Hello Friends…..it’s been a while so thank you for checking in and welcome (new visitors) to Tuesday with T.
September was a whirlwind and I am not complaining! I had three weddings and two special event projects, one was a rush, all five were calligraphy. With that said, I would love to share an experience I had that sort of raised a red flag. When I say red-flag, I mean how did one project go so wrong??!!. I did a rush project for an influencer and from both sides I thought we nailed it and pulled it off. Small in quantity (only 60 pieces), custom design, high end paper, envelopes and yes, custom ink. Hand delivered, on time (I even drove over two hours to deliver) yet payment was an issue. Let me preface the payment issue……the client was provided an itemized proposal for approval (which they did) prior to starting, they loved the work (at least that’s what they said). I was responsive and courteous every step of the way. Well…here we are over a week later and I have not been paid. Mind you, my invoices state payable upon receipt (and I usually give my clients 48 hrs. because, yeah…electronic payments can happen that fast). Their issue is with my general and administrative (G&A) fees……can any other entrepreneur out there say…..paperwork, filing, emailing, special order paper, pick up at a paper house, gas and incidentals….what the fruit, there is so much involved in “gett’n it done”. I guarantee you all my clients can attest to me getting it done. If there’s one person I’m willing to bet on, it’s me.
Enough of that. I haven’t been paid, the client has a second portion of their project that must be completed by October 8 for their October 10 event. I know that is forth coming and consciously and professionally I would never bow out of a job and leave a client in a bad position. The will receive the same caliber of work and professionalism I always provide. They will be invoiced as agreed based on scope previously provided. This is the way I choose to deal with this. Not because the client is right, but because I am right in that I still want to be of value. Shame on them, for penny pinching me, by the way my G&A fee is 10 percent and every single client pays it. So yes, I am still seeing red, both the flag and a tiny bit of anger and disappointment. But all in all, I love what I do. Tonight though, I am back to shooting,……yep I’ll be at Pho Kim restaurant so look for images that will be posted soon.
Until next Tuesday…keep hustl’n, I sure am!