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You don't tell anyone this. Instead, use a technique called "peak demand" pricing to send the messages you want.

There is something called peak demand. That is, e.g. electricity might be more expensive during peak daylight hours (when everyone wants it) than at night.

In your shoes, I would go with a pricing scheme around my work load. Price high on high demand days, and low, on low demand days.

If they ask why, explain to them: "We are now doing work where other customers will pay us X per hour. That's more than the Y that we normally charge you. If you're willing to wait, we will charge you the lower Y, but if you need it now, you will have to pay X to meet the other buyer's price." (You can even set "X" a little above what the other buyer is paying.)

That will incentivize people to work around your schedule, and give them the right signals about the opportunity cost to you. I get a discount from my tax accountant for filing after April 15.

I learned this from a copy store who charged one rate for "next in line," and a much lower rate (about 40% off), for "anytime within 24 hours." The 24 hour people knew that they might be pushed back, but also knew that the limit was 24 hours. And if the store could do their job at 2:00 a.m. (normally dead time), they would charge less.

Above all, don't tell these people that they are not needed. You will want them on your low demand days (and even on your high demand days if they are willing to pay the higher rate).

You don't tell anyone this. Instead, use a technique called "peak demand" pricing to send the messages you want.

There is something called peak demand. That is, e.g. electricity might be more expensive during peak daylight hours (when everyone wants it) than at night.

In your shoes, I would go with a pricing scheme around my work load. Price high on high demand days, and low, on low demand days. Of course, you honor your prior commitments for "today," based on what you negotiated previously.

If they ask why, explain to them: "We are now doing work where other customers will pay us X per hour. That's more than the Y that we normally charge you. If you're willing to wait, we will charge you the lower Y, but if you need it now, you will have to pay X to meet the other buyer's price." (You can even set "X" a little above what the other buyer is paying.)

That will incentivize people to work around your schedule, and give them the right signals about the opportunity cost to you. I get a discount from my tax accountant for filing after April 15.

I learned this from a copy store who charged one rate for "next in line," and a much lower rate (about 40% off), for "anytime within 24 hours." The 24 hour people knew that they might be pushed back, but also knew that the limit was 24 hours. And if the store could do their job at 2:00 a.m. (normally dead time), they would charge less.

Above all, don't tell these people that they are not needed. You will want them on your low demand days (and even on your high demand days if they are willing to pay the higher rate).

You don't tell anyone this. Instead, use a technique called "peak demand" pricing to send the messages you want.

There is something called peak demand. That is, e.g. electricity might be more expensive during peak daylight hours (when everyone wants it) than at night.

In your shoes, I would go on a pricing scheme around my work load. Price high on high demand days, and low, on low demand days.

If they ask why, explain to them: "We are now doing work where other customers will pay us X per hour. That's more than the Y that we normally charge you. If you're willing to wait, we will charge you the lower Y, but if you need it now, you will have to pay X to meet the other buyer's price." (You can even set "X" a little above what the other buyer is paying.)

That will incentivize people to work around your schedule, and give them the right signals about the opportunity cost to you. I get a discount from my tax accountant for filing after April 15.

I learned this from a copy store who charged one rate for "next in line," and a much lower rate (about 40% off), for "anytime within 24 hours." The 24 hour people knew that they might be pushed back, but also knew that the limit was 24 hours. And if the store could do their job at 2:00 a.m. (normally dead time), they would charge less.

Above all, don't tell these people that they are not needed. You will want them on your low demand days (and even on your high demand days if they are willing to pay the higher rate).

You don't tell anyone this. Instead, use a technique called "peak demand" pricing to send the messages you want.

There is something called peak demand. That is, e.g. electricity might be more expensive during peak daylight hours (when everyone wants it) than at night.

In your shoes, I would go with a pricing scheme around my work load. Price high on high demand days, and low, on low demand days.

If they ask why, explain to them: "We are now doing work where other customers will pay us X per hour. That's more than the Y that we normally charge you. If you're willing to wait, we will charge you the lower Y, but if you need it now, you will have to pay X to meet the other buyer's price." (You can even set "X" a little above what the other buyer is paying.)

That will incentivize people to work around your schedule, and give them the right signals about the opportunity cost to you. I get a discount from my tax accountant for filing after April 15.

I learned this from a copy store who charged one rate for "next in line," and a much lower rate (about 40% off), for "anytime within 24 hours." The 24 hour people knew that they might be pushed back, but also knew that the limit was 24 hours. And if the store could do their job at 2:00 a.m. (normally dead time), they would charge less.

Above all, don't tell these people that they are not needed. You will want them on your low demand days (and even on your high demand days if they are willing to pay the higher rate).

You don't tell anyone this. Instead, use a technique called "peak demand" pricing to send the messages you want.

There is something called peak demand. That is, e.g. electricity might be more expensive during peak daylight hours (when everyone wants it) than at night.

In your shoes, I would go on a pricing scheme around my work load. Price high on high demand days, and low, on low demand days.

If they ask why, explain to them: "We are now doing work where other customers will pay us X per hour. That's more than the Y that we normally charge you. If you're willing to wait, we will charge you the lower Y, but if you need it now, you will have to pay X to meet the other buyer's price." (You can even set "X" a little above what the other buyer is paying.)

That will incentivize people to work around your schedule, and give them the right signals about the opportunity cost to you. I get a discount from my tax accountant for filing after April 15.

Above all, don't tell these people that they are not needed. You will want them on your low demand days (and even on your high demand days if they are willing to pay the higher rate).

You don't tell anyone this. Instead, use a technique called "peak demand" pricing to send the messages you want.

There is something called peak demand. That is, e.g. electricity might be more expensive during peak daylight hours (when everyone wants it) than at night.

In your shoes, I would go on a pricing scheme around my work load. Price high on high demand days, and low, on low demand days.

If they ask why, explain to them: "We are now doing work where other customers will pay us X per hour. That's more than the Y that we normally charge you. If you're willing to wait, we will charge you the lower Y, but if you need it now, you will have to pay X to meet the other buyer's price." (You can even set "X" a little above what the other buyer is paying.)

That will incentivize people to work around your schedule, and give them the right signals about the opportunity cost to you. I get a discount from my tax accountant for filing after April 15.

I learned this from a copy store who charged one rate for "next in line," and a much lower rate (about 40% off), for "anytime within 24 hours." The 24 hour people knew that they might be pushed back, but also knew that the limit was 24 hours. And if the store could do their job at 2:00 a.m. (normally dead time), they would charge less.

Above all, don't tell these people that they are not needed. You will want them on your low demand days (and even on your high demand days if they are willing to pay the higher rate).