Double booked by the same party?

So I painted a party today. A good experience but I learned I NEED to get a little more selective on my "faster" designs - or at least get my speed up on what I have on my board. Anyways....

I was contacted on Monday by a mom looking for a face painter for a party Saturday (today). I was available so I sent her a contract and said I'd need 2 hrs for the amount of kids yada yada. She said great and she would fill it out and send it back right away. Didn't hear back. I called and emailed the next day. Wednesday I get a call from another mom looking to book me for the same time on Saturday for a double party for two girls. I said I had a tentative booking already and could she maybe have me for a bit earlier since she was for sure she wanted a face painter. I said I hadn't heard back from first person and that I would give them until the next morning to confirm (I had left a couple voice mails and emails by now since I didn't even have an address to go to for this party and I would need that to make it at all). Still nothing so I give the preferred time slot to second person. OK.

I show up today and find the person I booked with. She introduces me to the other mom ... it's first mom ....

ok...

Party went fine (even though there were probably more kids than originally planned for. It was a mad yard.) Got paid in cash *yay*.

But what the heck? not even a call from first mom to say "oh yeah you are working with my friend instead" or even "we're doing something else". Hmmm.

That's a new one! Never heard of that before.

How weird would that be? Oh well, all's well that ends well, at least it all turned out and you still got the job. But I'm with Denise, never heard that one before. LOL

Right. Weird. But they were pretty happy and the little girls asked if I were coming back when birthday girl turns 7

How bizarre......people are so strange.
Glad it worked out in the end, but it does make you wonder what the first mom was thinking, to not even return a call and let you know what was going on.

What is up with that Liz? I've never been in any profession where people refused to answer emails so much. I'll be having lovely email (or phone) conversations with someone I'll email them again and then [crickets, crickets] and I'll have to call them. It's like we're not real people. Maybe I'm old school but I don't get it. I'd rather get a "we decided to hire another face painter" or "I can't afford it" than nothing.

I know I've complained about it before but I don't get it.

Right I don't get it either. It happens to me a lot in my other job doing graphic design, too! People get busy or they are waiting for a meeting with partners or funding etc. BUT come ON communication!!! It's not like we can read minds. It's just common courtesy.

My husband pointed out that yeah, some people are just like that and hit delete delete delete. I try to at least be courteous personally. Not always perfect, am I, but I am now learning what it's like to be on this side of the conversation. It really sucks when you have to turn down other possible jobs because of it. That sorta happened to me with this since I told second mom we could do her's earlier and then I got another request - I replied right away with "I'm booked" although the time still would not have worked with the later party but I asked if they wouldn't mind pushing their up.... anyways argh.

On to better things!!!!

I've learned from that as well. Now I added in my contract that I at least need an answer 72h prior to the event. And in the contract it is stated that if I don't received the signed contract 72h before the event, they loose the booking for there event. I always make a confirmation call as well 72h, if there is no one there, I leave a detailed message that if I don't here from them by such and such time that there booking is cancelled and will give the chance to have someone else book me.

I have noticed that if someone really wants my service, I always get the contract the next day. And I find that for the ones that don't want to book are more upfront telling me then not having them returning my calls or emails like it was before I came up with a new contract.

I also have in my contract that I won't reserve the date unless I have a signature and deposit at least 7 days before. Problem was they were trying to book me like 5 or 6 days before and I didn't have any other jobs that day so I just said no deposit necessary but I DID need a signed contract by email (so it's still in print). I was just IDK being nice I guess to the first person just making sure they didn't somehow not get my first message or email.

I'm with you on that Denise.
I would rather have some kind of response rather than dead silence. I told my husband last night I was going to start crossing people off my calendar because they haven't returned contracts or paid deposits, and that is a first for me. I was thinking it was something about this month......
I have three different potential bookings who haven't paid their deposits this month. Has never happened to me. I have emails saying, yes sounds good, can't wait to have you at our event, etc........but no deposit. And my contract clearly states time and date is only held with a paid deposit.
One is a repeat client, they should know.

I have turned away a number of potential parties because I am waiting on these people. Very frustrating.

It's hard to be a stickler on it... Maybe they don't realize it? Send them another email and phone call with an ultimatum - or really just saying that until you receive the deposit their spot is not secure. I am sure you do this but I also outline it in my email to them with contract as well. Unfortunately it's not a perfect world.

I should have posted this in the gripe section!