Will Draw For Food (Not!) - An anecdote and opinion poll
Wayno
service, and they've been good clients. They distribute a catalog 3 or
4 times per year, for which I've provided cover art, and the art is
also printed as postcards that are included with free newsweeklies.
Earlier this month, the postcards came out, with a blurb on top of my
illustration saying "Your artwork could be here! Submit your ideas!
The winner will receive $500 in free food, and your work will be
printed on our catalog!"
I saw this as not only devaluing my work, but also making it look like
I had entered a contest to get on their cover! I figured "Okay, that's
the end of my relationship with that client."
Well, I was very surprised to get a call today from this very client,
asking me to do their next catalog cover! I told the owner that I was
taken aback by the contest ad superimposed on my previous image, and
wondered why they were even calling me if they're running this
contest.
She explained that they like to change the style of their catalog
every couple of years, which is fair enough. I understand that, and if
I were the owner, I'd probably change things around from time to time
as well. She said that yes, they were running a contest, and would use
the winner for the fall catalog, but they wanted me to do the summer
one.
I turned down the job, explaining that since they want to change the
style anyway, I'd rather leave now than look like I LOST the contest
in the fall.
Our conversation was very amicable, and we said our goodbyes.
I'm still sort of laughing about it, and somewhat amazed by their
actions.
What would you have done in the same situation? Just curious, and
trying to spur some conversation here.
Wayno
Kathy Rooney
In my opinion, I don't believe in burning bridges (unless I'm really
getting burned). I would have done the Summer cover but certainly
would also have reprimanded the client for using my art in such a way
without my permission.
Kathy
George Schill
I would 've been insulted and done the same, except for the amicable
part.
Especially if the $ 500 of free food is any indication of the budget.
george
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PSI President
demeanor and a touch of class as well. This is no different. You
always impress me this way. All of your points were certainly valid,
and you expressed them clearly. If you were able to leave on good
terms with them afterwards, all the more power to you! That's the way
to do it. Let them know they were wrong in the way in which they
handled (or created) the situation, and politely bow out. I hope to be
as smoooooth as you someday (but not likely).
I would like to have said that I would've done the same as you had
done, but I usually only make good decisions after I've slept on it
for awhile (sometimes I have to sleep on it for about 15 years before
I figure out what would've been the right thing to do).
- Rick
On May 25, 11:45 am, Wayno <way...@gmail.com> wrote:
Wayno
I struggled a bit with turning down the current cover. As I said, they
surprised me with that call! I was waiting a while and had planned to
contact them to talk about the situation, and they just accelerated
the discussion.
I almost took it, but I knew it would also have had that insulting
contest banner superimposed somewhere. I don't think there was any
mean-spiritedness on the client's part, just some unprofessional
behavior due to their naivety. Prior to hiring me to do their covers
they just had someone in their office who could "sort of" draw do
them, so I think they're headed back that way.
It's too bad, they are basically nice people, but I don't think I
really burned a bridge that wasn't already rickety and could have
collapsed under my feet at any time.
By the way, this is a great benefit of the discussion board - I like
it much better than email blasts!
George Schill
understandable.
They don't know any better.
At first I thought she was an AD that should know better.
It seems that the illo biz has new rules now with the clients driving
the bus instead of the creatives. A few of us were whining about how
things have changed over the years at the past meeting. Well, maybe I
was doing most of the whining.
Ya can't rattle Phil, who even had worse horror stories.
Clients asking and expecting the impossible , asking for changes after
the final art is turned in, even after the rough was approved, AD's
chopping together 'concepts' using existing art, decreasing
budgets,and on and on.
Wah Wah Wah
george