singrswim, how's it going?
Sometimes, we have to make executive decisions. Recently, I had a brunch scheduled at a hotel with several dining rooms and clubs. The night before the shop, I made the pre-visit call and found out that the dining room listed on my shop was under renovation, and brunches had been temporarily downsized and relocated to a conference room. The scheduler didn't answer her phone so I shot her an email advising her of the change, and that I was proceeding with the shop unless I heard different from her before 10 the next morning.
I could have decided to not do the shop until I heard from the scheduler. Instead, I chose to go on record with an email. Not surprisingly, I had not heard from her by the next morning. I did the shop. Got home and had an email from the scheduler asking me to sit tight until she cleared it with the client.
I took a chance conducting the shop and spending my money. Minimal back and forths with a positive outcome. I was paid.