Innit

Client/Freelancer tips, gotchas & notes

Clients

Scale of project

With new projects try to get a real sense of how large the project will be. Think of CCI, it just grew and grew and consequently the AE project started getting messy and Toggle/invoicing turned messy too.

Freelancers

What’s required of them

Above all, make sure to always respond to mail or Slack questions. Always keep us updated as to progress.

Make sure they are aware of ALL the little nuances of the project such as editing in Premiere. Remember Chad who was not aware that I was putting everything together in Pr and that all I would need from him were individual shots. Also, let them know why it’s like that eg. Pr because I can make quick timing changes, transitions etc in Pr whilst liaising with the client.

With regard to what Chris expects:

Consistency on all levels including capitalisation.

Left to right building of elements.

Clockwise animating of elements starting at bottom or top left.

Stuff must be properly aligned - if it’s to be centered for example, make sure it really is centred.

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How many rounds of revisions do you give your clients?⁠

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I always tell the Client my "Walt Disney versus Steve Jobs analogy"

"Walt Disney could look at a rough sketch and have feedback, Steve Jobs needed to a see a finished iPod before he would comment it was too 'large' Be Walt Disney. "

The earlier you can provide feedback, by using your imagination, the cheaper and faster I can update on the next round.

But if a client needs to see a fully polished Cg character before they say "oh I didn't want a duck, I wanted an elephant", as long as they are paying me for my time, everyone wins. I quote based on 3 passes but I always bill Actuals.

If I'm at 80 percent of the hours quoted and I'm only 50 percent done, I will give the client heads up and list reasons why there is "slippage."

"Feature Creep" or late feedback is usually the reason.

The worst project you can do is a free project for a friend.

The second worst you can do is a flat rate project for any body .

Sometimes, with a new client I will purposely bill less than the quote.

They'll say "why is this less than the quote?"

And I'll say "it took me less hours than I thought because you were really good with feedback and approving things"

Even if this isn't always true, I've trained the client to believe that the faster I work, the cheaper it is for them.

Now on the next project they will invovle themselves more, even provide storyboards or a more thoughtful outline, versus the other way around.

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Defining rounds of revisions⁠

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Hourly but need to provide estimate incl 2 revision passes. Note, this is an ESTIMATE, not a quote. Alternatively provide an estimate and do not include revisions but make it clear.

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