Unorganized Clients
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- Gucci
How do you deal with people who have no plan and no clue?
How do you lessen the burden and line these guys up so they don't make your head explode?
Just looking for some ideas. I'm kind of struggling with one client at the moment.
- emokid0
have you tried resorting to violence?
- ********0
the world is at a standstill because of this
no one remembers how to do anything except email memos about what needs to get done
- emokid0
i think i missed that memo
- version30
charge more, wait more, get on to something more worthwhile
- scoops0
charge by the hour
- jox0
They are unorganized how? Messy desk? Don't know what they want? Don't pick up the phone? Don't show for meetings?
- -sputnik-0
get paid by the hour. that way you never get nailed for their lack of organisation or decision-making skills
- doesnotexist0
in my experience ive found it's because they need you to explain what happens next in more detail.
no shit, i had to tell the client that, this is the first round of your mark, please pick one you like, or pick one and mark down suggestions, sign off, and give them back to me. ill then do this next step bla bla.
- ********0
we recently finished up a simple print job that took almost a year. every time we got a change from the client or his pr fim, we did it immediately. Every time they wanted yet another meeting, we attended. the client now says he wants "recompense" because it took so long
- mg330
- ********0
bwahaha!
- PonyBoy0
it's an education process...
... I've had large clients... to small mom/pop shops step into a project w/out knowing what they want...
... what pisses me off is the misconceived notion that 'designers' will write/plan/organizer the entire project...
... that's where I decide to 'scare' the 'client' into seeing how serious they are about doing what they say...
... that's when you send them a contract outlining how you will get paid... the process of the project etc..
... your 'organization' will either scare them away... or force them to get their act together.
WHAT EVER YOU DO.... DO NOT LET THE CLIENT MAN-HANDLE YOU.
The client IS NOT always right. :)... especially if you're a freelancer...
... you're not an 'agency'... you don't have a support staff etc...
... so protect yourself from the start... with a CONTRACT. :)
- jox0
I got a big speech from the chairman of the firm I was at a few years ago how my desk was always so messy. He went on and on about how "a messy DESK means a messy HEAD"" - so I simply replied "so what does an empty desk mean?"
- Gucci0
unorganized like:
They don't know what they want.... they just know they need things changed (and the night before a major tradeshow).
They don't get copy to you when you need it. And if they do – there are spelling mistakes all over it.
They give you the wrong stuff. or not what THEY said they needed.
They tell you they need logo x, y, and z in their stuff – but then say "i told you i wanted a, b, and c in there dummy!" (even after I show them their original e-mail which states otherwise).
//Normally i don't bitch about this stuff because they pay well and give me free stuff, but i've been down in the doldrums lately and this guy is burning my asshole worse than a Steakito from Taco Bell.
- arseni0
how unorganized are they?
what are they doing wrong?get a basecamp maybe... explain them what you need from them at every stage of the project. Have it oulined in the contract that if it takes them more than a certain amount of time to get back to you, you can [place something that will make you feel better]
- Gucci0
Oh and worst of all:
I explicity ask for copy changes (to a 100+ page catalogue) in DIGITAL format and I get a bunch of post it notes falling out of a pile of paper. I shit you not.
fucking post-its.
Now.. i don't care how much i charge per hour... that's just plain fucking annoying.
- orkman0
I got a big speech from the chairman of the firm I was at a few years ago how my desk was always so messy. He went on and on about how "a messy DESK means a messy HEAD"" - so I simply replied "so what does an empty desk mean?"
jox
(Feb 16 07, 13:09)AHAHAHAHA! Nice Jox. I thought being messy was being "creative"???
- arseni0
not sure if i'm 100% correct, but it sounds like you're not handling it properly and let this stuff happen...
it's been said already... have a specific contract that outlines everything, charge for extra hours you spend, charge extra for very rush things that need to be changed at the last minute...
- PonyBoy0
Oh and worst of all:
I explicity ask for copy changes (to a 100+ page catalogue) in DIGITAL format and I get a bunch of post it notes falling out of a pile of paper. I shit you not.
fucking post-its.
Now.. i don't care how much i charge per hour... that's just plain fucking annoying.
Gucci
(Feb 16 07, 13:16)
---Dude... stand up for yourself...
... they're making you their 'bitch' as-it-were. They hired you to design and produce... not to fucking decipher their chicken scratch on post-its...
... you have to be stronger about this... or your headache won't go away.
I've LOST CLIENTS because of this... but you know what... FUCK THEM. My headaches have greatly decreases since a 'big client' finally said 'fuck you' to me...
... I stood my ground... they told we were done after three years..
... funny - I'm so fucking happy now... I don't even know what to do with myself.
- arseni0
hm... yeah, pile of post-its does sound a bit too much :) simply tell them to have someone re-type all of that stuff, or you can hire someone and charge them. Did you agree before that you're going to be responsible for content/copywriting or they will be?