If Clients Treated Other Professionals the Way They Treat Freelancers…
It would look something like this. [lf]
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May 28, 2009 Writing
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That was priceless! Great find
More people need to see that video so they can understand what us freelancers go through.
I nearly fell of my chair when she told the hairdresser, “It’s just a test.” Brilliant!
How funny! The woman with the highlights said it all.
Once we had a contractor working on our house for the better part of a summer. I kept thinking of how funny it would be if I imposed some of the weird requests I get as a writer on him. (i.e. “I know I told you to build the room that way, but now seeing it, I’m thinking I’d like it better the other way we discussed, can you just rip it down and give the other way a try?”)
Rip it down and give the other way a try… Love it!
Absolutely hilarious and yet sad because it’s true. Would it be rude to send this to clients after I get one of those strange emails requesting multiple re-dos for free or one of the other funny situations shown?
Brilliant! Thanks!
Builders and painters are great for these kinds of analogies. Well, I know I asked you to paint the spare bedroom, but I’m not planning to use that room at the moment and I’m afraid it’s my policy not to pay you until I want to use it. I may use it sometime in the next few months, I’m really not sure yet. And I know you painted the kitchen pink, but I actually want it yellow. I can’t pay you for the time spent painting it pink, because I want it to be yellow, so I won’t be paying any extra.
I wouldn’t send it to clients though. I doubt they’d get it. Just learn to say no
. Sidenote: a good way to turn down unreasonable requests is to say you’re very busy with other work and you’ll fit them in when you can. Make it clear they’ll only get what they want at the drop of a hat if they pay.
[...] Check it out here. [...]
Thanks for the comments!
Terreece, I wouldn’t sent it to clients…just let the video silently run through your head when a client says they’ll pay on publication but, uh, they don’t know when they’re going to publish it.
Louisa, good for you!
I am still laughing since I sent this to another writer and she said–good haggling tips. I said, uh, well, it’s meant to show how our clients treat us…then we have to do it to others. She said you are taking all the fun out of this! Anyhow…I do hate having to sort of impose and haggle for things I need in this atmosphere…but there it is.
[...] The Renegade Writer Blog’s If Clients Treated Other Professionals the Way They Treat Freelancers… [...]
Oh my gosh, this is hilarious. Where did you find it? I want to send flowers! LOL.
Whoah!! .. deja vu
[...] came across this video on The Renegade Writer, and had to share it with [...]
This would be funny if it didn’t hurt me on the inside…
Thank you, thank you for posting this! I needed the belly laugh after working on an Alzheimer’s series all day. (Which the client, I’m sure, will try to negotiate. I guess I could make a joke here about him “forgetting” the rates, but after all the heart-wrenching stories I’ve read today, that’s just too mean.)
Yeah.
Right.
Maybe this film has already buzzed to its death, but I just watched it and I can’t help having the same feeling than Nick, a bit of comfort, then sad…
God, am I really like this guy “Todd”, trying to serve such d***heads like I’m a professional? I must admit it occured to me to, say *implode*, in such a case (yell, slam doors, pick yours…). I always end up thinking I’m the one overreacting…
Never occured to me that I was way, way under what’s the bald hairdresser’s about to do with those blades…
Anne: the “other job” or “no time for this” trick might work, but I always prefer not to talk “other clients” with clients.
(My favourite, “I’m glad I don’t rely on you to pay my bills.” is a killshot. Says exactly the same, with a slight variation that puts the customer-freelancer status quo back in its place, ie “you get what you paid for & you pay for what you got”)
We need to fix our sh.. and stop accepting customer irrationnality as the norm!
Good night my fellow freelancers, and good luck.
I have to agree – this video would be funny if it wasn’t so sad! And I agree with Blouze. When clients have tried to back out of their end of an agreement by not paying me or trying to renegotiate our fee after the work is done, I’m always straightforward. I simply say, “This is my job, not my hobby, and I can’t afford to work for free, or to change my fees after the fact. You are contractually obligated to pay me, and I expect payment now.” It usually gets me paid, and quickly, because they realize that I’ll stay in their hair until my check clears.