I posted last week about a super day where the ideas flowed like melted butter. I should have known it was too easy.

The deposit check was supposedly being couriored as I was drawing.

Well monday came and no check. Tuesday went by. Wednesday I figured maybe he had decided to hand it to me in person when I had the meeting with him to give him the presentation.

Thursday morning, bright and early the phone rang. It was his manager. Seems terms had changed. They still wanted me to do the design for them but... I HATE THAT WORD!

They then outlined how conditions had changed. They wanted me to design a concept SKETCH and layout SKETCH for the project for a much lessor fee.

I tried to explain that I would happily sit down with them once more (AT NO CHARGE)to to discuss the project with them. I would SHOW them all I had done so far and we could then determine where to go from there. But I couldn't reduce my fee for SKETCHES as I still had to develop the entire idea even for that type of approach. I explained that they were paying for the ideas represented as well as the finished artwork. I was firm and polite and professional.

The manager told me wshe would explain the situation to my client and MAYBE he would get back to me.

A little while later I phoned my client. (I had to calm down again) He informed me that his manager had explained the situation to him in detail and I was GONE. They had decided to get an ARCHITECT to design their project for them. I wished them well but he wasn't quite so cordial.

I wasn't mad at the client. They were doing what they had a right to do. I didn't agree with them but they were within their rights non-the-less.

I was mad at myself, for I had broken a very basic rule. Don't start a job until the deposit check is in the bank. To do otherwise is STUPID.

I now have a wonderful adventure golf designed and no customer to go with it. The good part is that I only printed and bound two copies of the artwork. My actual cash outlay is minimal.

I think I'll hang the pictures on my board right behind my desk. As a permanent reminder.

Being self taught is a great education. I get tests from time to time too. Flunked this one miserable, but then again.... that's how I learn.

The project will get carefully filed away. Who knows.... maybe I can sell down the road. But you can bet I'll wait for the check before I do any more work on the ideas.

I had a much smaller version last week. I met with a beauty salon owner to see what she had in mind for her windows. She informed me in no uncertain terms she didn't even WANT her windows done....that lettered windows were tacky. But she needed more business. So I explained that done properly...the job would look professional and very nice. She said to just 'drop off the designs' for her to review. (I have heard this one before) So I stopped by with the designs...she wasn't there. I called to set up an appointment to discuss the designs....she didn't have time....called again....stopped by again. Turns out she really wanted me to 'just drop off the designs' for her to ponder......and take somewhere else. Luckily I have been down this road before and didn't do it. Too bad....I had some great designs for her windows! Butler Gold scrolls....Magic letterstyle....they looked great!

[ January 26, 2002: Message edited by: cheryl nordby ]

This is a small town- 6000 population, and I'm very new to the community, so I didn't call the States Attorneys office.

We get an idea put our way, we get a vision (you are good at that!) and run with it...nothing wrong with that....

Just goes to show ya, you are an artist first....you are lucky in that you have Janis there to balance that out right?

Too bad, they just missed out on having the best park ever! (aside from Giggleridge )

Will be interesting to see what thier 'Architech' comes up with...lol!

Keep up the good work!

Sorry about the losses. I find that I can usually recycle good ideas even just to use them as part of my portfolio when meeting with new clients as an example of a presentation I can create exclusively for them. Makes it easier to ask for and get a design deposit as well because the client sees that the presentation is a tangible object that took a certain amount of effort to prepare and that it's not some verbal promise of a presentation to come. And who knows... they might even buy the already created concept with whatever necessary copy changes.

I had a potential client call last week about a restaurant sign; went to see him at the location, looked at the existing signs, quoted a price, and said I required a $100 deposit before doing any artwork. He hemmed and hawed; couldn't he see some "preliminary concept" first? Not a chance. I had my portfolio with me; he can judge my competence from that. He wrote me a check for $100; I did a sketch on the computer at my shop that afternoon. He came by to see it, then informed me that a competitor had quoted the job at about half my bid. Oh well...

In thirteen years, I've had exactly three customers who have paid for sketches and then gone elsewhwere. On one hand, its annoying to not get the job; on the other, I was paid for my time - I spent an hour on this project, including the initial visit - and business was conducted on my terms. That and knowing that a so-called competitor is doing this job for half the money (this was not a high-dollar job) is the consolation prize of the week.

[ January 26, 2002: Message edited by: Cam Bortz ]