dsc said:
Francesca, I would recommend another try.
When I see a high caliber SP visiting, I just assume booking would be very difficult because of all the hype. But I am surprised cancelations run at 1:5. I found the local indys are hard to book on short notice.
Lets put this into prospective for a moment. It's atleast an hours drive for me... book and advertise the trip, which in my observation, was well recieved.
Decide at the persistance of a client, to book a two hour on the Wednesday (the day before my original trip) figure- ok, well I might as well make myself available to see clients afterwards- as I'm already in the area... available, only seems fitting, right??? SO, I incorporate a suprise... being there a day before scheduled- for you guys.
So, I drive up... bugger doesn't CALL, no cancellation... no nothing.
Kinda leaves me in a perdicament. Firstly, I'm in the area... thinking even with the two hour appointment, my expenses are covered-plus some. Only, thats a no go.... so I have calls coming in and I have to make a judgement call.
Do I book a half... the hotel with deposit (I don't use my credit card) wouldn't even cover my time...and hope another call will come to recoup OR; GO HOME and let tomorrow be another day????
So, I abandon plan A. I can deal with wasting my time and gas... plus I have a good day booked for tomorrow- So i can let this nightmare be water under the bridge.
So, after I leave and I'm on my way....of course as to be expected I have a guy who wants to book an hour. I've already wasted the better half of the night...not to mention pushing off calls for Toronto as well....could have booked the half plus had an hour. Do I turn around???? Or keep driving? So we go to plan B. Would have been a good start if everything went as planned....
So, with the hotel- I have to settle with the super... due to the garden being fully booked without a reservation, I'm outta luck.
So, my first night... nothing to go running home about- dissapointment other then the client who hung in there and was lucky enough he was patient and a real gentlmen about the whole situation.
Even with red flags... and the night should have been an idea of whats to come-none the less... I make my way up after an early morning lecture- on a few hours sleep and think- with everything considered, yesterday just may have been a combination of circumstances that factored into being what the night was.
Should have known better.
Half my prebookings... obviously don't confirm. Besides the cancellations (which are excusable) even last minute appointments don't show. Out of atleast 10 bookings and atleast a 1500 day in theory,while pushing off calls from Toronto... both Wednesday night and Thursday I go home, after my expenses taken into account-with almost half of what I made, being less then what I would have accepting ONE appointment downtown-not leaving my condo!!!!
Now, darling do you think for a moment- assumptions aside, I'm going to trek up their- living up to the fasade of a high class SP... and make what I did??? and even consider returning you may be the only fool besides myself for even booking the trip and following through with my end of the bargin.
I think, if my little experience sumed to all in all... absolutely not. The ONLY way I'd return, was if I had a prebooking that would secure my expenses atleast- with half up front through my pay pal account. Otherwise, no chance.
So, from a business standpoint this was a waste... from a personal aspect, complete disappointment. This isn't one secluded instance but the actions of many put together.
If and when I do come up... like I said, it wouldn't be advertised on here as you guys are the ones who convinced me PRIOR to even planning the trip, that there would be enough interest... perhaps to those who saw me- of course... but outside of that, absolutely not.
and just a note sweety... it was 5 cancellations/no shows (time wasters) to ONE appointment who showed. If it was the other way around.... it'd be a normal day at the office, nothing out of the norm to be concerned with.
However this was not the case...