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KennF

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    Incentives to book ?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    4 minutes ago, Simon Suraci said:

    Rarely do clients take advantage of my standing referral discount. That’s my best one for them and the most costly to me. It’s 50% off the referring client’s next massage, and 50% off the referral client’s first massage. That’s essentially giving away a whole massage. BUT it’s valuable to me in the long term because the referrals often become regular clients, and they tend to be better clients in general. In the short term, both the referral and referring clients both tend to tip generously anyways because they’re so happy to get such a deep discount, so it offsets the initial loss quite a bit. Win-win-win!

    Exactly.  It is good business to make it about the total-value of the customer, instead of the transactional-value.

    Incentives to book ?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    1 minute ago, SouthOfTheBorder said:

    try calling a provider & not paying - then see what happens 

    it’s always about money no matter how much folks may want to obscure it with all kinds of sideways happy talk 

    sure - it can be lovely experience and it can seem romantic, natural & bfe.  you can discretely pay in an envelope or Zelle if that makes you feel better, but you’re paying for a service any way you slice it 

    there’s no shame around any part of this 

    you can make a choice between a Ritz Carlton and a Holiday Inn. The Ritz should make you feel fabulous & that’s why you pay top dollar. and they’re not going to act like like you’re staying for free

    I don't want a misunderstanding, so maybe my choice of wording could be better.  I was trying to express that part of being a provider is to be a salesperson.  The more successful sales people I know regularly comment that you should not 'focus in' on the money.  They never want to talk about the money without talking about the service, quality, and value.

    No one is forgetting about the money.  And I would NEVER suggest not paying for a service. (Hell, I've paid for cancelling on someone with less than a full day notice.  Since, I felt it was only proper for me to compensate for my needing to cancel.  It's made for a better and more regular arrangement.)  And I make no judgement about shame.  I am not even sure how that creeped into the dialog.

    To create that value, you have to move passed the money, and, IMO, it get into the service.  Always meet your customer where they are.

    At the end of the day, good providers distance the money from the service.  The less about money it seems, the more value clients put on the service.  And, that's where discounts, loyalty rewards, and the like come from... creating value in order to increase the money.

    I guess not everyone sees it that way.  :(  No offense intended.

    What are your red flags?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    22 hours ago, Archangel said:

    For some meetups 10 messages is sufficient. For others, it’s not. Depending on what you’re looking for, if a provider thinks they know everything he needs to know in less than 10 messages in order to deliver a quality experience, he well might not be the right provider.

    Just set up something fairly easily.  Nothing elaborate.  But the basics took 20 texts.  And that didn't include any pics or clarifications or language issues.  Plus we have a reconfirm  set of texts that will happen the day before.  Quick and easy, but ... 10?  Sorry. 

    If I know them, then there is relationship building chit-chat to make.  If I don't know them, then there is trust and repour building chit-chat.

    As long as the conversation moves on to the next proper step, and we knock down potential obstacles, then sure...text me.

    Hiring Etiquette

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    I see it from both angles.

    Since you had successful meetings with the client, that is a positive note.  But this no show no communicate is a real negative note.

    I guess it comes down to client-value.  If you feel this client still has value and you're okay dealing with occasional missed appointments, then factor that into your price.  You could say, the next meeting would be 150% of norm, or ask him for the missed appointment cost.  If he baulks, then you know his value better.

    Or if you think the behavior is unacceptable, call him out on it.  You could say, while we had good meeting before, a no-show no-communication is not acceptable.

    But the overall double booking is going to continue in the marketplace.  When setting things up via apps and texts, there is a time gap.  Since the working out of scheduling is never an easy item, you should expect clients to attempt double booking or tentative booking.  Just as I used to do as a service provider.  I used a reconfirm process to adjust things and make sure it never caused client issues.

    Incentives to book ?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    On 6/14/2023 at 10:24 AM, SouthOfTheBorder said:

    Even with the regulars I’ve known for 15+ years - we both know it’s about 💰 

    That's an odd comment coming from a sales person.  Isn't part of the selling to not focus in on the money.  If it is all about the money, then where can you differentiate?  Every sales person  have ever known (not selling me something) tells me that it is important to not focus on the dollar, unless you want to be the low-price-point seller.

     

    It may be about money for the provider, or it may be about ego, or reputation, or about good service, or staging to for a repeat client.

    If may be about money for the client, or it may be about connection, authenticity, feeling pampered and serviced, or about finding an opportunity to open up and trust.

     

    Just my tuppence, but the less it is about the money, the better job the provider has done in creating a space for a memorable experience.

    What are your red flags?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    On 4/30/2023 at 7:03 PM, Maximus69 said:

    - Client who's ramble on. If you're serious everything can be answered in 10 texts or less and even that's generous.

    I'm not sure how I feel about this.  I understand that the provider's time is worth consideration.  And, many a provider has been scammed or had their time wasted.

    But, at the same time, the client is dealing with an unknown factor.  When booking an experience, a client doesn't want to end up feeling disappointed.  Many a client has been scammed.  They need to work through to make sure the provider is a good choice.

    10 texts... hmmmm...  

    I'm not sure how to quantify "serious" in this context.  Does it mean "if the client is booking" or "if the client is considering booking" or "if the client could be persuaded to book"?

    I guess everyone has their own opinions.

    What are your red flags?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    On 5/7/2023 at 3:39 PM, Simon Suraci said:

    Various translations:

    “I couldn’t be bothered to tell you I can’t fulfill your appointment.”

    “This gig is much more important to me than your appointment.”

    “I expect you to have huge gaps of flexible, unplanned availability for me.”

    “I intentionally double booked hoping one commitment would fall through.”

    “I intentionally didn’t bother to check my schedule, and by doing so, I unintentionally double booked. Deal with it.”

    Thank you.

    It is a pleasure to hear that I'm not the only one who reads the un-intended messaging.

    I've been a service provider and a client.  I find that my expectations, as a client, need to be managed.  If you set an appointment up, then my expectations are that we'll meet.   The excuse of not meeting is nice, but it does not fulfill the service expectation.

    Incentives to book ?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    14 minutes ago, SouthOfTheBorder said:

    I think most aren’t good at the business/marketing end of the business.  just like artists who struggle with the business side when they are essentially creative people 
    there are exceptions and those guys are easily identified by their longevity & good reputations.

    Then that would answer the question about loyalty rewards.  It's a shame, in some respects, because some very talented people get tripped up with the fact that this work, is work.

    Incentives to book ?

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    6 hours ago, SouthOfTheBorder said:

    lots of businesses use loyalty programs to keep their best customers and encourage more spending.  similarly, many target their most desirable potential customer base & offer special discounts as incentives to try a new business 

    given this forum is a target-rich pool for providers - I’m wondering if any providers offer specials to forum members ?  

    seems like it would be worthwhile because both parties are known entities to some degree and takes a lot of risk out of the equation 

    just a thought - never hurts to try something new 

     

    Do you think providers are that good at managing their client appointment and marketing data?  I get a sense that they manage their calendars well enough, but most don't care to do the administration and pipeline side of the business.

    $300 versus $150/$200…

    in Questions About Hiring

    Posted

    Reality is a free-market system exists, whether the business is legal or not.  BTW - Even if sex work isn't legal in the US, the IRS still considers it income and wants it tax revenue.  That's always a fun debate.

    Not all of the market is looking for a low price point, and not all are looking for best value, or best quality.

    The trick is to figure out your target client from the market and for the clients to figure out what differentiates one provider from the next.  That will dictate the competitors and generally the market prices.

    Right now, I am at a different price point than I was before.  But I am also in the market for quality.  So, it is a value based decision.  Some providers are not willing to adjust, so the value shifts one way.  Others underprice what I would pay and the value shifts another.

    What irritates me is when the provider lumps everyone into one group and expects that the clients will all react the same way.  For example, those that talk about how many times they've been bothered by emails or requests.  Sorry, that's not my fault.  I am reaching out because your marketing is working.  Please don't take it out on me that it is hitting others from which you don't want to hear.

    Johnson’s 411

    in Male Strip Clubs

    Posted

    3 hours ago, SouthOfTheBorder said:

    The one bright spot in Florida is Johnson’s.  It’s the best male strip club in the country and you will not get ripped off there.  There is almost zero attitude among the guys and it’s not an insanely expensive night out. Drinks & cover are always reasonable.  Dancers are A+++++ with frequent new faces.  There is a real show and it’s not just dancers hitting you up for money.  Many will give numbers with a good tip. 

    I'm no so sure.  I've been ripped off there recently.  Huge downer.  That was all about the dancer, not the place, though.

    I think going during the weeknights is better with the lower crowd, when the less flakey dancers rent-in to dance.  Just me tuppence, of course.

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