VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

Let's say your biggest client (a studio) has seen a huge decrease in business from their biggest client. It's a money thing and their client has pretty much outsourced their work overseas to cut costs. You know their client really likes working with you. (You can see where this is going, I'm sure.) Would you:

1. Contact your client's client directly to offer your services directly?
2. Ask/tell your client (the studio) you'd like to do #1 with their blessings?
3. Kiss that biz goodbye and try to pick up the slack elsewhere?
4. (your suggestions here)

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:20 am Post subject:

On first blush--

I wouldn't bypass the studio myself. If the client contacted me directly, I would probably talk to the studio about it if they really are the Good Guys they seem to have been for you--- otherwise you may be killing the goose that laid the golden eggs.
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Philip Banks · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:35 am Post subject:

The hard done by, down trodden studio is your client. It would be courteous to keep it in the loop. Having said that, I know of some studios/producers that shoot themselves in the foot by putting a high mark up on my work + charge for studio time. When the client discovers how much I really charge for my time ......Say no more.

Be open and honest in your dealings and you'll never go wrong.

Bailey · Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:05 am Post subject:

My choice...

2. Ask/tell your client (the studio) you'd like to do #1 with their blessings?

It's called CYA. If they don't give the "blessings"... consider the consequences.
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2005 9:09 am Post subject:

If I have any sense the client/producer relationship may breakdown, I subtilely make sure the client is aware of how to contact me...mention my website, e-mail them with a thank you...and if they want you they'll track you down. If you really care about your relationship with the producer (and they're still going to be in business for a while) approaching them is the wise thing to do.

I've had a couple of cases where I produced spots with music and sfx for a client going through a middleman producer. The three-way communication got clumsy and the client decided to hire me directly. In one case I paid the middleman a modest percentage of the re-directed business for 6 months, and in the other case the middleman was thrilled to get out of the loop. I'm still working with all of them.

Bruce