It maybe bad luck on my part, but in the last year I have messages three different models about a skype session. The first two I received an initial reply back but ultimately radio silence. The last one I contact a few days ago I haven't even received a reply back. (In the last case I am still holding out that life is busy and I will hear back, but it does seem to be a trend for me)
All three are respected members of this community and never took any money or time from me..... so I am not going to name them. They are wonderful ladies and I don't want to tarnish them.
But I am left wondering if *I* am doing wrong? Is there a proper was to approach a model on UMD and then request / interact with them? I'd hate to think I have been inappropriate on my short exchanges.
Well it's hard to say if you said anything that might have made them uncomfortable if we don't know what you said.
As a model I know it gets really hard to keep up with all the emails you get. For me I have to prioritize custom videos because people have paid up front for those, so in the past I have had to put off requests for sessions simply to make sure I was able to deliver all my customs on time. Customs are easier, setting up skype sessions can get challenging when you have a busy schedule so I personally focus more time on customs.
I am still floored you haven't had a messy session on skype! So what I had in mind was actually having you direct me on how to get messy, if you were interested. I'm not sure I would know how to direct you via Skype.
It would be great if we could work something out. I don't have a day immediately available right now.
Thanks,
MessyGuyNC
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Hi XXXXXXX,
I am trying to line-up a webcam session and I was hoping you maybe available, although I understand you may not be. What I am looking for is session where you tell me how to get messy, with what, and what to wear. More humiliating and such the better. I am not asking you to get messy, just myself. Is this something you would be interested in? If so, what would the fee be?
Look forward to hearing from you,
---MessyGuyNC
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Hi XXXXXXXX,
I was wondering if you are ever available for webcam sessions and if so what would your normally charge? I am not looking for you to actually get messy, but rather direct me on how to get messy and with what.
Hi Messy Guy, That is deffo up Jessie's Street but as you prob know she's been not too well. She's got a medical appointment on Thursday but let me know either in the Jessica25 inbox or MJD inbox and I'll see what I can do matey! Regards Mike
Thanks for the comments and it helps better understanding the business decisions made by the wonderful models in our community. Also, I can only imagine (and even then probably underestimate) the amount of email models receive everyday..... is it possible skype requests get lost or forgot unintentionally?
And Ariel, yes you were one of the e-mails and I was honestly assuming you were still busy (you said as much in another post) so I hadn't given up hope. This was a question I have been meaning to ask for awhile so regardless I would have asked it. Hope you and your kids had a wonderful birthday weekend.
So here's a question. I have ordered two customs from a particular producer, who is approved for customs on here. I ordered one last June and then another in August.
I had asked for methylcellulose to be used and, apparently because of issues with obtaining methylcellulose and availability of the models I requested, they were delayed. The models had shot with this producer multiple times since I paid, but each time they "ran out of time" before they got to my custom.
One of the customs (the one paid for in October) was completed earlier this month, but with a different model (which I had okayed) and with cake batter slime instead of methylcellulose (which I was unaware would be the case). I chalked it up to miscommunication and reminded the producer that I had requested methylcellulose, and politely asked that they get it right on the next one.
When is it appropriate for me to start getting aggressive and/or making noise on UMD and naming names? I was under the impression that, this week, the producer did a shoot with the model from whom I am still owed a custom (and paid for in June of last year). I am also under the impression that they did not shoot my video.
Should I just ask for a refund? This is a very well respected producer who is approved for customs, so I would like to believe they will make things right. But it feels like it's getting a little ridiculous.
Oscillator Slop said: So here's a question. I have ordered two customs from a particular producer, who is approved for customs on here. I ordered one last June and then another in August.
I had asked for methylcellulose to be used and, apparently because of issues with obtaining methylcellulose and availability of the models I requested, they were delayed. The models had shot with this producer multiple times since I paid, but each time they "ran out of time" before they got to my custom.
One of the customs (the one paid for in October) was completed earlier this month, but with a different model (which I had okayed) and with cake batter slime instead of methylcellulose (which I was unaware would be the case). I chalked it up to miscommunication and reminded the producer that I had requested methylcellulose, and politely asked that they get it right on the next one.
When is it appropriate for me to start getting aggressive and/or making noise on UMD and naming names? I was under the impression that, this week, the producer did a shoot with the model from whom I am still owed a custom (and paid for in June of last year). I am also under the impression that they did not shoot my video.
Should I just ask for a refund? This is a very well respected producer who is approved for customs, so I would like to believe they will make things right. But it feels like it's getting a little ridiculous.
As a producer I feel it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a refund if your video has not been delivered in a reasonable amount of time, especially when it seems like a producer is putting off your custom even when they have had the opportunity to shoot it. I have also re-shot custom videos or offered a partial refund if I made a mistake on my end. It's not the customers fault if I screw up. I would rather lose some money on the custom instead of getting a reputation for doing bad customs. I used to work in customer service so maybe I think differently than other producers but in my mind if someone is paying you for something you should do everything within reason to satisfy your customer.
I agree with Leila, no way should you have been kept hanging for eight months.
On the few occasions we did customs I always guaranteed the customer that if we'd not shot it within three months they'd get a full refund of their deposit. And we only ever took 50% in advance - rest to be paid only when it was complete and ready for download, proved with a sample of the still photos from the scene, and/or a brief clip of the video.
Oscillator Slop said: So here's a question. I have ordered two customs from a particular producer, who is approved for customs on here. I ordered one last June and then another in August.
I had asked for methylcellulose to be used and, apparently because of issues with obtaining methylcellulose and availability of the models I requested, they were delayed. The models had shot with this producer multiple times since I paid, but each time they "ran out of time" before they got to my custom.
One of the customs (the one paid for in October) was completed earlier this month, but with a different model (which I had okayed) and with cake batter slime instead of methylcellulose (which I was unaware would be the case). I chalked it up to miscommunication and reminded the producer that I had requested methylcellulose, and politely asked that they get it right on the next one.
When is it appropriate for me to start getting aggressive and/or making noise on UMD and naming names? I was under the impression that, this week, the producer did a shoot with the model from whom I am still owed a custom (and paid for in June of last year). I am also under the impression that they did not shoot my video.
Should I just ask for a refund? This is a very well respected producer who is approved for customs, so I would like to believe they will make things right. But it feels like it's getting a little ridiculous.
To echo the posts above, that is bad business by the producer. I ask for full payment in advance for customs, but only approx 1 week in advance, and I promise to refund it straight away (ie within 24hrs) if the shoot gets delayed or the video doesn't get done for any reason. (I've never had to do that yet.) Any custom scenes on a shoot get done first, not last, and also go straight to the front of the editing queue! I view it as a premium service, it's not cheap for the customer so I bend over backwards to make sure they are kept happy.
I totally understand that many producers are not pros (I am certainly not!) and life gets in the way of art from time to time, but hanging on to a customer's money and not delivering is BS.