I've had a run in with a promoter. My band signed up to play at a gig in late September and we were asked to sell 50 tickets (fair enough, and very doable). We had to pay an upfront £100 as down payment for the tickets and we would then pay the rest across to the promoter as we sold the tickets. We didn't sign anything saying that we'd forfeit this in the event of cancellation.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel last month which has given the promoter over two months to find a replacement act, however he is refusing to repay the £100 claiming that he has lost out already.

Has anyone been in a situation like this? How do I get my money back?