Okay, I'm new in the biz and need some advice in dealing with a delicate situation. The client for a 37 minute family documentary project liked the rough cut and made some suggestions to include in a "final" cut which was delivered to the client before Christmas. After the holidays, the client comes back and said her family had some more "suggestions" to add photos and cut out some portraits they didn't like, even though the primary client approved of them months ago. Add to this the fact that the client has only paid a third of the bill so far, and is overdue on the next installments. I feel that the client will pay up, but is using the balance due as a sort of carrot to get more and more things added. Does this happen often? should I feel reluctant to keep putting hours in without another payday? Unfortunately, the only specification for final payment was when the final project was delivered...but I feel like this could go on forever.
Client woes/Never ending project
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Capt Quirk
Veteran
The three most dreaded words you can hear from the client- "Could you just..."
Be firm, tell the guy that he needs to pay up or else you're not doing squat (put it in a more delicate way than I did here, but make it crystal clear). I've had similar clients before and in my experience they'll keep demanding more and more changes in an effort to get as much out of you as they possibly can. A good client is never late on his payment.
filmat11
Well-known member
If you plan on producing more of these types of projects, you should change the language of your contract to include things like "changes made by client" additional footage requests, additional graphics, text, and any other post production not agreed to before hand. You MUST charge for your time beyond what was agreed to by you and the client, if they make changes to the original contract. If you didn't, the requests may seem endless, then your the one to blame. Re-negotiate with your client, or chalk it up to being new in the biz, eat it , and learn like the rest of us. Get it in writing.....When fees are due, how much, what they expect to receive for their money, how much is due on delivery....yadda, yadda.. Good luck
safarijoe
Well-known member
Like they said, change your contract. As for this client, if they haven't paid up then you need to get your money FIRST! Then you need to designate one person to deal with AND you need specify how much time the initial cost covers. Last you need to make it clear to them that their price was based on the original project parameters and changes and additions can only be done at additional cost.