Just wondering who you ladies have hired in the past to screen and book for you. I've been getting quite a few calls and would love to pass this part of business on to someone who would take calls and screen for me. Any suggestions?

hello gia,

I do my own screening and checking.. I dont use a phone.. By email only.. Using a agency or assistant makes things difficult in my eyes because you cannot feel out your client. and decide from your point of view what the best choice is.And the less people know about your business the better . But thats just my thought.. Independent in all the sense.. Is the best way to go

Good point. I just hate some of the calls I get, the crazies and the time wasters. Maybe email only would be best...

Thx.

yeah.. I tried a hobby phone.. But got allot of fake calls... And allot of people trying to see what i would say to make a apt.. not worth it. So i just use email only, And my reg clients may use my phone to make a apt.. You would be surprised how many people think twice before wasting your time.. By email

* A booking agent not representing you in the fashion that you would like with his/her behavior reflecting upon you and your business

* A booking agent becoming frustrated or incensed with you and selling (read: extorting) information which belongs to you and your business back to you

* A booking agent who is privy to the business of several other providers sharing information about your business with them or attempting to mold your business in the image of theirs with unrealistic expectations of what your "productivity" should be

* A booking agent who will not actually screen, particularly if they're working on a commission (per call basis) and must simply fill your dance card to ensure that they get paid.

* A booking agent who will not actually book you, particularly if they work with several others or are paid by a salary and have no incentive to push your calls through.

etc.

I suggest that you go it alone for a little while.
You can handle it and as a new provider you need to learn.  The wide world of screeners isn't what its cracked up to be and frankly, they're a dime a dozen.

Well Sensei,
You have made another good point. I had heard great things about one of the screening ladies from a provider...

I kind of just thought of them as very professional and trustworthy by profession, but I'm sure that scenarios like the ones you listed do occur.

So...on to revamping the website with a reservation form and no phone number. That way no calls at 1am asking me if I'm "really" African American, or if I would just "talk" him through "one". LOL...all I could do was grin and press 'end call'.

-- Modified on 10/18/2009 3:42:04 PM

her phone number on her web site.  E-mail contact can be done when you want to and a hobbyist can read your reply when he wants to.  No need to play telephone tag or as you said, get a call at 1 am or later.

...reach a broader audience.

There are some people who do not work well with online technology such as contact forms or emails. My goodness, it took me three weeks to teach my grandma how to text and about a month and half to check her emails.

I list my phone number in my ads solely to reach those gentlemen who are not completely tech savvy. I find it is best to be considerate of all.

With that said, I still prefer email contact.

I have never used an assistant, but I did consider doing so about a month ago. I do not like answering the phone and I was hoping to hire an assistant to help with that part of my business. However, after inquiring about the assistant’s services, I decided to just keep doing it on my own. Sure, I could bring in more business; however, someone else would completely be in MY business.

When I inquired about the assistant’s services, she requested I fill out a form with every detail on how I run my business. While I understood her need for this information, as a private person, I felt the process was invasive. Plus she kept trying to get me to see the financial benefits of offering 30 minute sessions and advertising on CL and BP. I am not interested in altering my business approach because someone else advises so. When I choose to make changes, it will be because I have made an independent decision.

I do not think it hurts to inquire about these services, but you will have to decide on your own if you think it will truly benefit your business in the long-run. I think the advice from the posters on this thread is definitely worth listening to. Of course you can always hire an assistant for a month and if you do not think she meshes well will with your business, move on.

Good luck!

Xoxo,
Giamarie