When the check bounces

[Doctor Eric]

I definitely suggest you go after him. It's good to set a precedent for yourself, and not take shit lying down.

[jester]

Cut the rubbish

If you are telling the truth you have nothing to fear from naming and shaming. Just name them, but remember to post when they do actually pay and do so with good grace.

Last year I had a problem with an agency claiming that a juggler I worked with was not very good and that their client was unhappy.

I was at a party where the organisers were inconsiderate to guests who arrived 15 minutes early, where the venue was cold and not sufficiently heated and where the band were cheap and the singers were not good.

There were so many possible avenues of complaint but the organiser chose to blame the young juggler who had dropped the odd item in the cold. The juggler had been asked to stand outside in the cold February air for 30 minutes longer than originally agreed and there was no warm room for her to go in to to warm up afterwards.

The guests were indifferent to the juggler anyway as I was stealing the show with my more spectacular circus props. Being larger and better insulated and moving around much more I was warm enough.

So the agency rang demanding a substantial discount. I told them my side of the story and the agency told me that they had already agreed to the discount. I told the agency that this was now their problem and I expected my juggler to be paid in full.

Agency came back re-ieterating the organisers complaint... So I rang the event company, spoke to the person on the ground to discover that none of the guests or staff had a complaint.

So I rang the person who had made the complaint and she was hostile and angry.. and threatened to black list me... and I got paid in full that day. Ta Dah!. Simple words: "I am telling you my side of the story, if you would like me to put that in writing and address it to your client, the venue, the agent and your partners at work, then continue to shout."

However I was paid so I shall not mention their name. I still think they are TWATS and even in these hard times I have twice refused to work for them.

[Doctor Eric]

He already named the guy in the post directly above yours, Jester. I thought you were turning over a new leaf?

[jester]

I'm sorry. I promised not to be deliberately annoying. I never said I was cured of stupidity!

[martin ewen]

Brilliant, humility is all we ask for, even if it's faked. it's a same page kinda deal

[jester]

Humility verses Check

I personally would take the cheque over humility, however, when a non payer shows humility I do tend to be far more patient with them.

See how reformed I am, the thread was turning out to be about MEEEeee again and I managed to get it back on topic.

[gav]

Actually you almost managed, but with your last sentance, you made it about your reformation.

[Doctor Eric]

I say we all chip in and buy Jester some self awareness, it'll be fun to watch it all hit at once, and see his face melt like the nazis in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[nicklikesfire]

Ethics? Guy's name is Greg Campbell. The event was at his restaurant "jeckyl and Hyde"
I will try that loophole with the small claims. Thanks for the tip! From what i've heard the guy has already been arrested more than once from fucking all his other employees. I hope he isn't getting too comfortable there.

I know this is an old thread, but I just happened to see it and wanted to get some more information out there and online.

Gregory Campbell is a professional con artist with mafia connections. He throws lavish parties, charges people to attend, pays for everything with fake checks, and then splits with the cash.

He has been arrested multiple times and it is a total failure of the American justice system that this is still happening (as of early 2010 anyway).

I was subpoenaed to testify against him in Virginia a few years ago (2008 maybe, similar situation, after a NYE gig). He was ordered to pay restitution, but I'm not holding out hope of ever seeing a dime. At the time I was psyched that I got to go to VA and testify against him. I thought the three days of my time that it took to fly there, sit in court, and fly home would be worth it, to prevent him from scamming others (I was also hoping he would end up in federal pound-me-in-the-ass prison).

It seems I placed too much faith in the American judicial system.

[jared]

Wow... thanks for the extra info nick. Its hard to believe an asshole like that can manage to slip away from crime after crime. I'm sorry that you also had to deal with this guy. Lets just hope that eventually he gets the STD ridden prison pounding that he deserves.

[davidkaye]

Be very careful about saying that somebody has "mafia connections". They could sue you and/or your company for libel and/or slander.

Best thing to do is get 50% of your money prior to the event and make sure the check clears before you perform. Losing half your money is better than losing it all. If the client balks then you know they're up to no good anyway.

[nicklikesfire]

Be very careful about saying that somebody has "mafia connections". They could sue you and/or your company for libel and/or slander.

Thanks for the advice, but I was at his trial. That statement was not an opinion or a presumption on my part, it is a fact.

[davidkaye]

Regardless, whether he has mafia connections or not has nothing to do with the fact that he bounced a check on you. It's still not a good tactic to bring it up. In fact it could backfire because people would see it as hyperbole and be less likely to take anything else said seriously.

[nicklikesfire]

Regardless, whether he has mafia connections or not has nothing to do with the fact that he bounced a check on you. It's still not a good tactic to bring it up. In fact it could backfire because people would see it as hyperbole and be less likely to take anything else said seriously.

People can choose to take the "mafia connections" statement however they want. If you want to assume it is hyperbole, go ahead. It does have something to do with the bounced check. I said it because I think it further clarifies that he is a professional criminal, which I think is important to this particular thread.

Maybe the best jugglers should stop saying they can juggle nine balls (some can, for sure) because people may take it as hyperbole and be less likely to take them seriously.

[davidkaye]

People bounce checks all the time who are not mafia-connected. Saying they're "mafia" has the same effect on people as saying they're "nazis". It doesn't improve the impact; it lessens it.

Again, get 50% up front and make sure the check clears before the performance. That's the way I work it. And those who refuse to put up 50% in advance simply aren't worth dealing with. This kind of demand is not unreasonable in the performing world when you're dealing with unknown promoters and bookers.