Making bookings. First in best dressed??

Hi guys, My question is about bookings. If someone books you for a Sat for two hours and then you get a call for a booking on the same day and time but for 5 hours, what do you do? Obviously the 5 hour booking is better paying but the other person booked first. It hasn't happened to me yet but I am getting busier and was needing some feedback in case it does. How do you guys deal with this??
Thanks!!

First booking always gets it. Not good ethics too cancel if you get a better offer.Try for a later starting time for second gig.

First booking, definitely. I send my bookings a contract that ties them to me and me to the job. I think that is just professional practice.

Yes, the first to book gets your time. It stinks sometimes, but that is the nature of business. I take a deposit and a contract to hold a time, it protects me if they back out, and they get the same protection.

The 1st to book, pay the deposit & sign the contract gets it. Now... if they book the slot & waffle around about paying the deposit, they do have the potential of losing the slot.
It's very common in the business to have a 2 hour birthday party book way in advance & then have the corporate guy scrambling for someone to fill a 5 hour slot the week before a job. I don't know why cooperates wait till the last minute to find entertainment....

Once you've accepted a job.... that's it. If you want to be in business for more than a year - cause that's about how long word of mouth will kill it for you - you always honour your commitments/contracts.

So another job popped up... so what? Next time they can contact you sooner. Eventually they will start to book well in advance, if they want you.

I have a contract that must be signed and returned with a deposit as soon as possible to get that time and date. Once I receive that, it's a set booking and I do not ever cancel on them. If another booking comes along like the one you described I have a network of painters that I can refer them to, and they do the same for me if the same thing happens to them. We all watch out for each other I hope to have a similar network once I move to Arkansas in a week.

Try networking with local painters and get some kind of deal set up with them like this. It will benefit you both.

It's "your" business on the line. People will not like it if you cancel on them! It's just not cool and they will tell everyone they know if you do it!

What if you canceled to book the other gig, and they walked in and saw you at your bigger gig?! Also, one of their friends might spot you and tell on you

It should not always be about the money! It's your reputation and ethics behind your business

Yup, exactly what everyone says... the other way to look at it, would YOU be upset if someone booked you, then cancelled because they found a better deal? Same thing but the shoe is on the other foot. Good for you for thinking it through before it comes up though! Cheers!

If you have someone to work the tow hour gig for you - you could do the 5 hour one.... Just a thought.

Unless, Tash, you have promised that you yourself will be there. I know my clients call to book me, and if I'm not free sometimes they're ok with one of my contractors, and sometimes they just decide to give it a skip.

On good days, though, they will rearrange the date/time so you can be there!

First come, first served for sure.

Thanks for the awesome feedback. I was definetly going with the first in best dressed idea, I agree that it is much better ethically and business wise. I agree totally with gamezgirl, I wouldn't appreciate someone doing it to me. Thanks for the idea of employing someone else to do the work but I am it for about 100ks. Don't actually know any other face painters in the area. Would train someone up but will get myself up an going some more before I get too carried away. Plus would hate them to go out in competition against me!! Glad I was thinking right with this one. Thanks everyone!!

I have found that offering slots is very successful. I had a situation with scheduling for next weekend. I have a 2:00 for 2 hours, and someone else called wanting me at 3. i said "I have a 5 o clock slot available" instead of saying "I am sorry, I am already booked for that time." The person rearranged some things and booked the 5:00 slot! It's human nature to want to hear "I CAN" instead of "I CAN'T"... instead of "I can't come at 3" say "I CAN come at 5"

thefacepaintlady wrote:I have found that offering slots is very successful. I had a situation with scheduling for next weekend. I have a 2:00 for 2 hours, and someone else called wanting me at 3. i said "I have a 5 o clock slot available" instead of saying "I am sorry, I am already booked for that time." The person rearranged some things and booked the 5:00 slot! It's human nature to want to hear "I CAN" instead of "I CAN'T"... instead of "I can't come at 3" say "I CAN come at 5"

So true, great suggestion...very diplomatic way of dealing with the situation!