I want to address a serious topic, a topic that I am disappointed to even have to share with you.
That topic is…missing a gig, being a no-show, missing in action, however you want to word it.
After nearly a decade in the industry, it finally happened to me.
My story begins in the month of June when I decided to make work and life easier – or so I thought – by purchasing an iPad mini.
My iPhone is full, and since I work independently, I was having a hard time separating my personal life from my work life.
I figured a second device would help keep things separate and allow me to still do business in case anything happened to my phone.
I noticed some weird things happening when syncing my iPad to my computer.
For instance, I have been recording my kilometers since the start of the year and suddenly they were gone! They just disappeared into thin air. Also pictures, some pictures uploaded to my iPad and some didn’t. But as far as I could tell, that was it. Everything else seemed fine. I considered the few issues an overall win as I am somewhat technologically inept.
And with that, I moved on with my week, enjoying my new work/life balance.
It wasn’t until a few weeks later, while I was at another makeup job, that I found out just what else did not successfully sync over.
I was nearly finished at my gig and had a down moment to check my email and do some other work while at work, which is my favorite—multitasking excites me.
I opened my email at nearly 4:30pm to find emails from a client who had booked me weeks prior.
I’d missed two emails and had been completely M.I.A for a 3:30pm call time THAT day. Not to mention he had driven to a pre-planned meeting destination to make sure I didn’t get lost on the way to the shoot location.
First, my heart stopped, then was in my throat, and finally sank so hard, so fast. I was mortified, and devastated, and in shock.
My mind raced. How did this happen?! Why was I here if I should be there!?
I remember booking the shoot specifically and was looking forward to it.
It wasn’t in my calendar and didn’t come up as a reminder at all, so I had recently booked another gig for that same day and was a complete no show for a client and model who were relying on me for a fitness shoot.
I picked up the phone and immediately connected with the client.
“I am incredibly apologetic and completely and quite frankly mortified that this has happened today. Can I send another artist to you right now!!?”
I was frantic- thinking I could call a pal and pay them to go save my ass.
He was so understanding and quite gracious over the whole scenario.
I was very grateful for his reaction as well as forever apologetic and I think he sensed my distress was genuine.
In the end, the model did her own hair and makeup and looked great on her own.
Before I hung up the phone with him I promised to redeem myself by offering to do his next hair & makeup job completely complimentary. It was the least I could do after such a complete fail on my part. I also made sure to send an email offering the model a complimentary service as well.
After all it was her fitness shoot and I wasn’t there as I had promised to be, so I felt she deserved my apology as well.
I have since recovered my kilometers and made sure that my sync is complete! I haven’t missed another gig since, and hopefully never, ever will again.
It happens to the best of us and I’ve learned to forgive myself for being human and busy, instead I choose to feel blessed and so grateful to be busy.
Here’s to another 10 years with a clean attendance record.