Look Out for Warning Signs
You can get bad clients. It's important to notice the signs to protect yourself against unneeded stress or (to the extreme case of financial loss). I have a few personal red flags to look out for, and they can pop up pretty immediately.
- If you hear any mention of "you'll get lots of exposure". While paying clients might make this statement innocently, it shows they have a detachment from the understanding of how you make money. You get paid by your current clients first; future clients are not the goal of working for them. Never agree to work for exposure. Artists deserve to be paid.
- If you see any shady internal business practices. Chances are if they're willing to do the wrong thing in one situation, they won't bat an eye at doing the wrong thing in your situation.
- If they start showing delusions of grandeur and promises of amazing future things. You'll run into a lot of clients who have the drive to start a company, and with that you'll get people who are determined, headstrong, and over confident. When they start badmouthing their competition, bragging about their money, flaunting their success and business prowess, and talking about their next plans like it's going to change the world, be careful. There's a yin and yang to successful people, and their plans need to be grounded in reality. Don't bank on them to keep succeeding for long, and definitely bank on them to not give your well being a second thought.
- If they start micromanaging. When a client sits behind you and directs you where to place anchor points or they send you a design they did instead of yours, just run. Run far away. Run for the hills because they do not trust you enough to do your job, and that's not a healthy relationship.
- If there's hesitation in payment or signing contracts. Good clients recognize what you do takes time and talent, and they will see the value in what you do. And they'll be willing to pay for that and promise to pay you that. The ones that don't aren't going to respect you, and there's a good chance you'll lose money on that. Run.
- If your client has a bad attitude towards you. If a client is irritable, snaps back answers harshly, or berates your work, leave. Life is too short to work with people who don't value you.
- If a client asks you to copy work or steal designs. Do not steal other artist's work. If you do, you're a disgrace to the design industry. Any client who asks you to copy and rip off designs is not honest, and it's only a matter of time before that comes back to screw you over.
As you work longer, you'll see other warning signs, maybe even silly ones that don't make sense, but do. My silly one is the frequent posting of inspirational quotes- people who do that generally would rather post them publicly than follow them privately.
Freelancing can be stressful, and this is one of the key ways in making it easier. While you'll have differences in even the best clients, it's important to recognize trends and know when to leave. If you're struggling and can't afford to lose a toxic client, buckle down in beefing up your portfolio and actively look for other work. At the end of the day, waiting tables is better than having someone crush your passion for your career, and you should be working with people who encourage that career to flourish.
Context: So a little bit ago, I went full time freelance. It's been a ride full of lessons learned. On my instagram, I asked people for their diehard rules of the trade, and I compiled a list that should help people run their businesses a little more smoothly. If you have some design rules you live by, feel free to comment or message me on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/darumacreative/