... I'll send the check right away!

That was three weeks ago yesterday. I called her a week ago today to see if there were a problem. She said that she had been sick and would get it out right away.

Now I have an inquiry for the same date... I HATE this part of our job.

There is virtually no way to win. If I call her again, she'll be PO'd. If I don't call her and meet with the other, she will be PO'd. If I meet with the other and then the check show, the other will be PO'd. If I get no booking at all, I'll be PO'd.

I would call her back and say that you've had another enquiry for the date, but that you'll hold off meeting with the other party for one week, if you don't receive the contract/deposit by then, there is a chance her date might go.

If she interprets it wrong and gets all miffy, you have a backup.

Sometimes its good to give people the heads up. I've had to do it a couple times. If they can tell its not a sales tactic it is certainly motivating.

T quote Jer:

I bring your attention to the case regarding snooze vs. lose

I paid a $4,000 lesson on this one early this year. Never again.



~sam

I know. I just had almost the same scenario. So I call number 1 and let them know number 2 is interested. Don't hear back for three days. So I call number 2 and say the date is possibly open but one person has already made inquiries etc. Next day number 1's check arrives. I call number 2 and she is gutted BUT I pass her onto someone wonderful (you know who you are . THEN the next day I get inquiry number 3 about the SAME DATE. Cripes! So that's gone to another special friend.

And now I'm doing the agreement for the day before (a Friday). Must be something special about that weekend!

I would be all over that if I hadn't already called her... she will likely not believe there is another inquiry. You've seen me outsmart myself in posts... I so know I'll end up screwed on this one.

Sam Hassas wrote:
T quote Jer:

I bring your attention to the case regarding snooze vs. lose

I paid a $4,000 lesson on this one early this year. Never again.



~sam

Yeah, I didn't disclose the fact that I'm waiting on a bride that committed to my highest priced wedding to date. We have a verbal on a $3800 package... I'm screwed.

"I just wanted to let you know that I've received an inquiry for your date and will be scheduling a meeting with the bride. Unfortunately, with the nature of the business, I must operate on a first to book and put down the retainer policy. However, I'd love to work with you, and hope to hear from you soon."

Lucky_Dog wrote:
There is virtually no way to win. If I call her again, she'll be PO'd. If I don't call her and meet with the other, she will be PO'd. If I meet with the other and then the check show, the other will be PO'd. If I get no booking at all, I'll be PO'd.


How do you know she'll be angry? Irrational fear is totally normal for a business owner but it often keeps you from doing what you need to get done. Just let her know when you need to receive the check by in order to confirm her date. Do it very respectfully and in a phone call. This is issue will keep coming up the longer you are in business and you have to be able to tackle it kindly but head on. Don't assume people are all hair-trigger jerks though, good clients will understand your position.

- trr

TRReichman wrote:
Lucky_Dog wrote:
There is virtually no way to win. If I call her again, she'll be PO'd. If I don't call her and meet with the other, she will be PO'd. If I meet with the other and then the check show, the other will be PO'd. If I get no booking at all, I'll be PO'd.


How do you know she'll be angry? Irrational fear is totally normal for a business owner but it often keeps you from doing what you need to get done. Just let her know when you need to receive the check by in order to confirm her date. Do it very respectfully and in a phone call. This is issue will keep coming up the longer you are in business and you have to be able to tackle it kindly but head on. Don't assume people are all hair-trigger jerks though, good clients will understand your position.

- trr

I bobbled this twice before... all four parties assumed I was lying to seal the deal.

I don't call this "irrational", deficient, possibly, but not irrational. I think I'm being a good guy, but it must come across the wrong way. I'm not going to attempt the "good guy" route, I'll just tell her straight up that I have another party interested in the date.

I'll be potentially trading a high end wedding for a backyard affair in the country.

Honestly, so long as you have given her a verbal notice prior, I wouldn't worry about it. Go ahead and meet with the second couple and whoever signs first gets you. Mentioning to the second couple that you're already in talks with another client for the date will probably help "grease the wheels" a bit.

I *hate* badgering people for a sale and if you keep calling the same client back about booking that is exactly what it looks like. Whether or not it is your intention to pressure a sale is another matter entirely. Client 1 has been notified of the policy and if they continue to drag their feet, it is their own damn fault if they lose the date.

Be firm in this and let the chips fall where they may. In all likelihood, you're getting a booking either way.

caught the same cold myself, take whatever comes in whatever order, no or lack of communication on the BTB part is not your concern. Inform her by whatever means possible and set a deadline, Bank transfer if necessary to meet deadline.
One liners I have had recently..
I blew the budget on music so now I'm using a friend
My HTB insists on a free bar for the 150 guests so now we can't afford you
Were having a celeb sing at our wedding so we cut photography, we might be using a very talented friend or can you do two hours on a Saturday in July
Your cheaper than what we budgeted for My personal favourite, our budget was 8k for photography and so were looking for a more expensive photographer (football wag)

First with the contract and funds gets it, plain and simple.

Lucky_Dog wrote:
TRReichman wrote:
Lucky_Dog wrote:
There is virtually no way to win. If I call her again, she'll be PO'd. If I don't call her and meet with the other, she will be PO'd. If I meet with the other and then the check show, the other will be PO'd. If I get no booking at all, I'll be PO'd.


How do you know she'll be angry? Irrational fear is totally normal for a business owner but it often keeps you from doing what you need to get done. Just let her know when you need to receive the check by in order to confirm her date. Do it very respectfully and in a phone call. This is issue will keep coming up the longer you are in business and you have to be able to tackle it kindly but head on. Don't assume people are all hair-trigger jerks though, good clients will understand your position.

- trr

I bobbled this twice before... all four parties assumed I was lying to seal the deal.

I don't call this "irrational", deficient, possibly, but not irrational. I think I'm being a good guy, but it must come across the wrong way. I'm not going to attempt the "good guy" route, I'll just tell her straight up that I have another party interested in the date.

I'll be potentially trading a high end wedding for a backyard affair in the country.



If the pay is the same does it matter? The way to fix it is to not give her a carte blanche period to deliver you payment, set a time limit from the start. 48 hours, whatever, something she knows.

Dude, that stinks. I'm sorry.

If I was in your shoes, I would call the first bride up and be really, really nice and really genuine. But honest. She may walk - but hopefully you will at least book one or the other.

Dear Bride,

I have just received an inquiry for your date. Please overnight me a check in the amount of $AMOUNT - $25. The $25 should cover the overnight expense. Please send me a tracking number as soon as you have sent payment. I will hold off responding to the second inquiry until tomorrow morning.

For your convenience I have located the closest FedEx Kinkos to your address, they will be able to accept your overnight letter anytime between now and tomorrow morning.

Thank you,

Photog

I told #2 the date was open... we'll see how it shakes out.

Lucky_Dog wrote:
I would be all over that if I hadn't already called her... she will likely not believe there is another inquiry. You've seen me outsmart myself in posts... I so know I'll end up screwed on this one.

This is why I explain to the couple when I first meet them... I will not follow up and say, "There is someone else interested in the same date as you." because it sounds like a hard sell/sales tactic even if it is the truth. No date is reserved without a retainer/contract in hand.

I'd go meet with the other couple and don't mention that someone else is already interested in that date (see the "hard sell" part above).

First couple that comes back with retainer/contract wins.

CarminaF wrote:
I would call her back and say that you've had another enquiry for the date, but that you'll hold off meeting with the other party for one week, if you don't receive the contract/deposit by then, there is a chance her date might go.

If she interprets it wrong and gets all miffy, you have a backup.

Sometimes its good to give people the heads up. I've had to do it a couple times. If they can tell its not a sales tactic it is certainly motivating.


that would be the best thing...but what if the first client was a "fake" client sent from another photographer...just sayin...i heard this happens. nudge nudge wink wink

There's no guaranty that the 2nd couple will book either. So, I look at it as neither couple is a sure thing, so neither is a "back up" for anything at this point. Meet the second couple with booking them as your goal.

First come, first served. You snooze, you lose. Make sure each couple you meet with is very clear on this policy.

Call me crazy, but this is the beauty of credit cards. Sure, you lose a little in the fees and all, but it's BAM instant payment. No 'check is in the mail' BS.