...for a provider response to a booking request?

I think everyone would agree it is bad form to contact several providers simultaneously, and then just wait for the first one that responds, but what is a "reasonable" time to wait before trying to book with someone else?

My rule is 24 hours, but I've recently had some experiences where the providers got back to me in a couple of days, and seemed put off that I didn't follow through with the booking.

What is considered reasonable?

it can be a bit for now.... bc we are working on other stuff behind the curtains.  
Personally I have received sooooo many emails in the past few days, but all I can say is that there's other things we have to concentrate now like setting up plan B and C's.
Lots of admin work and behind the curtains network. Good thing that many of us are smart and save, save, and save!  

suscribe to list, save emails, twitters, screenshot info.... with the days things would slow down for us and we would have more time to meet and not being in a hurry and in the right mind.

I guess it depends on how hungry you are. Do you need to eat right now, or can you wait until you can get a reservation at your favorite restaurant? If I'm in the mood for a particular dish, I try to reserve at least two days in advance. And depending on how set I am on that particular dish... determines the length of time I'll give the restaurant to return my call. But if the restaurant responds last minute, they shouldn't be upset if I scheduled takeout. A man's gotta eat!

I have waited a week to hear back. Then I try to setup with at least 2 days in between, so I can clear my schedule, and make sure there are no surprises on either end.

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Not to say you shouldn't circle back in the future but yeah 48hrs is reasonable.
Actually give it 48hrs and try again but if you don't hear anything after yet another 24hrs then definitely find another lady.

...I contact them again after 24 hours to say that I haven't heard from them so I booked someone else.  And I add that I hope we can get together at some future date.

looking to set a date for tomorrow or the next day or is your target date a week away? The sooner you want to see someone, the shorter the time you can wait.

Secondly, if you contact a provider on the day before a holiday or even a weekend, it may take more time for her to get back to you. FWIW, most of the ladies I see respond within 24 hours.

I generally try to book at least 3 days in advance; most often a week in advance.  And, I typically have a couple of providers in mind.

I send out the first invite, and if I don't hear back within 24 hours, I will send the second invite.  

What is happening more and more is my primary invite doesn't respond, and I end up finalizing a date with my 2nd choice (what's really odd that 2nd choices almost always respond immediately.) Then, the day before the requested date the primary responds, and isn't happy that I booked with someone else.

I think I'm being totally reasonable, but wanted to get other opinions. I'm thinking now I should give the primary choice at least 48 hours (or more, depending upon when the invite was sent) to respond before pulling the trigger on my 2nd choice.

I like to respond right away and I think that’s just the kind way to behave since that’s what I would like.  Perhaps you were missing verification info and she may get a lot of inquiries with all the info needed and that effectively delayed her response time to you?  
I know when I just get a broad “Hey, u free?” It does delay it by quite a bit, but usually I respond with what is missing and the process.  
I don’t however find it offensive when I can tell the perspective client has cast his net wide, and I know I wasn’t the first or only to receive his inquiry. Sometimes it makes me giggle. Especially when he forgets to input my name and I get the copy and paste to another girl. *shrug*  
.....whateves. Haha

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I for one have been the worst offender of completely ignoring my inbox at various times as I've been wracked with pain for most of the last 6 months and there were long stretches in which I was so defeated and almost delirious that I"d look at my inbox and just cry.  

I couldn't guarantee that I'd not be in pain, so I was weary of making dates with gentlemen, only to have the pain ruin my time with them.  

I suspect many who wrote several times just gave up. Who can blame them?  

Under normal circumstances, i try to get back within 24 hours. If the email is a  
 "what's up?" kind of email, honestly it depends on how fed up I am when I see it. LOL. Do yourself a favor and always send an email with as much of the info your provider will need as possible.  

I don't think it's bad form to contact several at once. What is bad form is making an appointment with several, taking the favorite and NCNS on the rest. I'm afraid that seems to be a thing these days. I know you're shopping around. I would too. Just be forthcoming with your plans and you should be fine.  

Some of my most fantastic connections, though, have been men who KNEW they wanted to see me, period and were patient with the process, knowing that it's not about them, and then when we do finally meet, it's magic! I'm so grateful for that. It does really make a difference to know that the man writing clearly has researched me, knows who I am and knows he wants to see me, regardless of my speedy or not so speedy replies.  

For the record, the pain is gone and I'm horny as hell! LOL