The Retreat

an area that is not adequately sheltered from rain and other inclement weather. The fact that this wedding performance was sadly cancelled due to rain damaging the band's equipment should be a warning for all future clients to avoid. A "tarp" could not have prevented the sudden torrential downpour that drenched the tens of thousands of dollars worth of sound equipment and instruments that a professionally touring band like The Retreat brings to a wedding like this one. Instead, the band (like all Sam Hill Entertainment bands) travels to a venue covered by a contract that guarantees adequate cover for all outside events. Here is the specific wording of the contract this client signed when booking the band: "Policy for Outdoor Events. For health and safety reasons, Performer is not expected to perform on a wet surface, or where the temperature is less than 55 degrees, or under conditions where, at the sole discretion of Performer, precipitation poses a safety threat to the musicians, crew or equipment. No discount or refund will be due should such conditions prevent or interrupt Performer from performing. Performer is not expected to set up their equipment a second time. Performance area should be sheltered from direct sunlight and inclement weather at all times." This was a very sad event for everyone involved -- rain ruining a wedding day is undoubtably horrible, as is rain damaging expensive equipment that you rely on to make your living -- but it could have been avoided if this contract was followed and the performance area was adequately covered from rain. It is understandable that Kirby is upset that this happened on her big day. But, it should be noted that this review is specifically untruthful in that Sam Hill Entertainment (the band's booking agency) did refund her $500 out of their own commission payments just to be kind. The band also went out of their way to try to do everything in their power to help despite having to deal with the reality of all their equipment being possibly destroyed. - They still played acoustically for her wedding ceremony - They still played for cocktail hour inside the house - The band manager stayed at the venue for the entire evening and played saxophone for their dinner service and DJ-ed music and did announcements through an extra powered speaker. - Finally, the very fact that the band went out of their way to still set up when they arrived and saw the performance area open to the elements -- putting their equipment in harms way -- to attempt to make this work show that they were dedicated to doing their best to help this client. If you are a client that is considering hiring a band to play your wedding, and you have read this far - THANK YOU. Thank you for considering this very important issue, and thank you for reading this. The Retreat has an over 10 year history of exceeding expectations and wowing clients at weddings and events weekend after weekend. I hope that it is obvious that this attack review has nothing to do with the actual quality of the band and more to do with a specific client's personal reaction to a specific unfortunate situation that could and should have been prevented.