The way Patrick "patio11" Mackenzie validated his idea for Appointment Reminder was to make a mockup, make appointments with the relevant demographic at the professional's regular rate, and use that time to show the professional the mockup.
Thanks. Do you think that for your target market, being a walk-in was more beneficial than appointments would have been?
As I was typing I sort of had a feeling that lawyers and hair salons have different attitudes toward walk-ins. Partly because I was in a PT office with the boy's ankle a couple of weeks ago when a fellow walked in and was trying to pitch something about an app...it wasn't really clear what from fifteen feet away (but I don't think it was clearer to the office manager) and the person to talk to was a Physical Therapist and consequently booked solid. The fellow didn't seem to be aware of HIPAA either and my instinct is it was at least even money he was planning to outsource development...yellow legal pad might have been a factor.
The office manager tried to direct the fellow toward thinking about HIPAA but I don't think it registered. Anyway, the eaves dropping reminded me of your story.
I'm curious if there is a better link than that interview to that particular story.