One of our recent clients, a local organization who hired us to write a song and produce a music video, decided to replace us when the video didn’t meet their expectations. Ironically, I thought it was the best one I’d ever done!
Our colleague, Gary, said, “Did you do your best?” I replied in the affirmative. “Then you’ve done what you can,” he said.
I would estimate that 5% of the clients for whom we have performed for or created material with say, “Nope. That’s not what we want,” grab their football and go home. I wish that I could please everyone, but that’s not possible in this or any field. Sometimes, the fit isn’t right.
I know this to be true (intellectually) but I still occasionally fall into the trap of thinking that I can win 100% of the time. I’m reminded of myself as a little leaguer swinging for the fences on every pitch. That didn’t work out well.
When we first entered this business, one of my fellow entertainers, a gruff guitarist named Bob who wasn’t particularly happy being a children’s musician, told me that his rule was, “Three phonecalls and you’re out.” In other words, if he had to bend over backwards and compromise too much, the relationship was destined for disappointment. His advice to me was “let those clients go.”
At that point in our career, I was an idealist and all too ready to take on any client and any assignment in order to make our rent and forward our career. I didn’t heed Bob’s advice. As a result, we did take on a few clients every year where a “no thank you” would have been better – unless one believes that creating a tolerance for difficult situations is a boon. And it is.
Of course, my guess is that few of us can consistently tell in advance which client or service provider is going to be a pleasure to work with and who will be a pain in the butt. And sometimes we give second chances.
This reminds me of Lewis Black’s wonderful routine about Candy Corn. Check it out here.
https://youtu.be/O1QRAXv9vUs?si=EjkSzTh-8_Y_8sGL
Over the course of a long career, 95% of our clients have fallen into the category of successful relationships. They got what they wanted and we did, too. That’s a pretty amazing batting average.
I keep going back to the Nelson Mandela quote, “You either win or you learn.” Never were truer words spoken about business or anything else that really matters.
