Clients And their Demands ?

nirvanray wrote on 8/1/2015, 4:06 AM

Dear friends,
Need some opinion and suggestions from a business perspective.
When I edit and give my works to clients, they do love my work; except soon they come out with ‘Corrections” every second day. Sometimes this important person is not there or sometimes s / he must be deleted ‘immediately’ Sometimes the font is not nice, sometimes this particular angle is not desired. Sometimes why is my neighbour’s company is shown and on and on?
I understand that the client will make changes as per the company polices or preferences but how many times do I take the changes? Every second board member or friend or son or daughter-in-law or wife sees, I am asked for changes. What does one do during such times? I have to do as I don’t want my payment to be held back. At times I have also lost my temper and declined changes and payment. I used to be too touch and that film-maker block used to come forward. But at the end of the day it was me who lost the money.
Can someone throw some insight please. What must be my correcton and re-edit terms and conitions? And how many times does one re-edit?
Please suggest.
Regards.

Anirban

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 8/1/2015, 6:33 AM

Hi Anirban

A  good contract specifying the following:-

  • Agreed requirements from the customer.
     
  • Agreed resources to be supplied by the customer.
     
  • Customer availability for resolving production issues.
     
  • Agreed payment schedules - especially if the project is in distinct stages.
     
  • An initial payment up front - call this a your 'reservation fee'.
     
  • Realistic filming schedules.
     
  • Realistic delivery schedules - especially if the project is in distinct stages or part of a series.
     
  • Pre delivery review, change requests time limited eg no changes after sign off or extra costs will be incurred.
     
  • Sign off of each complete stage, payment for this follows within agreed payment schedule.
     
  • Penalty clauses for customer created related extra work, eg further editing after sign off, additional requirements not specified in the contract negotiation stage.

A lot of the above issues can be resolved early on in the negotiations.

As for how many times should you re-edit - I would suggest the following procedure:

  1. Produce 'draft' copy for review and revision
     
  2. Review with customer - and here you should ensure that all interested parties are involved, not just the marketing guy - directors etc may not like what the marketing guy likes.
     
  3. Re-edit
     
  4. Review again with customer - if satisfied get them to sign off on the project / segment or obtain corrections for final edit.
     
  5. Final edit
     
  6. Final review and sign off - any changes after this point incur extra charges.

HTH

John EB.

Last changed by johnebaker on 8/1/2015, 6:41 AM, changed a total of 2 times.

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nirvanray wrote on 8/1/2015, 6:46 AM

Dear John,

Thanks againg for the detailled mail and explanation.

Though I am working in a small scale which doesnt involve all the conditions that are specified by you, but I did get an idea what exactly to look for.

And edit after two times will be charged.

That's the mantra.

 

Thanks again.