Save the Date?

When I get a message from someone asking me if I am free on a particular date I always give my answer the same way. First if I am not free, that is an easy answer. If I am free, I tell them so,with the caveat that I am free right this minute. If the inquirer wants to invite me or book me for something right that moment then I can respond.

Most times I get an inquiry about when I might be free in the future and I give a bunch of dates. I always say that I can not guarantee that I will still be free on those dates say next week or next month. This seems like a reasonable answer.

I had someone this week wanting to schedule a class. She needed to find three days. I gave her perhaps twenty dates to chose from with my caveat. She replied that she had so many people to coordinate and asked if I would hold all 20 dates just for her for a month. She acted surprised when I said I could not do that.

I explained that there are lots of other people inquiring about dates. Nothing is set in stone until a class is scheduled, holding 20 days with the idea that only 3 are going to be booked means I am potentially not scheduling something on the 17 other days. And even 3 might never be booked.

This person still did not quite understand. I went further, and told her she was welcome to pay for all 20 dates and only use 3. She said that was crazy. I agreed, but in essence that is what she was asking me to do for her.

Most people I deal with understand that if they want a certain date they need to book fast. Please be understanding if I told you a date was free two months ago and you called today to book that date it is most likely already gone.