ugh sorry folks, I can do other emotions besides moaning!

Just did my first wedding yesterday (see 'recorded wedding' thread) and it was pretty stressful, a lack of experience ( and five days to learn the organ ) took it's toll along with extremely poor signalling meant I was so jittery during the Queen Of Sheba she sounded more like the Queen of Cacophony despite practicing every hour I had spare...!

Came home to teach and fortunately my pupils (my last two on a Friday can be 'difficult' ) were in decent form and didn't give me a headache as usual. Hooray for September!

I then wolfed some food and then went off to my hotel job, only to find someone else in my place. Literally. Still pathetically holding my piano stool and my bag overflowing with music and light and what have you, I was given a cup of tea and basically told by the manager that this guy was cheaper, he was terribly sorry he hadn't told me not to come in tonight but I wasn't going to get paid and in future I wasn't going to have my usual Friday night slot, instead there 'may' be a Sunday evening slot until Christmas and he might roster the other two pianists depending on the health of one of them (he's long term ill and has to have regular hospital treatment so one weekend in four he's not about). Not only this but I'd have to take a 26 percent pay cut. They've messed me about in the past (late payment, wrong payment, changing hours without telling me) but the rate of pay when I eventually received it normally compensated. Now I'd be working for less than my teaching rate. They've asked me to let them know what I wanted to do but I have a horrible feeling it's a pack of lies so I'll be forced out, either that or the three evening idea will only last for a couple of a months before I'm booted out. It's really upsetting me as I've never lied or messed them about and always done a professional job but with no contract I have no say. I don't know if I was just told a line about new work to stop me creating a scene (###### hath no fury than a stressed wench with a piano stool and all). So do I tell them where to stick it? Negotiate a reduced playing time for this pay cut? Go back with my tail between my legs and pay for the sub-standard rate of pay because the others are undercharging? Throw a piano stool through their window?

How do we musicians earn an honest and steady living? Being turfed out on my ear for no reason due to my work and with no notice or severance (other than the petrol money) is pretty upsetting when you've worked hard from no age with the hope you'd be treated with respect.

Sorry.

I'm not so well placed to say, but does this just re-inforce we should always have contracts in case of anything like this happening, or maybe that wasn't possible? You're in the MU aren't you? do they have advice on this? Either way, it sounds not a place one would want to work for, so just move on.

Sorry if that's not very helpful.

As much as you need the work, this hotel job certainly isn't worth putting up with. If the boot was on the other foot they no doubt expect a credit/debit card number as a deposit on a room in case a customer doesn't show. They should have shown you the same respect and paid you anyway, in lieu of non-cancellation.

I would politely ditch the job and look for something else. I know how difficult that can be, but they certainly don't treat you professionally and they probably think it's some sort of pin-money, like you're doing it for fun. You'd be surprised how many people think being a musician is something one does "on the side" I've often been asked by complete strangers, when in discussion telling them I'm a musician, "Oh that's nice, but what's your day job?" That makes me REALLY ANGRY!!

Being a musician is not great at times, but it does have it's upsides. Unless you can imagine yourself doing a job other than music, stick with it, it's not all doom and gloom.

Sounds well out of order. It depresses me that music is not considered a 'proper' job by so many. Worked for schools until recently and several teachers considered that the children's music lessons interfered with 'proper' work and didn't allow the kids to come for their lessons. Additionally, some said that the children had 'more important things to do in class' than attend their music lessons.

Doesn't help you, I know, but I sympathise. I agree with others - stinky hotel should stick their piano where the sun don't shine, and you take your talents elsewhere.

That sounds really horrible They have no right to just cancel your job without telling you first Stupid people. I think you would be better off somewhere else.

I am sorry to hear this too. Tell them that they have behaved in a far from professional manner and decline any more offers of work from them unless they agree to pay you in advance, and your quoted rate. You could do this in writing and that would be a good plan, but do go to visit the manager in person and explain things to him. (have a run through of your speech on the cay before you go). If you want more playing work print out some flashy leaflets about yourself on your computer and send them to the large hotels in the area. The work will soon appear, especially if you chose the ones that are licensed to do weddings. You might also go to a wedding fayre to drum up work.

I was sorry to read about your horrible incident at the hotel, I'm not surprised you were upset and angry about it, I think most people would have been. As regards what to do about them, I would suggest that it is not good to have people in your life who cause you such aggravation. They don't sound as if they conducted themselves very well in the past either. The time and energy you are spending on worrying about them would be much better directed at finding a good hotel where you are appreciated and treated professionally.

Perhaps with your next hotel, you could suggest working for them for, say, four weeks as a trial period, and then after that, they would need to give you four weeks notice, or whatever notice period you are comfortable with. I don't think a notice period is unreasonable, the only negotiation is on how long it should be.

Tempting as it is to tell these people what you think of them in no uncertain terms, I think it is probably better to keep your professional cool. You don't want to give them any excuse to give other people a bad impression of you. You never know, a member of the hotel staff might get a new job at a different (and better) hotel and might recommend you - more difficult to do if you've thrown even a proverbial piano stool through their window. The best way to get back at them is to get a better job with their main rival.

I do hope you are feeling better about it this morning. Let us know how you get on.