Hi, sorry but this is a bit of a rant
So I've seen this client 3 times and so far so good. He did sent me a couple of text messages throught the weeks as in "
Hi, how are you?" and expected me to engage but I didn't because 1) they were not going to lead to a booking and b) "
how I am" is really none of his business. I don't engage in personal chit chat with clients between bookings as a way to keep boundaries. So he messages me yesterday inviting me for dinner because "
he came to London for business and is alone, bored and I am so much fun", yet he doesn't want a booking, just to go out for dinner. I give him my rates for social. He gets completely outraged because I'm planning to charge him for a social outing and
he's treating me for dinner. He says "
I thought we got along". He doesn't understand that a) this is my job and b) he pays for "us to get along". This is a grown up man running his own successful business who doesn't seem to grasp reality. Needles to say the dinner didn't happen as I don't entertain clients for free. I don't want a client who doesn't understand boundaries so... good riddance, but I don't want to be rude to him.
How do you guys politely cut a client who doesn't understand boundaries? Do you have a specific script/etiquette you follow? thanks! ana