A bird in the hand..........

Do you know the saying "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush"?  Basically, it means it is better to have a small actual advantage than taking the chance of having a greater one.

Just down the road from me there is a little shopping centre.  For the last two years there have been two vacant shops.  The leasing terms and the rental are very high,  small business owners turn away from renting the premises.  My husband and I regularly discuss if it were us we would sooner have both shops leased for a lesser rent than leave them empty and not having any return. 

Just this week, the little bird in the hand saying came to top of mind again.  For months I had been searching for a venue to hold my seminars.  I wanted a venue that the room was intimate but not too small, good lighting as I use a data projector and there needed to be catering.  Well, I found what was the perfect venue for my seminars and hired the room for the day.  I sent an email to the venue the next day letting them know how fabulous the room was, also how great their staff were.  (I believe in sending through positive feedback as businesses rarely get compliments.)  I decided I would also book the room again to use for my next seminar.  On the return email  I was informed the cost of the room had tripled.  I was very surprised as you can imagine.  The other part to this was that two of the participants had also considered that they would like to hire this room for their workshops.
 
Now I am not miffed with the venue as they have to make a profit also and their charges are their charges, that's life.  It did make me think though, how many days will the room stand empty as the hiring costs have tripled?  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush don't you think?

Has this saying ever rung true for you in your business?  I would enjoy hearing your experience.