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How to establish and maintain regulars
When you meet a custy you would like to have for a regular, how do you encourage him to come back? I've met several guys this week who I would really, really like to see more often. (Why can't ALL my custy's be like them??)
Short of saying, "I wish you would come back here every week and spend all your money on me!" what can I do to encourage them to return frequently?
I was thinking of getting business cards and a second cell phone. Any other suggestions?
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
"I wish you would come back here every week and spend all your money on me!"
Actually I think that would be a pretty good way of approaching it, because it lays in right on the line that you want repeat business, not a relationship.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
Honestly IMO, I think it's usually best to just let the customer establish himself as a regular. Trying to do anything after just one visit seems premature. Be your normal wonderful self at all times, and if he starts showing up more often - great. Let your already dynamic self be reason enough for someone to justify a return visit.
Most anything else you do just ends up creating some level of expectation. (ie giving out phone number, giving a discount on a dance, etc.) You do some of these things once, and then a customer is going to expect those things going forward, or possibly feel disenchanted if you start to pull back those things.
Best ways to impress a custy upon his followup visit(s) are to simply show you recognize him, remember his name, and if possible recall something particular from your past convos. Keep it simple.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
Lay it out totally as busniess, " Wow, I had a lot of fun tonight, do you have an e-mail adress that way I can let you know when I'm working again?" This keeps you in control and that way your not forced to "juggle" regulars. I work in a very high volume club (100+ dancers a night ) and just seeing them and remembering their name isn't as easy as a smaller club, the number one thing I hear custy's say is " You find a dancer you like and the next time you come back you can't ever find her again" A quick e-mail once in while back and forth might make you some extra money. I always pick a time and an area in the club so that none of my regulars if the time frame over laps see each other and it makes them feel special.
Hope this helped.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
Just a word of caution...If you do decide to go the e-mail route, use an anonymous account from yahoo, hotmail, gmail, etc.
Just be careful about the service you use. Some of us internet nerds are good a putting tracers on the e-mails and tracking the location of the recipient.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
I agree with Verf that it's ultimately up to the customer if he becomes a reg. He needs to have the inclination, interest, bankroll and the willingness to spend.
However......
There is much you can do to encourage this behavior.
How confident are you that these guys know the game? If they do, then the cell phone is a must. You can use texting to your advantage to set up club times to meet.
If they do not know the game, then you will want to take a more conservative approach and let them come to you in the club. No sense in tempting fate with clueless customers who think your cell messages "mean something more."
It's hard to give really good advice on this, because customer behavior is so club-dependent. My home club treats regulars in a very special way, so when one of the dancers has a birthday, for example, the cell phones light up and we all meet and go out club hopping together and get totally wasted for the night. As usual, it's the dancers who make the phone calls and determine who goes along. Of course, we regs take very, very good care of them. It works out very well in the end. :)
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
Second cell phone.
Business card with a link to webpage or account with schedule and a few photos. Perhaps you can do this through MySpace, or any of the other various networking sites.
Advertise on your local message boards for dancers and/or escorts. I know you may not want to be linked with the escort part, but I have several good regulars from just listing my schedule at the bottom of my sig line on aspd.
If they are shiny and new, I might give them a call on my way into work. I get lazy fast though....since you need to "converse" with them for a few minutes and pretend you care. Texting is a GREAT idea. Make sure that your pre-paid phone has text capabilities. Mine actually does not have it oddly enough.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
Have you taken DancerWealth yet Colleen? I took it and it was great, you will learn so much!
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
Yes, DW rocked. Doubled my income in the first week or two! And I have not yet had a week where I left the bar on Friday wondering how I was going to pay my bills!
He did mention that we should get a cell phone and a web site, which I am going to set up next week.
The guys who I am hoping top encourage actually do know the game--that is why I want them to come back and play some more! I also never lie about the fact that I ma married if they ask (though I don't volunteer the information) so I'm not terribly concered that they will get carried away.
Chrissycahn's line, " Wow, I had a lot of fun tonight, do you have an e-mail adress that way I can let you know when I'm working again?" sounds jsut right to me. I tried it tonight and it worked pretty well. Now I have to set up a dummy yahoo acct from which to send e-mail. Think I might hold off on the cell phone for a while . .. . . hmm . . . . how much do they cost, I wonder . . . . .
And what do you say to these guys once you call them?? Just, "Hi, I'm working tonight, come see me" ??
I have decided I like my little bar where I work, and I don't want to go around being the new girl someplace else if I don't have to. So . . . . anything to make it easier to earn as much as I can money as I can iun as little time as possible!
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
Be honest with your potential regulars.
What you need to convey is, (although wrapped up a bit more than this);
(a) I'm an entertainer, and I only entertain while I'm working.
(b) My life outside the bar is my own - don't expect to share it.
(c) I'm like everyone else at work - I prefer to spend my time with people I like.
(d) I'd rather dance for you, (who treat me with courtesy), than some handsy idiot.
(e) It would be nice if you came to see me regularly. I'll be genuinely pleased to see you, and I'll dance for you, (within my personal limits), that'll make your time as fun as possible.
(f) It'll be easier for us if we have a discrete way of staying in touch - what do you think about e-mails and/or text messages?
What you will need to do is to spend time nurturing the relationship. You'll tend to find regulars become so because they feel the've got more than a casual relationship with a dancer. In other words, you've got to make him feel valued as soon as he comes through the door.
As soon as you spot him, acknowledge him, and as soon as you can do so come over in person. A kiss on the cheek and a hug won't hurt, nor will remembering a few personal details about him, so you can pick up the conversation from where it left off on the last visit. Be genuinely interested in him as a person.
Never underestimate the power of the male ego. It's very flattering to walk into a bar, have a dancer spot you, and give you a big welcome - makes you feel "one-up" on the mere customers in the place. That's the feeling you want to generate in your regulars to be - the feeling that you value him as a person.
You need to work on the concept of the ITC friendship - the fact that dancer and customer can, for an hour or so, every few days meet, have a pleasant time, and (from the customers point of view), be entertained by a dancer who views the custy as a friend as well as a source of income.
Be clear to him that you're both indulging in a mild fantasy, but that this fantasy/friendship can be fun for both sides. Just make sure that he realises that this fantasy world has very strict boundaries - the bar within which you meet. If you can pull this trick off, then a custy who comes in to see you in part for reasons of friendship is a regular by another name.
Phil.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Originally Posted by verfolgung
Just a word of caution...If you do decide to go the e-mail route, use an anonymous account from yahoo, hotmail, gmail, etc.
Just be careful about the service you use. Some of us internet nerds are good a putting tracers on the e-mails and tracking the location of the recipient.
Those services you mentioned all identify the originating IP number if you know where to look in the message headers, don't they? How much concern is that?
-Ev
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Originally Posted by evan_essence
Those services you mentioned all identify the originating IP number if you know where to look in the message headers, don't they? How much concern is that?
-Ev
This is definitely a concern fo rme. The last thing I need to to lead some nut case home to my family.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Originally Posted by Katrine
Second cell phone.
Business card with a link to webpage or account with schedule and a few photos.
This is what I do and it works pretty well, especially when traveling. I don't have my cell # on the cards though. I only give that out to the best custys via email.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Originally Posted by evan_essence
Those services you mentioned all identify the originating IP number if you know where to look in the message headers, don't they? How much concern is that?
-Ev
You can use an IP blocking service
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Originally Posted by colleen
And what do you say to these guys once you call them?? Just, "Hi, I'm working tonight, come see me" ??
That's why you text them and don't call them. Texting is a nice, clean, one-way tap on the shoulder. No additional conversation needed.
I usually only speak by phone if there is a sudden change of plan requiring prolonged discussion or we are all meeting somewhere OTC.
For texting, try something like this: "Hey, baby, this is C, I'm in the club 2nite @8 and tmorrow 2, txt me back bcause I want to play with you." Be sure to space out your times with your regs if you do this.
One other important note. If you spend a lot of time texting your friends, then you are safe in assuming that they recognize your number (you know where this is going, right?) Don't make that assumption about a customer. I get about 15 - 20 txt messages a day from dancers and club waitresses -- and Hooters waitresses too, go figure -- and every one of them thinks I know exactly who they are. Usually I do, but sometimes I get confused with areas codes (there are 3 here plus Nextel has it's own psycho system) and the girls swap phones a lot. So don't make a reg furiously scroll back through past messages to try to puzzle out who you are just so he can respond (all gentlemen do). Make it easy for him.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Originally Posted by colleen
Yes, DW rocked. Doubled my income in the first week or two! And I have not yet had a week where I left the bar on Friday wondering how I was going to pay my bills!
He did mention that we should get a cell phone and a web site, which I am going to set up next week.
The guys who I am hoping top encourage actually do know the game--that is why I want them to come back and play some more! I also never lie about the fact that I ma married if they ask (though I don't volunteer the information) so I'm not terribly concered that they will get carried away.
Chrissycahn's line, " Wow, I had a lot of fun tonight, do you have an e-mail adress that way I can let you know when I'm working again?" sounds jsut right to me. I tried it tonight and it worked pretty well. Now I have to set up a dummy yahoo acct from which to send e-mail. Think I might hold off on the cell phone for a while . .. . . hmm . . . . how much do they cost, I wonder . . . . .
And what do you say to these guys once you call them?? Just, "Hi, I'm working tonight, come see me" ??
I have decided I like my little bar where I work, and I don't want to go around being the new girl someplace else if I don't have to. So . . . . anything to make it easier to earn as much as I can money as I can iun as little time as possible!
Tell them hi... ask how there week is going, tell them yours is going great ( never complain even if its going bad), let them know you were just dropping a note to let them know your schedule for the week just in case they got some free time and I always through a cheesy dirty joke in for laughs.
I have found buy giving them a few days to pick from its not as pressured and they feel like you were just droping them a note not ASKING them to come in,.
They will reply to your e-mail letting you know if they can come in or not and which day will probably work best.
Always go to work thinking no regulars are coming in and hustle as much as possible till they get there, this will aslo make you look more desirable to them than just sitting at the bar waiting for them.
For custy's you know your only going to make 40-60 off but they are regulars to the club, send them your schedule too, you don't need to make the same chit chat but they will feel appericated and $60 adds up and could long term become a bigger customer.
Remember to always thank them with a smile for coming to see you, it makes them feel special.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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As soon as you spot him, acknowledge him, and as soon as you can do so come over in person. A kiss on the cheek and a hug won't hurt, nor will remembering a few personal details about him, so you can pick up the conversation from where it left off on the last visit. Be genuinely interested in him as a person.
Never underestimate the power of the male ego. It's very flattering to walk into a bar, have a dancer spot you, and give you a big welcome - makes you feel "one-up" on the mere customers in the place. That's the feeling you want to generate in your regulars to be - the feeling that you value him as a person.
I think these are good recommendations. One particular favorite of mine always gives me a quick peck on the cheek when I sit at the stage while she performs. I have to say, I love when she does that! Its not like she does it for everyone, so it feeds my precious little ego. LOL This is often after we have chatted for a few minutes before she goes up onstage, and I have yet to buy any dances.
I am not into the whole email exchange and cell phone game. If you made a big enough impression on me, I'll likely be back. That is if I am actually able to return to your particular club. But calling you and receiving unecessary emails clogging up my account? No thanks.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
I've never particularly liked the business card idea. Last thing I want is it to fall out of my wallet or something. Uh, that's not mine... I don't know how it got in there!
You can't go wrong remembering things about your customers from previous conversations. Sometimes, before a girl has come to talk to me, I've already decided in my mind that I'm not interested in a dance. But after talking for a while with her bringing things up from a previous discussion or talking about obscure details about myself, I'd end up getting some dances. It's the effort I appreciate. I'm more likely to say no to a dancer who re-introduces herself to me each time I visit.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
When I meet a custy who likes me and likes to spend his money on me, I leave'm with "so am I going to see you again or are you just going to steal my heart and run away forever." If he wants to contact me he can call the Bar phone and ask for the infamous Robin Banks.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
From a custy:
I second the general idea here, which is that one great way to develop a regular relationship is to provide information on when you are dancing.
The club I go to has a website where messages can be posted; the couple of girls who use it to update schedules, answer questions, etc. (including the dancer I like to see) do MUCH better than others...she can either post general information or answer any inquiry I have (not many, but a few) directly, without worrying about passing out personal information.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
It's too bad that clubs with websites don't list who is dancing that night on them....
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Originally Posted by Katrine
Second cell phone.
Business card with a link to webpage or account with schedule and a few photos. Perhaps you can do this through MySpace, or any of the other various networking sites.
Advertise on your local message boards for dancers and/or escorts. I know you may not want to be linked with the escort part, but I have several good regulars from just listing my schedule at the bottom of my sig line on aspd.
If they are shiny and new, I might give them a call on my way into work. I get lazy fast though....since you need to "converse" with them for a few minutes and pretend you care. Texting is a GREAT idea. Make sure that your pre-paid phone has text capabilities. Mine actually does not have it oddly enough.
Yup, I use my myspace for keeping in touch with good customers as well. time to work on a business card!
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
IMHO, if you like him, i mean like him as a customer. Make him comfortable. Thast is enough. Make him feel you are worth the money he spends. If he is interested he will be back. Don't call him saying "I miss you, come see me". That sucks. I hate that! I know I miss you and you miss my wallet. If I feel like spending, I will go. This can only make me think you are a greedy gold digger.
Also telling him you will go out with him if he visit more often is stupid. When expectation turns into disappointment you know how he feels. If you do not plan to go out with him, do not tell him you will. Don't try to lie and mess his mind to keep him as a regular.
Just my 2 cnts
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Originally Posted by colleen
When you meet a custy you would like to have for a regular, how do you encourage him to come back? I've met several guys this week who I would really, really like to see more often. (Why can't ALL my custy's be like them??)
Short of saying, "I wish you would come back here every week and spend all your money on me!" what can I do to encourage them to return frequently?
I was thinking of getting business cards and a second cell phone. Any other suggestions?
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
If you use a web based mail service such as Hotmail or Yahoo (not one from your local ISP, a national one), you will not be traced. Ignore the wannabe h4x0rs.
The headers from a Hotmail email do not contain any IP information about the client that logged into Hotmail. In order to get your IP they'd have to take the email they got, contact Microsoft, convince them that there they're law enforcement and need them to check their logs to see what IP address logged into their service and sent a specific email. That would then only tell them what ISP (because most ISPs nowadays use DHCP to assign IPs rather than assigning static IPs) that the user used. The person would then have to contact your ISP and convince them that they're law enforcement and that they need to know which customer was using that IP address at the moment that email was sent. DHCP IP leases are typically 24 hours, and the same IP may or may not be assigned when the lease expires. It depends on the ISP.
In other words, it'd be far easier for some psycho stalker to follow you home from the club some night than it would be for them to track you via a Hotmail email.
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Re: How to establish and maintain regulars
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Honestly IMO, I think it's usually best to just let the customer establish himself as a regular. Trying to do anything after just one visit seems premature. Be your normal wonderful self at all times, and if he starts showing up more often - great. Let your already dynamic self be reason enough for someone to justify a return visit.
Most anything else you do just ends up creating some level of expectation. (ie giving out phone number, giving a discount on a dance, etc.) You do some of these things once, and then a customer is going to expect those things going forward, or possibly feel disenchanted if you start to pull back those things.
Best ways to impress a custy upon his followup visit(s) are to simply show you recognize him, remember his name, and if possible recall something particular from your past convos. Keep it simple.
I agree.
It also helps if you're really hot, but presuming that's already the case, just making the time memorable is the best way to get my repeat business.
Two cents.