When 50% of my reservations cancelled, I adopted a prepay policy for first time clients the next time I tour in Philly, at that city only.  They are still throwing Roma tomatoes at me on this one, marketing 101 briefs, hate e-mails, nasty PMs (that is when you know you must be really good...lol) and complaining that I am not local, too expensive, ugly/fat/old, yada-yada.

I commented on the cancellations on their board,and all the deranged crack cats started hissing. Too bad, I love the city, and am going to get a small loft there for my other work,. I ended up having a good time, but I won't go through that again, not from people I never met. I am a professional tongue and baton twirling cocksucker, not a restaurant reservation.  

there are only a few legitimate reasons to cancel 30 minutes before the appointment time and they are; Car accident, being arrested and in jail, death of family member or loved one, suddenly becoming violently or deathly ill and in the hospital, or you are dead yourself, in which case to get a last minute cancellation would be just kind of creepy.

Anything else shows blatant disrespect to me and my time, and I choose not to spend time with those type of people. In which case, you were probably better off having the jerk cancel last minute, then spend any time with him at all. Just my opinion

-- Modified on 5/4/2004 11:03:53 AM

Hello IW,

I know, that we all hate cancellations, but I've realized, that's part of the business. I do have to give this guy a little credit, for being polite enough to cancel. What bothers me more, is the No Shows, No Calls, which seems to happen when traveling! Now, that what really pisses me off!

I can't tell you to give this guy another chance, as this is up to you. But, I would probably give him another chance and that would be it. Now, a no show, no call Never gets another chance from me! Kindness goes along way with me.  

Now, pass me a toke! LOL
Take Care Sweetie,
Kelly~

feel your pain on this one. I just think it would be nice if the gents realized how much preparation, both mental and physical we girls go through to ready ourselves for an appointment.
I'm not saying the gents don't have some prep...but I've had clients show up in sweats or shorts, they've probably showered, but that's about the extent of the prep they have to do.
So for me there's shower and shaving all the parts...every gentlemen gets a freshly shaved and showered me when they come by...this may happen several times a day and that's a lot of time. I have very thick curly hair and the process of washing and conditioning alone takes about 15 minutes. Then theres the moisturizing, hairstyling, makeup, choosing an outfit, freshening up the mani/pedi.
Then there is cleaning the incall, changing sheets, washing floors, emptying garbage etc so that my clients are comfy and there are no nasty reminders that anyone but them has ever even been to my incall...I'm a professional virgin you know lol.
I have gotten to the point where I can complete this whole process in about an hour....but that's working very quickly and efficiently. All this doesn't include the mental prep which varies by client and activity.
Sorry, I got a little off track...my point is that 30 minutes notice after a same day confirmation would get me steamed. Whether I saw that person again would depend on a number of factors...Have I seen this person before? Did I like him? Has he done this to me before?
If we'd seen each other and this wasn't his habit...I'd reschedule him after letting him know that from now on I really need him to be more respectful of my time.
If I hadn't seen him before and there wasn't a good excuse, I don't see myself rescheduling.
If I hadn't seen him before and he had a great and believable excuse, I probably would reschedule with a warning that it's not 3 strikes you're out, it's two.
I'm happy to say that I have never had to reschedule a client ...the reason for this is my clients take priority over other things in my life...since this is my job.
I realize that not everyone prioritizes the way I do, but if I did have to cancel on someone I would give them as much notice as humanly possible, and I expect the same consideration. I don't think it's too much to ask. As for no-call/no-shows, I will never reschedule with them either. No excuse for that. xxx Octavia.

I have experienced over a dozen no-shows in the past year and a half, and have always given second (or more) chances. The reason is very simple - I have spent the time to select the provider I would like to see. I've read her reviews, seen her pictures, and e-mailed back and forth with her, so I have a strong desire to see her.

Having said that, however, I have found that a lady who no-shows me the first time will no-show me the next time (I did find one exception to that rule.) Since logic would dictate that second chances will not work out, I have stopped giving them.

I don't get upset about the no-shows, realizing they are a part of this business that will never go away. And the room service ladies enjoy getting the flowers!

I think it's fair to give the prospective client a second chance to see you if he had to cancel at the last minute since you might not always know what's going on in his world.  If it's a regular who cancels at the last minute, I've got no opinion since you will know what kind of relationship you have with that client (is he a good client, etc).  If the client has a pattern of last minute cancellations, I can understand stop seeing him since I would be pissed if someone kept cancelling on me, repeatedly.

One question I do have is this:  do you have a formal policy on cancellation notification?  If so, did you inform him of that up front and did he cancel within that timeframe?  If you don't have a policy, maybe you should adopt one?  Just a thought.

If a prospective client is informed of your cancelation policy and fails to cancel within that timeframe, I can understand no desire to give him a second chance.

Just my 2 cents.  

Peace...

Yes, it's frustrating to get dressed up and then there is a cancellation. He definitely should have apologized for cancelling at the last minute.

However, I probably would have rescheduled with him (unless of course he was rude on the phone). I usually give clients the benefit of the doubt that there was a compelling reason to cancel.

I also give no-shows the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it's because I'm lucky with those--they're very rare--maybe one since January.

Even with the no-shows, I email them and say I'm sorry I missed seeing them that day. Either they never write back, or I get a very apologetic reply back and a request to reschedule (which I do--they have always showed up the second time and everything was fine.)

Sometimes I read posts where the girls have a lot of cancellations and no-shows. I probably wouldn't be as accomodating then, however.

Under the circumstances, you are entirely justified in telling the bozo no second chances with you.  He had neither grace nor a watch (smile).  Thinking a half hour was suffcient, unless there was indeed some personal or work obligation that arose (not here per your post) leads any reasonable mind the to conclusion that you were right about your perceptions in his lack of regard for your time and justified in saying thanks, but no thanks.  I hope I get to Chicago soon so we can meet. If you get to DC, let me know.

I've had one outcall no-show.  I gave them a second chance later with an incall appointment.  It turned out ok.  I've had two incall "no-shows"  Both stood me up and didn't answer the phone on the second phone call I was supposed to give after I got close to their area to get more specific directions.  One I gave a second chance and that turned out great and we had several good appointments after that.  The second I didn't give another chance.  For me, I suppose it just depends.  I am probably much less inclined to give a second chance now when I get a "no-show" and no phone call at all.  A cancellation with an apology will probably get a second chance.  I canceled once with an apology, and the lady graciously gave me a second chance when I called the next day and we had a nice time.  I do understand that people's time is valuable.  I don't like it when a lady makes me wait for even only 15 minutes.  So I can understand if a person gave no second chances on "no-shows" and even on cancellations.  I should also point out that most of my appointments are set up only a few hours ahead of time.  If you schedule something days ahead, I'd think that obviously the time should be taken seriously.

If the guy really just annoys you don't see him it isn't fair to you or him to force yourself to go through with a session you don't want to be involved in...

It really ticks me off when people do not keep their word.

Another thing you could do is...

when you make an appointment, ask the client to call a few hours before and confirm everything is 'go'.
After all, maybe he's a newbie and just got scared.