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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ค. 2024
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00:00 - intro
00:15 - red flag #1
01:22 - red flag #2
03:31 - red flag #3
04:39 - red flag #4
05:53 - red flag #5
#videoproduction #filmmaking #commercials
Let's discuss how to avoid problematic clients when working as a commercial filmmaker, videographer, or while running a video production business. Here are the 5 red flags that make me turn down video clients.
Bad clients will often make you feel like you’re not good enough. They do that to justify their unwillingness or inability to pay the right fee.
Man o man isn’t this the god to honest truth. Lol
"A bad deal always gets worse."
Don't know where I learned that, but it's so true. A client who comes to you with unrealistic expectations or budget will ABSOLUTELY balloon into a massive headache.
most content from TH-cam never talk about tangible things... just empty entertainment. im glad to find your video
This is one of those topics that is really for the working videographer. This isn’t a popular algorithmic title and clickbaity but it’s a super real and valuable topic to touch. Thanks for hitting a real note instead of dancing for the algorithm man!
I found that the best way to discourage toxic clients is to insist on as high a upfront non-refundable fee or deposit as possible, on the first meeting. If they balk at doing so, tell them that they don’t seem very committed to the project and move on.
Tipe 1 is extremely important! Working on too many "pro-bono" projects will also create a reputation for you as someone who will work for dirt cheap, I have first hand experience with this side effect and it'll negatively impact your own perception of your work, constantly pitting you into spells of imposter syndrome because you're wondering why people keep asking you to do free work, even though your quality is absolutely stunning. Be careful y'all!
I would add another red flag, ridiculous delivery times, they want everything done in the least amount of time and with the best quality, in this case just run away as fast as you can
But we can fix it in post, right?
I experience this too. That's why i rejected red flag 'client'. Least amount of time with the best quality + Complain a lot in a rude way and yet limited budget xD
@nur-niaz that’s what everyone seems to think 😂
@@nur-niaz immediate nope 😅
Hopefully a lesson we all learned quickly and move on. I had a client ask for 3 full animated CGI video deliverables with revisions complete in a weeks time for like 2k. bruuuuuh if you want it that fast you are PAYING for it to be that fast ON TOP of the usual cost which should be way more than that, cuz you need a team, precious time, faster equipment or most likely, just straight up say no. Its so easy to work yourself into the ground in this industry if you accept bad clients to many times. I definitely did this my first year or two of freelance...
Truth be told, you said more than 90%........the bad vibes is a real one
I used to take on clients with bad vibes knowing something was off, just to hit my revenue goals. Now I realize the energy (not to mention the headache) it takes to deal with those clients is not worth it and is better spent on securing good clients & delivering good results for them.
This is timely for me. I'm dealing with a client who's ghosting me and refusing to pay. Very frustrating.
As the saying goes - if you learn from defeat you haven’t really lost :)
So damn true! Clients who want you to work for free will always ask you to work for free.
Also, It's interesting that I met quite a few agency/clients rookies who have SEVER superiority complex. Guess they just feel so entitled being a "client" to the production company.💀
I've been a consultant for over 15 years and one thing that took a long time for me to learn (which i think is super relevant here) was that other peoples' lack of planning shouldn't dictate your turnaround and/or priorities. When you're new and need the work, you take on so many rush jobs but as soon as you have the luxury to choose clients you realise that the 'need it done yesterday' crowd are by *far* the worst to work with and the rush always means that work packages and outcomes are not well defined, and inevitavly there are disagreements and issues with payment. If a client wont take the time with me early to get the brief right before we start, then I dont take them on.
oh yeah. I second this!
Solid advices. I personally would never accept free ads request. I can offer it for a friend, but won't accept a request from someone that's obviously making money, especially when the asking price is already pretty affordable from my end. I would rather play games or do something I like instead of wasting my time on an ungrateful "client".
It's always good to draw up a worst case scenario plan internally - it will nearly always come true but you won't be shocked. I find the shock of a bad client is what causes pain.
I like that 💯
Wow, I had a very similar experience a couple of weeks ago. I had a weird gut feeling about a client and I asked fellow filmakers who had worked with them and it turns out, they where very problematic. Great video!
I wish I heard this advice in my early career. Would have saved me from tons of headaches and bad, toxic, even dangerous situations. If I had it to do over, it would have been better if I had done high quality, small scale personal projects on my own and reached out to clients I wanted to work with, instead of letting shady people come to me who exploited me for my skills and resources. In hindsight, dealing with all those terrible clients and situations wasted tons of my time, money, and energy. If I had said no more often, I would probably be much farther along in my career by now.
It's not only clients who don't want to pay! Imo the biggest red flag is clients who price gauge you. They are the ones who will feel entitled for paying you and then ask for a thousand favours, changes, i.e..
500€ Clients are more of a headache then 5000€ clients.
It's a cliche, but don't work with people who don't have more than $1000 unless you clearly state to them what to expect. Those who pay little, nitpick a LOT. They think $500 is a lot of money and that's a problem.
I've certainly experienced varying degrees of all those red flags. In each scenario, i've found that there was a gap in where I thought they understood and what they actually understood about what was going to happen. I am not bitter by no means with any of those experiences, but it did entice a more intentional and direct form of communication to make sure everyone involved was on the same page. I also increased my deposit amount from 50% to 80% so that if they did, for some reason, decide not to make final payment, I will have at least made the majority of the money I was supposed to. Great information!!
50 to 80 is a brilliant advice! Do you still have to explain such a large upfront or it’s no questions asked?
@@nur-niaz I haven't had to explain it yet, but am prepared to if need be. It also acts as another layer of protection and identifies very quickly who is ready to move forward.
I have experienced almost every one of these things with a client (who was actually a friend first before becoming a client). Thankfully, it truly didn't affect our friendship, as he still paid and the work eventually got done...but with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight I see now that there was no unified vision between he and his business partner, no trust in my creative approach, expectations were not managed (which I accept blame for as well), and overall just a lack of detail in the outlined deliverables - which made for extra work throughout the entire post production process. Lesson learned! And great video you hit the nail on the head with all of these!
Awesome video - to the point and concise. Also, your work (all the B Roll) is incredible, Nur.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you so much ❤
TH-cam algorithm couldn't be more spot on right now 😂 thanks for sharing. This was great.
Great video, Nur! I'll be watching more 👌🏼
So many gems... feel like I've experienced these all at some point haha.. Vibes have always been the best compass for collaboration.
Gonna leave this for whoever needs to hear it:
Raise your rates. The cheapest clients are the ones who are the biggest headaches.
This is Gold!
Great information man!
Appreciate it!
That’s a damn beautiful interview setup!
Nur! You nialed it and intuition is such a powerful skill that can save you and guide you in order to evolve! Thank you for this video really appreciated!
You're so welcome!
Really appreciate this video! Recently had to deal with red flag 3, was not easy to say no as the money would have been appreciated but the request and demand was so unrealistic. Submitted a proposal in the end to what I believed the project required and made a point that this project needed a marketing director and a producer to accomplish what they were after. Broke everything down and explained my reasonings... never heard back from them
That's unfortunate. It often feels like a numbers game. The more you encounter such situations, the quicker you can identify them, saving yourself some time.
just turned down a job today bc of these, i agree 1000%
re: #4 flag, I don't think that's always the case. I was working with a designer recently (not video, but motion design) and after getting the first draft I basically turned him down after seeing it. It was clear to me that it was going to take a lot of work to get to where I wanted the design to be and decided I was just better off doing it myself.
Love this anamorphic image 😮
You have a great skill of making these videos very personal and also feel like im watching an HR video at work 😂. The part about charging more to filter certain people is so true. I do music videos and in the beginning I was taking all type of clients, and met some of scummiest people ever. After raising my fees i only get calls from decent people that pay on time.
🤣🤣🤣 thanks
Respect ! you dared to speak the truth in this day,n age woke world huge thumbs up!! The client is not always right , contrary to the myth
Asking for a discount before even receiving a quote
I'd say that the #5 Bad Vibes cover them all. I would also add; clients who contact you very few weeks or *even days* before their own release/launch day. Seriously folks, if you want a product well done whatever is it, ask to your service provider to start as soon as possible, way prior to the final day. Short deadlines helps nobody.
Good morning! great touch points
100% My three are: 1. Time, 2. Skills, 3. Vibe - 1. Value your TIME (They should have a decent idea of what they WANT to a achieve and have reasonable timelines / budgets). 2. Vlaue your SKILLS (They should listen to your professional opinions not shut you down constantly). 3. VIBE Check - if you feel that they're constantly acting strange or emotionally compromised it's probably not going to end well. One of these isn't always a 'game-over' depending on if you can identify the issue and work around it, but normally two or even all three of those will go off at some point on a really dud project and it's a handy indicator of what you're in for! Side note for anyone reading - IMO if it's a new client for you, always watermark eveything untill you recieve payment.
The Holy Trifecta :)
Watermarks saved my butt too many times. Glad you mention that!
Pretty amazing right. I had worked with two people and did tons of work on multiple projects for free last year. Now when I am charging and actually making money fro my time and effort, crickets. Goes to show the mindset of people. I would be grateful to pay someone after they did over five shoots and video sessions for nothing. Not even gas money to get me to the locations. I know where I am at today and its all about working with people who want to win and are willing to pay professional for the time effort and sacrifice.
wow! man, been there, done that :(
thats so true, thx for sharing
It’s the feeling we know all too well 🥲
I have a question, Usually Client ask for quotation which is normal. But lately I noticed that new clients ask for both quotation and BQ(Bill of quantities), Is that normal? I though BQ only for architecture/surveyor-releated project only. should i give BQ as well even though I am a media company? (Sorry for my bad english)
Typically, the production company provides an estimate first. After the director pitches the vision in a treatment and secures the job, they provide a quotation. I don't believe the clients need this in the form of a BQ.
Would love to see a green flags version of this video.
that sounds interesting!
I once heard that if you are accepting more projects than you are turning down then you are probably in an unhealthy work situation... or not charging enough.
I'm watching this as I'm at the end of my rope with a particular client, thinking this doesn't happen to established directors like you. Glad to see how you learnt from your experiences, which taught me more about learning how to learn, as opposed to the learnt thing itself! thanks Nur!
Three words - NO SPEC EVER !!!! Let me repeat that - NO SPEC EVER!!!!! OK that’s 6 !
I was petty and halved my rate for a terrible client's competitor once lol
Fighting with law department is a certain red flag - without knowing industry rules (like actors rights) they once pretend to have commercial with world rights for infinite time 😅
💯
My first retainer client (smallest retainer ever at $500 a month) immediately became a walking red flag after our first project together. He wouldn’t communicate what he actually wanted in a video but also wasn’t happy with what I was filming because it wasn’t his vision…which again he wouldn’t tell me. On our second shoot, he had me to pick up an order from Party City as if I was his assistant. I almost (and should have) walked away then but was excited to have my first retainer. There was also an issue with getting my last paycheck from them where he was lying to me saying he left it at the office or that he would leave it at one of his stores. Complete scum bag move. Under no circumstances would I ever enter into business with him again. I won’t mention his name but he is the alleged owner of Cocobowlz in case any of you have thought about or are thinking about doing business with him.
Thanks for sharing! Hope it helps others 🤝
These client stories are so similar from when I was in the US advertising game from 12 years back . Nothing has changed . Marketing millennials, who are barely out of school with no experience and no field experience or training being put into jobs where they don’t know what to ask for and don’t know what to do. Client executives who have no concept of the reality of working on an set creative directors who just want pigs in space and expect you to deliver it on the spot because they saw some iPhone commercial. The whole thing is just a shit show And it’s up to us to tell them this is how it’s done take it or leave it. People who keep doing speck ad for free just to put it in their book degrading the whole industry. This is where clients go and look and troll for people to do things for free and TH-camrs don’t help the situation by turning around and endorsing products that don’t work and then saying oh I’ve worked for these fortune 500 companies, it’s a total load of trash never ever ever work for people who aren’t professional as the old saying goes peanuts monkeys.
I’m happy here ❤gonna sub 😊
"what is your best price bro" is worst red flag I've experienced ever.
"bro"
xyz
The first issue being no money is just hilarious. I can’t take the video seriously anymore.
fuck...
Your animorphic lens is too soft. It's distracting.