Pencil dates in your diary ???

[ppentertainments]

When receiving enquiries do you say you will pencil the date in the diary, awaiting their decision ??

I know of a lot of people who do this but not sure if it is the thing to do or not. I used to try it out but received an email back from someone who was quite annoyed I assumed they would like to be entered in the diary.

On the other side of the fence, I have just received a call from someone to book next March. The date is now already taken and they were quite upset I did not think to pencil them in (even though the initial enquiry was over a month ago).

So do you think it is good practice or not, what would you do if you had someone pencilled in and received another enquiry for the same date ???

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

A pointless exercise.

People don't bother ringing/emailing back most of the time.

A booking is either confirmed or not.

[Dynamic Entertainment]

I offer to pencil in for a short period of time (usually 7 days) if Im fairly sure that they will get back to me.

Other than that....nope...

[Charlie Brown]

Nope.

First come first served.

[DJ Sammy]

I don't pencil it in until they have said they want to book me, at which point I make it quite clear that no booking is considered confirmed until I have received back the signed contract along with £50 booking fee. I give them 7 days to do this, after which if something else comes in then tough.

Sam

[yourdj]

TBC in my calendar (green) for most enquiries as i generally only deal in emails and forms.
Red for confirmed. I will clear out all TBC on a monthly basis. I will often remind them but sometimes not.

If someone comes through and pays me a booking fee they get me for the gig.

I would not wait around unless someone has specifically said they want to pay a booking fee in the next few days.

Clients can be an unreliable bunch especially when booking on price.

[Danno13]

I too have had shirty emails from people when I've offered to hold a date provisionly until they'd had time to make a decision - in fact it was on an automated email that they ticked a box to say they'd like to be sent to them, idiots!

So no, I don't do this normally - if people ask, then I will but chase up after a week.

I also take provisional bookings for trade/regular clients as usually they need to time to get back to their client etc.

[Excalibur]

I offer to pencil in for a short period of time (usually 7 days) if Im fairly sure that they will get back to me.

Other than that....nope...

Roughly similar scenario here.

[simonp]

I offer to pencil in for a short period of time (usually 7 days) if Im fairly sure that they will get back to me.

Other than that....nope...

Same here

[chrisj]

I don't pencil it in until they have said they want to book me, at which point I make it quite clear that no booking is considered confirmed until I have received back the signed contract along with £50 booking fee. I give them 7 days to do this, after which if something else comes in then tough.

Sam

I do the same apart from allowing 14 days for the return contract. I always attempt to contact them if a contract does not get returned within 16 days as some people have said they forgot or went on holiday and sort it immediately. I explain that if I do not receive it on the 18th day the date is available to anyone else and their contract is void.

[djdave01]

i wont hold dates either unless the client has agreed to book. they get upto 14 days to complete the contract and pay their deposit else the date is released.

it rarely happens but i will attempt to contact a client if the contract hasnt been returned by the 14th day.

[JTRS]

I've always done it and always will.

The initial enquirer gets pencilled in (if for whatever reason I can't secure the booking when they make the enquiry), and I'm happy to leave it pencilled in until someone else enquires about that date, then I ring them back and ask them to make a decision.

I've always had positive comments about this, the customer hasn't felt pressured and whilst I do get quite a few that have booked elsewhere or otherwise decided not to go ahead it hasn't cost me anything, I haven't lost anything, so to me it makes sense to do it like this.

JTRS

[DeckstarDeluxe]

No written rule for me, I make a judgement call based on the clients, their behaviour,date etc...

[Twinspin]

Ill only put people in the diary if they say they want to book. Then ill take their name and address only. So i can send them a booking form, contract in the post. The booking is then a provisional booking for up to ten working days. If i get a booking form back and a signed contract and deposit its booked and ill then send them a confirmation letter once the deposit has cleared in the bank.

[Gary (GDK)]

I pencil it in till the end of the week.

I do stress its not a booking without the contract or booking fee.

Currently having a good conversion rate to. :)

[STEVE HANLEY]

And you never passed that booking on??:D :D Sheesh!!! You know who your mates are :sofa:

[ppentertainments]

And you never passed that booking on??:D :D Sheesh!!! You know who your mates are :sofa:

TBH Steve she was not to happy so ended the conversation as quick as possible :)

[Excalibur]

TBH Steve she was not to happy so ended the conversation as quick as possible :)

All the more reason to pass her on to the Silver Tongued Charmer that is Mr Hanley. ;) :D