Budget Wars - A New Hope (with apologies to George Lucas)

Bobarella

PurpleFairy26 wrote: »

Bob just caught up, sorry things are so up in the air. How positively annoying. I don't think anyone could do more than you are, however, like many, you tend to be your own worst critic. Which also means you can't get away from it.

I know someone mentioned Nct sale and you said it was too small - what about contacting local Nct and asking about other groups. Ours are always looking for places for messy play (well it's not really that messy), bumps and babies etc... won't make you millionaires but the people that go to them are the sort that will book other activities. Also contact any one who runs jo jingles, jabber jacks and the like. Round here venues like that are substantially hard to come by. Again people going to the groups would be potential customers. Just a thought.

Hoping stuff rights itself at your end soon and you get some down time in the holidays.

Thanks PF

I have thought about the mums and babies angle. I used to have classes on at my place before the change of use. It is a bit tricky because there are so many good community centres nearby and they only charge a small amount per hour for hire out. Which makes mine a bit overpriced. Many of the class providers don't make a lot per group. I know a few of them personally and they mainly seem to do it because it fits around the school run. Sorry to be negative.

The other thing is I am trying to keep space available for more lucrative bookings. And if you have classes in place a certain amount of days per week at a big discount then you block better bookings. Despite the fact those bookings have not appeared yet.

kirtsypoos

Everything crossed for todays viewings for you Bob.

You've worked so hard for this, and you know it can be a success - it just takes those few regular bookings. They will come. Hopefully soon!

crazy_cat_lady

I've got everything crossed that these viewings go amazingly well today.

JWPopps

Bobarella wrote: »

I do feel a lot of the time like one of those people who always thought they were about to strike gold!

Hi Bob, I can massively empathise with this sentiment, even if not quite in the same way: I'm a writer (it sounds pretentious even to say it, but there it is). It's not my day job by any means, but I have had short works published seven times, and I am currently sending a novel round to agents - but I'm getting a lot of rejection. So in some senses this sentiment is massively familiar to me - but so is the one that says 'well if you really thought you couldn't do it you'd give up.'

I'm confident that with how hard you obviously work you have all the skills required to make a success of this. As you say, a lot of it is luck and word of mouth.

I hope the financial clouds are clearing! And in relation to your machine sale, could you put it on at a fixed price and see if you get any interest? I'm not 100% sure how Ebay works, so forgive me if that's not an option

Orange_Ena

Hi Bob,

Just popping in to wish you well and hoping so much that these viewings pay off. You work so hard to make a go of things and I am in awe every time I read your diary.

Congratulations on becoming debt neutral too :T

NoOneAround

Hello Bob,
Just read the last few posts (as always so many to catch up on! willhave to come back later)
Sorry its so tough and I hope things pick up and that the new viewings went well?
Thinking of you, I know what a rollercoaster it SE is.

NOA
xx

Bobarella

kirtsypoos wrote: »

Everything crossed for todays viewings for you Bob.

You've worked so hard for this, and you know it can be a success - it just takes those few regular bookings. They will come. Hopefully soon!

Thanks Kirsty

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

I've got everything crossed that these viewings go amazingly well today.

Thank you Cat

JWPopps wrote: »

Hi Bob, I can massively empathise with this sentiment, even if not quite in the same way: I'm a writer (it sounds pretentious even to say it, but there it is). It's not my day job by any means, but I have had short works published seven times, and I am currently sending a novel round to agents - but I'm getting a lot of rejection. So in some senses this sentiment is massively familiar to me - but so is the one that says 'well if you really thought you couldn't do it you'd give up.'

I'm confident that with how hard you obviously work you have all the skills required to make a success of this. As you say, a lot of it is luck and word of mouth.

I hope the financial clouds are clearing! And in relation to your machine sale, could you put it on at a fixed price and see if you get any interest? I'm not 100% sure how Ebay works, so forgive me if that's not an option

Thank you. I can totally see how the similarity is there. And I bet you are just thinking of JK Rowling and the like who were rejected so many times and then hit gold!

Thanks for the machine sale suggestion too:)

Bobarella

Orange_Ena wrote: »

Hi Bob,

Just popping in to wish you well and hoping so much that these viewings pay off. You work so hard to make a go of things and I am in awe every time I read your diary.

Congratulations on becoming debt neutral too :T

Thanks OrangeEna that's very nice of you.

NoOneAround wrote: »

Hello Bob,
Just read the last few posts (as always so many to catch up on! willhave to come back later)
Sorry its so tough and I hope things pick up and that the new viewings went well?
Thinking of you, I know what a rollercoaster it SE is.

NOA
xx

Thanks NOA lovely of you to post.

Bobarella

Good Afternoon All

Hope everyone is enjoying the sun. It's so hot here.

So my week since I last posted has been busy. I went to do the big busy day on Wednesday. Two of my meetings cancelled. One because they'd been offered an amazing opportunity in a busy pub for 6 months. One because they'd had a big order in. That one is being rescheduled though. The remaining two meetings both went very well. And in the end the photographers (two in the end) came the following day at totally different times 11 and 3pm, so I spent the time in between out flyering.

I feel really out of practise trying to capture all my thoughts here. It's amazing how you lose the habit so fast!

One of the people I met this week booked a date immediately. And has lots of thoughts on future events.

A client I already had decided to book 5 dates. And has already paid for most.

I had someone who had seen one of my flyers come and want to book for a weekend. But that hasn't happened quite yet. But still. For the cost of one flyer that's a good return.

I have done so much promotion this week, walked miles putting out flyers, spent every second of time I have had contacting any leads. So far I've been rewarded with a viewing in for next week with a possible. Plus quite a lot of emails happening. I've had two enquiries today alone.

I am feeling much more hopeful now of at least having the cash to pay the rent by the 15th. Still no word on the revised rates bill. So we'll have to see....

I continue to feel like every day brings a new situation I need to be more specific about. Today's annoyance. Having been pestered to allow an earlier entry for an event, I had conceeded to a 2 hour earlier start. I then sat like a plonker for an hour with no one arriving. Having turned down my son's request to walk home through the park this morning. All to rush for the customer. Who rudely didn't apologize and seems to think it fine to run an hour late. In future I will be explaining quite clearly that a host is waiting to meet you at the time you state not turn up when you feel like it.....

There, that's a bit more positive isn't it

Bob

Drawingaline

Wow Bob you have certainly had a rollercoaster few weeks! Glad to hear you more upbeat again though. Long may it continue.