|
|
SoCalPro Inner circle Southern California 1634 Posts |
Been screwed on this for the last time!!!!!
Do you guys have a set date (from date faxed) that the client has to get the agreement back to you? This happened a long time ago and again this morning. I tell the client that I need the agreement back ASAP and that the show isn't booked until I get it back. I booked a show at the beginning of the month for this Saturday. I just looked in my booking folder and realized that I haven't received it. I called the client and she said that they decided NOT to have the show after all. I asked her if she didn't think that she should have told me earlier? She replied "Oh, I'm sorry...I misunderstood. I thought you said the show wasn't booked until I got it back to you". I said, Yes.. but I also stop booking shows for that time frame once an agreement is sent out. On another screwed up note......... I get a call on Thursday from an potential client. I offer her my stand up show or my strolling. She chooses the strolling. When I mentioned my agreement, she says that she will be so busy getting ready for the party Friday, that she will not have time to fax back. I say..ok...fine..just have the cash and the agreement ready for me upon my arrival, she agrees. I get a call on Saturday AM telling me that since the rain isn't coming...I could do "my show". I call her back and tell her that my stand up show is not an option due to the set up/take down time (I had 4 gigs that day). As she started to back out...I agreed to hurry and do the show for her. When she found out that the stand up show wasn't an hour (as was the strolling)...she said "maybe next time"...CLICK!!!!!!! From now on...I don't leave the house without the signed agreement in hand. Had to get that one off my chest. What would you guys do in the first situation? Thanks. |
RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
In your first situation, we would have to just accept that our mistake might have cost us some work.
If we fax a contract, they have 7 days to sign and return it by fax. If we snail mail a contract, they receive with the contract a SASE and are given 14 days to return it. In both cases, the show is only on hold until the signed contract is returned. If other potential clients contact us in the mean time for those dates being held, we explain that the date is currently being held for someone else, but has not yet been confirmed. We tell the second client that we will know whether or not the date is available by (whatever date) and we will be able to get back to them then about our availability. We then follow up with the original client for a status report, explaining that we have received other inquiries about that date. Finally, we try to keep both clients in the loop and try to secure the second client on a date or time that we can accomodate both. We use a large calendar in our office that allows us to write with a dry erase marker in each date a number of lines. All shows are written in blue. If it is on hold, the show details (briefly) are written in the date. When we receive the contract back signed, the date number is circled in blue. By doing this we can see at a glance what is booked for the entire year. |
SoCalPro Inner circle Southern California 1634 Posts |
Very good advice...thank you.
|
renricker7 Regular user Halle, Germany 150 Posts |
An idea to your first story:
maybe from now on you could say instead speaking from not been booked, from calling if anything is changing on their side. also I don´t tell them to send it back in between the next 2 weeks, what I say is just to sign it after they have gotten it and to send it back right away in the envelope that I did put in, too. combined with calling back if anything changes, it seems for me a more proper way. these are clear instructions to follow, it focuses them, than options to choose from, as your approach sounds like. it differs in a psychological way. do you understand where i´m comming from? rené |
SoCalPro Inner circle Southern California 1634 Posts |
At the bottom of my agreement it says " Please read, sign and fax back to me at (my number). When I email an agreement it says "Please read, sign and fax/email back to me ASAP". There is no excuse there. People are just idiots thinking that they don't have to call if if they change their mind.
|
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
First off, I can feel your frustration, and I'm sorry for that.
I always tell them on the phone that the show is booked. I don't let them feel that the weight of the booking is on the contract, but rather on our verbal agreement. Yes, I send the contract and ask them to sign and send it back ASAP. But that is not what the booking is hinging on, in my opinion. It's on our verbal word with one another. I use phrases like, "Great. The show is now booked for that date and time. Here's when I'll be there to set up. What will the staging be like? Sound? Etc." I try to be complete in my details over the phone, so they already know everything about the booking (and they are picturing having me there). I talk about the gig like it's a done deal, that they aren't going to back out of. I don't even talk about cancellations unless they bring it up. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
SoCalPro Inner circle Southern California 1634 Posts |
I've tried that in the past Donald but this is the second time I've been burned. You can be as kind as precise as you would like with people but people are just flaky.
Verbal agreements aren't worth the breath they take to vocalize. Saturday is a good example. |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
If the person is wishy washy, then it isn't a booking. And they don't get sent paperwork.
How I handle that is I offer to hold the date for 24 hours, and that's it. I ask them to call me back to confirm it, but I make no assurances that they are booked. Sometimes I end up calling them, and we never connect. It's the customers who are hardest to get ahold of, that are sending you red flags. My expectations of them are different. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
SoCalPro Inner circle Southern California 1634 Posts |
The lady for this Saturday wasn't wishy washy. She booked on the sopt and just never faxed it back and didn't have the decency to call me back.
From now on there will be a line in my agreement stating how long they have to get it back to me. I will also verbalize it on the phone as well. I like your 24 hour idea. |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
This might not apply to you.
But part of this is attitude in wanting to get every booking vs. wanting to get the right bookings. I don't care about their money so much as I care about the right fit / right relationship. I am willing to let some bookings pass me by if they aren't right. Part of this comes into play when you are matter of fact about your prices, don't try to compete on price (sell on other levels), don't struggle to get their business, etc. Again, this might not apply to you. But does tend to apply to some who get frustrated with their customer's behaviors -- they somewhat invite it because of the types of shows and customers they are pursuing. From my observations, it would seem that when you have higher fees (and they are deserved), that you end up with customers who help you carry in equipment, are committed to a great event, treat you differently leading up to the show / at the show / following the show, etc. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
SoCalPro Inner circle Southern California 1634 Posts |
Donald,
These past 2 days have been a learning experience. I'm trying to let my anger go and just try to learn from these situations. Thank you VERY MUCH for your professional input. I appreciate it. |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Jim -
I've been though this myself, and it is frustrating at the time. In the past, when I have had frustrations with prospects & customers, the immediate inclination is to put up my prices. I think, "If I have to put up with this, I want to be paid more." - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
renricker7 Regular user Halle, Germany 150 Posts |
"If I have to put up with this, I want to be paid more."
I had to rené |
RJE Inner circle 1848 Posts |
Personally, I am only saying personally and am not looking for a fight, I don't think asking to have a contract returned ASAP is very professional.
I remember years ago, in another life where dealing with contracts and the public on a regular basis was something I did to pay the bills. I once used the term ASAP with a client and was taken to task for it. On our contracts, it clearly states the date the contract must be signed and returned for it to be effective. This makes doing it clear to all parties what the parameters of the contract are and helps us in situations I mentioned above. |
TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Rob, I kind of like the date to return on there, or even if you just put a post it note on it with a date. Because I think that if you use a contract, it's never a done deal until it's signed. A contract (in their mind) cancels out all the verbal agreements as far as closing the deal. Once they see the contract, they don't really feel obligated until it's signed. You can only hold them to verbal agreements when no contract is used. (Again in their mind)
In the real world, it's ok to put things in your shopping cart and then replace them on the shelves, or even get up to the register and decide you don't want them. The store clerk only makes you pay for the things you want. It's never bought until they ring it up on the register. Well actually, until you walk out the door with it. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
Tim Hannig Inner circle Chicago area 1147 Posts |
For what it's worth, we email our agreements and ask that they sign and fax back within 48 hours.
They have 10 days to mail the deposit. They don't always do it, but it gives my secretary an excuse to call them to make sure everything is on track. Even with all that, sometimes this stuff still happens. I totally understand your frustration. We also send hard copies in the mail along with posters, etc.
Author of PERFORM, the 2020 Magic Cafe Book of the Year
"I loved this book!" Ken Weber "4 out of 4 stars!" Nick Lewin "This will be a classic of magic!" Mark Pocan performbettershows.com |
Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
I had been through similar stuff so my contract now reads if it is not signed and returned to me with the deposit within 2 weeks, the booking is considered cancelled and I am free to look for others.
If they cancel within 7 days, they forfeit their deposit and if they cancel within 48 hours, they owe me the other half as "liquidated damages". As Stan Kramien says - no dough - no show. If I am going to have a flaky person like that it is generally a birthday mom or dad sadly.
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
SoCalPro Inner circle Southern California 1634 Posts |
RJE: I agree that ASAP is rather harsh. I will change that (see next line).
Tim: Your method is a perfect fix to my frustrations....thank you. |
abbylondon New user 54 Posts |
Yep, I've experienced similar problems, and now a few sentences at the top of my contract have solved the problem. You can see the exact wording in my contract here:
http://www.abbylondon.com/Birthday%20Party%20Agreement.pdf I mention that a date on hold simply means that the date will be held for the next 7 days to allow time to mail the signed agreement. It works pretty well. It convinces a client who really wants to book me to act quickly. And it eliminates clients who are unsure; I want them to back out right away, not after putting a date on hold :O) Abby
Abby London
http://www.abbylondon.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricky business » » Deadline to get performance agreement back (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |