Model No Call No Show =(

[Detonate]

So I'm wondering how I should handle this.

So this model contacts me asking if I'd be interested in shooting TFP.

I say

I'm trying to limit my shooting to Saturdays anytime between after lunch and before dinner. So roughly 1pm to 5pm.

My schedule free more than not, so just give me an idea of when you want to shoot and we'll set it up.

She replies

I'm free Nov 18th. Can we do it then at 1:00 p.m.?

I say yes, and we talk a couple more times before the shoot. The last time being on the 15th.

So the 18th @ 1pm comes and goes. I wait, wait, wait.... I don't have her phone number, she does have mine.

So at 4:30 pm I get this reply....

Jim,
I am so sorry, I'm going to half to reschedule tomorrow's shoot. I woke up this morning with my right eye swollen. I thought it would go away through-out the day, but it hasnt. I believe I got something in my contact, and it has irritated my eye. I'm sorry, again. Please let me know when another time is we can do this again.

There are a couple things that bother me.

1st, she is the one that set the date, and somehow she forgets and thinks it's Sunday?

2nd, not even 24 hours notice.

3rd, she sent me an email instead of calling. How could she even be sure that I would have read that email between then and Sunday???

Basically I just responded like this:

Well the shoot was supposed to be today.

I don't have anything free until after the new year. When something clears up I'll let you know.

Should I even reschedule with this model again??? How would you handle it?

[srwatters]

It all depends on how much you want her in your book.

My tolerance level for TFP shoots is approaching zero. I have more than enough good images in my book that they have to be fresh with high potential or really, really good and willing to do something different for me to consider working with them. I'm also requiring a MUA for anyone that isn't a paying customer and for those it's highly recommended. I'll do an hour or two at most for a test shoot, before I even consider investing time in a portfolio effort. I did this with Lara on Sunday. They get two shots per look for the test. If I decide on a longer shoot, then it's fully planned with all the bells.

Just my opinion and current philosophy. Which of course might change at will

[Detonate]

Well, my thought was maybe instead of rescheduling a shoot with this person a couple of weeks out. Mabye I'd just give her a couple days notice. Basically "Hey I don't have anyone booked this weekend, wanna shoot?"

[TJPhotoGuy]

Jim,

I feel your pain lol - this is something everyone deals with, and actually it doesn't have to do with necessarily that it's TFP/TFCD, I've had someone do that on a paid shoot! I had someone schedule a paid shoot and I called like that day when she was scheduled and she was ok "Oh, yeah, I forgot, we need to reschedule that." obviously if it's a paying customer one is more likely to bend over backward, customer is always right thing.

So I think it's less related to tfp/tfcd and more just related to, well, people lol. esp young people! omg did I just say that; i must begetting old.

ANyway... I have to admit, I've actually had pretty good luck. I've only had one single cancellation from a tfcd that was justa "cold" no-show. To me, it's fine if someone reschedules, the moer notice the better. But for someone to just "not show" cold like that, tha'ts pretty inconsiderate. I usually touch base the day before with the person and make sure we're still good to go. I figure not everyone uses a PDA or something lol. I also use the scheduler on my site to keep track of people, and people can see their shoot there. But if someone just "no shows" cold like that, i'll even still work with them IF they had a good reason. The one person that was a cold no show for me i was referring to, I politely sent an email and said "Is everything ok? I hope nothing bad happened, just checking to see what happened." I got a reply that said "I have no excuses, I'm sorry... I was out partying really late the night before and slept in." That's the one single time I've ever scratched someone off the list of people I'd be willing to work with... that's just BS, and unforgivable.

So in short... email them a day or so before to touch base, that's the biggest piece of advice I could give. THat's helped a lot. As to "how" to deal with someone that stands you up, that's up to the individual person. I guess I have more tolerance than most in that area, as long as they give me notice of course.

Hope that helps

[Robin Binder]

First off, it happens to everyone; no one is perfect; chances are if you think you just dealing with a model on the other side of the email - you're not. It might be the mom or someone helping her set these up. Always get a phone number and call the day before and an hour in advance before the shoot. Doctors do it and I do it and I let them know I do it.
Second off - I over book. If I do TFP - it's always with two or more models. My perference is male and female and they don't usually know each other; If one doesn't show then I keep testing out my equipment with models.
If they don't show without calling; I don't use them again unless I get a call saying they couldn't call. Otherwise just tell them goodluck with their modeling career.
MUA are mostly a must and you have to schedule an hour in advance before shooting. Most the models I deal with always come but you do have one or two that life hits hard and they can't show. They do know that it's take detailed planning into each shoot weather it's a TFP or Paid.

[Detonate]

I guess the reason I'm torn, is that for some reason I really feel like she didn't mean to miss the shoot. I believe that she really thought it was Sunday, and in that case, she did give notice that she wasn't going to be able to come.

On the other hand, my Saturday was still blown, and to make matters worse I have a paying customer that wants to shoot ASAP.

Well, I already had the 18th booked, and I have relatives coming in 25th, leaving Dec 2nd as myt soonest date.

It's certainly intersting to hear everyones thoughts though.... She still hasn't read my reply that she missed the shoot. I guess a lot of it will depend on what she says next.

[TJPhotoGuy]

Good point about the MUA, when that one girl was a cold no-show, i explained to her that she was affecting the Saturday morning of not only me, but the MUA that sat there for 40min waiting on her... Grrr

[TJPhotoGuy]

Originally Posted by Detonate

I guess the reason I'm torn, is that for some reason I really feel like she didn't mean to miss the shoot. I believe that she really thought it was Sunday, and in that case, she did give notice that she wasn't going to be able to come.

WEll, that's assuming she's telling the truth; you really don't know this person. The bottom line is, she stood you up.

Personally, i would give her one more chance; that's just me, some others might have less tolerance. People make mistakes, I usually let them make a couple before I assume they're yanking the chain... that's why with the girl that stood me up cold I asked what happened first before I put her on the "no book" list.