Giving Game Fees back

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Negotiating game fees is like pulling teeth. Teams all want the greatest umpires but expect them all to work for next to nothing.

Many teams never believe what it costs in terms of equipment, keeping it upgraded, study time, drive time, vehicle maintenance, actually working the game...as if all of the stuff in my trunk magically appears there.

Amen!

I just emailed an AD from one of the schools that stiffed me this season, informing him of all that we incur with equipment, insurance, gas, time off work, etc. ... Let's just say, it was a revelation.

I hate when the money even has to be discussed, because I don't do it for the money. But when I get stiffed, I can't help but take a profound insult from all of it. Or how about when you drive 30 or 40 miles and find out the game was canceled a day and a half ago, but no one even considered picking up a telephone and notifying the umpires?

[jdmara]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

...Or how about when you drive 30 or 40 miles and find out the game was canceled a day and a half ago, but no one even considered picking up a telephone and notifying the umpires?

In this area, that means the school owes you for the entire contract.

-Josh

[johnnyg08]

we get 1/2 game fee for showing up

[Kevin Finnerty]

Same here. But the indignity is infuriating.

I have never done anything else in life where I am taken to such advantage. And I have a daughter in college! Even she appreciates me more.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Same here. But the indignity is infuriating.

I have never done anything else in life where I am taken to such advantage. And I have a daughter in college! Even she appreciates me more.

Yep, when you walk out of the stadium and you hear "great game" or "great job" from obviously the winning team fans, we have to learn to not get too high on the "compliments" and to not get too low on the negative feedback...becasue they'll turn on you in a heartbeat. Not that we're out there to make friends, but it is a thankless hobby...that's for sure...and yes, even though we get paid 1/2 game fee of whatever...it is a punch in the gut to show up when nobody chose to let you know..but heaven forbid they're ready to play and for whatever reason you're 3-4 minutes late....

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by jdmara

In this area, that means the school owes you for the entire contract.

-Josh

Same here. This happened to me once last year. If we get there and it's called off before it starts we get travel plus a rainout fee.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

but no one even considered picking up a telephone and notifying the umpires?

classic example.

[bniu]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Amen!

I just emailed an AD from one of the schools that stiffed me this season, informing him of all that we incur with equipment, insurance, gas, time off work, etc. ... Let's just say, it was a revelation.

I hate when the money even has to be discussed, because I don't do it for the money. But when I get stiffed, I can't help but take a profound insult from all of it. Or how about when you drive 30 or 40 miles and find out the game was canceled a day and a half ago, but no one even considered picking up a telephone and notifying the umpires?

well an improper cancellation would be cause for a no-show which in my association, is billed at the full one game rate. I had a game last week that was cancelled without notifying us and my assigner said the school didn't hold up their end of the deal and I did so I was still entitled to one game's worth of pay (it's one game's worth of pay regardless if it was a single game, doubleheader, or even tripleheader that was cancelled improperly, but hey, we get to leave early!)

If a school stiffs umpires, my association will usually threaten to stop doing business with them which is a death wish for the schools since the only other association in our area has a reputation of having the worst umpires around...and my chapter usually has enough funds to pay umpires who get stiffed...

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Amen!

I just emailed an AD from one of the schools that stiffed me this season, informing him of all that we incur with equipment, insurance, gas, time off work, etc. ... Let's just say, it was a revelation.

I hate when the money even has to be discussed, because I don't do it for the money. But when I get stiffed, I can't help but take a profound insult from all of it. Or how about when you drive 30 or 40 miles and find out the game was canceled a day and a half ago, but no one even considered picking up a telephone and notifying the umpires?

Funny Kevin, but with that statement, you are doing it for the money! If you get stiffed, it upsets you as it does all of us. You negotiate for a fee (my association does this for us) and you have to justify your request for money.

So you are (and we all are who get paid) doing it for the money!

It's not a bad thing to admit so stop the "I'm not in it for the money" stuff and admit it. You love what you do and you like being paid for doing it! Once you admit to it in this light, you will find it easier to negotiate and walk away when necessary. I learned this lesson 25 years ago so I have no problem with it.

I love what I do and I like getting paid for it - plain and simple!

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Funny Kevin, but with that statement, you are doing it for the money! If you get stiffed, it upsets you as it does all of us. You negotiate for a fee (my association does this for us) and you have to justify your request for money.

So you are (and we all are who get paid) doing it for the money!

It's not a bad thing to admit so stop the "I'm not in it for the money" stuff and admit it. You love what you do and you like being paid for doing it! Once you admit to it in this light, you will find it easier to negotiate and walk away when necessary. I learned this lesson 25 years ago so I have no problem with it.

I love what I do and I like getting paid for it - plain and simple!

Interesting point Ozzy...We hear the "I don't do it for the money" line time and time again...including me. However, I'm starting to lean more along your line of thinking.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Interesting point Ozzy...We hear the "I don't do it for the money" line time and time again...including me. However, I'm starting to lean more along your line of thinking.

My statement is "I don't do it to make money, but I would not do it if I lost money". I want to make enough to cover my expenses, including the value of the annual leave I have to take for early afternoon games.

The statement is not on an individual game basis, but covers the entire year. The closest field to my home is twelve miles one way. When I have a game there and do not have to leave work early, my net gain is very high. The average distance for my travel is 35-40 miles one way with the longest drive right at 80 miles. If I have to leave work a couple of hours early for a game there, I will lose money, but it evens out in the long run.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Funny Kevin, but with that statement, you are doing it for the money! If you get stiffed, it upsets you as it does all of us. You negotiate for a fee (my association does this for us) and you have to justify your request for money.

So you are (and we all are who get paid) doing it for the money!

It's not a bad thing to admit so stop the "I'm not in it for the money" stuff and admit it. You love what you do and you like being paid for doing it! Once you admit to it in this light, you will find it easier to negotiate and walk away when necessary. I learned this lesson 25 years ago so I have no problem with it.

I love what I do and I like getting paid for it - plain and simple!

I do not do it for the money!

But I don't do it to be exploited or insulted. I take insult at being exploited. There are multiple reasons why I do this, and being a mercenary is not part of it. But when I am dealt with dishonorably, I am insulted. I love what I do and I don't like being insulted for doing it. Brand it what you will.

[JFlores]

I do it for the moms in the stands.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Or how about when you drive 30 or 40 miles and find out the game was canceled a day and a half ago, but no one even considered picking up a telephone and notifying the umpires?

If this were a high school game in my association, you're screwed. It's our job to call the school and verify the game is still on before leaving for the game. If the game is still on, you get the name of the person and drive to the school. If the game gets canceled at any time after that, you're paid for the game.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by yawetag

If this were a high school game in my association, you're screwed. It's our job to call the school and verify the game is still on before leaving for the game. If the game is still on, you get the name of the person and drive to the school. If the game gets canceled at any time after that, you're paid for the game.

We have the same procedure in my association here in CT. We have to call the schools to verify especially sub-Varsity and Middle School games. However, if we are told that the game is on and we show up and the game is off or moved, we are still paid (under contract with the schools). The assigner handles all the dirty details in those cases.