How would you deal with THIS???

[Wing1]

I'm working on a project for a client. It's a course manual comprised of 7 different modules. We've completed one and most of another. I'm going on vacation for one week starting Feb 8.

My client called today and asked me for the working InDesign files because they have ANOTHER DESIGNER they want to see if she can "help" me. They're concerned that I'm not going to get it all done -- thing is, they don't even have another module ready for me and likely WON'T before I go on vacation... :confused:

I've told her that I will meet her deadlines, and have done so to date, and that if I needed assistance I would HIRE someone to help me. The last module took 16.5 hours to lay out, and she had it back within one week of giving it to me.

I told her I wasn't comfortable giving the working files to someone else to work on. I really don't know where she's coming from here.

What would you do???

[Logo-Mechanix]

Exactly what you did.

[Wing1]

And what if she insists on farming out other modules to another designer? The job isn't quoted but I've been incrementally billing based on the amount of work I expect this to be in total when it's all said and done.

This is a six-year client for me. There have never been any issues with them in the past, but she's in a knot because she's behind and is panicking.

[budafist]

Assure her that it can be done by you or your associates and that giving the job to another designer that isn't familiar with the job could lead to miscommunication etc. Because it sure does!

[balou]

Right Buda. A new designer will initially cause a slow down. I'd ask what her schedule is on getting each module to you. If she's getting two or three ready at the same time, then I could see bringing in an assistant. But if she's feeding you one module at a time, what will it help to bring someone else in? Maybe setting up a timetable for the remainder of the project will be a good idea here.

[idaho]

Budafist is right on the money. Bringing in another designer will cause more headaches than it will be helpful. Push that notion on the client over and over again.

Also, if you give the client the InDesign files, they may cut you out of the loop completely. If the client persists that they are only looking for someone to help you, get the rest of the project under contract somehow to protect your interests. Be sure you are completely paid in full before handing over anything.

[popejoydesign]

I concur...she has to understand that styles and the voice of the modules will be varried if someone else's grubby little hands touch it. I don't know what your contract states, or if you have one for this project, but mine says all work is under my ownership until the completion of the project. If yours is similar I would state that as another legal means not to transfer any ownership.

Buda brought up a great point of it actually slowing down the process instead of helping. I get nervous, stressed, panicy clients all the time (isn't that what they are suppose to do? :) ) and a calming voice of reassurance that I know what I am doing and I am a professional seems to help. That and send over a bottle of Gray Goose :)

[MikeTheVike]

Might want to also emphasize in a nice way that you WILL get it done as long as you receive materials in a timely manner.

[resdog]

What if her deadline is Feb. 15? Can you meet it? I mean, you will be on vacation. Maybe this person is looking at it like you will be out of commission for a week, and to a client, their project is most important when it's ON THEIR MIND. So maybe this client is worried that since you'll be gone that the project will fall behind. So they are looking at bringing in another designer to "take up the slack" while you're gone. I know I've dealt with people who took weeks to get a proof back to me, but once they did, they expected changes back that day!

Bottom line, it's their project. They are not required by law to let you keep working on the job. What I would do is, obviously, what everyone else is saying. Try to figure out where they coming from. If they are adamant about getting your original InDesign files, I would create an invoice for work done so far, explain that you need to be paid before you'll release the artwork, and if they pay, give them the artwork and move on.

[Wing1]

Her deadline is NOT February 15. She doesn't even have another module ready for me to work on as yet, she's admitted as much. The only one holding up this project is her. She's been aware of my holiday for a month and the second she heard about it she began to panic. We started this thing LAST April. We've done two (2) modules out of seven (7). The revisions for the second module she got back in 24 hours. I've done everything I can to reassure her that her deadlines will be met. She has no reason, having worked with me for 6 years to expect that they will not.

If she pushes the issue, I'll do just that. Send an invoice, and release her files and she can get them done elsewhere. She's pushed me to the point that it's not worth the fight.

[resdog]

Based on what you've said, she shouldn't have any problems with you. And the fact that she's worked with you for six years means that she obviously likes you. It doesn't make sense that she wants the artwork for another designer. There has to be something else going on. Like maybe her boss feels you are too expensive and wants to hire his "cousin/nephew/etc." who can do it for cheaper.

Hope it all works out.

[vaughn]

I am in full agreement with you.

[panzer]

no hes said what it is she's in a bind

you should reasure her as was said ealier
politely explain that its her side thats keeping the ball from rolling

DONT just give her the files a 6 year client ?

give her a bit more time

6 years after all is a long time

[budafist]

Wing hasn't been on since 5 Feb. I wonder what happened to this job? I wonder if they are still on vacation?

[Wing1]

Sorry all -- got back on Sunday and have been digging out since then. Before I left, this is what I ended up doing:

I cut an invoice for the balance of my time (except for a chunk of time just in case I needed the leverage), and send her the files she requested. I ALSO, against my better judgement and because I felt bullied and pressured into it, sent her the name of the illustrator I had planned to contract for her for this project, becuase she INSISTED that she work directly with him, instead of the standard practice of my hiring him through my company and billing her accordingly.

Maybe not the right thing to do, but I was so stressed out and tired of being pushed around, I gave in in the hopes that she'd back off and we could get back to business.

FF to today. She tells me that there is another module almost ready for me (yes, she was delayed in getting that ready while I was away, big surprise), and then in the NEXT breath, asks me for MORE files pertaininng to this job.

The file she asked for is for the binder tabs, and I responded that I will not release this file at this time, because it needs to remain INTACT with all the tabs layed out in one file for the printer (not chopped up into many files or god knows what). In any case, I can't imagine why she'd need it (unless she's trying to get rid of me altogether). She hasn't responded as yet.

Should she insist, I am simply going to cut an invoice for the balance of my time plus a fee to burn her stuff to disk, and she can take her project elsewhere.

I'm tired of being bullied, pushed around and talked down to. She's asked me for things that are beyond unprofessional and I've responded in ways to try and keep the peace, but I'm over it. Sometimes it's just not worth it.

I've never had to 'fire' a client before, but I guess there's a first for everything.

(someone above suggested it might be about my fees -- these people waste more money that I can tell you -- last month they trashed 3000, 24 page full color newsletters because they made an error on the front cover, which could've been fixed by reprinting the covers. Nope. We reprinted the entire job. This isn't about money at all. It's about control, plain and simple).