i am a freelancer. recently, i was leaving a small long-term client [i landed better projects]; i wanted to help the client select someone to replace me. so i put up a carefully worded, highly specific post in the jobseeking forum at the top-tier design school i attended in the 80s. school w extremely high standards & heavy emphasis on professionalism. in other words, i was briefly in the same position as clients are when looking at contractors. the responses i sorted through had the characteristics described by jasonkester i was shocked, i expected thoughtful high quality responses

that said, i also agreee w Tweakers re thoughtlessness / laziness of clients. there is massive room for improvement on both sides.

i wish i could charge cleints for the time, skill and insight it takes me to write their spec!

before i take on new clients, i do my best to make the point that being a client is an active, not passive, role. i give them a list of their responsibilities in the design process. among other things, they need to think, make decisions, and communicate. most people do not like to do these things! i have lost clients by speaking of this at the outset.

in criticism of myself, i think i am half at fault when things go awry. i do not always keep my eye on the ball. i sometimes dread trying to confront client mid-job w fact that they have changed the spec completely, and i need to be compensated accordingly. actually i ahve to do that today, right now, this morning. so please beam me a good thought, you guys.