Guys, if it helps anyone else, here are brief details of the situation. I play "elder care facilities" during the week to pick up extra bucks. At one location, I slipped on the floor and fell on my elbows. They were a regular account...I asked only for $175 for doctor bills. They admitted nothing as we live in a litigious world. I had to take them to Small Claims Court. I lost as it was decided I was more than 51% at fault. I was OK with that as the accident WAS partly my fault.

Now no sooner did I get home than I found a message canceling my remaining 3 dates at this place for a total loss of $575. I reckon they thought I would be retaliatory on their premises.

Scott...I NEVER, EVER accept a standard weekend booking (wedding, etc) without a contract. I've had to go into Small Claims 3-4 times and won every time WITH that contract so I agree with you there. But when you're doing the elderly places, they're too busy to ask for one. And besides, most of my clients like my work and only cancel for legit reasons. I'm OK with that.

Reference the "oral" contract. It IS just as binding as a written one, and, yes, it is harder to prove. What I do, if I have an inkling that a client is going to cancel, is to telephone them about it and ask them to leave me a message about the possible cancellation as I "won't be home for the rest of the day." This way they leave a message canceling the job and I have my evidence on my answering machine (for the judge to hear) that there WAS indeed a job (for those deceitful clients who deny ever even booking).

Mike...you're right too. Your comments:

"It's not worth the trouble, if you had done the job and not gotten paid that'd be different."
There's principle at stake here. I have no problem with the "budget-cut" cancellations, etc but I did nothing to merit a cancellation.

"How far in advance did they cancel?"
Too late for me to pick up anything else for the dates.

"Why did they cancel?"
For no good reason other than to protect themselves from litigation.

"How much money are you talking about?"
Enough to buy a low-priced Yammie!

"Did they have a right to cancel?"
No right to cancel...strictly a judgment call on their part!

"In your oral contract did you talk about the penalties for cancellation?"
This question has been raised before. I don't believe one needs a cancellation agreement in any kind of a contract unless it is requested by one of the parties.

Mike, these were excellent questions that under more honorable circumstances I would stop and think about. But when someone does me a "dirty," it's in my nature to go toe-to-toe with them, oftentimes cutting my own nose off to spite my face!"

For everyone's information: a contract is formed when a seller (the musician) is selling a service and the buyer (your client) understands fully what that service is and is mentally competant and goes ahead and agrees to pay money for that service. At that point an oral contract goes into effect. As Scott has said, it's easier to prove your case with one that's written, but I once won a court case based on an oral contract only. They are just as legal, only harder to prove. BTW, I think this law differs in each state.

It's so sad that musicians/artists have to go through these ugly episodes. It certainly takes away from the joy beauty of entertaining! Then again I live on the East Coast where they're notorious for this type of behaviour so we half expect it!