Thread: I'm not crazy to not return this call am I?

And yes, I do know the answer is that if I feel hinky about it, that's all that matters. Still, sometimes it's good to have a self-check with Bhuzzers.

I got a message on my business voice mail from the Detroit, MI area. It's not that unusual - sometimes people move here and still have the same cell number, or sometimes people from out of town will hire me for a local party that they can't attend themselves. The caller was male, and sounded a bit older to my ear:

"Good afternoon. My name is Percy and I saw your ad online. I was wondering if you were taking on any new customers. Again, this is Percy, please call me at 248-xxx-xxxx."

What set off alarm bells for me is that he doesn't mention Belly Dancing, dancing or any kind of party or lessons. He could have been leaving a message for any kind of business, really (to be frank, it sounded like the kind of message you'd leave in response to a Craigslist ad under "Adult Services"). And I've never had a potential client or student call themselves a "customer" before.

I hate to not call him back based on semantics if he is legitimate, but I have a feeling if I do call back, out conversation might be accompanied by the dulcet tones of the skin mizmar...

Trust your women's intuition.

I wouldn't return the call. Let him call again, maybe he will leave a more coherent message.

Originally Posted by laura 2

dulcet tones of the skin mizmar...

THIS. is horrifying.

Always, always, always go with your gut. It's better to miss out on a gig than to possibly find yourself in a difficult situation. Plus, as Jasani says, the guy will call back if he really has something legit to talk about.

Yeah, don't call.

Okay, at least now I know it's not just me!

Do you have a male friend who can return the call as your "personal assistant?"

Sometimes I get calls that seem sketch at first but really it's an ESL situation.

Also some Arabic club owners tend to be a bit curt on the phone sometimes.

"...dulcet tones of a skin mizmar."

EW! Ew-Ew-Ewewewew-EW! I'm behind you 1,000% Galatea--do NOT call back!

Originally Posted by _Tanya_

Do you have a male friend who can return the call as your "personal assistant?"

Sometimes I get calls that seem sketch at first but really it's an ESL situation.

Also some Arabic club owners tend to be a bit curt on the phone sometimes.

yeah, but how many Arabic men are named "Percy"?

Yeah have a guy call back. At least that will satisfy your curiosity. But yes most likely Percy is putting his feelers out to find out if you offer adult services.

Originally Posted by jasani

yeah, but how many Arabic men are named "Percy"?

and if he owns a ME restaurant in Detroit, I'm not sure why he would call a dancer from Wisconsin.

The only guy I could have call back is my husband and he really does not want to talk to some guy who could possibly be propositioning his wife for sex.

Just looking at this from a different perspective...is it possible that this man has just never hired a bellydancer before and isn't sure how to go about it? That might be why he referred to himself as a customer. Also, some people (me!) don't really like talking to a voicemail and may come across....odd.

However, it's probably best to go with your intuition.

Originally Posted by laura 2

The only guy I could have call back is my husband and he really does not want to talk to some guy who could possibly be propositioning his wife for sex.

Oooh, I don't know. I think I'd *LOVE* to talk to some guy who might be propositioning my wife for sex...

{where's the jealous male bashing face icon???}

Originally Posted by Sariah

Just looking at this from a different perspective...is it possible that this man has just never hired a bellydancer before and isn't sure how to go about it? That might be why he referred to himself as a customer. Also, some people (me!) don't really like talking to a voicemail and may come across....odd.

However, it's probably best to go with your intuition.

Yeah, when I think about it, it's three unusual things combined together that weirded me out:

1) Not specifically mentioning Belly Dancing, a party/event or lessons
2) Out of state phone number (happens maybe once a year or so)
3) Male caller (I'd say about 95% of people who call me are women)

None of these three things on their own would raise much of an eyebrow, or maybe not even a couple of them. But all three together sets of my weird-o-meter.

Originally Posted by zorba

Oooh, I don't know. I think I'd *LOVE* to talk to some guy who might be propositioning my wife for sex...

{where's the jealous male bashing face icon???}

I think Mike prefers to live in denial that anyone would have such impure thoughts about his wife. ..l;,

Awww, you guys, life isn't always so sexy and sensational.

I'll bet you $50 he wants to help you improve your search engine rankings.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Awww, you guys, life isn't always so sexy and sensational.

I'll bet you $50 he wants to help you improve your search engine rankings.

You know, Lauren? This makes so much sense, and a telemarketer totally explains all three things that weirded me out.

I've gotten so many of the totally vague "increase your website visibility" emails, but this would be the first time I've heard the same spiel on the phone. I have had telemarketers call my business line, but they've always identified their company and/or reason for calling in the message. At least, that's my excuse for not picking up on something so obvious. :Aembarassed:

It wouldn't mean he isn't *also* having some impure thoughts, of course.

Taking new customers....that's a red flag right there. Go with your gut.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Awww, you guys, life isn't always so sexy and sensational.

I'll bet you $50 he wants to help you improve your search engine rankings.

I bet Lauren is right. I have gotten quite a few messages and calls from advertisers. They leave purposefully vague messages so that you're confused enough to call them back. It's annoying.

Either way, it's probably safe to skip returning the call. But there's nothing to be worried about if you DO return the call...you'll probably know within a minute whether it's a "skin mizmar" situation, an annoying advertiser, or a legitimate inquiry. If it's the first two, all you have to do is hang up.

Nisaa

look up the phone number - i use 411 dot com & click on reverse phone to search. a lot of weird numbers i get are telemarketers or wrong numbers. if it's a landline (not a cell ph) and a listed ph# then it'll show who it's assigned to/listed as. if it's a cell it'll show the cell company it's assigned to. may satisfy your curiousity some. if not, you could block your number & call it back just to see who answers (if it's telemarketers), then hang up, lol.

i don't know that i'd call him back though, or have a man call back either. if he is having hinky thoughts, then a man calling back to discuss business w/him may scream 'pimp'. if he's looking to book a party or whatever, like you said, he would've at least mentioned something along those lines. to ask if you're taking new customers sounds like he wants a private show - where maybe he could play the mizmar for you. could be totally wrong, but was my first impression.

I've gotten sketchy calls before. IF they don't explicitly day right off the bat "I'm looking for a dancer for my event" I don't even bother. You act professional and I'll act professional, buddy!