If your show was stationed at a park 1 month in advance, but it rained hard all that day. What would you do? Give the customer back his/her money? Keep the deposit with no refund? Keep the deposit as a rain check? Have the customer pay you the balance?

If it rains and the show was stationed at his/her house. I would let them know it must be done inside instead of outside so I still can perform and get my balance. But if it was at a park, I would give him/her back the deposit.

You should, in advance, make it clear that the client is the one taking the risk about outdoor shows and EVEN if it rains they still have to pay. You should not lose out because of a risk THEY take.

That said, if they didn't know this in advance I would take the deposit and go.

This is a problem because there was no previous contingency plan. You have to weigh your options now. Would it be a marketing gaff to take the money or would giving it back help you in the long run.

Had you put in your performance agreement that in case of rain the deposit would be kept, or the entire amount due then you would be within your rights to ask for the money.

Again, you would have to gauge if this would help your business or hurt it. I don't know your particular market. As for myself I collect no deposit and my performance agreement states I will be paid following the conclusion of my show, so I guess no show, no pay.

In this case I think keeping the deposit and offering to reschedule would be fair, then deduct the deposit from the final fee. Learn from this and it will have been a lesson well worth the money.

I had two rain days last week both for the same local authority there is no posiblilty of resceduling so they pay me full rate. As Nick says you should let them no this when they book you
Phillip

My contract states 1, I won't work in the rain, and 2,that if the booker cancells with less than 14 days notice they have to pay. So if they cancell on the day due to rain, I get paid, Obviously I'm not going to charge them if they rescedule straight away. I play it buy ear depending on how reliable I know them to be.

When I get asked to do birthday parties outside I tell them I can, but it's entirly weather dependant and if it's raining, or looks like it's going to rain, or is sunny but too windy we have to do it indoors. They are then well warned in advance and I've never had any trouble if we've had to go indoors.

I usually try to discuss a rain date plan well in advanced of the performance. Usually if I know a show will be held outside, I always ask how they want to handle it incase it rains and if we can have a back up rain date or even the possibility of the show being moved indoors. Talking about it ahead of time with the client's agreement makes for less problems down the road.

If worse comes to worse and it does rain regardless of the palns we set forth, I still do not make the client pay. My feelings on this is that it is simply better marketing for me in my own market area. Reputation is everything and word of mouth travels fast. I think the client would appreciate it since it was not her fault the sky decided to open up. They in turn might rebook me for a new date and will also tell people how thoughtful I was.

A nice way of putting it Kyle, but remember you also have a day job. If your a full time magician, it's your living and they should pay.

Just imagine it's the school holidays, your diary for the next week or so is full of outdoor holiday playschemes where you've been booked to entertian the kids. Each event is through a different booker, and on Monday it rains, they all cancel as they have no indoor alternatives. you don't charge them, you don't earn any money that Week.

The important thing is you must let them know what happens if it rains when they book you. If they decide not to take the chance and so they don't book you, it's no big deal, another job will always come in.

Clive you are right. I do have the luxury of doing this because magic is not my full time source of income.

I also agree with you and you made a very important point here. I think whatever you decide to do, it is imparative that it be discussed and approved ahead of time with your client. It is even better to have it in a signed contract with them. This way everyone is in agreement before the event even starts.

I agree with the idea of letting them know what your normal operating procedure for rain is, because if they book you for a Saturday you put them in the schedule and you turn down other work because of what ever and you don't get paid because of rain you could have been somewhere else performing inside...

Just like a school teacher, if you get a snow day it doesn't matter you still get paid!

I agree with Mark. But as long as this is told and agreed upon with the cline t in advanced, you should be ok. Also, make sure you get it in writing and on your contract long before the actual event date. This is just good practice and keeps everyone happy.

Thanks to everyone for their contributions to this thread thus far. It has been very instructive with regard to planning and framing a performance contract to provide for weather-related eventualities. Your real-world experiences are substantial food-for-thought to anyone considering outdoor work.

Tim

Tim:
Thanks for the kind words. I have learned to really adapt my show and contract to handle rain situations the best I can.

I have atarted promoting and booking a lot of fairs and carnvials in my area with my family style stage and illusion show. In most cases these are always outside and in most any condition.

I have learned that explaining rain circumstances and getting a rain plan set up with the people in advance, saves me a lot of headache and worry. I also write this into the contract that they sign and hand back to me. This way I cover myself but also it allows for no worries or problems on the day of the event.