Tiers of clients

"Alright, quickfire round trainers. Lets go."

After doing freelance work as an extra within a play, got to feel like what it means to work with a client or director. Sources for seth's client, including this post. He's also done a podcast for freelancers.

• Bungus Tier: Clients who don't pay on time, clients who don't pay.

Quite obvious, spend less time with them if possible.

• Below Average tier: Those who push the freelancer to be the fastest and cheapest.

Not a great place to be. They are going to push freelancer into a replaceable commodity job. Worth allocating the time to make better clients and persuading to do better work.

• Okay/average tier: Clients/customers that push the freelancer to do average work for average mass appeal. They're worth persuading to do better work.

This may push them to do hack work, this is where I may defend it if it's morally sensible. It's where one may have to dance with making a living and making a difference.

• Good Generous Tier: Clients who demand an insightful revision.

A revision may be needed in order to resonate better with the audience. One or two could be needed. Pushing oneself to be a category of one.

This reminds me of my director who told me to stop doing improvisation within his play because I was too busy messing about. It was a drama play, and he was right, I learned the difference in his criticism.

• Amazing Tier: Clients that go way beyond the rule of law, and the theory of the firm:

These are the hardest pushers, They make it personal to make sure it's magic. Chip Kidd has them along with the amount. The work is a reflection of them, including the category of one. Understanding the genre and the audience fully.

Get better clients, that's how it goes. There's probably a better tier than that.