There have been a few posts on my social media platforms about The Invisible Chauffeur that have raised some questions from my contemporaries. If you like, you can read his story in my blog, but I’d like to explain what his real purpose to my clients is.
Why would a professional want to be invisible?
Some fellow chauffeurs have asked why I wouldn’t want to take photos with my principal guests and show the world who I’m driving for. ‘It would bring more business’, ‘it makes you look amazing’! My response to comments like these would be, I know I’m amazing, I don’t need to flaunt myself like that!
In truth though, what tops the list of my principles is that The Summit Chauffeurs offers a discreet service. We protect your identity, we don’t use it to sell ourselves. No matter how tempting it might be to share who we’re driving, where and when – it never happens.
The only ‘selfies’ we take are of our own beautiful faces, but mainly the executive vehicles at our pick-ups and destinations, weeks after they have occurred. And that means there’s no threat to your safety or personal comfort from paparazzi or crazed fans.
Why don’t you share where you are at the time?
I understand that social media loves it when you share live posts or even video, tagging the venues and making a big deal out of being at a concert or sporting event for example. But I prefer to make a bigger deal out of protecting the principal and their guests from unwanted attention.
I might remind you about a rather unpleasant experience where my principal and his guest were tracked, targeted and robbed at their collection point. In all honesty, I could not risk anything like that happening again, and I certainly wouldn’t want to be the reason the criminals knew they were there.
And it’s not just famous faces The Summit protects this way, it’s politicians, sporting executives, high-end scientists and more…
Don’t you interact and build rapport with your clients?
Of course we do! All The Summit’s chauffeurs are trained through the Guild of Professional Chauffeurs (GOPC), and that includes how to interact with your principals and guests. It also includes how not to overstep the mark by limiting your questioning and conversation topics.
I take it even further by reading the room, or car… If you’re engaged in conversation with someone already, busy working on your laptop or mobile device, tired, agitated, or just not one for small-talk, I recognise that and perform as an exceptional service without the chat.
I don’t like being in the way at the best of times, but when it comes to chauffeuring, if I’m noticed, I’m not doing the job for which I was hired. Unless of course, my guest wants to chat… I hope this blog has cleared up any questions you had about the Invisible Chauffeur. That’s me and my drivers – always there for you, never in your way.