*********************** STG STATEMENT****************************** It is with great trepidation and uncertainty that I write this, however, I feel what has just happened to us needs to be publicised in order to avoid it happening again to other individuals, companies or groups. A number of weeks ago, STG Promotions received a call from acclaimed artist, Brian Nash (of Frankie Goes to Hollywood) asking if it was possible for us to arrange a Glasgow and Edinburgh show as he was going to be in town. This gig was to be low-key and intimate. As always, we carefully consider our choice of venue for such Stripped Session shows. After our successful run at the Tron last year and having moved on to Cottiers Theatre and Websters theatre this year with bigger shows. These shows have featured artists such as Declan O’Rourke, David Ford, Kevin McDermott, Martin Metcalfe, Ian McNabb, Lou Hickey, Fiach Moriarty … and MANY more top selling artists. Any look on our website or Facebook site will show this to be true. We were delighted that an artist of Brian’s calibre had put his faith in us to organise his first show in Scotland since 1989 and we duly went about our business to organise it. As it was at short notice, we had to think outside our usual venues as these were already booked and this WAS to be a small show. We called a few places and The Black Sparrow was the venue that came to the top of the list. A small intimate basement bar was perfect for a show like this. Up close and personal with the artists. We were told on the phone that the hire fee was £50 (this is also the Fee in the Ts&Cs on the venue’s website) and as we said we’d bring in our own PA and Sound Engineer then this was fine. We discussed a bit about the show, who Brian was and that we were going to start advertising the show as soon as we’d paid the £50 to them, which we did…The capacity of the venue was around 50 people and we thought the fee was acceptable for a smaller venue. (All other venues in Glasgow with 200-350 capacities are around £150 - £300 WITH sound engineer) The show (so we thought) was organised and ready to roll. Our website has sold tickets and tickets have been sold at tickets scotland, with people e-mailing us from hundreds of miles away to ask us to keep some at the door. We printed up posters and flyers as is usual for a show that we put on. All was going well and sales were as expected. The story now takes a sinister turn for the worse… On Sunday afternoon we got a call from a female from the Black Sparrow, stating they have seen the posters and stated they were wanting £250 for the hire now. We pointed out that the agreed fee was £50 and that this was the fee on the website. The £250 had NEVER been mentioned let alone agreed to (and we wouldn’t have for a 50 capacity with NO PA and NO engineer). We had said that the show was explained over the phone with a manager at the venue (Who has subsequently left). The venue are now saying that they never charge at the door for events, which I believe to be false as there have been club nights and some sparse gigs that have taken place at the venue over recent years. After a few phone calls with Ben the assistant manager it was clear that there was serious miscommunication going on in the venue and that we should arrange a meeting to come in and meet with the manager, Lindsay. This “meeting” took place at 11:45am today. I entered the premises and there was 1 person sitting at the bar. I asked for Lindsay and she confirmed that it was her. I said that I was here to see what has happened and if we could sort it out. She offered me a seat and we began discussing both sides. I put over what had happened and the confirmations we received over the phone. A gentleman then joined, I wasn’t introduced however he started from a position of what I can only describe as anger and was on the offensive from the moment he started speaking. He immediately said “you have broken the terms and conditions” .. I asked what terms and conditions he was referring to and he confirmed that it was the text published on the website. I then produced the Ts&Cs from my book ( a screenshot from the site). Where it CLEARLY states £50 hire. He went on to say that the venue didn’t do gigs, and that we said that it was a showcase we had said we were arranging. NOW, it’s not for me to point out the contradiction in that statement, however StG have NEVER been involved in ’showcase’ events and this can be seen at a glance on the FB page or website. I have nothing against ‘showcase’events and have seen some great talent at them, but I know one thing for certain…They WERE gigs and i DID pay to get into them…So if they were allowing a ‘showcase, then surely they DO gigs. If there was ANY issue with the cost OR ticketing of the event, should they not have mentioned on 23rd July when I posted ticket links etc on their Facebook page? The man turned very aggressive in nature and said that we lied to him and that we were trying to break the Ts & Cs…I said that we were very clear as to what had been agreed and that it was our intention to still sort it out. Our option is to pay £250 and let the gig happen there or to pull the gig and they won’t give us the £50 fee back. The man was getting more heated and when I asked for the fee back as I believed that THEY were not keeping their end of what we agreed said something along the lines of you’ll never get it off of me. I didn’t quite hear this as he was very heated. I had, in anticipation of this outcome, drawn up some papers that would be sent to the small claims court in this event. The man saw these and then started pointing fiercely in my face. I asked him to refrain from that and I was here to act professionally and come to a resolution. By this time it was quite clear that this was not going to happen. The gentleman then threatened me with calling the police as he asked me to leave and I said that I really didn’t think that was necessary. There were a few comments about him being a qualified solicitor and that he would counter-sue me for £2000. He never quite explained what that was for or where the figure came from. I asked “was that it then…you will not give us the money you have stolen from us?”(Two customers had now entered and overheard the final exchanges) I told him that I would go to the Sheriff Court and begin a small claim to get our fee back, costs for poster reprints, court costs and fuel for attending a meeting in which there was no intention of sorting things out from his side. I can only assume (and this is opinion) that they have seen the tickets being sold and they have been greedy and wanted to grab an extra payday for the venue. Obviously 50 people drinking all night in their basement is not enough profit for them. SO what I guess i’m saying is that BE VERY WARY when using the BLACK SPARROW for ANY function. The website states that The Basement Bar below Black Sparrow is available for Football, Functions, Meetings, Parties, Music, etc…” (we think a gig constitutes MUSIC) The gentleman (who wouldn’t confirm his name when asked) is lucky i’m a patient man and that I didn’t call the police as I could have felt very intimidated by his tone and the way he approached me pointing directly at me… I WILL NEVER GO NEAR THE VENUE AGAIN AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO THE SAME. GC
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:30:22 +0000
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