FMS-Blog : The Wildly Whimsical, Mostly Musical WebLog
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
How to Suck Eggs
It might seem obvious to most people, but I feel that this can't be highlighted strongly enough : IF YOU BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR ANY SERVICE THEN TURN UP TO IT (or else, at least contact the company / person within a reasonable timeframe to cancel).
Why does this need pointing out so aggressively? Well, I always thought that everyone else felt the same way as me about these kinds of issues - the old adage about doing to others as you would have done unto yourself. In other words, you wouldn't want to organise to meet someone for coffee in the town centre and find that they hadn't bothered to turn up or let you know that they couldn't (or couldn't be bothered to) make it.
But, then I started working as a self-employed piano and guitar teacher and suddenly I find that not only do people cancel the appointments they make with little or no notice but often they just fail completely to show up - no explanation, no apology.. nothing. And, when I do get hold of them the attitude is often akin to someone being bothered by a sales call. These individuals don't seem to recognise that they, of their own free will, approached me and arranged an appointment to see me which they then chose not to turn up to. They fail to take responsibility for the decision they initially made or to acknowledge that they have wasted the time I spent not only waiting for them on the day but also working hard to prepare the lesson or meeting, to say nothing of the loss of earnings I have incurred. Of course, I don't want to hear overly-sincere grovelling; I'd much rather they just think enough in the first place to either be present for the appointment that they made or else give me a call to let me know that they won't be turning up. Failing this, at least some genuine empathy for the position that they left me in might not go amiss.
Not everyone behaves in this manner, of course. The majority of people I come across in my line of work as a music tutor are decent and considerate, realising that my living depends on students honouring the appointments they make. But, it's still worth reminding people that you wouldn't book a plumber then not be in when he turns up.. not unless you expect to get a hefty bill for the call-out, that is. Equally, it isn't right to organise a lesson with any private teacher then not show up for it. My students only commit to one lesson at a time so I don't think it's a lot for me to ask them to turn up to it!
Why does this need pointing out so aggressively? Well, I always thought that everyone else felt the same way as me about these kinds of issues - the old adage about doing to others as you would have done unto yourself. In other words, you wouldn't want to organise to meet someone for coffee in the town centre and find that they hadn't bothered to turn up or let you know that they couldn't (or couldn't be bothered to) make it.
But, then I started working as a self-employed piano and guitar teacher and suddenly I find that not only do people cancel the appointments they make with little or no notice but often they just fail completely to show up - no explanation, no apology.. nothing. And, when I do get hold of them the attitude is often akin to someone being bothered by a sales call. These individuals don't seem to recognise that they, of their own free will, approached me and arranged an appointment to see me which they then chose not to turn up to. They fail to take responsibility for the decision they initially made or to acknowledge that they have wasted the time I spent not only waiting for them on the day but also working hard to prepare the lesson or meeting, to say nothing of the loss of earnings I have incurred. Of course, I don't want to hear overly-sincere grovelling; I'd much rather they just think enough in the first place to either be present for the appointment that they made or else give me a call to let me know that they won't be turning up. Failing this, at least some genuine empathy for the position that they left me in might not go amiss.
Not everyone behaves in this manner, of course. The majority of people I come across in my line of work as a music tutor are decent and considerate, realising that my living depends on students honouring the appointments they make. But, it's still worth reminding people that you wouldn't book a plumber then not be in when he turns up.. not unless you expect to get a hefty bill for the call-out, that is. Equally, it isn't right to organise a lesson with any private teacher then not show up for it. My students only commit to one lesson at a time so I don't think it's a lot for me to ask them to turn up to it!
