Posting your calendar....pros/cons?

How many post their bookings (a calendar) on their website? Mind sharing why (or why not?) I cant decide if it will help with bookings or hurt or just be additonal work? Would love to hear your thoughts.....

All I post is a list of upcoming PUBLIC events where people can come and see my work or get painted. It isn't a calendar and doesn't list private bookings.

This is it HERE

HmmmI ... I hadnt considered that. I like it! I really like your portable sign (please share where you got that ) and I LOVE your tagline of Everyone's A work of art. Very Good

Mine almost lost me a gig so I took it down. They figured I was too busy. It's that "everybody chooses the same day to have a party" curse I seem to have. I'll hear crickets all month and then get two conflicting calls right in a row.

I like the idea of announcing public gigs though. When I get one I'll announce it in the local ads that are very active but free to post to. I figure it helps promote the activity and also shows that I'm a working painter to people that might browse the ads. It also gives me an excuse to post somewhere else besides my regular listing in those same classifieds.

D.

I will announce the public events on my facebook page, one day before and tag everyone involved in my update.

I post all of my gigs. Now, I may have had some people not bother contacting me if I'm already booked, but if I'm already booked then that's that. I do have a lot of people contacting and saying, "I see that you already have a gig on the 17th, but" - which also works.

(Some people don't even read anything anyway, so they'll call or email regardless.)

Here is my calendar page (not a calendar as such, just a list of dates and times): http://faceaballoonza.com/pb/wp_babc9608/wp_babc9608.html

I also list whether the gig is confirmed (retainer received) or not, and I mention that if they don't have their date/time planned already, to have a backup in mind just in case. I do think that for the most part, my clients like that my schedule is up (I always tell them it's there when I'm on the job and getting inquiries) and that I am busy - it's one of those if it/she/they are busy/sold out/booked then it/she/they must be amazing! things.

As everything else, what works for me may not work for someone else, but it's going well for me thus far!

It shows how FABULOUS you are Kristal...booked way out! You're awesome.

D.

Haha oh Denise...took a long time to get here, and even now I wonder...but thanks - and YOU are fabulous! (Did I mention how lovely it was to meet you?)

Also, I put it up because it's another chance to get the info in my brain. So it goes into my (paper) agenda, on my Facebook calendar, and my website calendar. I might look organized on the outside, but inside I can be pretty darned scatterbrained

I like using my website calendar to add all my gigs to.

I never like writing things down on a real calendar, so it's nice to have it all on my computer as a reminder. I think it's also helpful for potential clients, and may urge them to book sooner, if they see I already have bookings for June!

I also make sure to include dates when I'm unavailable on my calendar, like if I'm going out of town or want to reserve a weekend for camping. I always feel bad turning down gigs, but having it marked on my calendar makes it a lot easier because it seems more "official" to me.

@Criss....I totally agree. I am really focusing on my fb marketing.
@ Kristal.....U are awesome! I think I could sit and look at everyones site all day...if only I had time
@Diane....Luv the video! I need to do that and make the flipvideo i bought pay me back! I luv the "Martha" glitter tat on there! That was a glitter tat right? or just paint? Ive gotta go back and watch your youtube again on lettering
@Perfectly painted faces................uggh...taking personal time has been a real challenge for me...I have another lady who paints with/for me and it has helped.

I have a google calendar with all of my public events listed... then I embed the google calendar into my website and facebook page. For me personally, all of my bookings go into the Cozi app on my phone, ipad and online access, but that one isn't public, just shared with my family so we can all see what everyone has going on. And all of the booking details go into the TapForms app on my ipad, then a backup exported to my computer. I love technology.

Holy smokes Perry, do they offer a course somewhere on linking all those schedules lol Cause boy oh boy could I use one. I just got a blackberry play book, outta the dark ages I come, but have no idea how it all works. That's what I spend my free time doing these days

Cozi has an app for iphone, android and blackberry... you might want to check it out. We love it for my family because it updates online and you can add to do lists and shopping lists to share with family too.

I dont post it. I would be afraid someone might not ask if I would do two parties in one day, if I had a booking that day. Usually I can squeeze two in one day.

Most of the time, I do put a status on my Facebook page to show people I am working that day.

ChaCha wrote:HmmmI ... I hadnt considered that. I like it! I really like your portable sign (please share where you got that ) and I LOVE your tagline of Everyone's A work of art. Very Good

I had the sandwich board sign made at SpeedPro Signs.. It is painted plywood, vinyl lettering and removable sliders that I can insert gig specific signs into.

Any sign shop can make them. I've had this for years and years.

I don't. I have been know to turn down a booking cause I had a social event booked or just wanted some quality time with my little guy cause we've just been through a really rough time. So it's easier for me to just say "Sorry I have a booking that day" than to say sorry I don't want to work that day