So I lose one client, and gain one or two more

[wienerdog]

So I lost that local advertiser as a client a few weeks ago. They were pretty much a middle-man I didn't need, and while they seemed nice, they didn't communicate well, nor paid enough for the turn-around times they required.

Anyway, I now found new potential clients, one in the comics industry (which I know well and love, but have never had the guts to try and get work in). Another is a photo lab needing photo retouchers as an off-site freelancer.

One person e-mailed me about doing some education book she's trying to market, and needs an illustrator. It doesn't sound like she's paying up front, and is hoping to pay through profit sharing. A part of me wants to reach out and do just about everything I can to market myself, network, and throw as much against a wall and hope something sticks (to trot out a tired cliche).

If I'm just starting out, am I risking too much by taking low-paying work like this for money on the side and for exposure, and maybe hope one of these may turn into or lead to something bigger, or am I condemning myself to low-paying work for low budget clients?

[morea]

price what you are worth. Don't take low pay just to get work. That's one of the reasons that people don't expect to pay designers what they are worth.

If you want to give work away for experience or portfolio pieces, non-profit organizations are a worthy cause.

[Patrick Shannon]

I am not exactly the right person to answer this considering I have not started my freelance yet, but according to what others have said on this board, you don't want to undershoot yourself.

Granted many Americans don't share my mentality, but when I'm in a store looking at two products, one priced extremely cheap and the other a little more expensive, I have to question what makes the expensive one much better. Now sometimes, that's not smart shopping and the cheaper product does offer everything the more expensive one does. But more often than not, as long as you shop smart, you certainly get what you pay for.

Of course you want to market yourself, but you have got to look at it this way...what kind of response will you get? Lets say you take on a low-budget client for a ridiculously low price. That client might recommend you to others sure, but what they'll likely be saying is "Why not take your work to Weinerdog, he works really cheap!" Then suddenly, you have a bunch of clients wanting too much work for cheap prices.

But there is a happy medium. But since others have better experience in this, I'll let them take it from here.

[wienerdog]

My problem is that while it's low-paying, it's work I really want to do. I've been a freelancer for a t-shirt company for the 3 years I've been in the industry. The guy took me while I was still in school, learning how to properly do a clipping path. 3 years later, I'm designing his web site, t-shirts, marketing material, official logo, and am essentially his art director for the low-budget company. The thing is, when he gets samples, his product is fantastic, and a pretty high quality for a low-budget company.
So I cut him a break, and like working with him, and hope one day, he'll be able to sell, make profit, and need me full time.

And to get work in the comics industry, wow, to just have my name as a credit to a layout in a comic would just be cool. So I'm kinda torn on keeping rates high for these two clients.

[wienerdog]

Patrick, you make a good point on the word of mouth at low rates thing. When meeting with prospective clients who don't know design, we should have sample pieces done with Word and pieces done with design software, and show the difference. "Which of these looks more professional? That's why I charge $ per hour. You get a much better design to use."

Maybe I should try the "introductory rate" like credit cards do. I'll offer half price for the first job I do for a client, after that, it's my regular rate. :o)