After writing yesterday’s post on the true cost (to me) of a free job, I feel inspired to follow up with this one based on a telephone conversation I had this afternoon. I’ve calmed down since then but nevertheless this may get re-written or even removed later on.
This afternoon I had a very challenging call from a potential client asking if I could cover a fashion show he was staging on June 19th in London. Unfortunately we couldn’t reach an accord over usage and copyright. Even more unfortunately he became extremely abusive, hurling a tirade or personal abuse at me. Needless to say I declined the job on those grounds suggesting that he needs to find someone else to work with which further exacerbated the situation.
I absolutely hate turning away work but I work on the simple premise that if a client is that difficult before I’ve agreed to work with them they are not my client. After all, what on earth would they be like once I’m working for them? To be honest I think he was spoiling for a fight when I quoted my fee for the job as I have an incling he expected me to do it free of charge.
In hindsight the conversation is really quite amusing insofar as I experienced an uneducated novice trying to dictate to me how I should run my business and how I need to work. Somehow I don’t find that appealing although maybe some of you out there would? Let me put his suggestion to you…
Would you take on a job where the client insists you shoot with his media card and hand over it and all legal rights to the images on it at the end of the show?
Discuss…
Never