What Happens When We're Number 2

Welcome All,  Yeah, it has once again been a while since my last posting.  I've attempted to keep things under wraps here for a while, but to be blunt it has not been easy.  Today, actually this whole week but I'll maybe talk more on that later, was no exception.

Art from Saratoga Mama  www.saratogamama.com 

It all started Friday Night.  Not sure exactly what it was that started my paranoia, but it was probably Mrs. N (names withheld for obvious reasons) coming in and paying her deposit for an event at a location I assist in managing.  We were discussing Friday night before when I realized a booking error had occurred, and the more recent calendar I was working with showed the night to be booked.  I knew this was true because the event in question is an entertainment event and different from a private party such as was Mrs. N's.  Some calls were made, restitutions were made and the girls from the Entertainment Event were even going to chip in some time to help with the private party setup the night before because they wanted to help too.

Well, I kept wondering what was happening with what event and went looking, and quickly came to realize that the booking calendar I was using was not complete as it was missing some key events in it's history file that I knew had occurred because I had been there with them.  So with some research, I found the filing problem (ultimately a computer glitch, and NO ONES FAULT in truth).  But when I fixed the problem, I realized my nightmare had just begun.  And it was not going to be a nightmare I would have alone.  I was going to have to share this one with some very unhappy people.

So I tried to work some magic, a few phone calls, and quickly discovered that at least yesterday, my "magic" was all karma'd out.  I will admit, I was filled with so much anxiety and anger that I was near to tears.  I don't make mistakes like this very often .. the last one was a booking error 3 years ago that was corrected without mayhem.  Now I had a bigger problem.

I had to decide whom was going to be Number 2.  Who would not be the first in line.  I have to admit that it was Mrs. N who actually gave me the answer to this.  It was whomever had the earlier contract.  Plane and simple.  I often refer to these as the Truthful Resolutions but as anyone will tell you, "Truthful" and "Painfree" are probably never spoken in the same sentence anymore.  Mrs. N was out a booking.  Not only did the other party have an earlier agreement, but they had paid in full deposit and rental at that time whereas Mrs. N had paid deposit and then was paying the rest later (as is part of our payment agreements at this event venue and no big deal).

However, it meant that TWO WEEKS OUT from a major event (can we say Wedding???  I thought we could)... one group was out a venue.  It sucked.  My stomach knotted up immediately.  I hate mess-ups like this.  They destroy hearts, lives, reputations, etc.... no joking.  I have no power to fix this at my end.  In truth, no one does.

I wish we could all accept that.  However, as I went to give all the monies back to Mrs. N this morning, sure enough she showed up.  With Family In Tow.  You know, the grandmothers, the aunts, the daughter (aka ... "THE BRIDE"), etc.  I knew this was no longer going to be short.  It was never to be sweet, but I was hoping it was going to be short.  Sure enough, they wanted to see the other contract.  They wanted proof I wasn't lying to them.  I gritted my teeth a bit, I know I used "that Voice" (didn't yell, but I know it sounds like scolding when you are on the recieving end of it), I had to point out legal boundaries and privacy.  When they asked if I'd give them more ("because the kids deserve it"), I told them the truth ... I agree, but it's outside my power to do that.  So then they wanted my bosses ... who did I have to answer to, who would get them what they wanted or now felt they deserved.

It was during this conversation that topics such as alcohol usage and State/County Laws came up.  Came up because I had discovered that they were going to have alcohol present without any form of permits (we're a venue, we provide no other services).  This is THE BIG ONE not to break.  People can go to jail over this one, including possibly me if it's discerned that I, as the Manager, allowed for the booking knowing there would be alcohol provided by any party without proper permissions and personnel to cover for it.  So anyway, this just made things worse.   Then I was told that I had said they could do it, outside, serve-yourself kind of thing.

Last straw, I admit it.  This is literally something I lose sleep over.  This is something I have to argue with organizations from a nearby college that break this law what the legal ramifications WILL BE.  *sighs*

In the end, I tried to explain that it bothers me too.  I don't like to see lives tormented like this.  My goal is to make things good for people, or at least better than that might have been.  I explained that no matter what, that someone was going to be out an event.  That it was between two parties of equal scale, with equal invite lists.  That *someone* was going to be out in the cold on this one and angry.  In this case, it was the (rightfully offered) consideration by Mrs. N. that "the earlier contract would hold".  Well.  That's the part that sucks.

And that's why it really sucks to be Number 2 sometimes.