Thread: voice mail message for bellydance

So I've been using my cell phone as my contact number for any bellydance related stuff--but this is the same phone number that my other, non bellydance friends and colleagues use to get a hold of me. I don't really want people calling me inquiring about bellydance stuff to necessarily know my real name, but I don't want to confuse people with my dance name either if they aren't calling about that. I've changed my voice mail message to my number essentially, saying "you have reached xxx-xxx-xxxx please leave your name number a short message etc. etc." I think this is a fairly neutral solution, but it certainly does not confirm you are calling Amira--I wonder if people would be confused by that. I don't always pick up if I don't recognize the number either.

What is your solution? How do you prefer to be contacted?

I use my cell too and my VM message is me saying, "I'm sorry I missed your call, please leave a message with your contact number and I'll call you back at my earliest convience. Thank you and have a great day." That way, they hear a woman's voice and I don't say my name as to not confuse anyone.

You could say both: "You have called (whatever your first name is) and Amira of Amira's Studio and Bellygrams (or whatever your business name is). Please leave your contact details and a short message after the tone"

I've pondered this as well. I currently just say my number and a similar message as Amira's.

I'm using Vumber. It gives me a separate number and I picked the area code - especially nice since my real number has an out of state area code - and a separate VM box and message. It also tells me when someone is calling the Vumber as opposed to my regular number.

I really like the service. Besides solving the outgoing message issue, it helps me to keeps the personas separate, and I always know how to answer the phone.

I used to have one that said you have reached (real name) and Petite Nadirah....

but now, anyone who calls me knows my dance name anyway and just ignores the rest of my message, so I think what it says right now is "You have reached Petite Nadirah and Raqs Fusion Bellydance..."

My VM uses my real name, since I'm on the job-hunting circuit and don't want to scare any recruiters, headhunters, references or prospective employers ,r:;

Back when I was a baby-beginner dancer, mine was along the lines of "Hi, sorry I can't take your call right now. If you leave a message for Lisa - or Maiya - I'll get back to you soon!" It was the most schizotypal voicemail in the world - and I ditched that because I was afraid people who didn't know me might wonder if Maiya (my old stage name) was my kid, my dog, my lover, my alter-ego...or whatever ..l;,

I do like the idea of just leaving your number and your message, though. I'll be interested to hear what everyone else does...

Leyla,
I thought about Vumber. How's that working for you??

Wasn't there something on here about a cheap service that you can get (through Google?) where you get a new phone number and voicemail and you can check it from the computer or home? That way you can have your own business number without having to get a new line or cell phone. If someone remembers that or can find it, please chime in.

I never use my name. Just confirm the number "Hi you've reached xxx.." and ask the caller to leave a message. Most of the dancers I know in my area do this. It keeps my dancing low profile among my non-dance contact. I also think it cuts down on harassment or crank calls. Because if someone is just trying to mess with you or something they might think twice when the message doesn't confirm your profession.

Originally Posted by aazura

Leyla,
I thought about Vumber. How's that working for you??

I like it a lot. I can do outgoing calls through it. If I have had a problem caller, I could easily change the number too. It's about $10/month.

Andalee, I looked into the google one - I forget the name of it - but it was in beta and closed to those without invites. I didn't want to wait.

I looked into the Google one too--I think it's called Grand Central. Even with an invite, the available area codes were very limited and there was nothing even remotely close to my area (which is odd, since Google is based in Silicon Valley). I looked at Vumber but was too frenzied to give it a try before I had to order new biz cards. But I may try it anyway and just print new cards. If people use either number, it would still get through to me.

I've heard of grand central as the next new thing (this from some interview or radio show)...but only a few hundred? Thousand? folks had been beta testing it. I think they like it a lot though. I'll have to look at Vumber. I like that idea a lot actually. I probably won't change anything soon since my business cards are all printed but I like the idea of a separate identity.

Ironic to see this thread here now. I just started using RingCentral...which is basically the same concept as Vumber. I got a toll-free number for the Intensive (1-888-LV-RAKS-U) which will be live probably by the end of this week. I'm very excited about this service as it is so economical and will help me differentiate between the calls I get for the Intensive & the calls I get for my website business. Everything gets forwarded to my cell phone, but I'll know who is calling and for what business.

Additionally, I can route calls to other folks on my team of directors. So you'll be able to choose an extension for my Director of Vending and it will route the call to her (instead of me). I'm very excited about this.

Also, with Vumber, I got the first month free :)

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

Also, with Vumber, I got the first month free :)

Yeah, RingCentral has a free trial membership as well. Does Vumber also have a referral program? They both seem pretty similar. I love that I can use the number for incoming faxes as well and then it converts the fax to a pdf and sends it to my email. SWEET! Especially for bellydance contracts. Whoohoo!

Originally Posted by Samira_dncr

Yeah, RingCentral has a free trial membership as well. Does Vumber also have a referral program? They both seem pretty similar. I love that I can use the number for incoming faxes as well and then it converts the fax to a pdf and sends it to my email. SWEET! Especially for bellydance contracts. Whoohoo!

Wow! RingCentral sounds awesome! I don't deal with faxes and several branches of a business, so I don't know if Vumber has anything that complex.

Vumber does have a referral system it turns out! I'm glad you asked Samira. So if anyone is thinking of getting it and wants to do me the favor of being referred by me, just let me know. ..g.:

Originally Posted by LeylaFahada

Wow! RingCentral sounds awesome! I don't deal with faxes and several branches of a business, so I don't know if Vumber has anything that complex.

Vumber does have a referral system it turns out! I'm glad you asked Samira. So if anyone is thinking of getting it and wants to do me the favor of being referred by me, just let me know. ..g.:

LOL... glad I mentioned it

If anyone wants a referral for RingCentral, I'm also happy to oblige.

I will chime in here but as a caller, I hate the whole you have reached (your number here) leave a message cause I am not sure if I am leaving a message for the right person, especially if I am trying to book you so it is not a number I have called before.

My instructors phone says "You have reached Elinor and Sharita Productions, blah blah blah". At least then I know that I have reached the right person.

I always used a separate line. for $9,99 a month and a shared minutes plan, it also shows my outgoing calls from that number so I don't share my private number either. it's a write-off too for those of you who would use it, as long as that's all you use it for. It helped cut out the late night frat boy calls since it was turned off. I had a yellow pages ad, so yes, I did get them on occasion.

I use Grand Central, I have for a while now. I LOVE it. Just hope it stays free :)

I have been using Grand Central since they first came on the scene. i recently purchased a pay-as-u-go phone for the business. I now route the Grand Central # to the Pay-As-U-Go phone. No more issues!

Now - have 2 phones ;-)

With AT&T - you can buy a sim card for $100 and it is good for a year. It is something crazy like 200 minutes or something like that. I am also using my old Razr.

This solution has been perfect!