Vanishing artist workshop

[busymomtoone]

AIBU ? Prebooked ( and paid) substantial amount of money as a holiday treat for family with an artist ( with v distinctive style) we had admired for a while. All the photos/ feedback etc glowing about how this person shows you the skills to do x, y, z etc. All communication is with artist including directions to her studio etc. Arrive to find her going out and leaving us with someone who has “ attended and loved” some of artist’s previous work !! ( never exhibited, not a professional). We still got the materials and some limited input - but obviously in no way the same as doing the workshop with the actual artist. Really disappointed and messaged her to say so. Feel completely conned - I’d have hardly signed up for a workshop with any Tom,Dick or Harry purporting to “ teach us” rather than a successful, exhibiting and recognised artist. No mention of a discount or apology. AIBU?

How was it advertised?

Ie, 'come and learn x with Artist Person'

Or 'come and learn x style, as seen in Artists Persons work'

If the former, I'd be really annoyed, complaining and expecting a refund (assuming id then left, i think if you stayed for the full thing then a full refund isn't appropriate).

I'd ask what the reason was as to why the artist didn't deliver what was agreed in the terms of booking. It sounds like there might have been some unplanned emergency if she was there at the start and had arranged a cover person. Is anything about that mentioned in the booking agreement?

Thanks for replies. Fully advertised as learn with x ( not style of..) , absolutely no mention of the possibility of a stand in!! Would not expect a full refund as we stayed ( too surprised/ shocked not to!) and used materials- but bit like if you paid to bake a cake at Paul Hollywood baking class ( with him being shown as the teacher, booking at his house etc ) and then got his stand in/ someone who’d practiced on Bake off!!

I'd be really disappointed too, and also probably would have stayed because my brain wouldn't have caught up with the shock initially. As you say a full refund is unreasonable as you attended and used materials - however, I expect the artist charges a higher amount for their courses because of their experience. I think it would be very fair to get a partial refund based on the fact the workshop wasn't with them and was with someone less experienced. (I think the artist should've contacted you before hand or offered you the opportunity to rebook or cancel when you arrived though). I'd also leave a fair unemotional/objective review stating that as you arrived you found out it was with a different artist. But I wouldn't say 'with any Tom, Dick or Harry purporting to teach us'...

That is super cheeky and completely unacceptable. I’d go and physically find her and demand one tbh. She can’t do that and not even let people know in advance!