Click to See Complete Forum and Search --> : to home-based freelancers: clients come to your home?
olcvisual
08-03-2004, 12:01 AM
Do clients visit you in your home? The answer for me is no and I prefer it that way because my "workstation" is unprofessional. But a recently acquired client prefers face to face meetings and wanted to meet me at home to work on a project. I persuade him to use instant messaging instead but he was apparently disappointed. Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thanks.
Mickey
08-03-2004, 12:07 AM
I usually avoid meeting at my home, While my home studio is not in anyway unprofessional the thought of haveing clients over with my kids running around may come off as unprofessional to them. I usually ask to meet them at their office or even a coffee shop or resturant.
http://home.wi.rr.com/mygraphics/konceptcreative.jpg
Mickey
08-03-2004, 12:10 AM
and if they really want to work in person and come to your home, I would just let them. For my situation I am very lucky my wife is a stay at home mom and the house is always spotless and I would have no problem sitting down at my dining room table to work thru some comps. Depending on the client it is even a very creative relaxing enviroment to work in.
http://home.wi.rr.com/mygraphics/konceptcreative.jpg
D-Frag
08-03-2004, 12:12 AM
Ive had clients come to my home, especially when its a rush project, well sit down at my station for a good 4-6 hours and bang out a 20+ page magazine. My place is no where near anything professional, but there is no other options sometimes. Gotta do what ya gotta do, but then again I have very good relationships with my clients.
beeeeeeeeeeeeeeer goooooooooooooood!!
REDeye
08-03-2004, 12:47 AM
Same here. But then again my typical clients are people that are within my social genre. Rock bands have much worse living environments than I ever would. I like rappers coming over because they always bring beer and pot.
D-Frag
08-03-2004, 01:01 AM
^hahahaha, nice one dude!!!
beeeeeeeeeeeeeeer goooooooooooooood!!
3howards
08-03-2004, 01:19 AM
i have never had a client come to my home. if they want to meet face-to-face i simply set up a power lunch at a restaurant and talk to our server prior to the meeting to inform them that we will be there a while. of course, i pay, since they are the client, but the cost is covered with consultation and planning fees. i also meet them at their office if it's an emergency or rush job.
Instead of focusing on what you won’t be about, decide what you will be about and make that good thing the central aim of your life. -- Pieter Van Waarde
Allen Harkleroad
08-03-2004, 05:14 AM
i think it lends a personal feeling to an client arrangment to have them over to my home to work or discuss a project, i feel comformtable as do they, i think informal type surroundings help me, and if you say my office you would run for the hills (cramped and piled high with all sorts of stuff. Kind of reminds me of the mines of Moria in the Lord of the Rings (and nearly as much dust in some places too.), just no Rock Trolls or Orcs roaming about...
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I tend to prefer going to their office to discuss their needs. I may bring a laptop with me to take notes, but I NEVER do the work in front of the client. I was taught a long time ago to never let them watch you work. There are many reasons for this. But, when I get really close to a particular client and we can brainstorm effectively and they show absolutely no interest in doing my job, I may let them into my studio. I just don't do the work with them there.
I have had a few clients come over for Video editing and audio work, but that is entirely different scenario than desktop publishing as there is very little chance they can learn what I am doing by watching. The software and hardware is far too involved for most of them--not to mention I use almost all key commands instead of point and click--drives 'em crazy!
Ben Dare & Dun Dat
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olcvisual
08-03-2004, 09:26 PM
Ethereal View said...
I tend to prefer going to their office to discuss their needs. I may bring a laptop with me to take notes, but I NEVER do the work in front of the client. I was taught a long time ago to never let them watch you work. There are many reasons for this. But, when I get really close to a particular client and we can brainstorm effectively and they show absolutely no interest in doing my job, I may let them into my studio. I just don't do the work with them there.
I have had a few clients come over for Video editing and audio work, but that is entirely different scenario than desktop publishing as there is very little chance they can learn what I am doing by watching. The software and hardware is far too involved for most of them--not to mention I use almost all key commands instead of point and click--drives 'em crazy!
That's part of the reason I prefer not to have clients in my home. Also I'm uncomfortable when clients or bosseslook over my shoulder.