Bookings Phone Messages to Leave for Potential Hosts

[Suzy Englert]

I have potential hosts who ask me to call them to schedule their party but consistently get an answering machine-even when I've asked if this is a good number and time to reach them at. What kind of message can I leave to let them know I am following up at their request to schedule a party? And how many times do you call these potential hosts-until they have scheduled their party?

Thanks,
Suzy in Texas

 

[raebates]

I say something along the lines of . . . Hi, this is Rae Bates, your Pampered Chef Consultant. You had asked me to call about this time in order to get your party scheduled. I'm sorry I missed you. Give me a call at [phone number] so we can get your party on my calendar. If I haven't heard from you in a few days I'll give you another call.As for how often to call, I call a couple of times a week for a few weeks, then back off to once a week for a few weeks. I leave essentially the same message each time. Finally I add the following to the message . . .By the way, if you've decided that hosting isn't going to work out for you right now, that's just fine. I don't assume that, though. You can call or you can email me at [email address]. I accept no very well, but I'll need to hear it directly from you. After that I drop back to once every month or two, including messages about the guest and host specials.I've had hosts who have taken literally months to get their very successful shows scheduled.

 

[Suzy Englert]

Great-I love it! Thanks-I will definitely use these words when leaving messages

Suzy in Texas

 

[raebates]

My pleasure. I never assume people don't want to host, but I have learned that giving them a gracious way to bow out makes it easier for them to actually return my call (or at least email me). Most people are too chicken to tell you that they've changed their minds.

 

[AJPratt]

My pleasure. I never assume people don't want to host, but I have learned that giving them a gracious way to bow out makes it easier for them to actually return my call (or at least email me). Most people are too chicken to tell you that they've changed their minds.

Yes, I use basically the same message. And, I agree completely. Its so much easier if you know if they want to have a show or not.

 

[cheflorraine]

Thanks for those tips, Rae! I just left yet another message for a potential host with those words...I had been leaving messages for this potential host about every couple of weeks, and then one time when I finally did get her on the phone, she was very adamant that she did still want to book a show. We discussed two possible dates that she wanted to check out (one of those is this coming Saturday), and promised to let me know...
But she does have 3 kids under age 3, and runs her own business... so calling me isn't top on her list! But this does give me courage to keep calling... you never know!A positive story along those lines... another potential host that I've left many messages for but have never gotten a call back from. Today I stopped in at her workplace to drop off some order forms (in case she had decided to didn't want to host), and it turns out that she had been away on holidays, and felt bad about not calling back, etc, but still definitely wants a party in May (is passionate about supporting the HWC effort, as she has survived 3 bouts of cancer).So... we just need to keep going!

 

[raebates]

Some people just aren't good at returning calls or emails. It's a fact of life.