Five Things I Learnt Freelancing for the Client from Hell

Unfortunately, I sometimes say “yes” when the opposite is necessary

I’m not the kind of person to say no to making some easy cash.

It so happens back in October; I had an opportunity to create a simple design piece for a relatively wealthy client.

They had their standards (which is fine) and pretty much a good idea for what they wanted.

So, the design job began in October 2021 and didn’t finish until yesterday — the last day of February 2022.

I got paid for it today, which was a surprise. That was unexpected!

To say it was like pulling teeth out is an understatement, but it put many points into perspective for me.

First, it helped me solidify the decision never to freelance as a designer again.

It’s just not what I want to do anymore, and after freelancing for more than ten years growing up my daughter, you would have thought I’d learn my lesson now.

But as any positive and helpful person, I always think that this might be different. The client seemed nice enough.

Perhaps I can find a long term income stream in someone with a legit business.

Unfortunately, those dreams do not always manifest into reality — but at least I have gathered up some learning to help me stick to my “non-design freelancing rule”, no matter how appealing and easy the job might be.

Things that are too good to be true usually are!

One: You have to put your name on something awful because the client likes it

This particular client had a set idea in mind — yet the idea was ugly.

The logo was horrible — the colours were incorrect, and the entire brochure looked bland and basic.

I don’t know about you, but I hate putting my name and effort into something I have no control over. What’s the point?

And I also hate when the client believes their idea is better than mine.

I understand that it’s their business, and they are paying the bill. But I don’t ask for a professionals service whilst orchestrating the whole journey.

You let go and allow the professional with experience to do their thing, making minor tweaks as you go along.

But sometimes, that’s not the case, and you have to let something go which isn’t valuable.

So you let your own self woth down, for the clients happiness.

I have decided that enough is enough of this.

I refuse to put my name on something mediocre and below my quality of standards as a designer.

It’s not worth my time and effort in the least, and I’m projecting that towards future writing gigs instead.

Two: Clients believe they have design skills better than yours

So, I have a problem with this — Big Time!

When someone believes their ideas for creativity are better than mine, it sends alarm bells ringing.

Usually, all they want is a brochure or booklet with awful images that are low quality, packed with so much text at a typeface that’s tiny, and hideous colours that clash with one another.

It looks like an ammeters mess, but the client LOVES IT. They love it because it’s created from their non creative little mind!

So, your unique, stock photo, easy to read typeface, white spaces, and uniform colour scheme is all wrong.

They want bright, bold and in your face because that attracts customers. Perhaps — but attracting people for all the wrong reasons!

Well, need I say more than this one.

I had to let it go, despite slowly passing away on the inside.

Three: You have to stop working on everything else that gives you income to work on their job NOW

When I started with this client, I told them I would work on a freelance, part-time basis.

I have a full-time job, and I want to ensure I dedicate business hours to that. Whilst working on any other tasks before or after work.

Sometimes this would become frustrating for the client.

I was to work on their job, visit their premises an hour away for meetings, and be on call when they wanted something.

Well, it doesn’t work that way — not even for full-time freelances.

Everyone should have boundaries, gets sick, has a family, or lord forbids, have a holiday and sleep too. That’s just the basics of life in general.

But there is always a client who thinks they are more critical and needs your attention all the time. So you give them an inch, and they run a mile with your kindness.

My communication didn’t go down too well with them — especially when I took leave during Christmas. That wasn’t allowed!

Four: Their staff gang up on you and make it like they can do a far better job

This one had me pulling my hair out — literally.

When full-time staff gang up on me, just trying to finish the job, by suggesting they or a family member can do better — I get pretty mad.

Everyone thinks your job is easy as pie. But, they can do it themselves by clicking the command V button!

So here I am with over 19 years of experience, being told that an ammeter teenager can do the job that I’ve done for years.

They can’t afford the programs I use, the stock image purchases, know how to set up the file to print, and make sure all loose ends are tied for delivering a perfect master print piece for the client. All this without a technical problem.

Well, if that’s the case, then pay me my fees, and go forth to do a far better job.

But don’t call me when shit starts hitting the fan!

Yes, after all those months, that’s what I got.

Five: They disappear after the job is complete without a thank you

No thank you, no nothing — just crickets!

Now, I know everyone is pretty busy, juggling, but not even thanks.

Thanks never came into the picture — from start to finish. Criticism and bullying came in droves though. I was never short of that.

I should thank God the job is now over, so we can all move on!

I guess that’s the best thanks I could ever receive. Sometimes we need to be grateful for the small things in life.

Key Takeaways

Sometimes you will find good people to work with, but that’s quite rare, and I do believe it’s not worth giving up months of your weekends and nights dedicated to an unsuitable client.

I should have just told them I didn’t want to work for them from the start.

The time and money I would have saved in the process are pretty much priceless.

Usually, the time and effort you make don’t reflect the price (because it would blow out the clients budget), and you always do way more than what you charge.

That’s me anyway.

This particular job left me empty and used.

The client happens to be someone I used for treatments, and the experience has caused me not to go back anymore.

Perhaps that sounds harsh, but the way someone treats you does count.

Freelance or not, you at least deserve some respect from the owner and the team.

Bullying tactics are not the way to run a business, but unfortunately, there have been many times I was bullied because you can do that when it’s directed to a freelancer.

Sometimes I believe people take out their crap on freelancers.

So, think long and hard about a client before taking them on. Have a criteron sheet before you get excited. Make sure they tick all the boxes.

It can make or break your sanity, mental health and bank balance in the process. That’s not worth one cent of money or your life energy.

What are some of your freelance clients from hell? I’d love to know.

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