Dealing with Difficult clients-share

[Odette]

I'm sure everyone gets difficult clients every now and then. I've had many, but always manage to stay professional on them.Everyone just thinks differently or they are not educated on how much work and money it takes to be a mermaid. Calm and straight forward has worked for me even in other entertainment situations.works well. I made this thread so everyone can talk about difficult clients and how you handled it or if you need help.everyone is so sweet on here so i know you will get help even if not from me.I think this is one of my strong points though of course it can be frustrating.

For instance, the guy who wants to take sexy photos of you. paying you,but you don't feel comfortable.
i merely say "hey Mr.witheremanjenkins, I appreciate that you want to photograph me, but I like to keep my photos more clean since i work family events also.Feel free to take a photo with me at my event on sunday!"

Keep it friendly and fresh and you can keep a fan.
and when they keep coming, straight out say no.I'ts not rude. you think it is, but its you protecting yourself.

SO! Lets hear your stories.

[Mermaid Varshana]

Is this just for mermaiding, or can it also be similar industries like modeling? I have stories. Including the one that killed my passion for modeling lol

[Ayla of Duluth]

I once had a client who was willing to pay me $3,000 for a new Merbellas tail just so he could fulfill his fantasy of having sex with a mermaid. His plan was to like...cut a hole in the front of my tail for his you know what. He kept saying "mermaids are fantasy creatures, why are you dressing like one if you don't want guys to have mermaid sex with you?" I did my best to remain polite, telling him that I am a children's entertained and in no way shape or form would ever become anything sexual. This guy was hella persistent though and would contact me every few weeks asking me if I had changedy mind and reminding me that he'd always be available for the act if I was interested. I simply stopped responding to him and added his email to my spam filter.

[Echidna]

I once had a client who was willing to pay me $3,000 for a new Merbellas tail just so he could fulfill his fantasy of having sex with a mermaid...

:jawdrop: :doh: :crazy:

I'd say this leaves the category of "difficult", and borders right next to "harrassment"..

[Mermaid Varshana]

I once had a client who was willing to pay me $3,000 for a new Merbellas tail just so he could fulfill his fantasy of having sex with a mermaid. His plan was to like...cut a hole in the front of my tail for his you know what. He kept saying "mermaids are fantasy creatures, why are you dressing like one if you don't want guys to have mermaid sex with you?".


http://i40.tinypic.com/2wnny52.jpg

[lasserine]

Wow, that last one is creepy.

[Blondie]

I once had a client who was willing to pay me $3,000 for a new Merbellas tail just so he could fulfill his fantasy of having sex with a mermaid. His plan was to like...cut a hole in the front of my tail for his you know what. He kept saying "mermaids are fantasy creatures, why are you dressing like one if you don't want guys to have mermaid sex with you?" I did my best to remain polite, telling him that I am a children's entertained and in no way shape or form would ever become anything sexual. This guy was hella persistent though and would contact me every few weeks asking me if I had changedy mind and reminding me that he'd always be available for the act if I was interested. I simply stopped responding to him and added his email to my spam filter.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a341/Sliver_Shine29/frollo_zps965d535c.gif

I would of been so scared.

[Odette]

Is this just for mermaiding, or can it also be similar industries like modeling? I have stories. Including the one that killed my passion for modeling lol
Go for it, honey! It's good to let it out. =)

[AniaR]

It's so funny you just posted this after I got home from what I felt to be a difficult gig. Now, the clients loved us. But man, they put us through the ringer haha.

where to start

The kids wouldn't listen to us or the lifeguards.
one little kid would not stop saying "mermaids dont exist" but she didn't even have the regular reasons why, she picked really dumb reasons like because my top had plasic on it and there's not plastic in the ocean
one kept chasing my sister spitting water and splashing her calling her a fishy freak. :/
literally pulled the fluke so hard her feet came out of the tail!

I was trying to get Sean but he was busy taking photos
and I was trying to redirect the kids
and then sean put me on the dolly and went to pull me out the door and dropped the handle so I fell backwards pretty far and smashed my arms up lol.
they seemed really happy with everything

I don't think it was the parents putting on the party that were the problem
but all the other parents who just sat around
the lifeguards were PISSED
and then Sean took FOREVER trying to get us out when the party was up so we'd sat there for like 20 minutes
and the lifeguards were not happy about it



I had to pee the entire timeme with the painful bladder disease
and when we got out we couldnt find my shoes
so I went home barefoot lmao
took my tail off on a blanket in the parkinglot and didnt care who saw. lol


we handled it all with a professional smile, patience, and getting the hell out of there when we were done. lmao. Also, I paid my sister double. At one point she had like 5 kids jumping on her, pulling her hair and tail, spitting water... I grabbed a parent and swam over and said "This isn't acceptable." and took my sister by the arm and we dove underwater into the deep end. lol

I usually only have 1 gig like this a year, in one way or another. 99% of the time the gigs go over without any issues. Like I said, the clients were happy. But man, what a day

[ShyMer]

That's terrible that the parents weren't doing anything about it... that's so frustrating. Poor Ama :(

[Mermaid Varshana]

I had this one potential client that I was communicating with awhile back. I'd answered his casting call for an edgy model. He was in for FL and his casting call was listed as "Negotiable." On Model Mayhem, this means that they're willing to negotiate a payment for whomever they are hiring. This guy was located about an hour and a half from me. He told me flat out that I was perfect, but he doesn't pay models since "that was weird" because "people paid" him "back at home." So I very politely declined. He fires back at me this invective filled email that basically amounted to him saying, "Look at ALL these brands in my portfolio! My portfolio is vastly superior to yours (it wasn't) and you told me you're not a FASHION model (I'm an art model), so why on earth did you think I would pay you? Oh, and I bill at $125/hour...what about YOU?" Pretty much letting me know that I was lowly shit compared to him.

I just was overly nice in my reply, like an adult speaks to a kid, stating that I was so sorry he was in a bad enough mood to attack some stranger on the internet, and that I hoped his week got better...and I informed him of what "Negotiable" meant in casting calls.

I had one regular client who fell in love with me. He got to the point where he hired me just to talk to me. I just stopped taking his jobs.

The worst one was in Pittsburgh. I do a lot of art shoots in upscale hotel rooms. I was doing the 360 degree posing thing between two photography lights. I was facing away from the photographer when he said, "It's hot in here. I'm going to slip into something more...comfortable."

You know that feeling you get when you're watching a horror movie? "It's BEHIND you!"?

I turn around and this middle aged guy is stark goddamned naked with a slimy grin on his face. I ORDERED him to put his clothes on. I think he was so embarrassed that I didn't just let it happen that he just did what I said. I got paid, but sheeeeyit that was awkward. I never felt the same passion for the industry after that. It's part of the reason why I want to switch to mermaid modeling.

[Odette]

It's so funny you just posted this after I got home from what I felt to be a difficult gig. Now, the clients loved us. But man, they put us through the ringer haha.

where to start

The kids wouldn't listen to us or the lifeguards.
one little kid would not stop saying "mermaids dont exist" but she didn't even have the regular reasons why, she picked really dumb reasons like because my top had plasic on it and there's not plastic in the ocean
one kept chasing my sister spitting water and splashing her calling her a fishy freak. :/
literally pulled the fluke so hard her feet came out of the tail!

I was trying to get Sean but he was busy taking photos
and I was trying to redirect the kids
and then sean put me on the dolly and went to pull me out the door and dropped the handle so I fell backwards pretty far and smashed my arms up lol.
they seemed really happy with everything

I don't think it was the parents putting on the party that were the problem
but all the other parents who just sat around
the lifeguards were PISSED
and then Sean took FOREVER trying to get us out when the party was up so we'd sat there for like 20 minutes
and the lifeguards were not happy about it



I had to pee the entire timeme with the painful bladder disease
and when we got out we couldnt find my shoes
so I went home barefoot lmao
took my tail off on a blanket in the parkinglot and didnt care who saw. lol


we handled it all with a professional smile, patience, and getting the hell out of there when we were done. lmao. Also, I paid my sister double. At one point she had like 5 kids jumping on her, pulling her hair and tail, spitting water... I grabbed a parent and swam over and said "This isn't acceptable." and took my sister by the arm and we dove underwater into the deep end. lol

I usually only have 1 gig like this a year, in one way or another. 99% of the time the gigs go over without any issues. Like I said, the clients were happy. But man, what a day
aw, Raina. you and (ama, right?) need some hugs!I hate when i get the parents who try to leave it all to you or to the other staff. We aren't babysitters.I hope you two are cuddling under a fluffy towel right now.Super fluffy

[Odette]

I once had a client who was willing to pay me $3,000 for a new Merbellas tail just so he could fulfill his fantasy of having sex with a mermaid. His plan was to like...cut a hole in the front of my tail for his you know what. He kept saying "mermaids are fantasy creatures, why are you dressing like one if you don't want guys to have mermaid sex with you?" I did my best to remain polite, telling him that I am a children's entertained and in no way shape or form would ever become anything sexual. This guy was hella persistent though and would contact me every few weeks asking me if I had changedy mind and reminding me that he'd always be available for the act if I was interested. I simply stopped responding to him and added his email to my spam filter. you handled it well. he sounds like a predator.creepy creepy guy.he should have left you alone after the first response.That makes me so mad.no means no! lol

[Ayla of Duluth]

I love all the reaction gifs I got for my story. I didn't think it was that creepy personally, I was just really surprised to hear he was totally willing to buy me a completely new three thousand dollar tail just to have sex with a mermaid once. Are guys just wealthier than I thought they were or what?

[spottedcatfish]

Be careful out there, there are some really weird people, (women too) out there.

[Echidna]

I didn't think it was that creepy personally, I was just really surprised to hear he was totally willing to buy me a completely new three thousand dollar tail just to have sex with a mermaid once. Are guys just wealthier than I thought they were or what?
Living out an elusive fantasy like that should be very difficult.
He probably wanted the "mermaid" to be as real-looking as possible and thus was willing to provide the tail that fit the bill.

Anyhow, I would be actually more offended imagining cutting holes into a merbella tail than the sex part lol.

[Echidna]

she picked really dumb reasons like because my top had plastic on it and there's not plastic in the ocean

:( if only!

[Ariadne]

Anyhow, I would be actually more offended imagining cutting holes into a merbella tail than the sex part lol.

Ha! That's exactly the part that offended me the most! What does that say about us mers? lol

[Ariel-Starfish]

After reading all this; I really know i just dont want to 'be' a proffeccional mermaid,. just an 'out of control' hobby ;). I'm just not good with kids (I have Asperger) and I just sit there in my own little world, living my dream. But it never ever crossed my mind to work with kids.

[Odette]

I had this one potential client that I was communicating with awhile back. I'd answered his casting call for an edgy model. He was in for FL and his casting call was listed as "Negotiable." On Model Mayhem, this means that they're willing to negotiate a payment for whomever they are hiring. This guy was located about an hour and a half from me. He told me flat out that I was perfect, but he doesn't pay models since "that was weird" because "people paid" him "back at home." So I very politely declined. He fires back at me this invective filled email that basically amounted to him saying, "Look at ALL these brands in my portfolio! My portfolio is vastly superior to yours (it wasn't) and you told me you're not a FASHION model (I'm an art model), so why on earth did you think I would pay you? Oh, and I bill at $125/hour...what about YOU?" Pretty much letting me know that I was lowly shit compared to him.

I just was overly nice in my reply, like an adult speaks to a kid, stating that I was so sorry he was in a bad enough mood to attack some stranger on the internet, and that I hoped his week got better...and I informed him of what "Negotiable" meant in casting calls.

I had one regular client who fell in love with me. He got to the point where he hired me just to talk to me. I just stopped taking his jobs.

The worst one was in Pittsburgh. I do a lot of art shoots in upscale hotel rooms. I was doing the 360 degree posing thing between two photography lights. I was facing away from the photographer when he said, "It's hot in here. I'm going to slip into something more...comfortable."

You know that feeling you get when you're watching a horror movie? "It's BEHIND you!"?

I turn around and this middle aged guy is stark goddamned naked with a slimy grin on his face. I ORDERED him to put his clothes on. I think he was so embarrassed that I didn't just let it happen that he just did what I said. I got paid, but sheeeeyit that was awkward. I never felt the same passion for the industry after that. It's part of the reason why I want to switch to mermaid modeling.

That really sucks.I'm so sorry you had to go through that.Bring someone with you to future shoots.even mermaid.I have been asked sooo many times to be topless.I like the idea of being topless, but not for a photographer and a clients sexy fantasy.I want more respect for the naked body as art instead of sex.drives me crazy.They will ask you that im sure.I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors! :)

[MermaidSarah]

I would have been embarrassed somewhat to have my tail pulled off :( That would be the worse for me.Bit of a pride killer.


It's so funny you just posted this after I got home from what I felt to be a difficult gig. Now, the clients loved us. But man, they put us through the ringer haha.

where to start

The kids wouldn't listen to us or the lifeguards.
one little kid would not stop saying "mermaids dont exist" but she didn't even have the regular reasons why, she picked really dumb reasons like because my top had plasic on it and there's not plastic in the ocean
one kept chasing my sister spitting water and splashing her calling her a fishy freak. :/
literally pulled the fluke so hard her feet came out of the tail!

I was trying to get Sean but he was busy taking photos
and I was trying to redirect the kids
and then sean put me on the dolly and went to pull me out the door and dropped the handle so I fell backwards pretty far and smashed my arms up lol.
they seemed really happy with everything

I don't think it was the parents putting on the party that were the problem
but all the other parents who just sat around
the lifeguards were PISSED
and then Sean took FOREVER trying to get us out when the party was up so we'd sat there for like 20 minutes
and the lifeguards were not happy about it



I had to pee the entire timeme with the painful bladder disease
and when we got out we couldnt find my shoes
so I went home barefoot lmao
took my tail off on a blanket in the parkinglot and didnt care who saw. lol


we handled it all with a professional smile, patience, and getting the hell out of there when we were done. lmao. Also, I paid my sister double. At one point she had like 5 kids jumping on her, pulling her hair and tail, spitting water... I grabbed a parent and swam over and said "This isn't acceptable." and took my sister by the arm and we dove underwater into the deep end. lol

I usually only have 1 gig like this a year, in one way or another. 99% of the time the gigs go over without any issues. Like I said, the clients were happy. But man, what a day

[Mermaid Varshana]

That really sucks.I'm so sorry you had to go through that.Bring someone with you to future shoots.even mermaid.I have been asked sooo many times to be topless.I like the idea of being topless, but not for a photographer and a clients sexy fantasy.I want more respect for the naked body as art instead of sex.drives me crazy.They will ask you that im sure.I wish you the best of luck with your future endeavors! :)

Oh, I've been doing this for five years. I used to take escorts with me for the first 2 years I did it. Now I do my homework and ask his former models how he is to work with. That works 99% of the time. Freelance modeling/photography is a community like this one, and bad stories get out. The "not sex but art" nudity thing is an opinion I respect but do not share, since I do fetish and erotica modeling and write erotica myself. I find myself artistically energized by sexuality. That part doesn't bother me. In my head, sex is a natural, integral part of biology that does not necessarily degrade art or the female body. It's the creepy antisocial stuff that the errant 0.5% of clients do. Most of the time, these people are just business and don't do anything batshit insane, because they know that you'll tell other models...or because they're decent people too. The male photographers I work with are usually capable of handling sensuality and nudity with respect and grace. They're not actually freaks any more than I am lol

[Nate Walis]

Once more a thread appears around here that makes it embarrassing to be both male and fascinated by mermaids...I despair of some of the individuals with whom fate has deigned to make me share a gender.

[Echidna]

Once more a thread appears around here that makes it embarrassing to be both male and fascinated by mermaids...I despair of some of the individuals with whom fate has deigned to make me share a gender.

Don't worry.
I'm sure most of us can differentiate :)

It's quite obvious really.
I also think the really bad apples are a smallish minority; it's just that unpleasant experiences tend to stick out more in hindsight.

[Odette]

The "not sex but art" nudity thing is an opinion I respect but do not share, since I do fetish and erotica modeling and write erotica myself. I find myself artistically energized by sexuality. That part doesn't bother me. In my head, sex is a natural, integral part of biology that does not necessarily degrade art or the female body.
I can agree with that,i just can't pull it off. lol! I like the way you view it. =) fresh perspective :cool:

[Odette]

Don't worry.
I'm sure most of us can differentiate :)

It's quite obvious really.
I also think the really bad apples are a smallish minority; it's just that unpleasant experiences tend to stick out more in hindsight.

:thumbs-up: totally.I have guy fans and im totally fine with it.A guy gave me a gift and its not creepy at all.gender is nothing.its only rude comments that upset me. You can be a guy and like mermaids.there is no rules that say its not allowed. mermaids are cool! who doesn't like mermaids?! :p

[AniaR]

This inspired me to start sending this out to clients: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B05cSRbHRfeuTk1tWTNkTDllOW8/edit?usp=sharing

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Wow, that's a good idea, Raina. Though, I must say... Biting? Have you guys had a problem with biting? That's a bit scary!

[Mermaid Varshana]

Kids bite when they're around 18 mos old ;)

[AniaR]

toddlers bite everything and everyone, though I am lucky to have not been bit within the mermaid stuff ;) just thinking ahead.

[MerEmma]

Very good idea and some very important points are made!

[lasserine]

You forgot, trying to drown the mermaid.

[Echidna]

You forgot, trying to drown the mermaid.

I hope this didn't happen to anyone :jawdrop:

Must be awful, and can lead to a phobia.
My father, always a daring, avid swimmer, once had a near-drowning experience with a bigger child who dunked him under and didn't let go.
It happened really fast, and since then, my father doesn't like water anymore, and never goes in deeper than he can still feel the bottom :(

[Mermaid Dottie]

This inspired me to start sending this out to clients: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B05cSRbHRfeuTk1tWTNkTDllOW8/edit?usp=sharing
Absolutely Brilliant. I love this idea very much.

[AniaR]

[qupte]You forgot, trying to drown the mermaid[/quote]

No, I said about several kids piling on us. That would pretty much be the only way to drown us, lol but even then we usually just take a deep breath and dive underwater and away XD

[Odette]

toddlers bite everything and everyone, though I am lucky to have not been bit within the mermaid stuff ;) just thinking ahead.
great idea!prevention is a perfect idea.
Never had problems with kids.I Direct their attention and they listen.That totally is the parents job to manage their kids though.:p

[AniaR]

Agreed. In 4 years this was only the second time it happened to me... but I am hell bent that it wont happen again haha

[Mermaid Marissa]

I as of right now only make mer accessories and I find it EXTREMELY frustrating when someone doesn't get back to me about designs even though they say they want it rather quickly. :headdesk:I had one where I had to go through their friends and I think a family member just to get a hold of them :anger explode:

[Ponytales]

Not quite a pro mer but I previously had a costumed job dealing with kids (living history at a museum) and you REALLY have to push the supervision rules (5 kids per adult, etc). We actually had to force this rule against some schools coming for tours who assumed they could just give me a group of ten kids with no adults and keep them all in control while moving through a 150 year old house with everything out in the open. Granted we've had adults who behave just as badly during tours (WHY do grown adults feel they should touch everything and try to open every door they pass by???) It seems people will take what you say way less seriously if you're in costume, whether it be a hoopskirt or a fishtail, even if you're the reason they are there in the first place.

[Mermaid Kalliope]

^ Same boat as Ponytales. I'm not a pro mermaid (yet), but I have dealt with clients(customers) during Halloween Haunt at Knott's Scary Farm that are extremely difficult. They won't listen to you simply because you're in costume (the reason they're there in the first place) and not security (Oh, and I'm a girl -.-; ). It gets very frustrating when people think that they can just bypass all rules. There is a no harassment/touching rule for a reason, follow it. I could go on and on and ooooooooooon about difficult "clients" if I went that route. Lets just leave it at inappropriate touching and heckling, and abusing the props.

[Ponytales]

Sadly I think the majority of mers here have the three worst traits to get someone to take you seriously: young looking females in fancy costumes. That museum I worked at? A lot of people assumed I was a younger teen who just parrots lines about the displays. But I've actually been there 7 years (completely volunteer), left just before I turned 24, and was the museum's fashion historian and in charge of the entire second floor's displays and all the textile and clothing on site. But mostly just got treated like some kind of novelty talking doll just because I was younger looking and in a corset and petticoats. Had to actually teach some of the older ladies there some of my areas because people would hear me say something, then later go and ask one of the older ladies about it as if fact checking me.

Well, back on topic, if you are of the young and female persuasion definitely make sure you have a tender or helper with you whenever you do a gig, even if its a dry one where you don't necessarily need help getting into costume or getting around. Unfortunately there's gonna be a lot of people who, though they know somewhere in their head that you're an actual living human being, you're not a 'real person' because you're in costume. Its the reason Disney face characters have helpers (one visible and at least one plainclothes hidden in the crowd). Once you put on something not normal its like you've stuck a sign around your neck saying "PLEASE POKE ME AND ASK ME INNAPROPRIATE THINGS"

[Mermaidmechanic]

Being a small female + mechanic, I've learned very quickly how to demand the obedience and attention of those around me. Posture, enthusiasm, charisma, and an unquestionable overwhelming sense of self confidence are my tools of the trade. I've become a well respected mechanic even in my military environment. Just look people in the eyes and with complete confidence, relay your message. You'll find you get a lot more respect. :) I'm also an avid LARPer and when we get the occasional ass hole strolling through our site and being rude, I quickly turn them the other way while in garb without being mean (I've even convinced a few to give it a go!).