FOR BAND LEADERS   PAGE 1 OF 5

Dishonesty abounds
The truth is, we don't have anything against the agencies.  It's the dishonest ones we don't like! We simply will not work with dishonest business people. Bridal shop owner Claire Dratch said to me in 1985, "Be careful with whom you associate. You are known by the company you keep." Excellent advice. Thank you, Ms. Dratch!

TRUE STORY
We were not performing there, but my wife and I bought tickets to a huge bridal fair in the Maryland suburbs. By this time, Retrospect had a very well-established reputation for NOT ever working with any agencies, and we'd made our position very clear to all Maryland and Virginia and DC area agents.

Many agencies had exhibits at this bridal fair, and we picked up literature from each. One agent/owner (who is still in business in Montgomery County) didn't see us until we were standing at his exhibit, picking up literature from his table.

One of his handouts was a list of bands that he supposedly represented... and there was RETROSPECT listed with all the others!!! 

When I confronted him about it, he said "Oh, I must have put out the wrong fliers," as he put the stack of about 150 fliers into his briefcase and pulled out another stack of about 50, identical to the first fliers, except that Retrospect was not on the list of bands.  (I still have both of those fliers.)

We already knew this guy was scum, but this was printed proof.  His obvious intention was to falsely and illegally advertise Retrospect's services, to bait-and-switch brides attending this show.  And he was fully prepared to switch those fliers quickly, if he had seen us approaching.

TRUE STORY
In the mid 1990s, a well-known semi-independent local band (I'll call them "Kahlua") had a New Year's Eve booking that was all but signed, a job that came directly to the band leader through one of the band members.

The client had auditioned "Kahlua," and loved them, but a friend talked her into visiting an agency in Bethesda to check out one other band before signing the contract. This happened to be an agency that had often booked "Kahlua" over the past several years.

The agent asked the client what bands she was considering. When she said she was considering booking "Kahlua" directly through the band leader, the agent said, "What? They told you they're available New Year's Eve? They must be planning to use substitute singers, because I have both their lead singers booked elsewhere that night." 

The client believed the agent's lie, and she booked the agency's other band on the spot.  Of course it was all bull.  This worthless lying agent just made up the whole story about the lead singers.  But hey, if you have no ethics and no conscience, it's one way to do business, isn't it?

By the time the client found out she'd been scammed (several days later) it was too late.  She'd already signed the agency contract and paid a non-refundable deposit. And she was unwilling to battle the agency over the scam.

TRUE STORY
We were playing a huge dance at the Bethesda Hyatt Regency in the late 1990s. As we were walking back to the stage to start the last set, a twenty-something girl approached me, and told me she thought we were a wonderful band, and she'd heard us several times before.

Then she said, "I really wanted you for my wedding - I was sooo disappointed that you were already booked for my date. I had my heart set on having you guys."

I asked her name. It was an unusual name, so I said, "I don't remember talking to you. What was your wedding date?"

She said, "It was Saturday the 10th, two weeks ago today."

Well, I knew we didn't work that day. And I knew that no one had called me asking for that date.  I told her we were never booked for that date, and I asked her "Who told you we were booked? I'm sure I've never talked to you."

She said "Your agent told me you were booked, so I used one of his other bands."  She named a well-known Montgomery County agency owner, who had claimed to be our agent. I told her that he's not our agent, that he had lied to her, and we certainly could have played at her wedding reception.

She burst into tears, ran from the room, and I didn't see her again.

A girl's dream wedding got screwed up by this notorious shyster, just to con a few bucks from her.  Does he care about her?  I doubt it!  He got her money, didn't he? 

How many times does he do this to unsuspecting brides??  He excuses this disgusting behavior by saying "It's just business." This is the kind of stuff that makes the dishonest agents and dishonest agencies so revolting to reasonable people.

NEXT >>>

HOME   ABOUT US   NEWS & EVENTS   PHOTOS   FAQ   SONG LIST  
SOUND CLIPS   PRICING   WHAT CLIENTS SAY   SHOPPING TIPS  
CONTACT   LINKS   PRIVACY POLICY   FOR BAND LEADERS ONLY