13/02/2024
Imagine you have booked an Event MC or DJ for your event, your guests are coming and your DJ or MC never shows up.
How would you feel? What would you do?
What if he told you because you didn’t pay him (down payment), he got a different gig and went to play without informing you. Will you still be angry?
Please listen to my story and tell me what you think.
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On the 7th of this month I observed a month of my most humiliating moment in my two years journey of Professional Events emceeing.
I belong (or do I say I belonged) to a group in church which is projected to support its members and others, fosters unity and fraternal love. I was contacted on the 28th of December to meet up with the committee in charge of organizing a Dinner for the whole district chapter of the group. This was somehow protocol because we did same last year where we met and vendors shared their thoughts on how to make the event successful. The recent deliberation was not very different from last year’s. Then the grand question came; “How much would you charge us”.
Considering that last year I hosted the event without charging, I sent my 2023 rate card indicating that ideally I’d have given my new rates which is relatively higher but for our relationship and a way to also support my business, I’d rather they pay my old charge.
I wasn’t surprised with their facial expressions. I knew they expected me not to charge just like I didn’t for last year, but business must grow. They mentioned they had only budgeted a half of my old charge, (representing about one-third of my current charge). I calmly mentioned that I was willing to give a 25% discount of my old charge (consequently representing 50% of my new charges). They mentioned that they were not expecting those rates but asked that I keep the date booked while they work on justifying my discounted charges with the bigger committee.
Usually, I’d ask for a deposit or commitment but the committee would argue they are yet to receive monies from sale of tickets, and since we’re in church and I am expected to be considerate and act brotherly, I passively scrapped that requirement (just as we did last year).
From the conversations with the dinner committee, I reached out to a group that called for my services and apologized that i have been booked.
Now, the date of event comes and I made my way to the venue. I changed into my dinner suit and made my way into the hall. I saw one of the committee members and requested he furnished me with names of dignitaries and the final program. Surprisingly he directed me to another committee member( maybe the head). I went to him and he was silent for a while and asked to be excused for a minute. I was confused at this point. He briefly meets with the first person I inquired from and he comes back saying; “we couldn’t meet your rate so we called someone else who is already here”. I couldn’t believe my ears but I’m glad I found the strength and maturity to reply thank you and exited the hall with so much shame and hurt.
On my way home, I was asking myself questions; cussing at myself. Should I have caused a scene? What if I insisted I wasn’t going to leave? Do I have any legal cause of action against them? What do I tell those who bought tickets because they knew I was going to be the MC? I asked myself a lot of questions. I couldn’t explain to my family why I came home unusually early.
“But why didn’t anyone tell me when I met them the Friday before the event?”
I needed answers but I was scared I’d be disrespectful if I demanded them- so I waited.
Up until now, I still haven’t received any call from the committee. I haven’t received any explanation or apology. These are people I have served, admired and respected for a long time. This are people from church. “Brothers and Sisters”.
To waive my business principles in the name of “church” or family? Never again!
