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How do others handle "no shows"
I was wondering how others, either photographers or models, deal with people who do not show at an arranged shoot at the arranged time and location and do not contact to cancel or postpone the shoot? Do you contact them again, ignore them and never arrange to work with them again etc etc To my way of thinking "no shows" are not professional nor reliable Phil May 04 13 04:46 pm Link Phil_I wrote: I just use MM's block feature to remind me to not work with them again. If they come up with a REAL REASON for the no show later, you can always unblock them. May 04 13 04:54 pm Link can't say Ive had any no shows had a bunch cancel the night before or morning of though and almost everyone is late to some degree I usually ignore them from then on, unless I feel the reason was valid May 04 13 05:00 pm Link I tell people up front that I simply wont reschedule with anyone who no shows, or cancels less than 24 hours in advance. May 04 13 05:02 pm Link Really...? Just move on!  May 04 13 07:35 pm Link Move on it happens a lot on here. May 04 13 09:04 pm Link As a model, I always show up early. Don't like surprises for one thing. I also get to know the photographer before hand. Amazing how much business is conducted at Starbucks. You can get a pretty good feeling if you are dealing with a flake. Generally, If a shoot is at noon, Makeup and wardrobe is two hours earlier. Add another half hour for spotting if action shots. Not sure how anyone can be really surprised with a no show. Nathine May 04 13 09:11 pm Link Here are a couple things that will help you to avoid no shows: 1. If you are paying the model, he/she will generally show up more often than not. 2. Always send a confirmation e-mail/txt/call a day or two prior to your shoot just to follow up and confirm that the shoot with said model is still on. Sometimes you can avoid a lot of drama with simple communication if re-scheduling or cancellations occur. 3. If the instance does arise where someone does no call/no show, if you are still interested in shooting with them, simply send a note politely reminding them that you were supposed to shoot. If they do not reply, move on. It happens. If they do reply, re-schedule and move back to step 2. 4. You will also notice that as your work gets better and better, less models will no call/no show. You'll know when you get to this level. Communication is key though in setting up any shoot and is a two way street between model and photographer. good luck edit: in reading above, there is no need to block anyone just because they didn't show up one time. blocking is for harassment here on MM, and besides, no one should ever be only given a one strike rule. That is a bit harsh. May 04 13 09:29 pm Link Charlie-CNP wrote: Can you imagine what would happen if you were to apply for a job, set up an interview and then fail to show up or call to reschedule prior to interview time? Can you imagine what would happen if you called the following day and tried to get another interview? I've never done that, but neither has anyone else who actually wanted to get a job. May 04 13 10:25 pm Link ForeverFotos wrote: Actually I've had it happen the other way around. Went for an interview, and those who were suppose to do the interview didn't show up. Word is they forgot. Not only is this demeaning, insulting and what ever else, but what kind of image has this company. I rebooked the interview, so I could sound off. At least it felt good. May 05 13 07:47 am Link I've only had this happen once. No need for an investigation. Simply move on. May 05 13 07:56 am Link I block them if they flake - no good reason for a "no call / no show" unless you live alone and are unconscious. Everyone has a smart phone these days. You can call, text, email and get it on your phone. No reason why if you don't feel like showing up that you can't send a note or leave a message. I am willing to accept any reason because you don't know if it's real or not most times. Not having the courtesy to tell me you aren't coming is rude, unprofessional and disrespectful. In my old job, if you were a no call no show, you were fired. No excuses. May 05 13 08:02 am Link It doesn't happen very often, but I contact the model and inform her that I have no interest in working with her in the future and if her name comes up in a discussion with other photographers I will make sure I share my experience. May 05 13 08:07 am Link Charlie-CNP wrote: LOL...that's the funniest thing I've read all week! May 05 13 08:10 am Link I bring work. If the model doesn't show, I assume she's late. I work for a while, and if she still doesn't show, then I leave. If the model hasn't contacted me, I'll send an email saying, "What happened?" If it's plausible, I'll consider another shoot. If not, or if there's no response, I move on. Once the model said she was in a car accident on the way to the shoot. Whether you consider it plausible or not, we rescheduled and ended up with a very nice shoot. May 05 13 09:19 am Link I always have a Plan B in case of a no-show - even if it's just sit in the park with a good book or check out a flea market. Stuff happens, even with good people. (I no longer do much commercial work, so it there is rarely a client I have to worry about.) Usually with a total no-show I will not book with them again, though I might make an exception for someone who comes up with a really good excuse. For last minute cancellations I have some tolerance, depending on the excuse/reason. I don't set higher standards for others than what I can meet myself, and I've had a few emergencies come up over the years. On any photo session I assume at least one person will be late. I just try to be sure it's not me. Normally I text when I get to the location. If I have not heard from someone by 15 minutes after the appointed time I'll text again. If no reply by 30 minutes after the time I'll go on to something else - unless it's a really important gig, then I'll try a phone call. May 05 13 09:37 am Link Depends on the model, and what excuse she gives me. If she has a great portfolio and someone I really want to work with, I tend to sometimes give them the benefit of the doubt. If she is new, it's an instant black list. I'd say 85% of my no shows get blocked. May 05 13 10:13 am Link Don't work with that person again. Move on. Either ignore their future messages, or let them know you're not interested in rescheduling with them due to the nowshow. If they start whining about it, just block them. May 05 13 10:18 am Link When I first started, I got pissed about "no shows". Now, I just put them on the "do not work with" list. What's amazing is how many of them contact me at a later date wanting to shoot. May 05 13 10:33 am Link Here's what I do... First note: I've had 2 no-shows in nearly 20 years. No-shows are very rare for me and are not much of a problem. When I get a no show, I usually just find something constructive to do with my time. There's always editing I should be doing. I can always tweak my web site. I can catch up on my e-mail. I'm always busy, so getting back a few hours is often a blessing. I do not try to contact the person. If asked, I'll tell my sob story to people I know. I summarize traveling model information for my distribution list of several dozen local photographers. If that model travels back through town, I'll announce her dates, but I'll add a note that she was a no-show for me. To all: Assume that everyone in the industry you meet will eventually talk with everyone else in the industry; what do you want these people to say about you? Sometimes, I have a "go-to" model, a local model who may be available at a moment's notice to come over for some quick work. That's always fun. Things I don't do: ... I don't start flake threads, ... I don't whine or complain, ... I don't create a "Not Recommended" list, ... I don't need a confirmation call; I don't need an "on my way" call, ... I don't need a pre-shoot meeting, ... etc. Life is too short to deal with drama over a no-show. May 05 13 10:46 am Link Phil_I wrote: Seriously, I nap when I get a no show. May 05 13 11:05 am Link Phil_I wrote: MM is not a professional model site so don't expect reliability. May 05 13 11:09 am Link Anytime I schedule a shoot with an unknown model I plan for the possibility of a no-show. First, I schedule the shoot at a time when it's MY free time. A time that I would otherwise be doing something personal, and not taking away from a priority task or something that would earn income. Second, I don't leave my house until I've had some contact from that model - text, phone, etc. If I don't get that, I don't leave. Third, I don't have a studio so I schedule the shoot to meet at Starbuck's usually..and then drive to the location. If the model doesn't show, well, I've got my laptop and I'm at Starbuck's...things could be worse. I definitely DON'T schedule the shoot so that I'm pulling my pud at some remote location, staring at my watch. And, of course, there are signs that can minimize no-shows. Or at least make you more aware so you're not "putting yourself out there." Poor communication leading up to the shoot is a big one. Changing/adding details that had already been agreed upon...another one. Anytime a model contacts me after details had been agreed and the communication starts with "Ya know, I was thinking...how about...?" I know the shoot is in jeopardy lol. May 05 13 11:23 am Link i just move on. no point in sending them a nastygram. if you think they honestly forgot then i suppose you could ping them if you really want to try again with that person. and think about anything you could have done differently to avoid having that happen. May 05 13 11:27 am Link This is MM. Be very pessimistic while waiting. Enjoy your MP3 or radio while returning home. Message them about their absence since they might have simply misread the date or location. Block them if there's no response. May 05 13 03:46 pm Link I love reading all the photographers saying there is no good reason for a no show and they just block the model and will no longer contact them. The funny thing is even if there was a good reason photographers wouldn't believe the model anyways. What if the model was in hospital. What if their mother, father, brother, sister just died in an accident. What if they were in a car accident on the way to the shoot and unable to call / text because they were being looked after my paramedics. I mean seriously you people forget that though there are flakes and bad models there are also real reasons that can happen to anyone. Not letting them tell you what happened because they couldn't call or text at the time is just harsh and saying you would bad mouth that model under all circumstances her name was mentioned there after is childish. I have never not shown to a shoot but the amount of pressure photographers put on models to show up or forever be punished I wouldn't be suprised if models showed up in an unfit state to shoot. Imagine shooting a model with a fever and her makeup sliding off. May 05 13 04:07 pm Link There are valid reasons for no shows but very few for no call to cancel. We have texts and emails as well. If a model changes her mind she should say so. Now for the realistic part. Most of my shoots and I'll wager many here are TF. We contact models who agree to shoot and we aren't paying them. While I think my work has value that's a personal conceit. If a model decides my 'payment' of photos isn't worth her time she's likely too flake or cancel. Its not usually personal. She may like you and your work but she's not coming. If a model asks for a session its the same. Unless you're paying or your name is Phillipe or Bruce T. Models may not show up. Forget telling them off or threads to vent or block lists. They won't care. A member has mentioned what I do and he doesn't. I confirm appointments. I confirm job interviews and doctor visits and that the cable guy is still coming. Life happens. No call means no shoot and I do other things. I also try too remember that people what is important to them. Our wants may not match. May 05 13 04:34 pm Link I take the deposit they have payed and spend them time editing and buy a nice lunch May 05 13 04:37 pm Link My first shoot with a new model is TF. I usually can tell their reliability based on that. For paid shoots, I only use models who I have worked with before. May 05 13 04:52 pm Link |
