Editing sessions with clients: Do's and Don'ts?

[skwirl]

I have been freelancing on the side as an editor for a few producers I know from various networks. I have a home edit suite that I work out of and almost all of my edit sessions are with directors/producers I've known for quite a while now so we work very well together.

I managed to build a decent demo reel and may have a full-time job opportunity with a local post-house as an editor. I'd like to hear from some of the editors here about what it's like to sit down every day with a complete stranger and collaborate on cutting a piece together. How do you adjust to each client's work-style and ideas? Sorry if this is a stupid question, I'm still a newb to this industry.

Any tips/pointers/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Rygh]

It takes a special person to do that kind of a job. Someone with patience, slow to anger if not at all, a teacher, a listener, able to work and listen to stories at the same time, able to edit something that you know will not work but the producer insists (and do it with a smile), able to have a good poker face when something goes wrong with your equipment, not to freak-out when the producer says he needs a master today and it will only take an hour, then hands you fifty different tapes in all types of formats, in various record times, no log sheets so you have to scan through all the tapes.
Yep, it takes a special kind of person....It's not me, and God Bless you if it is you!

 

[cyclone]

Outstanding answer, Rygh. I've been in that room for about 20 years now. Outstanding answer.