"Fun Job" Scheduling

[FLSUnFIRE]

So your may know I have a fun job conducting tours. As the business has grown and evolved the owner is backing out of doing tours to meet other demands and has asked me for availability several months out before advertising on booking sites. This ties me up on dates that I offer to be available without any guarantee I'll work (probably about 25% will be booked as close to 12hrs prior) and I'm not happy with that dynamic. I do not like making plans contingent on not getting booked and it limits possible travel. I very much enjoy doing the tours but don't want to go on an on-call emergency basis (I won't get many and enjoy doing them and feel I give better tours when I'm not "rusty"). In an ideal world (not practical as they need to run a business and have consistency) I'd be able to list my own tours and manage the schedule so that if I wanted a day off I'd just remove that tour option and have full flexibility -basically running my own business and closing any time I don't want to work. My leaving would cause them some pain as I am good, motivated, and (too!) flexible. Bottom line is I want to avoid blocking time that won't be executed -being compensated for the "option" on my time is not feasible (new/growing small business with tight cash flow) and not desirable by me as it's a freedom thing and not a money thing. I'm curious if the collective wisdom here has any ideas as I'd like to offer a solution that allows me to keep doing something I enjoy rather than eventually quitting as I don't fit their needs anymore.

 

[pjigar]

I would tell the owner exactly what you told us. If they value your time then they would work with you to find a mutually agreeable solution. I would like blocking calendar option even if it costs a few bookings to compensate for your "uncompensated" on call time. I think it is a win-win if I were a business owner.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Perhaps create a system where a scheduled tour is taken off the schedule if it is not booked by xxx days in advance? This way, you would not be left hanging until the last minute.

Or perhaps stop working for your friend entirely. Consider starting your own business giving tours. You would have complete schedule freedom. And you could rent bikes from either your friend or other bike shop.

If this is a fun job and you are not dependent on the income then make the whole experience work for you.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Perhaps recruit and train more tour guides to share the workload.

 

[Aerides]

"Fun Job" and "scheduling" would not go in the same sentence for me. Counter to the owner that the status quo is really the only way you want to work, take it or leave it?

 

[Flieger]

Doesn't sound like a "fun job" anymore to me.....

Flieger

 

[Texas Proud]

Where are they advertising the tours?

We have bought tours on Viator... and have loved them.... had a whale watching tour in Alaska that was longer than the cruise line... there were only 4 on the boat but the owner said he got more money doing it himself than through the cruise line...

We also did a float plane in Anchorage and was lucky as we were the only 2 on the flight!! They still did it for us... OH, forgot to say... the place we wanted to go was socked in so they offered us a different flight even though we were only 2!!

You get to choose when you want to book tours and if you want to have a minimum etc...

 

[Dtail]

Perhaps get more help, or it might be time to quit. Maybe you wish to do a few tours on your own, which would still involve some scheduling.

 

[FLSUnFIRE]

Was flying home today so just one response. They are bringing on more guides but that makes scheduling more complex and adds a bit to my predicament. I want tours but not empty blocks of committed time. They are not pressing for more time but asking to commit. They book through multiple sites Viator, AirBnB, TripAdvisor, etc and possibly a bit more so dynamic scheduling based on my whims (my holy grail) isn't really feasible.

Agree, if scheduling becomes an issue then the fun will leave the job and I'm here for the fun (but know my value and won't work for free). The "when will you be available" messages are the unfun part.

Yes, I'll talk to them about my predicament but would rather approach them with a "here's a great solution" than I'm frustrated and considering backing out (and I don't really want to as I do love leading the tours). I don't expect them to cater to me and until this point my flexibility and willingness/ability to help out on short notice has worked great but as they grow and bring on more guides they need to set schedules with the guides further in the future and I don't like it. LOL

This isn't a situation where I am being pressured (other than my somewhat ironically strong work ethic and desire to help them succeed). It is growing pains and a bit frustrating and hoping for some magic bullet. If they were bigger and fully booked then I could set aside time knowing I'd most likely get the dates I want to work and wouldn't mind setting aside the days.

I really don't expect a great option... easiest is to go to an on call type arrangement which would help them in a pinch but wouldn't get me many tours.

 

[Texas Proud]

A big question is how often a tour does not happen? The way you talk it would seem that it happens a lot... I would not like that either..

If it is 1 in 10 are you OK with that? If they have more than one person then ask them to skip them instead of you...

If it is so fun for you then set up your own company and schedule only when you want to... and if nothing shows up who cares as YOU set the schedule without any commitment you do not like..

 

[FLSUnFIRE]

A big question is how often a tour does not happen? The way you talk it would seem that it happens a lot... I would not like that either..

If it is 1 in 10 are you OK with that? If they have more than one person then ask them to skip them instead of you...

If it is so fun for you then set up your own company and schedule only when you want to... and if nothing shows up who cares as YOU set the schedule without any commitment you do not like..

In a perfect world, I'd be booked every time I'm available but not all get booked and it is seasonal as well.... Hurricanes may make this season a bit weird too as visitors booking for the winter were doing it when the news made the damage (very bad) seem even worse. A majority of bookings are made only 24-48 hours in advance as people get here and decide. I wouldn't got into competition with them and don't want to run my own business. I knew this would run it's course and maybe it's starting to as I'm getting less keen to tie up my schedule. All my earnings end up in my Roth so I don't need the money but it does satisfy my savings itch as I draw off my portfolio!

 

[Koolau]

Only you and your boss can w*rk this out. Honesty is the best policy. Let the boss know what YOU want and what you will accept. Maybe there is a compromise you can both live with.

I hope this w*rks out for you.

 

[CRLLS]

I agree with the others. It is your retirement. You get only one chance to do it. Do what makes you happy, not the tour company. Try to get things worked out with them. If they won't agree, maybe there is another tour company that would be more willing to take you on your terms. If not, find some other way to fill the free time.

 

[Texas Proud]

Only you and your boss can w*rk this out. Honesty is the best policy. Let the boss know what YOU want and what you will accept. Maybe there is a compromise you can both live with.

I hope this w*rks out for you.

Agree with this... if you do not want to do your own thing (your firm) then you need to tell your boss the days YOU want to work and let him work around your schedule...

That does not mean he can give you a call any day and ask 'are you available tomorrow or the next day'....

My DW is a sub at school... she chooses which classes she wants and what days she wants... there are teachers and office personnel that will give her a call and ask her if she can do this or that.. heck, Tuesday they called in the morning but DW was not feeling good so declined...

You have to make your schedule acceptable to you... and if they do not like it than see if there is any other firm that would accept your requests...

 

[cantfindmyglasses]

So your may know I have a fun job conducting tours. As the business has grown and evolved the owner is backing out of doing tours to meet other demands and has asked me for availability several months out before advertising on booking sites. This ties me up on dates that I offer to be available without any guarantee I'll work (probably about 25% will be booked as close to 12hrs prior) and I'm not happy with that dynamic. I do not like making plans contingent on not getting booked and it limits possible travel. I very much enjoy doing the tours but don't want to go on an on-call emergency basis (I won't get many and enjoy doing them and feel I give better tours when I'm not "rusty"). In an ideal world (not practical as they need to run a business and have consistency) I'd be able to list my own tours and manage the schedule so that if I wanted a day off I'd just remove that tour option and have full flexibility -basically running my own business and closing any time I don't want to work. My leaving would cause them some pain as I am good, motivated, and (too!) flexible. Bottom line is I want to avoid blocking time that won't be executed -being compensated for the "option" on my time is not feasible (new/growing small business with tight cash flow) and not desirable by me as it's a freedom thing and not a money thing. I'm curious if the collective wisdom here has any ideas as I'd like to offer a solution that allows me to keep doing something I enjoy rather than eventually quitting as I don't fit their needs anymore.

Hey there! I am semi-retired and in the same (or very similar) line of work as you! Blocking dates for a tour that eventually cancels is indeed an occupational hazard for folks like us. Based on your comments, I'm guessing that you're an independent contractor like me. Happy to talk by phone or Zoom; just message me first.

 

[KarenF]

I have my own pet sitting business and I work for another pet sitting agency to help them out. I can, and do, block off any time I don’t want to work. That is non negotiable for me.