The Artistic Outlaw

Everybody writes about how to be better at their job, how to make more money and be more productive. Nobody ever writes about client responsibilities and how to be a better client.

1.) Pay on time. Always.

This is not optional. If you don’t have enough money to cover the full budget of the project, don’t get me started on the project. I’m a freelancer, which means I live off what I make. I can’t wait 30 days to get paid for work completed and there is no reason I should have to. Paying on time is respectful and should be a top priority.

2.) Make my requests as important as your own.

If you ask me to complete something by a certain date, you need to cooperate to help me make that happen. If I ask for a specific asset, get it to me yesterday.

I know you’re busy, so am I. Busy working on your request and about a million others. If you can’t fulfill my request today, then let me know. A one-line email is enough. And always be understanding of my new found inability to fill your original request.

Additionally, don’t disappear for six months, then show up one day and ask me why development has stopped and the project isn’t completed. This actually happened once.

3.) Know what you want, before you ask for it.

Seriously, don’t hire me to make something that’s description is “I’ll know when I see it”. I don’t have time for that, and neither do you. You don’t need a one-hundred page project brief, but you do need to know what styles and ideas you like/dislike and what the overall project is going to entail in general.

4.) Remember, you hired me.

I’m a professional, and I have an expertise that you sought out. Don’t try to do my job for me. It’s disrespectful and a huge time waster for both of us. This is pretty much common sense, but happens a lot.

5.) Be loyal.

If I do a good job, use me again. If I keep doing a good job, keep using me. If you feel I’m too expensive lets talk about it, don’t hire someone else then say I’m too expensive, ’cause for a loyal client I’ll always drop or discount my price, it’s a perk of being loyal. Try it out, you’ll like it.