I was in London last week and rushed off my feet - I worked from 7.30am to 8.30pm last Thursday with a couple of hours break in the afternoon, and then 9am until nearly midnight on the Friday, although the last bit of that was dinner stuff (and I was so puddled by then I actually went out with my dress on back to front  ).

I turned so many bookings down I ended up having to put Fully Booked on my AW profile just to save time on answering email enquiries. I came back with a rotten cold from being stuck in the room with the aircon on all the time and not eating properly for four days, and it's pretty the same every time I visit, BUT then I've been to other places (Glasgow, Birmingham) where other ladies always seem to do well and got virtually nothing.

I don't think there's any way of anticipating what it's going to be like; I'm back in London in six weeks as usual and have bookings already, but they could all cancel at the last minute and I'll have to start all over again. There are always punters no matter where you go, but comparing notes with other people who might not work in the same way as you do (I don't take short notice appointments for example, so Glasgow was hopeless) is just going to drive you nuts. I would honestly say the best thing to do is to try it a couple of times for yourself and see how you get on. There are lots of tips in the Touring section and plenty of ways to try and keep your costs down.

Hi Clara I'm in birmingham also and looking for someone to share an apartment with to take incalls if you would be interested? Would be quite a bit cheaper than booking an hotel xx

Yup Amy - I am in Glasgow and it's all same-day generally short notice bookings. If I get a request for more than 24 hours in advance , or even for the next day I take it with a huge pinch of salt! But if you go on AW or classifieds and advertise as "Working Today Please Call" it is really quite busy.

Haha, I'm sure that's true but it's most certainly not the way I do things - I don't take phone bookings from AW for starters. I'd been warned and knew I'd probably have to take some same dayers but after hanging around the hotel all morning fielding calls from people who hadn't read my website and were expecting to turn up in the next fifteen minutes and get a cheap half hour (and I don't even offer expensive half hours  ) I gave up, switched my phone off and went and had tea and scones and a look at the art gallery. I was only there for a day, and my booking was actually one of my London regulars who was coincidentally staying near Central station and couldn't believe his luck.

Fortunately I was back in Edinburgh the next day and soon made up for it. And I did get to eat Pizza Crunch  .

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This month has been the worst ever.  I am down 60% on the same time last month and 20% down on a normal month.

I have done more advertising but to no avail.  It has been sooooo hot I have not wanted to work even if it was there.  Assume the punters feel the same.

Give the amount of threads from newbies setting up I thought I would re-vamp this one.

I dare say the HUGE number of newbies has made a difference, but I can truly say that I look back to this time last year now thinking, oooh I wish I had that many clients.

The recession seems to be talked about less but we feel it more and more.  I am lucky that as an established lady I have regular clients, however, instead of being weekly they are now monthly. The ramping of the advertising does not seem to make much of a difference.  There are just 3 times as many fish in a 50% smaller pond.  Happy days - come back 2009!

Things are awful here atm. Even had a few of really good regulars cancel because of finances or holidays. And the time wasters are out in force too. wish my situation was such I could get a 'normal' job as this really sucks right now....which is more than I'm doing! LMAO.

Coty x

So far this week my phone has not rung at all!!!
I can honestly say this is the first time this has even happened, I dont know whats going on??

I've not even had any timewasters calling or texting me.
 

xx