I was not even given the chance to be a client. I had to cancel about 4 appointments over the course of the hardest year and a half of my life. About one very two or three months; it was few and far between, and certainly nothing extreme. Mainly due to financial concerns because I adopted a rescue puppy and kept having to shell out enormous amounts for her medical care, unexpectedly. There was no way I could anticipate each event, although I did give a around a week or two's notice each time. I was not even spoken to to inquire as to the specific circumstances, and had to call three times most recently, and leave three messages over the course of a week this last time to even reach someone and be able to cancel or reschedule. When I finally did reach Ward, one of the part owners, I was admonished for "not allowing the artist to make money," and told that "they need to protect their artist," and they would no longer accept me as a client. I tried to explain that I was sorry and it was never my intention to cause anyone else any hardship. Nor do I think that is the legitimate reasoning here. Instead, it seems to me that I am being discarded, without a second thought as a client, for the simple fact that they feel I will not spend money. If an artist is in high demand , they shouldbe able to fill a cancelled appoint given a week's notice. I am in doubt that this person has every second of their schedule filled all the time if they can't fill a cancelled appointment given week's notice.
Regardless, they could have approached me and said "we need a deposit to schedule your next appt," or "we need a minimum of X amount of time if you need to reschedule again." There are plenty of other solutions besides just "you're done." I can't even imagine having so little empathy toward another human being during such difficult financial times. But this is what it is really about, imo. They perceived me as not as wealthy as their other clients, so they didn't want me there. In the end I'm glad to have avoided a place who would treat people this way. It's gaslighting! How is it on me to understand and know parameters which were never given to me? In other words, if you plan to drop people based on not cancelling more than a week ahead of time, you need to set that parameter and make it known in the first place. Or charge a deposit to make the appointment, as many other places do. It you who is not "protecting your artist" from the first. And then dropping a potential client and claiming it is because they keep cancelling? That is so wildly unprofessional, in fact. I was not given any warning, not given any information prior. Just self righteously slapped in the face and admonished and shamed for something which is actually entirely on them. You need to set expectations if you have them. Wow. read more
