What About the Words?

[Richard Kuenneke]

I didn’t find this guy – he found me. If I had known one-half of what I found out after 10 minutes, I would never have accepted the invite to bid.
I’m just pointing out the obvious – someone who agrees to produce a professional video that will serve as a mouthpiece for a state funded agency that refuses to use lights, tripod and an external microphone is fooling themselves. That’s not professional video service, that’s misrepresentation.
And the guy in charge that would allow it – and pay for it – is a bigger fool.
At least the Lamborghini and Kia have some things in common – like an engine, doors, and wheels.

Rich

[Ron Lindeboom]

I couldn’t agree more, Nick. Certain clients that I work with get the “No Clock” policy.

But in the long run, they pay for it.

Don’t they?

;o)

Ron

[Rebecca Gillaspie]

Trial and error Rich, It’s the Saluki way! 🙂

How are you, my maiden name was Rebecca Stroetzel and I remember you from RREE. I’m in LA now, doing the freelance thing at the moment and am getting all to well acquainted with difficult clients that put me in positions where I should sacrifice quality to save time and money. And for the most part, I won’t sacrifice. I’ll put in the extra time or expense to do things the right way. That’s the way I was taught. Kind of “do your best” NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.

But then I wind up feeling resentful and disappointed. Bottom line, if you don’t own the work you’re creating, you gotta kind of suck it up and compromise. Not everything you output is direct reflection of what your best work is. Particularly, if the client doesn’t give you the budget and time you need. Really if they don’t care, it’s not up to you to demand that you polish their turn. They just want it done. Those are the projects, where you gotta just push through, and then move on to the next which will hopefully be better.

My best work is reflected when I care. That’s what makes me a better producer. But when you get a pain in the ass client that’s making your job difficult, they don’t deserve your best work.

[Richard Kuenneke]

Mrs. Gillaspie: Thanks for the great note – I was just venting my frustration on this great forum after a meeting a little more than a week ago. The ride home from that wonderful experience forced me to think about why I do what I do and whether it was all worth it. In the end, thanks to the many responses on this forum, I concluded that it is and that the low budget, low quality world cannot sustain itself, even though they do WIN from time to time.

Gosh, I’m ready to start talking about something else.

Rich