I'm new to the hobby.  I've seen one provider twice.  She was very easy to communicate and schedule with and both experiences have been fantastic.  But I'm in this for variety, so . . . I've been trying to contact various providers for the past couple of weeks with remarkably little success.  I've been making initial contact via email mostly (this is more convenient for me, and many of the providers I've contacted are "email only" anyway) and I've found that out of about 30 emails, less than 1/3 have responded.  I've followed advice from the boards regarding what to say in the initial email (e.g., a polite greeting, short description of myself, date/time I would like to meet, reference).  When I respond to those replies, again I get very few return emails or requests to call.  To the point where I have managed to set up only one appointment (after progressing to phone conversation) but then the provider flaked and never called to confirm the location the day of the appointment, as promised.  I called her then, and have called several times since, but have not been able to get in touch.  So I'm wondering is this a typical experience (and maybe I was just "spoiled" by my first provider)?  Or should I re-examine how I am going about it?  I consider myself a normal/average guy, and I don't think I'm doing anything creepy in the contact.  Maybe email is less reliable?  Maybe it's just having one reference?  I'd be interested in any advice/comments on whether I should change the M.O. or whether this is par for the course and I should just stick it out.

You are going to have to learn to live with it. My atf says she gets about 100 emails a day. She ignores a lot of them. just keep trying

Very true, and it's like a snowball going downhill.  As you get more reviews and more well known, the percentage of replies goes up.

You may want to speak with your one reference and try to find out what her reference policy is.  She may not be helping your cause.

The above advice seems fairly solid.  I'm wondering what has been your requested date/time to meet?  Have you been giving them enough lead time?  I would imagine that you'd get more responses with at least a week's lead time.  Yeah, it's a bitch to wait.  But it gives the provider a better sense that you're serious and not a waste of her time.  Plus, she'll have time to check out your info.  As the others have said, a lot of these girls get tons of email so you need to examine what you say (and what you don't say).  Putting the wrong thing in or leaving the right thing out makes it easy for them to ignore you.  You need to re-examine what you're doing, and this was a good first step.  Good luck.

-- Modified on 5/10/2006 8:27:18 AM

Phone calls are better in most cases.  Although some girls prefer email.  I would try calling first and then email also as a backup.  More than 50% won't get back to you though, it's a shame they turn down money, but that's their problem.  I prefer girls who have the communication part worked out well, seems to me that their more professional.

You might have nailed it with your comment that your first provider probably spoiled you.....
With the exception of weekends, I usually try to answer emails within a 12 hour time frame... but I am understanding this is not the norm.
I also try to make it a habit to return all calls the day I return home... unless of course I get a voicemail left on Saturday at 9:15AM (*when my greeting states clearly I do no answer my phone on weekends*) requesting my presence at his hotel room between 11:00 AM and 12:30... you know the Sheraton, room 312 ~ughhhh, yeah ok, he doesn't get a call back!!
Another observation might be that you might have one more research when you were looking for the first provider because you were more cautious and had high expectations.... just a suggestion, but often research and familiarizing yourself with the provider you are contacting will give you an idea of how she conducts her business and what her level of professionalism is. It will also give you some insight into her mannerisms. Check your local discussion boards, many times hobbyists will post if a provider doesn't like to get back to emails or if they were having challenges contacting a provider.
I'd encourage you to continuing the attempt to contact that providers you really want to arrange a meeting with and chuck it up to a fortunate turn of events on the others. Sometimes when a provider is lacking in follow up and attention to arranging a meeting the meeting also lacks some of the attention you might be expecting (*as well as the precautions needed in this business to keep everyone from future questioning*).... so, if that was the case you might be better off that you didn't hear back from them. Just my thoughts. Happy hobbying and know your provider's reputation... kisses ~Tori

I went through the same scenario you described when I first began to hobby. I would send out emails and get no response.

Use the cellphone and save yourself a lot of grief. Try to set your appointments for the next day or so and be as specific as you can as to the time of your desired meeting.

My experience again is that if you are talking vaguely about getting together sometime in the near future you probably will not be taken to seriously.

As you get more experienced and meet with a number of providers you can usually have same day appointments.

There are a number of providers I now see regularly and I can often see them within an hour of my call. If one can't meet or has an appointment, I call another. This is mainly due to my own schedule. When I have a brief opening, I call until someone says yes.

Also, read the new reviews each day and make a list of ladies you might want to see. Then begin to work the list. Give yourself more opportunity to succeed. If one lady can't meet put her on the list to call again on a different day.

Good luck.

I have had no problems. I am new at this too. But, every provider I have contacted (6 of them) has reponded back to me within a reasonable amount of time. I think the key is to not be suspicious, be courteous, short and too the point in your communications and provide whatever verification info is asked for.

Hello..I actually prefer email for advanced appts.  I answer my emails promptly.  Why? Because I am available. this is my employment so I have to reply to emails, and its easy to check emails. When I am on the computer for something else, its very quick easy step to jump over to emails.  

 Take Care..Sidney Starr