Comments on: If The Clients Are Calling, It Must Be Nearly Labor Day

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Yes, Lori, business has been picking up nicely on my end. I already have projects scheduled through to the end of September. My schedule’s packed tightly for the next two weeks – I think I may have overdone it… Thank goodness school has started!:)

By: writtenexpressions

writtenexpressions — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:32:00 +0000

The whole month of August has been unusually busy for me . . . I'm trying to take it in stride and see it for the good thing that it is, instead of feeling overwhelmed.

The fact that each of your clients thinks they are your top priority speaks to your professional-ness (?!). You must provide excellent customer service!

By: Amanda Nicole

Amanda Nicole — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:06:00 +0000

I also go by first-come, first-served when it comes to a line-up of clients. Just this morning I had to let a regular client know that I’m booked to the gills with deadlines for the rest of the week, but if he didn’t mind waiting until Monday I could have his work done then, which he ok’ed. I tend to not allow my schedule to get too tight, as I like to leave time for the inevitable last minute re-writes and hiccups.

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:11:00 +0000

The past two weeks have been super busy for me as well, with no break in sight until at least the end of the month. I haven’t noticed the Labor Day crunch before but financially I rather like it. It pays for the vacation most of us took earlier in the summer, right? May your trip to and from your daughter’s campus be a safe one.

By: Sal

Sal — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:38:00 +0000

Go you! The one thing that I vowed (after my dad wasn’t around) that I would always put my kids first no matter what. I want to be there to pick them up from their first day of school, their first date (note that my daughter won’t date until she is 30 😉 ) and all of those other parenting firsts. I commend you in putting your daughter first.

As far as the workload, I don’t really have one other than my normal job, which is coming up on the end of the fiscal year for military and government entities, so we are busy there. I wish I was busy with freelance stuff, but haven’t made it that far yet.

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:38:00 +0000

The summer's been mostly focused on fiction and on theatre; I haven't been pitching for much. Bad freelancer! I got two article assignments over the weekend from pitches I made back a few months ago. One I turned around immediatelly and sent before I left to come to Philly; the other isn't due until late Sept., although I'll start it this week.

How many of these clients are paying you the rush fee for frantic turnaround? That would also factor in to my prioritization. Beg, plead all you want -- you want it really fast, this is how much extra it costs. How long have you known you needed it this week? And why didn't you give me the appropriate lead time? This is how much your disorganizaiton costs.

Begging and pleading only makes my price go up. It doesn't get the client any sympathy.