Things To Remember
1. Never hold a show
outside a 2-3 week window-if the party is more than 3 weeks away when
they say yes, they have time re-think, get talked out of, or change
their minds. In some cases it's ok, but for the most part, if they want
more than 2 weeks, you'll just be scheduling a cancellation.
2. Get a guest list within
48 hours of dating the party. And, then mail out the invites ASAP.
Guests should be getting their invites about 10-12 days before the
party-don't worry that they'll be getting them too soon--your host
should be phoning those guests a couple of days before to remind them
anyway. (Hint-it's a lot tougher to cancel out on a commitment if the
invites have gone out) And, be sure that your host gets an invite too. I
always mailed out the hosts invite after I mailed out her guests-this
way, she knows that by the time she gets hers, everyone else has gotten
theirs.
3. Coach your host well.
Let her know, up front in your first meeting, that the date you schedule
out for her is just for her. And, don't feel obligated to allow anyone
to reschedule without a fight. This is YOUR business, and when you
commit to something, you stick to it. Too many people think of our jobs
as just fun hobbies. Let them know that, by canceling (most often times
within a day or two before their party), they have had that date tied up
and you could not schedule anyone else on that date at this late time. I
always told my hosts they got 1 chance to reschedule in my book, and no
more. My job is important, and I just don't have time to be rescheduling
all the time. Be firm, honest, and stick to your word on it.
4. It is my personal
impression that incentives don't work. Well, sometimes, but for the most
part, if they really don't want it or care about it, it does you no
good. Your companies have host plans and guest incentives, use those,
and only offer special incentives in rare occasions. Otherwise, they
begin to know what you're going to do, and if they know that you offer a
certain thing every certain month or date, they'll wait for that.
5. Most of all, remember
that your business is your income. Don't let people push you into
working on days you don't want to, in areas you don't want to, and with
people you don't want to. You are in control of your business, not them.
Set your limits, stick to them, and lay them out on the table to each
and every host. And always, ALWAYS be consistent in what you do. Yes,
some times variation is good and fun., but if your customers don't know
where you stand, or if your hosts think they can take control over you,
they sure are going to try-and where will your business go if every time
you turn around, someone else is telling you how to do your business?
----------------------------------------
These tips were submitted by:
Julie Ryals from
www.thewahmconnection.com
|
|
|
|