked is simply to state when somebody is making an inquiry for a possible booking that this is not a booking unless a 50% booking deposit is made within 24 hours of making the booking. The balance is payable at least 2 working days BEFORE the performance. It has been working for us because of our good reputation that we uphold.
I do not know, or frankly care how other clowns operate their respective bussiness side of their clowning. BUT what I do care about is the fact that it seems as if there might be clowns out there whom will let down a client whenever a better job comes up.

With me, if the booking deposit wasn't paid within 24 hours NO booking has been made. So whenever I do get a call like this my first question is: "have you paid a booking deposit?" In this particular case the client did pay a little more than the requested deposit from this Jhb clown and still was let down.
Now I don't know who this clown is or what the situation was but I want to let you know this is BAD. Good clowns simply don't do things like this as it reflects very bad upon the rest of us. The lady couldn't remember ofhand the name of this culprit but said she would check her records and came back to me.

I will then follow this up and who ever you are "Mr/Mrs Bad clown", I WILL speak to you if needed. No I am not a clown policeman and I am not going to become one, but if something like this happens we other good clowns will spread the word about your reputation just as we will with bad clients and/or agents.

So please fellow clowns, if you do get a better job after you have received a deposit and made a comitment to do a particular job, DO IT! Or make a plan and get somebody that atleast have some experience to fill in for you.

Just to prove my proud and honesty in my clowning; I was suppose to fly to India for the International Clown Festival today, 2nd November. But I allready have made bookings and received payment for shows on Friday 5th and Saturday 6 November. I told the Festival organizers about this and said I can only fly on the 7th. So if you want to see me off to Mumbai, come to the airport on Sunday 7th. My flight is at 12:50.

[Zimbo the Clown]

Good point Bubbles, I think it is appalling that clowns cancel the day before. I too have had many clients ask me to help them because someone cancelled the day before and ran away with their deposit.  I know of one or two clowns that have done this and I do have names. We just need to decide if we need to name and shame them.  I have never cancelled a booked party unless I am close to dying. I personally do not even take a deposit and have never had any problems with cancellations.  If I make a commitment I keep to it! I guess that comes with experience.

I have however completely lost a booking before... a lady called me and asked where I was! Ouch, I felt so bad, I could not for the life of me remember this person booking.

[Bubbels]

Forgetting to show up for a show.....now that is a sure sign of getting old, I know it happened to me also. Luckily for me by the time the lady phoned she didn't phone to ask where I am but rather if it would be possible for me to start 2 hours later than the original time. Boy did I (first) felt BAD but then suddenly relieved.

Should we name and shame clowns who makes a habit out of canceling? If we got both sides of the story and there is enough merit to it, absolutely YES.
But like I said before, I don't want to become a clown policeman and start to check up on the integrity of fellow clowns. If news comes to me as it did the last couple of months, yes I will be the number one clown policeman to name and shame the culprit.

[Circus Jonathan]

Hi:

Maybe you should hear the clown's side of the story, before you assume they were the one who botched this booking.

Maybe their contract was not signed  and returned, maybe the deposit was not paid.  Its strange the lady did not remember the name of the performer-clown who they were complaining about.  It would be easier to check on the other side, the clown's side, of the story if you had a name. 

Perhaps the client did not properly book this clown and take the necesary steps to confirm the booking, and the clown thought the event was not "on".  Sometime a client calls for a quote, requests an indefinite "hold" on a date and time, without confirming (giving themselve the option of confirming or not going ahead with a booking), and then gets dissappointed when the clown get's another booking. 

A professional clown wants to fill their schedule. Confirmed bookings pay our bills and "maybe"-tentative bookings, well ... might.  A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

In general, I consider myself available for dates and times until they are booked.  Holds can be made for short defined intervals before they are considered "very tentative", and possibly unlikely bookings.

Just saying .... there are two sides to every story and it is possible this unnamed clown had legitamate reasons not to appear.

Jonathan Seglins    www.circusjonathan.com