HOMEPODCAST
SUBMIT STORY

I work as a video editor and producer for a music festival, creating the video backgrounds to performances. It's an unpaid internship I'm doing for college credit. The company does not provide me with any funding or access to equipment, or any libraries for stock footage.

I was asked to create the video that would play alongside a Star Wars performance by a symphony orchestra. I thought it would be a cool idea to show footage from the films to go along with the different movements.

Me: So did you guys contact who you needed to get permission to show the footage during the concert?

Client: No, we thought it would just be easier for us if you just create something without going through all that legal hassle.

Me: You want me to create a random video using stock footage for a Star Wars-themed concert?

Client: Is that going to be a problem?

Me: These people are paying to see a Star Wars concert, and you've already advertised it as a "multimedia experience with accompanying video." They're going to expect to see footage from the films.

Client: Well, can't you just make it LOOK like Star Wars without the actual footage?

Me: I have no access to good stock footage libraries, but I can try.

I made a video as best I could using free video footage, and showed them the video. I couldn't use X-Wings, TIE Fighters or lightsabers, so I tried to make it as space-themed as I could.

Client: Why is there so much space-themed video? Can we tone that down? We're gonna overload the audience on space imagery if we keep it like this.

In the end, the audience payed to see a Star Wars-themed concert as the festival played a video that showed flowers, cityscapes, oceans, and landscapes. The audience was not pleased.

0

A new client required me to submit an event on a ticketing platform but could not remember the password. He changed the password and gave me the new details.

Client: Please note that this is also my banking credentials, so please don't use it for that.

Me: Uhm...I would not have known that if you did not tell me.

Client: Oh...okay but just don't use it.

Me: ...

0

I freelance as a kind of corporate communications troubleshooter, taking on projects for corporates who need specialist help.  I've been working on a program which is six months late, part of which entails a new logo design and associated collateral. After just a few weeks I can see why the project is so late, as the logo design alone goes back and forth with no clear direction and continued last-minute changes from the client. 

Me: Here are the final-final logo designs as discussed. 

Client: Great! By the way, I want them to be editable so I can make changes in future. 

Me: That's...  not very usual. The logo should be consistent so that we build up recognition and people value it and the program. 

Client: But it may not work in all contexts. 

Me: Well if it needs updating later, we can ask the agency to do a refresh. 

Client: They charge too much. I just want to be able to do it myself. 

Me: They're the specialists. Design work should be handled properly so the results are fully-realized and high-quality.  And they have the specialist software to edit the files. 

Client: Don't worry... I'm getting Photoshop installed on my laptop.  Just be sure to get the original files from the designers.  

Me: Errmmmm...

0

A start-up lingerie line came to us needing a brand re-work. Their logo looked silly and amateurish (it basically featured clipart of a bra), so we were tasked with classing it up. Their exact requests:

  • Young/fresh, yet ageless
  • Iconic years to come
  • Quality
  • Lightness
  • Elegance/refinement

After about 6 rounds they stopped responding to emails and never paid the final invoice. 

Some months later a few of us who were on their mailing list received an email that they relaunched with a new look. 

Their new logo is their name in lower case Times New Roman with a space between each letter.

You know. Young, fresh, elegant, and iconic.

0

I'm working on an A3 sized poster for print.

Client: We like the layout, but can you use this picture?

The image was 250x250 pixels. 

0

I work as an in-house designer for a media company. It's not great. I'm underpaid and overworked and my job is to basically guess what my boss wants because I'm never given any briefs, but whatever.

Over the past few weeks, our internet has had a habit of dropping out randomly. It never lasts too long, and it's not too big a hurdle. But on this particular day, it dropped out completely. 

We contacted the ISP to find out that we'll be completely without internet for the day.

Me: So... do we go home?

Boss: No, keep working. You have a phone. Use your data.

Me: ...Will you reimburse me for my data?

Boss: Just get to work. 

Great. It was costing me money to work here. 

I get that bosses cut corners, but when your entire business model revolves around sending files back and forth, invest in good internet service.

0

Client: Please add a Column X to the spreadsheet and I will put in the data in there.

Me: Here is the spreadsheet with a Column X for you to add the data.

Months pass. 

Me: Do you have the data yet?

Client: Here it is.

Me: There's no data in Column X.

Client: Was I supposed to fill in that column? I didn't know what it was for.

0

I have a media consultancy and have worked on many small and medium-sized projects. Clients give me their objectives, budget, etc., and I create an entire go-to-market strategy including media strategy, budgets, etc. 

I was contacted by this guy who had spent a dozen years in private aviation, then decided to "build an airline" to compete regionally. He complained that he had approached several big shops in NY but that they wanted too much money upfront just to talk. We agreed to meet for an hour in my office to see if there was a future there.

My first red flag went up when the guy shows up in shorts and told me he had walked from his hotel (a good 20 blocks away). So, OK, I decided, maybe a bit unusual, but OK.

We spoke for about 90 minutes, and everything he said sounded normal. So I relaxed my red-flag radar a bit. After all, Florida is full of unusual people with money.

He asked for a second meeting, but we could not communicate via email.

Client: My friends at the NSA told me that all my emails were being read by American and Delta.

Second red flag. Still, despite myself, we arranged the second meeting. When we did meet he started questioning me more aggressively.

Client: What's going on the website? What influencer platform will you use? Who do I hire to create an in-house agency? 

Me: Great questions, but everything you're asking is exactly what you'd pay me to deliver. I don't have answers yet because that will take a bit of research, and even if I did have them I would need a contract before I give you those answers.

When I said this he looked at me for a second, stood up, turned around and left without saying a word.

My only contribution to this site: if your red flag radar turns on, listen to it. Don't do anything out of desperation.

0

I built a Drip emailer for a client. I delivered it and he demanded a bunch of changes - which was weird because they were actually all in the version I delivered. I tried telling him this but he insisted on version 2.

Me: Here's the second version.

Client: Not bad, but it's missing this feature.

Me: That feature was on the first version, and I confirmed with you that you wanted it removed.

Client: I didn't agree to that!

Me: ...

Seeing the writing on the wall, I asked for full payment before making final changes. 

Client: What? Are you some kind of scammer? I will call the cops if you try to rip me off. 

After a whole lot of arguing, he wound up paying me half of my fee and I delivered the second version with minor revisions. The frustrating thing is that the first version was actually what he wanted. Basically I did twice as much work to make half as much because he couldn't be bothered to test. 

0

Reading all these posts I realize that I am now not going mad when I dealt with a previous client.

Bit of background...I worked on the branding for a new boutique bistro making flyers, menus, restaurant logos, etc.

As an example, the menu designs were very simple, white background, company logo at the top and lettering done in a specific font and layout...easy right?

Most of the meetings with the "marketing and branding expert" went like this...

Client: We need some menus doing to fit in with the rest of the items you have done.

Me: No problem, send me the content I'll set it out for you ready for print.

The client sent me the content, I put together the menu layout. 

Client: Looks ok, but.... can we make the logo a bit bigger?

I realize now this is a classic line for shitty clients. 

Me: How's this?

Client: Bigger again, it needs to be the biggest thing on the menu, all my years in marketing has taught me that the logo needs to be huge!

Me: But then it will take away all proportion to the text and look hideous,

Client: Do it anyway then go to print.

I complied and got a batch printed.

Client: Hmm, is there any way of moving the text up a bit and making it bigger? The logo seems to be taking over.

Thanks Clients From Hell community for making me realize I'm not alone. 

0
Menu