How many people provide specials for people they have been dealing with for a long time or their first time customers and how did it go.

Specials are usually run linked to an ad to bring in new business.  Sometimes it works or sometimes not.  I think the best special is extra time at the normal rate...  easier to transition to regular interal payment.
Providers show appreciation to returning friends by grandfathering their rates.
Just my 2 cents as a client.
skb

Dear Treasure:
The business practice of offering specials is commonplace especially in an economy that is fragile like this one is. In terms of how did it go maybe you should take that question and put it on a providers only board since the providers will tell you what type of response they received on it. But remember although you plan to offer specials make sure the price that you offer will cover all of your business expenses especially if you are traveling?  Also another question that you might want to ask yourself is how much does a certain hobbyist come to see you. That is critical because then you have so much of an inducement that you give to him so that he will come and see you. I used to deal with a provider at one time and every so often although it is primarily ill advised is that she would give us certain inducements from time to time to come and see her.  After you assess how many customers that you have and how often they would come and see you, then you would have a better gage of how certain business practices would work for certain people.