Should I let the client sit with me while editing his musicvideo?

[Allan Black]

This time I was pretty strict also with saying that I will follow his script and ideas, and he will get 2 things he can change. In that way nothing is unclear...

A storyboard/script supplied by the client and you submit something he can change was my advice, but be careful.

The way you work with him is changing and you'll have to put as much work into it as you have done before.
When you get the script, after you check it write out some questions and comments, leave it for a day or two then call him.
Makes sure it's a good time for him, say you're just confirming things then run the questions and comments past him. Be positive.

I'd leave just one thing he can change, not two, he might get carried away and find others. Play the music track as loud as possible,
and for the first preview, play it right through without stopping. This is good experience for your other clients too.

Get him to 'show you the money!'

Cheers.

 

[Andrius Simutis]

Another potential solution to this kind of situation is to do your own cut without the client there, and then have them come over to make changes after they've seen it. Preferably at least a couple days after they've seen it. I've found that for certain clients this is actually much faster than having them there the whole time or not there at all. In the OP's case, they still might be in for a long nitpicky session, but at least there's a baseline to build from rather than having the client explore every option without a greater understanding of the whole piece.