Batman director on client meddling
Published: Sun, 03/29/20
====
"When I come in, what I say is, ‘Look. First of all, you’re asking me if I’m interested in this franchise. I am. I love this franchise. I’ve loved it since I was a kid. But here’s the way in which I’m interested in it. And if you’re not interested in it in that way, then that’s totally fine.’ And the good news was, they said, ‘Yeah, we’re really interested in that way.’ And I remember this on Dawn, too. There would be moments where I came in for a pitch that was a certain version of the movie, and somewhere along the way, because they didn’t know me or whatever it was, they’d say, ‘Why don’t we do this?’ And I would just simply say, ‘But that’s not the movie that we talked about. That’s not the movie I want to do.’ And I have to say that they always backed down when it came down to that. And it’s kind of the way that I’ve always done it. And here’s the thing: I’m always happy not to do something. I’m usually looking for the reason to
say no.”
====
Something else to ponder:
The great ad man Walter Bregman (who was a for-real “mad man” agency guy back in the 60’s) says you never go off strategy to fit someone else’s last minute brain fart or to appease the client just for the sake of it and not because it makes any kind of sense.
Was good advice then.
I dare say it's even better advice now.
Anyway, if you do the freelance thing, I argue having a multi-layered business model for it — and not just reacting to getting clients one at a time — can make it so the above is not an issue for you.
I’m talking about building a business where you are potentially:
1. Booked out a year in advance, paid half up front just to hold their “spot”
2. Have a subscription business “tacked” on that pays you even when client pickin’s are slim
3. Might have so many options for clients that if one client flakes, cheats, or even so much as questions your advice on something, you take your ball and leave and fill that spot with a better, higher class client
Enter the April “Email Players” issue.
It is not a “how to get clients” issue.
But, what it is, is a how to take your client-based business, and place it within my info publishing business model that can potentially give you a very secure, robust, and possibly even “depression proof” operation.
It ain’t magic, though.
And yes, hard work is required.
Maybe even a lot of hard work, depending on how lazy you’ve been up til now.
And certainly, if you are given to procrastinating, not acting & moving forward when scared, and need money “overnight” this issue probably won’t do you much good. It also won’t do pure info-publishers who are afraid to think creatively or are incapable of such much good either. It is my info-publishing model I wrote about in last June’s issue “adapted” to freelancing/coaching/service based businesses, with some more extra info and ideas and insights baked in I’ve learned since.
All right, enough of this.
If you want in, put on your cape & cowl and swing on over here while you can:
http://www.EmailPlayers.com
That roguish deadline is almost here.
Ben Settle