How far to schedule in advance?

[Veryshyone]

I had an exceptional experience with a masseur and have booked another provider who is going to be visiting. My question is how far in advance of a desired appointment should you request it from a local masseur or provider. The exceptional masseur was last week and looking for 3 weeks from now. Is that weird or a turnoff for masseurs or providers? I understand visiting providers and getting scheduled in advance, how about local?

[BeamerBikes]

Depends on the provider and how hung up you are if their plans change.  
 

I know some providers would gladly pencil you in for a future weekend - weeks out.  Also though, you should be flexible to move it around  if given a week or so notice.  Things do come up.  
 

On the other hand, if the provider is in demand in the busy season, yeah, nothing wrong with getting the next one on the books. 

[Nightowl]

I always book far in advance, even from local providers.  In fact, I just booked a session with a favorite local provider for late February.  No one has ever given me the impression that advance bookings are unwelcome. 

[Veryshyone]

Thanks! The masseur is leaving the end of the month for a while and I want to book him prior to leaving.

[Veryshyone]

I contacted a provider that advertises on RM about scheduling a session. We exchanged a few texts. As an exec with a crammed schedule between home and work, I need to plan ahead. The last text the provider sent asked me when I would like to schedule in which I replied 2 weeks. Boom, end of texting with me. Fortunately, I found another provider that gladly scheduled me in advance and am looking forward to the session. I am in the wrong to seek a provider that far in advance? The scheduled provider had no problem with it, did I just luck out? I would have gladly provided a deposit, the scheduled provider didn't ask for one. 

[dcguy20]

Not that you were in the wrong, but when contacting someone I haven't seen before I phrase the question as, how much advance notice do you prefer people to schedule an appointment. 

Edited February 14 by dcguy20
Rephrase

[Cb1108orl]

I am curious - when do you all reach out to start booking? 
 

A few days? A week? Same day? 

[MassageCommunityMember]

Same day - if the provider has posted hours, I wait until they are "open" unless they've told me to text anytime (because they have notifications silenced anyway).   I would like to be able to schedule ahead of time (I love the anticipation) but that never seems to work out.

 

etiquette related - I also won't usually message a provider on rentmasseur unless they are showing available.  I don't want them to get an e-mail, log in and then see that I'm just asking a question that isn't urgent.  

Edited Monday at 07:40 PM by MassageCommunityMember

[Redwine56]

26 minutes ago, Cb1108orl said:

I am curious - when do you all reach out to start booking? 
 

A few days? A week? Same day? 

I will suggest at least one day prior if at all possible.  This will allow the masseur to schedule a convenient time for both of you to meet.  He may be booked that day or not taking customers and this will give you the option to create a Plan B.  

[jmichaeliii]

If I have a trip scheduled for work, I sometimes reach out weeks in advance and have found the guys appreciate the heads up.

With my regulars, I tend to reach out about 5-7 days before to meet and that has always worked well for me.

[FLJock]

Same day works best for me. 

Unless I'm traveling then I try to reach out within a few days of me arriving to make sure they will be in town.

[+ JamesB]

I prefer to book within 12 to 48 hours of the desired time. That approach has worked very well for me. When I give more advance notice, I tend to get too many requests to change the time, which is something I simply don't care to deal with.

[j r]

I usually reach out about a month in advance to ask if a provider knows if they will be in town on my dates, confirm length of session and pricing, and confirm my interest to book with an agreement to check in a week to a few days before to set the time. I am efficient in my messages so I don’t waste their time, trying to front load specifics about what I am looking for in the first message along with my request about their availability and rates. I am usually able to confirm within 3 or 4 short text messages back and forth. Some guys don’t want to commit, which I get. I may just move on or circle back to them closer to the date if I haven’t booked anyone else. Usually works out well since I’m not flaky, though I have had to cancel once or twice with a cold or missed plane. I am generally pretty respectful of providers’ time and give as much notice as possible if I have to change plans.