One cancellation is fine, second if a first booking then I'll not hold another appointment he then has the option of a deposit or me not guaranteeing/accepting the booking. If a person has seen me more than a couple of times I'll bear up to 3 cancellations on the trot before advising him to not book again, and request a deposit if he does or work on a "I'll only hold it if nothing else comes up(booking or personal)".

If a person faffs about with lots of messages then my tolerance for cancellation is usually 1 less than someone who doesn't.

Amazing how many who have messed around suddenly say "can't pay the deposit but I have the cash here, please see me", sorry but if he's messed me around I am not bothering on the promise of 'cash' and I just know it's highly likely to happen again.

The formula is simple, book, confirm, turn up. Doesn't need any faffing or messing around.

For regulars and clients who have seen me before, I'm certainly more lenient if they have to cancel as I know they aren't really TW. Though with this lot, a cancellation very rarely happens, fortunately.

For first time client who cancels, it depends on the individual. For those who have a good vibe during our correspondence and I do want to see them, I let it go and tell them to contact me next time. For those I wasn't really keen on seeing anyway, I use their cancellation to fob them off. This would lead to some of them offering to compensate for their cancellation which I would graciously accept for the right amount.

I don't ask for deposits and I don't think my clients would want to pay that anyway. They'll just take their business elsewhere.

No-shows (i.e. those who don't even bother cancelling) are banned completely.

I've had a couple of guys phone and deny ever making an appointment with me, yet I have them marked as a no show. I used to give benefit of the doubt but I know I'd be anxious and they'd be highly likely to do it again, all it takes is a "Sorry I couldn't make it" either just before or just after, and since I do stipulate I'd like them to to let me know either way, even if not confirming I feel it's just plain rude. I'd rather not have the feeling of "was I just led up the garden path" and get on with something else, even if it means not seeing anyone.