VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD! Forum Index VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!
Established November 10, 2004
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

What's your take on the phrasing?
Goto page Previous  1, 2
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD! Forum Index -> Chat
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Ed Fisher
DC


Joined: 05 Sep 2012
Posts: 605
Location: East Coast, U.S.A.
PostPosted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've lost clients before just like this.

It happens.

Like you said, it's a shock. (and it hits you right in the pocketbook)

I once lost 9 clients on the same day who were each paying me a hunk of change on a recurring monthly basis. Believe me, that hurt.

You squirm and you think...and hope there is some way to change their minds...but truthfully...there isn't. In the corporate world, their number one job is protecting themselves from being blamed for anything. So, if the decision has been made to go in a "different direction," nobody is going to stick their neck out to change that.

Unlike many other Jobs that are out there, being in business for yourself is different.

While other guys are busting their behinds to get that .50 raise. You can get a 1000 dollar or even a 5000 dollar a month RAISE simply from a single phone call.

But, the other side is...you can lose that much...just as quickly.

I've learned the HARD way that a business (and that's what we ARE) is never static. It is always either growing or shrinking. Once you get "satisfied" and fail to remember to constantly grow...one day you will find the tide has turned against you.

All you can do is accept this setback (if indeed this is what it is)...and use it as inspiration to go out and get at least TWO more new clients to replace them.

"And that's all I have to say...about that." - Forest Gump
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jen Gosnell
A Hundred Dozen


Joined: 14 Jan 2010
Posts: 1290
Location: Portland, OR
PostPosted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Dayo wrote:
No-one is going to die...

Oh Colin!! Oh, how I laughed at this. Thanks for that!! Laugh

Mike, hope it turns out to be nothing after all. Smile
_________________
jen@jengosnell.com
https://www.jengosnell.com
Skype: jen.gosnell
971.258.2448
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Lee Gordon
A Zillion


Joined: 25 Jul 2008
Posts: 6866
Location: West Hartford, CT
PostPosted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 12:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Mike Harrison wrote:
That they would suddenly just 'shut down' rather than ask if I could do better with the rate came as quite a shock to me.

Knowing that, what would your suggested approach have been?


I went back through the thread to see if I had missed the part where they told you your fees were too high or they found someone cheaper, but I didn't see it. So I will assume you are projecting this scenario from your own imaginings. While I agree their phrasing in what appears to be the one and only communication with you on the subject is clunky and curt, it really doesn't say much at all. There could be myriad explanations ranging from "this particular project is stalled and we'll be in touch once it gets rolling again" to "we hate your guts and we would rather poke out our own eyeballs than ever do business with you again." Or something in between.

What I would do, and would have done after that initial communication, is send them a note saying, "Thanks for the update. If there's anything I can do for you in the meantime, please do not hesitate to ask." And then, I'd move on.
_________________
Lee Gordon, O.A.V.
Voice President of the United States
www.leegordonproductions.com
Twitter: @LeeGordonVoice
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Mike Harrison
M&M


Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 2029
Location: Equidistant from New York City and Philadelphia, along the NJ Shore
PostPosted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 3:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks, everyone, for your words of support. The mystery is now solved.

As several of you suspected, it was a poor choice of words in that email. I'm not that new that I couldn't comprehend that, sometimes, clients just vanish. What had me dumbfounded here was – as I mentioned – all their previous words of praise, and the openness we shared in the relationship. I couldn't imagine, if my quoted rate was higher than they'd like, why they didn't just say so. I know they would have.

So, after leaving the "what happened?" voice mail, I received a reply today... and an apology for the confusion. "We'll be in touch for other video needs for sure. Please call anytime!"
_________________
Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Rena
Lovely and Talented


Joined: 10 Apr 2013
Posts: 63
PostPosted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I like the ending to this story. Laugh
_________________
Rena
I am officially Rena for good.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
JBarrett
M&M


Joined: 19 Feb 2007
Posts: 2043
Location: Las Vegas, NV
PostPosted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Awesome! Smile
_________________
Justin S. Barrett
http://www.justinsbarrett.com/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD! Forum Index -> Chat All times are GMT - 7 Hours
Goto page Previous  1, 2
Page 2 of 2

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group