Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 09:29:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mark Nilsen <starrpower2001@yahoo.com>
Subject: Substitutes
To: balloon@balloonhq.com, facepaint@email.sparklist.com

Re: sending a substitute for you when you get a better
gig:

I never do it, for several reasons.

1) They hired ME. I am not *just* a magician or
balloon artist. I am an individual entertainer. If I
paid to see Tony Bennett sing, I wouldn't settle for
Steve Lawrence. I want the guy I paid for. The
replecement may be good, but he/she is not ME. There's
a reason they came to me.

2) I feel it's honorable. I once read that Brian
Epstein made the Beatles honor really cheap gigs right
after they hit it big, because he wanted a clean,
unblemished reputation for himself and the group.
Sure, they could have backed out or demanded higher
fees, but they didn't. I agree ... if you wnat your
clients to be loyal to you, you must first be loyal to
them.

3) If the replacements does a poor job, it reflects
poorly on you. If they do a great job, you may never
win it back.

4) Even if the clients agrees, they may internally be
ticked off that you did it.

The only reason to do such a thing it to get more
money ... ONCE. I'd rather pass on the immediate bucks
and make it up later when people respect me and know I
will not screw them.

Regards,

Mark Nilsen
www.starrpower.org