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Business tips from a pro caricature artist: Julia Kelly

Balancing a passion for art and a talent for business isn't always the easiest, but it can be done. Just look at Julia Kelly, who turned a part-time job doing caricature art into a full-time business that paid her more than accounting work! 

In today's episode, she talks with Kyle about the lessons she learned in client management from doing caricature art (hint: understanding your client means paying attention to more than just what they're saying), describes her path forward in a new business. 

Today's links: 

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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. 

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I do translations, editing, and proofreading for academic researchers.

A client approached me asking for a translation and editing job for a friend of hers. Turns out the "editing" referred to taking a full 300+ pages research report and producing a 25-page paper out of it.

Me: No.

Client: Okay, that's fine. But we still need the final paper translated and edited. Can you do that?

I said yes, and sent a quotation and a timeline. They approved. 

It took three months before they sent me the documents. 

Client: Can you speed things up and lower the price?

Me: I can hurry things along, but I'm not changing the price.  

I delivered every stage a few days ahead of schedule, and yet she kept asking to speed up the job. When I finally delivered the final product:

Client: This was overpriced. I'm going to pay what I think is fair. 

A "Pay What You Want" client from hell.

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Client: The camouflage item is lost in the background. Please make it "pop" more.

The background was grass and mud.

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Client: Can I get 1000 copies of a book shipped to a convention this weekend? I haven't quite finished layout yet.

Me: So, you are new to the whole print on demand concept I take it?

Client: The layout will be done Monday or Tuesday.

Me: After the convention you want to sell 1000 copies at is over?

Client: Yes, we'd like to make a big splash at the show. It'll be awesome.

Me: Yes, being able to time travel to the future to get the final version of the book would be awesome.

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About 10 years ago I had a client from an NGO that wanted a website. We agreed on a budget and we had a briefing meeting.

Me: This is the website mockup, it will have all the sections you requested and will be optimized for search engines and accessibility.

Client: This is fine, but we wanted something more flashy, more dynamic, with more color.

Me: This is what I usually do with my NGO clients. We're delivering the message in a simple way. After all, you're not selling Coca Cola.

Client: Yes! that's what we want, Coke's website.

Me: Well you don't have the budget that they have for a website.

After some convincing, the Client begrudgingly accepted, paid the 50% in advance, and sent shitty low-res images and cringey text. I delivered the website to the best of my abilities on the deadline. I get no feedback or response from the client at all. Two weeks later after total radio silence, I found out they replaced the website I made with a full Flash made website with some vector animations over the shitty images on a slider. It was "dynamic"  but looked like total garbage. 

At least I got my deposit.

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I received a call from someone inquiring about some services.

It was weird.

Client: I'm retired, but I run two websites. I need a little work done on them and I also need a survey created on social media.

Me: That sounds easy enough. What are you hoping to achieve?

Client: I want to create a viral campaign to get the Pope to say he is proud of Jesus. The survey will provoke people to demand the pope to say that he is proud of Jesus. Here's the thing though - I've trademarked the phrase, so once everyone starts saying that they too are proud of Jesus the money will start rolling in. 

Me: ...And what is your budget for this?

Client: They way I see it, everyone should be proud of Jesus. Even the Pope! 

This went on for some time and I never got a number. I noped myself out of this project as quickly as I could. 

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2,350+ Pro graphic elements for just $19!

This week's deal is on 2,350+ graphic elements that are as useful as they are beautiful. 

> Take a look. The watercolor elements alone are worth the asking price. 

There are literally thousands of intricate, well-designed elements in this bundle and they're all going for only $19. Branding a new line of perfumes? This kit has it all. Designing a book jacket for a young adult novel about a girl's coming of age? Weirdly specific but this would be perfect.  There's a lot here, and it's great.

This bundle's normal price is the extremely reasonable $89, but you can get it for $19 which is great. Buy it for that.

> Check out the deal here. 

 

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I’m a writer for a bank. Occasionally we send alerts to our customers over various platforms. My client asked me to write an alert for email, but specified that we weren’t sending SMS or push notifications.

The developer I was working with apparently didn't get that note. Or, more likely got it and ignored it - because this happened. 

Dev: You are missing SMS and Push notification content. Please add the copy for SMS and Push into your document.

Me: Those aren’t a requirement for this alert and I was told not to add them. Please proceed with just email.

I assumed that was the end of it. A week later:

Dev: Please add the copy for SMS and Push into your document.

Me: This isn't sent yet? As previously mentioned, we are only supposed to write for email. I have CC’d the client, who has made it clear that we are only to write for email.

Client: Yes, this is true. Please proceed with the email.

A week later:

Dev: Please add the copy for SMS and Push into your document.

Me: We have reviewed this several times now, and the client has made it very clear we are not to write for email. Please either consult your team on the requirements or proceed with email.

Client: Confirming the above. Please proceed with email only - no changes to the copy document needed.

Dev: OK.

Two minutes later:

Dev: Please remove the copy for SMS and Push from your document.

Me: Uh....

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I was hired to do a project that would take one day of work with a deadline in ten days. 

Day 1:

Client: What is the status?

Me: I have not started yet.

Day 2: 

Client: What is the status? I like daily status updates.

Me: ...

Day 3: 

Me: Okay, I'm looking over the project now. Here is a list of things I need from you.

Client: Okay.

Day 4:

Day 5: 

Day 6:

Me: Still waiting on those items. Please send them so I can get this done.

Day 7-10, radio silence.

Day 11:

Client: What is the status of the project?

Me: I'm still waiting for those items from you. I can't get started without them.

Client: Right, sorry. Okay, I'll send those along. 

He didn't. Day 13:

Client: What is the status?

Me: Still waiting for that stuff.

Client: Shoot, right. Here it is. 

Me: Thanks. Just so you know I've had a lot of things come up this week so I can't get on this right now. 

Client: You promised me you'd have it done in ten days. 

Me: How can I finish it in ten days if it takes you thirteen to send me important information? Tell you what: I can squeeze this work in tomorrow. I'll get it done then, I promise. 

Client: Fine.

The next day I started work.

Me: Hey, I just looked at what you sent me and a lot of the information is wrong or out of date. Can you send me an updated version? 

Client: Ok. I am busy right now and will check them in the evening. I hope this won't affect our deadline today.

Me: ...

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