I am a photographer and I photograph mostly events. Most of my work is at weekends and for obvious reasons if someone wants to book my services the most important thing is the date, to check I am available first and once I know I am free then I can commit to a job, which is secured by paying a deposit.
I got an email a few days back from someone interested in hiring me for an event, they are not sure about the date yet, just a Sunday in November and they want to make the full payment for it. I tell him that I need to know the date, otherwise I cannot secure the booking (obviously!!!). Emails back and forth, I tell him a few times we cannot take things forward if he doesn't give me a date as it may clash with other jobs. His last email : "The venue have booked and i want you to get this job done ✅ for me". I am fuming...don't want to work for somebody sooooo unreasonable, no matter the date. Have you ever had someone like that and what to do? I was going to reply "A venue wouldn't book anything without a date and me neither, sorry not available" and then block, or just ignore, not reply and also block? Or blocking is too extreme. I want to be professional but it pisses me off that someone expects me to be available for a whole month for them!!