comp before contract
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- ldww
do you often make a comp before you actually get a contract from the client, to get them to want to go with you? do you actually put all energy into this and make a full comp or just a teaser? then do you charge for the hours you spent on it if you get the gig?
- jevad0
um..I hardly ever do that...why do a comp before you have even done a wireframe or site architecture/info architecture? If they like the comp you're fucked - you have to go with that one.
In short - no. I show them previous work and we talk about what can be done for them or to their existing site.
- robotron3k0
1st meeting: Meet to see if you want to work together, only 45 minutes (no charge) if yes go to next step.
2nd meeting: present contract, 50% down, 50% at completion
once 50% down is paid to you,
start working...etc., etc....
- kld0
agreed...
- thompson0
yeah...you shouldn't comp something to win a contract. Hopefully your portfolio can convince the client to use you. The danger in pre-comping is showing them an idea they can pitch to some other designer if your bid is too high. And of course getting the project pinned down too early.
Before we do any work on a project we take an initial payment and cancellation fee.however, there was a rare occasion when a client of ours was courting several design firms and had each of them (me included) comp postcard and concept for an upcoming piece. But they were clear about the arrangment with other design firms and that it was a sort of competition. And in that case it was a big job and big client that we wanted to win over (we also were about 95% sure they wouldn't screw us).
- auricom0
i second all that.
comps suck. luckily i have a good relationship with one of my clients, but he's the only one (old friend). i'll do that occasionally if i know them well or something. for anyone else, 50% down, 50% when finished.
- ********0
nope
- Mick0
I've only ever done this for an employer when bidding for 100K plus jobs. It's crucial to do all the ass kissing you can for big projects, but for small agencies and freelance stuff it's just not worth it.
- brandelec0
thats what a portfolio is for
- airey0
that's called a 'free pitch'. it blows and is becoming more common. it's bad news for the industry and (in a perfect world) you shouldn't do it but realistically sometimes you simply have to. just make sure you spell out in CAPITALS that the comp will change when actual content and logistics step up to bat. it's usual that the clients that ask for it will be utter pricks (mercenary 'bottom line' types) to work for so be careful.
- jevad0
its very simple - I simply will not work on 'free pitches' for potential clients. I think it's shady, and I don't do business that way. I've turned 2 clients away because of their attitudes to that effect.
I mean really - I wouldn't ask an architect to mock me up a house before i choose him to build one for me.
- meter0
i do it occasionally if it's a project i really, really want. 90% of the time it ends up being a complete waste of time, but i do sometimes make the decision that it's worth the gamble, even though it rarely pays off.