The Customer is Always Right....Right?

When it comes to working with clients, trying to create someone else's vision is more a challenge of concept than production. When I'm working with my production company on in-house projects then it's our own ideas, collaborations, brainstorms. We know one another (and the industry) so it is easy to throw ideas around- freelance clients...not so much.

There's a lot of different types of clients, but the ones I run into the most are these three:

              Shy Ronnie (for all you SNL fans): This is someone who is too timid to tell you their own thoughts, which leaves you struggling to really grasp their concept. This meeting usually ends up like an interrogation minus the swinging single light-bulb, but as long as the right questions are asked a great final product can be achieved.

              The Poker Face: This person may have a concept in mind, they may love your ideas, they may loathe you with a passion...you'll never know because all this client does is nod. Occasionally they may tilt their head and squint or rub their chin in thought, but overall their input is minimal. For some unknown reason they want to hold their cards close to the vest and wait for the final product to weigh in. It's important to do all you can to get a response from this player because there is no bluffing once the deadline comes around.

              TMI (Too Much Info): This is a client who knows exactly what they want, down to the pantone colors and camera angles. It's fantastic to have a solid idea in mind, but if your client isn't giving you any creative space or wiggle room it can get frustrating very quickly. It's clients like this that need to be shown progress as it's being made and be sure to include them on any radical changes that occur.

              The Perfect Client: This person doesn't exist.

Your first meeting with a client is crucial in both gathering information about their project and about them in general. A freelancer's job isn't just about building a demo reel, it's about building relationships. Being able to work with all kinds of people is vital in this industry. Your work will get you noticed, your networking will get you hired.