WAHM Forums

The reason I ask is so often people complain they have no way to do parties. Well, I have to hire sitters sometimes when I do Saturday parties, and I just make sure the party is worth it. I'd rather be gone 3 hours then 40.


I thought I'd start a discussion.


Right now, I have sitters so I can work the homeshow. I do 2 big events during the year and they include days. It's a lot of work now, but it pays off during the year and is worth it, so I think of it as an investment. And my kids actually think of it as a treat.


So, when do you hire sitters?


Debbie

I have hire a sitter twice so far. Both times were because something changed and the original plan didn't work out!

Ok, I just wanted to check to see if you were hiring a sitter for your kids or a sitter for the party?


The reason I was asking is because when I wasin high school and for 2 years after I lived on an army base. I was well known and demanded babysitter there. My weekends were booked always lol..it was GOOD money.


Anyway sorry back to my point. I had one lady who I would baby sit for about 1 time a month sometimes more and she hosted home parties alot. She wasn't the rep, she just liked to have parties and other adult conversations. So she hired me to come be the sitter for her party. She paid yes rather than a rep, but I had prob 20 kids atleast outside in the backyard, it was summer time, and we had a blast and themoms enjoyed the party and bought alot.


I sometimes think that people would be more likely to have a party if they had a reliable babysitter or the peopel attending def had a babysitter. As we know not all dh's will want to watch the kids for a few hours or they are actually working in the evenings or at night.


Anyway I was just trying to clarify which you were asking about.

I have two teenagers, so I have no problem hiring a sitter (yes I pay my own children for watching their little sisters - they are MY kids, and I have never expected the older two to watch them for freesmileys/smiley1.gif).


The few times that I have had to find a babysitter because my older two have plans, I have had no problem findingone of their friends who are here all the time anyway to take care of my younger two for a few hours.

My Husband works crazy hours and has every other weekend off. My Saturdays fill up, so I have a babysitter come to watch my little one. She gets excited because it is someone who is there to play with her!


I hada party where I had to hire babysitters (large party) because the guests were not going to. Spa parties are supposed to be relaxing without cell phones, husbands and children! Thank goodness the house was large enough that we didn't hear the children and it was a relaxing for the hostess/guests. The children had a great time too!


Yes, I paid for the babysitters because the hostess/guests were not going to. I felt that was tacky because they didn't buy anything either. I now encourage the hostess to come up with and pay a babysitter if she feels that her guests are going to bring their children! I really prefer that they come alone so they are not distracted by what their children are doing in another room.


It has been 3 years since this hostess has had a party for me. Now she wants one when I go back to TX in July. This should be very interesting! You can hostess coach until you are blue in the face and some will never "get it" or follow it!


Have a great weekend!

I've never hired a sitter for my hostess, but I do know some who do, or have their DH watch them in another room.


That's a bummer Vicki. You can put on the letter, no children allowed. If they are, you need to supply a babysitter at your expense. If they don't want to oblige, and you know sales will be low, you may want to say no. Remember, your time is money. And it may have her rethink it. (I can't really do that because I sell toys, but I do encourage no kids.)


Debbie

Deb,


I totally agree! The Hostess had sales and bookings at the last party. She talked them all out of booking and buying.


I was back in TX (lived there for 7 years) in January. At a Girl's Night out with friends, I booked 5 parties for July! This disaster hostess is one of them. I told her flatout my time is money and I am there to do businessas well asgoing to our annual Celebration. If she wants full hostess benefits, she also needs to get bookings before her party. Myconsultant will get the bookings from each party if they are after I leave. (Only in for 2 weeks)


This is the only hostess in 3 years who ever gave me a problem. I was absolutely shocked when she said she wanted to have another party! I have no problem firing bad hostesses!!

Im lucky my husband works good hours he leaves at 6 and is home by 6 then he has saturdays and sundays off. so it works out for me.

This is the only hostess in 3 years who ever gave me a problem. I was absolutely shocked when she said she wanted to have another party! I have no problem firing bad hostesses!!





Yikes. She loved the free makeovers but didn't want to do anything to help you. I pm'd you a thought on maybe why.


Glad the rest of your hostesses have been awesome!


Debbie

Sorry I am a little sleep deprived this morning! My Daughter has had strep throat for a week and kept me up last night.


I do love my hostesses and have a great working relationship with them. This one on the other hand is a user. She emailed me a few days before my trip in January to have me bring all my Daughter's clothes that no longer fit with me. She would pay garage sale prices! She is an old neighbor of mine as well and we have a long history.


I apologize for my wording! It came out all wrong...

I understand! My family has been sick too, and I finally made my DH, who's also been sick, get up once last night.


Debbie

Occassionally I end up hiring a sitter if my husband has to work (sometimes on Saturdays) and my parents aren't available to babysit. I doni' have a problem with it if it's necessary. I also have to do it in the summer when I have a booth at the fair. Not my top choice, but I do what I have to.

Too bad they don't have a emoticon for put foot in mouth! Thanks for understanding. I usually don't post much on this board. Think I will just stay on my own board until I can value to a conversation that is positive.


I hate it when I come across as mean and a bad consultant.http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif I am a positive person and try to be the best consultant and representative of my company.

Since I work two "different" party plans, sometimes I have to hire a sitter (a dear friend of our family's). My husband works 3rd shift, so the only time I have to consider hiring a sitter is during the week; Friday nights thru Sunday afternoon, he has me covered.


With Party Gals, if my hubby isn't able to be home withmy twogirls, I have no choice but to call my girlfriend to come over.


With Wildtree, I can take my 10 yr old daughter with me (my 13 yr old daughter is fine alone for short spells). I always check first with my hostessto see if she is OK with that. Since she's the one who wants to be a chef some day, this is her chance to be my helper (and she really does helpsmileys/smiley4.gif!); she loves it. If my hubby is home, I never take my kids.Edited by: thatspagirl

I've had to hire a sitter a couple of times. My husband used to travel for his job, so it fell on the nights he was traveling. I actually tell my hostess when I have a sitter at home. She's more likely to get the show on the road (started on time) and I'm out the door much more quickly.


When I don't have to be home (No sitter) I often stay and socialize. Heck... it's a fun night out! Last night I had Homemade Spiced Hot chocolate with Homemade eclairs! I think I gained a few pounds... but oh my! It was a Southern Living Hot Chocolate recipe with Peppermint Schnapps! YUM! It was like ayummyPeppermint paddy!


OK... back to the Sitter discussion. Definitely tell your hotess you have a sitter at home. She'll be more likely to get you in and out quicker. I think they appreciate it when you're honest with them.


I also agree that the "babysitter factor" really makes you hostess coach better. You don't want to pay a babsitter for nothing! So... I agree the nights I have to hire a sitter... I make sure it's worth my while.


Susan Scarborough Smith / Star Director Edited by: SusanwithSLAH

You are not a bad consultant and did not come across that way. I just thought you might not think of thethe way some people would interpret it. I think you are great, successful and you better stay on this board because I need to learn from you!


Debbie








Too bad they don't have a emoticon for put foot in mouth! Thanks for understanding. I usually don't post much on this board. Think I will just stay on my own board until I can value to a conversation that is positive.


I hate it when I come across as mean and a bad consultant.http://www.wahm.com/forum/smileys/smiley18.gif I am a positive person and try to be the best consultant and representative of my company.

I will drop it and chalk it up to a bad day! Thanks for looking out for me.

My husband travels quite a bit, so I hire babysitters for my kids on a
regular basis(so I can do parties). It definitely gets you in the
habit of doing a really good job of hostess coaching('cause you don't
want to pay for a babysitter and not make any money)!

My husband usually doesn't get hom euntil 7, so on weeknight parties, I will hire a sitter to come if I need to leave before then, even maybe for an hour. I have for some day shows too, but I try to use family when possible adn minimize the babysitting. For me sometimes the drive time is more of a factor where I see I've spend too much wasted time for parties, vs the babysitter money..