Dear AD, Do you have general advice for working with clients who aren’t used to doing “art director” work? Ie, this is the company’s first time hiring an artist or designer
Give them a contract up front that you’ve ideally made to seal up any holes (revisions cap, kill fees, feedback deadlines) and help educate them through the process. If you don’t have one, you can start with our Contracts 101 Onesheet & template. If they have a contract, read it really really really well. Chances are no other artist has tried poking holes in it yet, and it’ll be a contract more suited to other kinds of work.
Also, remember to act like the professional. Not in an arrogant way, but in a confident way. Think of yourself as an adventure tour guide. Set expectations in advance. The number one problem with inexperienced clients is that they don’t know what they don’t know. It’s your job to know about the rapids that art jobs can hit and make sure everyone is wearing their life vest in advance. Before you get going plot out how you usually work (what you need in a brief, how long you get till you give them thumbs, how many thumbs they get, how soon you expect feedback, etc.)
And lastly, GET A DEPOSIT BEFORE YOU START. If they balk at 50% then get 25% at thumbs and another 25% after they approve thumbs before you go on.
—Agent KillFee