Hmm, I'm not trying to dismiss how you're feeling but that does sound like three good days, with one idiot on the last of the three.

For some of the others, it sounds like your screening could do with a polish.

***

I usually find that about 1 in 4 clients are annoying and say or do things which piss me off and anger me, or are a bit unpleasant. Probably about 1 in 20 are REALLY bad - like very pushy, smelly, horrific.

Most are neutral, some are lovely.

For example - today I saw 4 clients. The 1st was a regular I've been seeing for 4 years who is lovely but who takes an AGE to come (so neutral I guess), the 2nd was a new customer who was a bit pushy on the phone (asked for services I don't do but not in a nasty way, and the prices - just in a pushing-his-luck-way) - he was actually fine in person but then sent me a couple of sleazy texts afterwards. Which I ignored. The 3rd was someone who has been a few times recently - non descript and fine. The 4th was a new client and he was absolutely lovely (which is rare). I did have one very threatening and nasty guy on the phone and texting though but he never made it through screening so I just thank my lucky stars he showed himself first 


This is in person meets - on the phone I get a LOT of idiots and timewasters and nasty threatening idiots.

I've just learned to live with it after so long. I figure that I've just got to take the rough with the smooth. I make sure I have the best security for my physical safety as I possibly can and just stay firm on my boundaries and not let them get to me. They can think whatever they like or behave how they like, it doesn't reflect on me.

It does sound as if you have had a pretty shit week workwise.

^is there anything guys say to you on the phone or with a text that makes you think they might be a no-show?

CK, did say it had been a long day.

What I was trying to say was your week could have been a lot worse.  As Ian stated in his post, you did have three good days.

Things guys may say on the phone if they are going to be a timewaster / no-show -

asking for more pictures

hesitant to give a time - to be honest, I'd say most who ask for more info other than 1) confirming price, services in a non-sleazy way 2) give a time and 3) want to wrap things up, find out where to go and get the appointment booked asap, are TW.

Over-friendly "darling" this "darling" that, or asking personal questions

don't ask for the address, or don't ask what area you are in. they shouldn't have to be prompted if they are genuine they will ask for the address

seem hesitant, or say "I've never done this before.." "this is my first time"

seem overly paranoid

most timewasters won't confirm if asked. for example if someone wants to book for 6pm if you feel like they may be a TW or you have just had enough of TW, then ask them to re-confirm (call again to get the address) at say 4pm/5pm. If they are serious, they will re-confirm.

You will get the hang of weeding out the time wasters. You're new and you're young and there are twats who are going to try you. Then you'll settle in.

Definitely make them jump through a couple of confirmation hoops. Tell them the general area you're in and that you'll call or text later "to see if your day is going to schedule" and that the rest of the address will be forthcoming then. For advance bookings I say to text by 10am on the day to confirm. If it's for a booking later in the day then I do the "checking to see if your day is running on schedule."

You'll eventually get used to the sound of a good client. I almost never have unpleasant clients. A few are boring and a handful are somehow annoying, but most of them are delightful - genuinely lovely guys - and that's just because I can tell over the phone that they're happy people. You know when a nice, happy guy calls and confidently makes a booking? That's what you want to hear. Anything else means you're risking someone odious or a time waster. Sometimes it's hard when a guy doesn't sound brilliant but doesn't say anything wrong. But you can usually tell. Pay as much attention to the good ones as the bad ones - what did they sound like? How did they book? Listen for that.