Mervert at my first gig. What to do when it happens again?

[Mermaid Miradis]

Hello!

I finally had my first gig at a hotel. There were children with their parents around inter alia the mervert who I didn't notice at first, as I thought he would be a parent. He constantly took pictures and videos with his phone, too, like the other parents. After the children left, he stayed behind and wanted to talk to me. My brother and father were already gone and I was about to exit the pool. He spoke of that he was a hobby photographer from Sicily and that he had never seen something like this and if I'd like to do a photoshoot or also come to Sicily to show me the place. At this point I must state that I was still in my tail in the water. He gave me his card and said that I should phone him about details (he went home Tuesday two weeks ago, this happened the Friday before). I said I'd think about it, so he left as he had to meet his friends. I went home and two days after I get contacted by reception that he asked there for my phone number and address. Of course they didn't give it to him.
Now I worry a bit about him having photos and videos from me and what he will do with them.
What do you think I could do?
What could I do to prevent this situation the next time?

I am sorry about my bad english.
Thank you for your help!
Mermaid Miradis

[Talia]

I don't think you need to worry about pictures and video. If you put yourself out it is inevitable that people film and photograph you, and clips and pics are going to appear online because people usually don't ask permission before posting them - which pisses me off, BTW.

When you say you were contacted by the reception you mean the reception of the hotel in which the gig was held?

Also, next time have your mertenders with you at all times until you leavee. They (specially if they are men) usually tend to discourage weird people from approaching.

[AniaR]

other than asking for your info, he doesnt seem like a mervert to me. I have had enthusiastic photographers before and they often approach us with a 'model" mindset so in that capacity asking for your contact info (great time to have a website, they can contact you through there) would be normal.

I am sorry though that it made you uncomfortable and you were alone. I second everything Talia said, you should never ever be alone. Make sure you wranglers never leave you.

[Mermaid Miradis]

Yes, I meant the reception of the hotel I did the gig in :)

Maybe I haven't described it good enough. This man was very obvious in what he wanted. There were large breaks in the conversation that he led, in which he 'examined' me in an obvious way. I am very sure that this was not a merenthusiast photographer, unfortunately.

I don't have proper mertenders yet, until I am in the UK again to look for someone (this is where I study). In the meantime (here at home in Italy) my brother and father are there to help me. Do you think it was reckless to start off without a proper merwrangler?
I will however ask them if they could stay with me and look out for weird people, thank you.

Luckily I got my fb page for the moment (I looked at your advertising tips, Raina, thank you for posting that on the vlog). I will however look at making a proper website.

Thank you for your help!

[PearlieMae]

Always keep someone with you. Father, brother, friend, wrangler...to prevent this very thing from happening.

[Mermaid Miradis]

Thank you very much, I will do that! :)

[Amphitrite]

And a thing of pepper spray just in case (if it's legal and you've got some idea of what you're doing). In everything better safe than sorry. Be smart. I would have said hello, BUT if I felt uncomfortable I would've been at the other end of that pool or loudly calling for some attention in the form of, 'Hey, question for lifeguard/staff/ect', 'thanks for having me,' whatever. Don't let this stuff get you down and I don't want to make you sad, but I do want my merpals to be safe at all times.