Kyra.Graves

Ack! I have such a hard time flying Westjet, great prices but the seats are so small and there is so little leg room I am all cramped up after the first hour. I can't decide if it's worth it for the cost, I mean it's not like it's that blissful kind of torture, it's just painful.

I've been a travel buddy on several occasions and it has worked out well and not so well. I'm sure I could go on forever on this topic but here's a few points. :) Situation 1 - The Freebie If a client knows me and knows my interests they can often suggest destinations that hold a particular interest to me. As an example a client registered me for a conference that was only open to industry professionals that he knew I'd be really interested in (it was in pharmacology - of which I have an interest but do not work in) so he sponsored me and I went with him at no cost. That's certainly not the norm but I recongnized it was an opportunity that I likely would not come across again. Situation 2 - The true GFE I had seen a client on and off for over 2 years, we always met in my city though he frequently travelled for work. It was suggested at one point that we start meeting at his various work destinations. I would fly in often before him and would handle the check in, he knew my real name and I'd often relax by the pool waiting for his arrival (he came from the west and I from the east). We'd spend the night and then in the morning he'd run off to meetings, I'd play housewife during the day, go get a manicure, hair done, etc. and when he came back from work I'd have a scotch neat and room service waiting, sometimes just to be cute I'd even put a little 50's style dress on and apron that I'd pack. :-D We'd spend a couple days and nights like that and then be on our separate ways. We have since parted ways and it's been a few years, he's now married and doing well but we have remained friends. His now wife thinks I'm his ex-girlfriend and I guess in a way I was. Situation 3 - :evil: Had a client that wanted to go on a vacation south for a week. I agreed, we set a price and all was a go. I had met him 4 times previously and we'd had a good time so I felt things would be fine. Seems I hadn't sourced his expectations of the trip well enough, he was drunk long before we arrived, actually fell down in the airport (I was so embarrassed) then he starts trying to take his pants off in the hallway saying lets get started now. Hotel security had to remove him as other guests complained and as you all know it takes a lot in destination resorts to get removed for being too drunk and belligerent. Fortunately I had negotiated an open ended ticket back so I was only out a day of my time and suffered a bit of embarrasment. Always know your travel buddy. I know a client that had the reverse happen to him, he took an SP he'd been seeing to Mexico and found out after they arrived that she had smuggled cocaine on the plane with her. :shock: I repeat always know your travel buddy!

I've done this before and for me it was always important understand the environment you are meeting in, meet in advance and know your expectations. If you look at the environment you are selecting as the meeting place be sure to know it's demographic. If the people that go there are 25-35 be sure that the SP you have selected's true age is in that range and that she is of the social and economic status of the establishments patrons. If not your friend will feel awkward and uncomfortable with this person approaching them. You want someone that fits in and is attractive but never too over or under dressed for the environment, otherwise it will not feel natural. Meet face to face at least one week in advance. This helps to ensure that she is who she says she is, she understands and meets your needs and also that you can provide her will all the information she will need in order to effectively perform this task. This is not the normal routine for an SP, this is high end relationship sales, she will have to be rainmaker and closer all within the time frame you have allotted. You need to arm her with the information she needs and know that she may or may not succeed. Simple things like your friend eating bad shrimp for lunch may make him say "Hey can I get your number and call you sometime?" This will cause her to fail. You must pay her for her time, both for meeting in advance (feel free to book her for an hour or two for yourself) and for the time she attempts to pick him up at the meeting point. This comes to know your expectations. Be sure to know what you want out of this. If you want to boost your friends ego then maybe a long flirtation with a very pretty girl will be what he needs, yes her inviting him back will help but if he declines that's okay because he said no. On the other hand if your expectations are that he 'close the deal' then you might be better off ensuring he knows, you might be dissapointed otherwise as circumstances beyond your control can interfere (see bad shrimp example ;) ). The girl you speak with should review this and any girl that tells you without a doubt she will pick him up and close the deal is lying. So be clear about your own expectations and what type of return you want on your investment, if it's just to help a buddy through a rough time then by all means go for it! Good luck!

Not that far though! Even when I was about 12 years old (in my gumby prime) I maxxed out at a hyperextension of about 18-20 inches on my lead leg, now I'm old so it's probably not that much. Esoterica, next time I see you we'll have to get me warmed up and get out your measuring stick and see what I can do now. ;) You can report back to the guys.

I can't speak for other cities but in Toronto for the most part the major agencies work together. It's proven to be effective for them to keep open lines of communication and to connect on a fairly regular basis. It's not that they sit and talk about clients but more about industry issues, legal concerns and of course safety risks. As far as the girls getting together and chatting, it's not really a common thing. I do know a few girls in the industry and sometimes I get together with them but it's not the clients we talk about. Rather I end up comparing towels in hotels -Mmmmm... The Hyatt big fluffy ones!- or the upcoming Joystick Pleasures workshop -Midori is a great teacher- or what wine I had last night -gotta love a nice Barolo! :)

:oops: I'm sorry, really I am. My grandmother really was ill for the umpteenth time. ;)

Did you give the product a trial run? I'd love to know if you've seen any growth? :mrgreen:

I wouldn't say I go Gaga over anyone but there are certainly clients that can brighten my day/week and ones that I think about when they are not around. Sometimes it's nice to revisit the events of your time together, to replay the good moments in your head. When that client calls again I'll start to anticipate our next encounter and have a smile on my face for a few days while I wait. As far as what gives me that feeling, it varies but it all comes down to that certain connection that allows me to escape in the fantasy and forget that I'm working.