I got these texts
while my wife was in labor with our child. I’d set the auto-response on my
email to let people know that was my situation, and that I’d get back to them
as soon as humanly possible.
Client: Yur having a baby???
Client: I need those files ASAP.
The best part was the
Client needed files to clean up a mess they’d just created on their own.
I work as a freelance
illustrator for a number of publishers including a couple of magazines every
month. So I do get contacted regularly about other work. One older gentleman
contacted me for doing a cover design for his book.
Client:
Unfortunately, my book is being produced on a budget. But you’ll get
exposure and if you want, I’ll give you a discounted rate on the book when it
comes out.
Me: I’m sorry, there’s no way I’m
doing it for a discount on a book.
Client: Look, before
I retired I was a technical illustrator. I know how hard it is to get out
there when you’re just starting. This job could lead to more commissions when
people see your work!
The funny thing is,
I’ve been an illustrator for over a decade, and have more than enough work to
keep me busy. He even contacted me because he saw my (paid) work in a magazine.
It’s bad enough that he wouldn’t even give me a free copy of his book as
payment – it’s worse that he somehow thought I was “starting out.”
Marcus Blankenship and Bryce Bladon discuss the pros and cons associated with each way to bill your client. From hourly to monthly, there’s a correlation with how much money – and how much stress – you can expect with each.
This week’s Mighty Deal is 57 hand-drawn fonts, 230 textures and brushes, and hundreds of extra design elements for $29 – that’s a savings of $350 off the usual price!
This Mighty Deal normally sells for $379, but for a limited time, you can get all 57 fonts, 230 textures and 100s of extras for just $29! That’s a ludicrous saving of 92% ($350) off the regular price!
I interviewed for a
small graphic design job at a local newspaper while I was in high school,
several years ago. I’d been working with Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro for some
time at that point. The interviewer asked me to make a test ad for a retirement
home to see my skills. I created the ad, explained my choices, and the interviewer
seemed very pleased with my work.
I didn’t hear anything about the job for a few weeks, so I figured I didn’t get
it. Lo and behold, one day I opened the paper and discovered that they’d used
my design without my knowledge.
I’m happy to report that this paper didn’t last very long.
I worked for a very
famous art director. He was a great designer, but he knew nothing about
computers or any kind of technology, and that was always making him very
nervous with everybody. He once called me 8 AM on a Saturday, screaming that I
had broken his computer and I had to run over to fix it ASAP. I cabbed over,
shelling out what money I had to fix this quickly and keep a good working
relationship with him.
The problem? He was
using his wireless mouse upside down.