Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

OK, I wrote to Stan Weist to price a string quartet and meet with either him or the musicians that will be performing at my wedding.

When he wrote back he didn't really answer my questions about meeting with them, if I would be able to have the people I see written on a contract for my wedding, etc. He just sent me a CD in the mail.

So I got the CD two days ago, listened to it and it sounded nice but how do I know these are the people that will be at my wedding? So I wrote again to ask when we could meet with them and I got no response. Then I noticed that the CD says 'PLEASE RETURN CD' on it. It's literally four tracks of like 3 minutes of music each track. I'm thinking 'that's a little rude'... So I let it go.

Then I got a letter in the mail today. 'We have received another inquiry for your date, please let us know if you will be booking' and 'please return the CD right away'. I was shocked!!!!!! I'm like OK, I have had this CD for two days and you have someone else asking about my date which is a year away and on a Sunday? C'mon! And again with the 'return the CD'. Do I have to pay postage to have this CD mailed back-- it was three songs? And what-- I just book with you over email without ever hearing your voice??!!

Is this ODD for a vendor or is it just me? I mean, 700 bucks is a lot of money to just give away over email without knowing or meeting who will be performing LIVE music for hours at my wedding! (Mass, cocktail hour, etc.)

Sorry, long (kinda vent) but I'm so What do you guys think???

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

I wouldn't be comfortable with that....but that's just me.

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

That's just odd.. that would kinda turn me off to them..

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

yeah i feel really weird about booking LIVE music which is a huge thing b/c if it sounds bad- YIKES! without seeing them and making sure who you see is who you get-- that's a big thing with live music. i mean, every vendor i have ever looked into i have met with-- EVERY one, even small ones! i am just so surprised!!

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

yeah that wouldn't sit right with me! Not very good customer service.. I wouldn't deal with them

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

SOmething like that would make me go with another vendor. Apparently he is not a professional-even if he comes highly recommended. I wouldn't feel comfortable with this at all-actually I would be a little offended.

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Almost EVERY place wants a meeting in person before they will even give a price....very odd, I wouldnt do it...

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

it does sound alittle strange

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

Wow Dani.....that is odd. I am not trying to be tacky here.....but

1) Give the girl a couple of days. Do you realize most of your clients also work and have a life and two days isn't hardly enough time to listen to a cd a couple of times and pick and ponder if this is it?

2) Stop being a coward and answer the brides questions already. Fine if she may or may not have these musicians.....but give up the info buddy!!

3) Okay really, its 2006. Burn yourself a couple hundred copies of your demo. You are a business...you can get the cd's at cost....and burning it on a computer is free to you and will cost you 30 seconds of your life....for thousands and thousands of profit dollars in return. Come on.....quit with the cheapness.

4) and fine if you are not 'with it' , about burning copies...fine...but then you need to send a self addressed, stamped envelope to the prospective client to send it back to you.


Done.

Dani.....there are others....reading your story just made me realize how petty some vendors can be!!!

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

DONT KNO ABOUT U BUT IAM THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT LIKES TO NEGOTIATE WITH REAL LIVE PEOPLE....IF I WERE U I WOULD CALL THEM ON THE PHONE AND SPEAK TO REAL PERSON IF THEY ARE STILL GIVING U A RUN AROUND AND WONT LET U SEE THEM IN PERSON THEN THEYVE JUST ANSWERED UR QUESTION FIRE THEM AND GO SOME PLACE ELSE.......BESIDES ITS ALWAYS GOOD TO SHOP AROUND!! GOOD LUCK

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

I wouldn't feel comfortable try Bravura...they have a wonderful string quartet!!

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

I still have my cd for them and dont plan on returning it. If they really want it back they should have included postage.

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

I called Stan Weist to get more information for a band and they sent a package without a CD. In the paperwork he sent, a letter stated that he will only meet with you once before you book. I was totally turned off by that because the way I book vendors generally is by going to meet with them with my mother or fiance and then if we liked them, bringing back my father - the one who is paying. I went to my reception hall three times before we booked! Any vendor whose time is that important that he will only meet with me once will not get my business. There are too many musicians out there to put up with that.

Re: Not sure what to think-- what do you guys think of this??

I wouldn't be comfortable with that either!