Comments on: The Friday Crunch

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:38:00 +0000

Well depending on the level of the client’s project, you may have been right the first time, Amanda. LOL

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:32:00 +0000

Hahaha, I said “pooped.” You know what I mean.

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:31:00 +0000

Now that the Labour Day weekend is coming up here in Canada, I’m experiencing the exact same thing! I’m still waiting on a word count from an editor who needed the article finished last Friday, two new clients have pooped up with gigantor projects and the website that was taking weeks to go live is now all ready for me to get cracking. I’ve already told everyone that I’ll be out of town for the long weekend, to which they’ve all replied, “Oh no worries.” Ya, no worries for you!

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:31:00 +0000

Wholeheartedly agree, Devon. I charge for others’ emergencies. It’s funny how quickly those emergencies dissipate when the rate doubles. Look, I can’t work miracles, but I can drop other things IF you’re willing to pay for the privilege. The added stress on my day and my nerves has to be compensated.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:53:00 +0000

I love Eileen's solution.

I act somewhat like a doctor's office or the airline. If you book me and then cancel me without proper notice, you still get charged.

And if you don't get me the work when you say you will and then panic because you've created the emergency, the price goes up.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:04:00 +0000

Great solution, Eileen. That takes the guesswork out of the entire process!

By: Eileen Coale

Eileen Coale — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:14:00 +0000

Simple. I don’t schedule anyone’s work on my calendar until I have received the deposit check and signed agreement. I’ll pencil them in, but let them know they can be bumped if there’s a delay in getting me the above two items.

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:32:00 +0000

I read Kristen’s post about this to and I must admit I’d never thought much about it before. I do charge a consultation fee for traveling to meet clients face to face (cause I’ll be hopping mad if I burn up all my gas to travel 30 miles out to meet a client and discuss a project and nothing comes of it!). It is food for thought…

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:33:00 +0000

That’s just it, Kathy. I didn’t line anything up because of one immense project. Now I’m not sure it’s coming.

Here’s what I’m doing – I’m sending off queries today and starting some new articles. If I’m busy when they call, they’ll have to get in line, I’m afraid.

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 14:18:00 +0000

I’m curious about this: What do you do about the projects you had lined up for NEXT week that are now going to be screwed up as a result of all this late work? I encounter these types of situations a lot, which is why I usually have one slow week every month and three where I’m working 10-12-hour days. In fact, it’s probably my number one freelancing gripe.