it’s 1:17 on monday afternoon and i’m just starting to feel better about my weekend. i try not to clutter my blog with bad thoughts, but sometimes it’s worth remembering bitter lessons learned so as not to repeat them.
- lesson one: when i was starting my freelance design career, it was more of a hobby while holding down a full-time job. i closed deals with a verbal agreement and a handshake. i began to take on more business outside of my social circle (friends, family, family-friends) and came across a partnership with a local non-profit. they referred one client in particular who was opening up a new restaurant in downtown nashville. she needed business cards which i produced but because she did not approve them in time, the printer delivered them a day late. she refused to pay, the non-profit refused to back me up and there i was… high and dry. always, ALWAYS work with a written agreement. it doesn’t have to be anything fancy as long as it outlines the terms and includes signatures from both parties.
- lesson two: a few months ago, i received an email interested in booking one of my artists. (i wear many hats these days.) having just finished up a week of booking rejections, i lowballed the offer and the venue immediately accepted. ALWAYS do your research. I looked up their website after they had signed the contract and realized that i could’ve bid twice as much and they still would’ve accepted it. doh!
- and most recently, lesson three: a volunteer from a large non-profit in atlanta contacted me about bidding on some design projects. since most of my work involves telecommuting, i keep my portfolio online. i sent them the link and asked for more information so i could begin discussing fees. they came back and said they would like me to present a hard copy portfolio and would like me to travel to atlanta for a face-to-face meeting. eventually, i agreed and spent a pretty penny on some professionally printed portfolios. mapquest directions and a single volunteer’s phone number in hand, i circled the block six times waiting to see the parking garage that “you can’t miss.” it was raining, and i was trying to navigate through aggressive traffic to find a destination that apparently did not exist. hindsight, of course, is always 20/20. when traveling, ALWAYS get as much information as possible. this includes phone numbers for all contacts (including the director, or director’s secretary) and landmarks (i.e., the parking garage across from the park with the large red sign that says ‘enter here’). i also have since purchased a tomtom which tracks parking garages. pfft!
i’m kicking myself for the (painful) expensive lessons i’ve learned, but you can bet that i will never repeat them!
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