Stephenphoto's blog

Meetfighters No Show

Let me recount this true tale of a no show.

It’s 4pm on Thu 4 July at MWC, the well known East London wrestling venue. I’m about to let the owner know I’m just turning the lights off and locking up after a one hour booking.

Nothing unusual so far, but my opponent never turned up and as of now as this is being written at 4.20pm on a train back into London, has not bothered to reply either to countless messages.

Now there maybe a valid reason for this, at this stage I do not know, but even in this day and age of near instant communication, basic courtesy and manners cost nothing.

Here is a brief timeline of events to this point.

Wed 3 July

1. I see an advert on MF at 1152am (I’ve got the message trail) seeking a match in London on Thursday 4 July, as the advertiser has that day off. The advertiser has some decent feedback.
2. Contact the advertiser straightaway and say I could be available if he has nothing yet sorted, but we would need a venue for a proper match.
3. Advertiser replies he is free but can’t afford a venue and does not know if it is free. I said I will enquire and pay if need be as I’d like to film the match and give him a copy.
4. The owner is away on holiday overseas, but over the time difference and several hours, I manage to get a booking for 3-4pm on Thu 4 July. So I info the advertiser and he agrees.
5. Over the next few hours, as I’m still at work, I have several messages from the advertiser and we discuss type of match, holds etc.
6. I also have to change my shift at work with very late notice, so I end up starting work at 4am, so I can finish in time to get to London, which is three hours away by train.
7. Have a final message from the advertiser at 8.02pm on Wed 3 Iuly and all is ok for tomorrow.

Thu 4 July

1. Finish work just before midday (after a 4am start) and get next available train to London and info advertiser at 1051am.
2. Send update messages from the train, when I arrived into London, before the tube, after the tube, and arriving and setting up in the venue. No replies to any, but still expecting him to show up.
3. 3pm at the venue everything set up and still no replies at all.
4. 3.10pm realising he probably won’t show up and it’s too late to find a suitable very last minute replacement.
5. Ended up improvising some pre recording shots for future matches.
6. Back in the centre of London for the 5.23pm train home. Expecting to be back at my front door around 8pm.

To summarise, all previous communication between the advertiser and I was prompt and informative. Only today (Thu 4 July) have I been met with no replies.
As I’ve stated there could well be a genuine reason for this, but there has been more than enough time to reply with any type of answer.
The cost to me will be a costly 7hr round trip, a venue fee, back home with no match and that time I could have easily used on other projects.
Will be interesting to see if I get a reply or explanation at all.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been let down without explanation and I’m sure I won’t be the last.