low end gigs blow

I just get the money anyway I can. I never get stressed out about anything, I have learned to control that. If I need the money, I'm gonna get it.

I just had a nightmare client last week. He loved the EPK I did for him from his home video footage then when he saw a real EPK he said My work was not up to par. I did EXACTLY what he wanted me to and he sat there with me while I did it and told me what to do (which rarely happens) then wanted his money back a week later. I politely told him to go F*#K himself and Now I never have to work with him again and I made a grand. Some people you simply can not please and I can deal with that. I have NEVER had a client unhappy with my work.
 
I made a low end EPK for a local artist the other day. Dude loved it and he was the one paying.
His manager then emailed me reeming me for not seeking his direction and boasting about is badass managing skills.
I simply emailed back first reminding him that if he were paying as he should, I'd do what he says. Then I had to laugh and mention I shot the EPK at a local bar due to his awesome managing skills.
lol
funny old men are funny and old sometimes.
http://grinnerhester.com/sable.wmv
this is a fine example of the gigs I am talking about. I recieved a whoppin' 600 bucks on this one and made nothing by the time I was done. It was to be $800 for a 2 hour shoot plus post. I shot all night and revised it twice. rofl.
but hey, the beer was free.

the glass is always half full here.
 
This is an interesting thread. I've experienced much the same thing with special event work.
I shoot weddings and corporate videos to help put food on the table and I too lowered my prices with the poor economy in mind. WRONG!!! I'd rather have a couple of jobs where I'm being paid for my years of experience than several lower paying jobs where the clients apparently assume I'm some sort of newbie.
 
I did that once myself... with the same results. But, having read similar stories before I lowered my rates, I had a new contract made up that required payment up front before I'd start a project with no refunds for cancellation of a project once I had started work on it.

So while I did get some more work from the lowered rates, I also nailed a few people who tried to waste my time.
 
Barry_Green said:
Yep, you have discovered one of the secrets to success as a freelancer. It is much better to take the good jobs, give them your best, and play with your kids/go to the beach/watch movies/and LIVE, in-between jobs, than it is to deal with the low-end customer who a) can't afford you anyway, and b) will complain about your price every step of the way.
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Except when your chronic lack of income causes you to lose respect of your wife, bills to pile up, taxes to go unpaid and sheriffs to show up at your door.

But you know what? Even dropping 20% off the rates doesn't bring in any more business. People really are tuned, in this culture, to expect something for nothing.

Now if we could just reeducate the tax man that perhaps he should except $300 every year instead of $15,000, maybe we could work for less and not feel so bad about it...
 
DigitalBard said:
I did that once myself... with the same results. But, having read similar stories before I lowered my rates, I had a new contract made up that required payment up front before I'd start a project with no refunds for cancellation of a project once I had started work on it.

So while I did get some more work from the lowered rates, I also nailed a few people who tried to waste my time.
Click to expand...

Haha, that's an awesome story. I like it. :)
 
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