One of Life's Great Mysteries - Why No Reply?

Here, to me, is one of life's great mysteries.

When I say "life," I mean life as a wedding vendor. When I say "great mysteries," I'm being a bit facetious. But I truly am puzzled by it.

What I'm referring to is the following scenario, which happens often enough to puzzle me:

• Step 1: A prospective client inquiries about my services for his/her wedding via email.
  
• Step 2: I respond, often within minutes or within hours at most.
• Step 3: No reply from the prospective client.
  
• Step 4: Wait a couple days, repeat Step 2.
• Step 5: Again, no reply.
• Step 6: I'm left to ponder why.

Here's what I don't get. Getting married is a big deal. Planning a wedding is a big deal. Hiring the right entertainment for a wedding reception is a big deal.  So why would someone who takes the initiative to reach out to me about DJ'ing their wedding simply drop the ball after that initial inquiry?

Maybe it's just me, but when I desire to purchase any product or service and become sufficiently motivated to act on that desire, I appreciate a prompt response from a vendor I contact, and I'm eager to follow-up. I might or might not end up purchasing from that vendor, but at least I want to engage in the dialogue to help me decide.

When I enter a hardware store and ask the guy at the information desk "Do you stock humidifiers?" and he says "Yes, they're on Aisle 7," I don't turn on my heels without another word and leave the store! I say "thank you"; I proceed directly to Aisle 7; I look over their selection; I ask the clerk some questions about product features, benefits, and prices, and if he asks me questions to help him suggest the right humidifier for my needs, I answer his. That's how I make an informed choice of what humidifier to buy, and whether to buy it from that store or elsewhere.

And here, we're talking about a crucial service for someone's wedding!

Ah, you might say ... there's got to be an explanation for the no-reply scenario.

Perhaps the brides and grooms who contact me are very busy.  True, they are ... but they weren't too busy to visit my website and fill out my on-line inquiry form! 

Perhaps they simply didn't like my response.But often their inquiry simply asks "Are you available on our wedding date?" Surely, they can't be displeased when my answer is "Yes, I am!"

Besides, unless they're randomly sending out dozens of initial inquiries, there must be something they saw, read, heard, or learned about my services that attracted them enough to take the time to contact me.

Perhaps, they simply overlooked my response, or it was blocked by their junk mail filter? I guess that's a possibility. But I clearly label my email response "DJ for Your [Month/Day] Wedding" and I respond by phone as well as email in most cases.

Perhaps they've decided to hire someone else to provide their wedding entertainment? Eventually, sure ... but within minutes after first contacting me, unlikely! 

Honestly, I just don't get it. It's not like I'm sending spam or making unsolicited sales calls. In every case, I am responding to a specific inquiry about my services.

I give each and every client and prospective client personal, timely, and attentive service. I think they deserve nothing less. And I know that's what leads to successful wedding receptions.  So that's how I proceed, from the very first contact, on through the planning phase, and right up to and including their wedding day. It's a pathway down the street of communication. Not a one-way street. Not a dead-end street. A two-way street. That's the way to get you where you want to go if you're planning a wedding. 

Again, I am NOT suggesting that anyone who contacts me is obligated to hire me. Far from it. All I'm suggesting is that once someone has opened up a dialogue with me, we should have an actual dialogue! In fact, it's that dialogue that helps them -- and me -- determine if we're a good fit for each other, or not. 

Fortunately, the majority of wedding couples DO follow-up after their initial inquiry and DO end up talking with me or meeting me in person -- and enough of those end up hiring me to keep my calendar pretty full. But still, I find myself pondering all those who leave me hanging after I took the trouble to respond to their inquiry.