Lost a gig over no parking?! Advice please!!

So yesterday (Sunday), I had an afternoon party scheduled for Stanley Park near 2nd beach (hopefully some of you BC-ers will be familiar with the location). I was already wrapping up a gig in West Van so I thought no prob, I'll leave myself 40 minutes for travel and to find parking even though it only takes 10-15 minutes to get there from West Van, so LOTS of time (or so I thought) to get myself settled.
Now I don't frequent Stanley Park but the website made it sound like there was ample parking for everyone who wanted to visit.
Not the case.
I drove around for half an hour, in circles, in the various Stanley park lots with a train of cars infront and behind me scouring the lots for a space to become available. I couldn't find a space, and even if a space did open up I'm sure someone in the train of cars infront or behind me would have snagged it first.
In the end I had to call the client (and at this point the party had already started) and tell them I couldn't find parking and that I saw no other option but to cancel (since I had already used up over a half an hour in time and gas).
He sounded disappointed (not mad, but irritated maybe and understandably so) but also sounded like he expected me to continue driving around looking for a spot. He said to me, "Well I guess you'll have to do what the other guests are do and just drive around and find a spot that opens up". I responded by describing the situation and saying that it could be another hour before I find a spot and by that time it'd be pretty late, etc, and that I was going to have to cancel and I apologized profusely.

Has this ever happened to any of you? If so, what have you done? This is actually the 2nd time this has happened (last time it was at the Tsawwassen Ferry terminal but wasn't as big of a deal because the client was hiring me to paint for the general public so no one was really expecting me).
It's frustrating and I feel terrible but was I being unreasonable there? Should I have kept driving around?
Advice please? Thanks guys!

I should also mention that I had previously looked into taking transit to the location but there were no buses that went anywhere close to this particular location within Stanley Park. So transit was not an option here.

I know that many painters have in their contract that the client is responsible for the painter's parking... so in a situation like this, I suppose the solution would be for the host or a guest to find a spot in advance and park themselves there, then give up the spot to you when you arrive (then they can spend an hour searching for parking while you paint!).

I live and work in San Francisco, which is a nightmare for parking in some neighborhoods, but I've been really lucky (only about 1/2 block away in the worst cases). For one event the host parked his car on the street by his home the night before, then gave up the spot to me when I arrived and parked his own car back in the garage. I always ask ahead of time what the parking situation is like at parks and neighborhoods where I think parking may be an issue.
I think it's also important to ensure that the client will be paying for parking whenever needed. That's a big issue here in San Francisco, too, at least for parties and events in the downtown area where garage parking can cost $20-30/day. And our residential neighborhoods almost always have "2 hour max" parking on the streets.

Gosh! I can't imagine. I think you handled it well, but might have offered the client the choice of allowing you to stay for your full scheduled time if you agreed to keep driving around for parking. Also, did you call them when you got there to make sure they knew you had arrived on time?

I couldn't find the place once with a Sat Nav and map quest directions. There was no signage and neither the organizer or the assistance would answer the phone. After an hour I gave up. I emailed the painter who had passed the job on to me explaining that I had done all I could including stopping and asking the locals and she was furious. She gave me the what for and I was totally humiliated. Sometimes, no matter what you do, it will still never be enough for some.

-Metina

I called when I left West Van (to confirm his location within Stanley Park) and then called him when I arrived (on time)....the thing is, if I agree to stay for the full time and then spend an hour and a half driving around, then there's an hour and a half of my time plus gas money that I'm not getting paid for.

You're right though, sometimes it's not enough for some people. But we're not superheroes!

Jengo, I was going to pay for parking myself even (though it was only $10 and not $20-30; that's nuts) if I did manage to find a spot. But I am definitely going to modify my policy now to require that they have a parking spot reserved for me in these cases......

Dude, I don't even know. That ALMOST happened to me a few weeks ago at Cates Park in NVan - I circled 2 or 3 times before finding a spot. I don't have a clause in my booking form about parking, although I do try to always ask about it if it's not at a house...perhaps it's now time to implement that.

As for paying for parking...I've charged, and I've taken the brunt myself. On the one hand, I do feel bad that I'm charging my hourly (and I'm not especially cheap) and now adding travel/parking, but someone has to pay for it. I am making my travel fee reflect the extras though - so not only gas, but if I have to go over a toll bridge, or if I'm downtown and it's all paid parking, etc.

hmmm. I don't think these parents think it out much when they choose a venue for a party. I have had trouble parking in the city - our city is notoriously bad for parking - but I had my husband with me ( he was doing airbrush Tats) so he dropped me off and I started painting and he showed up half an hour later, the client was fine - she was amazed we found parking at all! - But this last weekend I went to go to a gig on the other side of the city and the trains weren't working - I had to get a bus but it didn't go where I thought it would and I got really badly lost. I called my husband and he came and got me and took me to the gig but I was over half an hour late and the client canceled on me when I was outside.
I was doing this job for another painter and he got really upset with me and had to refund all her money...... I told the client I was lost and that I would make up the time out of my own pocket but she was too busy being mad. Poor kids got no face painting and I got a butt kicking.
Safe to say I won't be working for that painter again - secretly I 'm happy about this I was looking for a way out.
I'm surprised the client you had didn't offer up his spot to you so he could get the face painting he wanted.

I am thinking of what I would have done if I had hired someone to come to a difficult spot to do something for a party. I would certainly have given up myspot for you to start painting. Or at least tried to help in some way instead of just expecting you to drive around forevr. I would have done the same thing you did.

We don't have that issue much here, but there are a few areas. I think I need some new add-ons to my contract.

Definitely learn from this. All clients need to provide close access to the party/event & pay all parking fees, tolls, etc.

Thanks for your stories, they make me feel less like a terrible person. There is some learning to be done here.

Not sure if this will help, but this is the wording straight from my service agreement:
Location and Parking: Client also agrees to provide a safe location for artist(s) to render services and provide a parking space close to the event location. Client is responsible for providing to the artist(s) a complimentary parking pass prior to the event or compensation for any entrance or parking fees.

Though I dont normally work with a contract for small parties, I usually am in constant contact with them via email and always ask about parking. They always tell me there will be ample space but just in case i can use their spot/garage. The only time I had to bring this up was for my gig at the Food and Wine Fest at the National Harbor. I emailed 5 days before to remind her to send me info for the free parking spot, and she tells me that paid vendors dont get a free spot. I then replied with the email she had sent me stating free parking for me, so she then gave in and told me she'd give me my parking pass when I checked it. ALWAYS keep all your emails

BluAngL83 wrote: ALWAYS keep all your emails

For sure! Another tip is to always bring a copy of your contract or any emails with important details to all your gigs.

I've never had that issue...just not a large enough population. But it sure would be a pain. I think I'd have done the same thing. He can't expect you to waste your time driving around for an hour. Unless he wants to pay you for that extra hour...

I used to live in the West End and know Stanley Park well. I've only ever walked there even when we lived in the 'burbs and took Skytrain downtown.

Where exactly were they having their party just to satisfy my curiosity?

Even up here in the land of open spaces and free downtown parking I have a parking clause - hat the client must provide parking convenient for unloading and loading, and if parking is paid then they pay it.

Shannon,
the party was near 2nd beach and that giant outdoor swimming pool. It was a nightmare trying to navigate (all one-ways only pretty much) and of course it was packed.

Oh god. Not convenient to Skytrain or parking at BC Place then! Why would they even book entertainers for a location like that??

I love that pool! but no not at all convenient.