Client HELP!!

dantewaters

dantewaters

Well-known member
Ok Have a client I use to edit for (color correct, audio sweeten, dvd author).
Issue though, he started nit picking about minor things audio sounds low, or is still peaking, video looks a bit grainy or low res. All these complaints over DV.

So after some back and forth time on several finished products (which he paid for). I realize that this was only delaying me from doing more.

We had a meeting and basically I told him garbage in garbage out.
The actual product doesn't start with us, but starts from the capturing.

I took a 3week hiatus spoke to him on several occasions, but never showed up I guess I was tired of the run around. In the end I settled to do just the DVD menu while the other editors do the rest.

My question to everyone... How can I get away with giving him designs
and ensuring my work isn't reused? I thought about just doing a png file (which would give me some control), but the other editors made it clear that they wanted layers so photoshop would be used. I believe that making a layer that has already been rasterized would really help.

In the end I feel my only security is a contract stating the terms and usage
of my work. HELP GUYS I'm a bit lost here...

Sorry for the lengthly message.
 
If you are creating content for him and he's paying for it then its his to use and reuse and use again. Thats life. Charge lots of money. The company I work for is a full production company but I would imagine half of it is editing together material from the clients library of stuff they've collected over the years. Who knows maybe I'll get to reuse one of your designs one day!
 
OHH that's the nature of the beast... I am just trying to safeguard future business... Instead of him taking 10 and reusing them, and cutting me out the loop.

Guess I could put down for a total of 40 I will work at this rate.
But I was thinking $50 per menu. Being that was paying $150 per disc before.
 
my suggestion (it's always easier from a distance):

if you feel comfortable, ask him his intentions and find something that will work for both of you. he's probably already decided his course of action, and all you will be doing is creating a better understanding between the two of you so that you may have proper expectations for your relationship in the future.

if his plans are to cut you out of the loop, maybe offer him something that he can reuse at a premium charge and then cut bait (or just cut bait if you're not interested). I would look at that course of action as protecting yourself and not as loosing business (because it would in effect already have been lost). if his intentions are to continue commissioning your work, then won't it be good to eliminate the worry.

good luck.
 
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Thanks guys I really appreciate it. One question though... How would I honestly get him to express his true intentions?
 
You could just ask him - if he says he only intends to use the menu on this one disc, then write up the contract to reflect that. If he balks when he reads the contract, you can honestly tell him that was your understanding from what he said... then, of course, you offer to change the contract to reflect a more open ended agreement - and with an increase in the freedom of the license comes and increase in the cost of the work.

This is not all that different from Website templates (or DVD templates for that matter) that you can buy online. Many of the agreements state, especially for websites, that you can use the template on 1 site only. If you want 'full' use of the template, you have to pay a higher rate.
 
my best suggestion is to be proactive and be willing top walk away if you don't think your needs will be met:

acknowledge you realize things have changed.
give him options that you are comfortable enacting.
let go of any worries about the outcome.

You are more likely to get what you want if with confidence, honesty, and a willingness to walk away than you are by trying to manage this situation.
 
Thank you soo much... I really feel like this is the key: contract, terms, confidence, and going in without worry. Thanks.
 
not to sound sappy, but ... focus on your end and however it works will be the best way.
 
Always have your contract and terms laid out from the very beginning. If the guy is such a pain to work with it might be time to let him go, who cares if he makes 30 copies of your menu system? You'll be free.
 
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