The 1st Option…
Written on November 21, 2007
that really isn’t.
Part of what we do as agents is to try and parcel out time for our photographers and their clients. It’s always a give and take of course…1st option, 2nd option, a good 2nd option…trying to make sure everyone is happy.
Anyways, this happened somewhat recently…an art buyer wanted a ‘huge favour’ and needed time on one of my photographers, and requested a whole week even though the shoot was likely to be only two days. The photographer’s week was open and she sent me layouts (which normally means that we will likely make it to the bidding stage) that were indeed pretty darn perfect for my photographer. I happily give her the 1st option.
So what happens? Over the next three weeks I hear nary a peep from the art buyer. As I understand it she is out on a shoot but not a single voice mail or email gets a reply. I get two good editorial requests for that same week and have to give them 2nd options. I leave messages asking if the shoot is going to happen, if I can release the time and finally a week before the shoot is due to happen I get an email saying that she is so sorry but she will be in touch soon about getting a bid in.
Long story short, not only did the shoot not happen (heck, we never even made it to the estimating stage…though my photographer did end up doing the editorial jobs) but I never heard back from the art buyer saying the time could be released. And long after the week of the shoot I had to call to request her portfolio be sent back. This time I finally got her on the phone and not a single word of explanation…just a “Yeah, the book can be picked up.”
By this point I didn’t want to push anything…but really, some common decency would be appreciated. The next time she calls I’ll think long and hard about giving her any time on my photographer, advertising gig or not. (But of course I’ll end up doing it, except it’ll be a ‘really good 3rd’.)
Filed in: Photo Agency.
I’m just kicking off my photo career, so I’ve been doing my own scheduling. It seems that a good number of clients behave this way. Please give me some hope — is there light at the end of the tunnel? I assume that once I start getting into a pattern of repeat business with reliable companies, I won’t have to deal with stuff like this as much anymore…
How many of you have ever made reservations at more than one restaurant at one time? What’s the percentage of time that this situation occurs relative to a whole year worth of receiving phone calls? If you were in their shoes, knowing that there is absolutely very little impunity that could possibly be leveled at you for this behavior, wouldn’t you do the same? It’s beyond a buyer’s market is it not? Life is not fair and that scenario is one of the ugliest parts of this business and I resent the fact that good manners and decorum aren’t always involved, however the sooner one learns how to game that game the healthier one stays. Arrogant, rude, unprofessional, you jump through all their hoops sure,so
What ya gonna do bout it?
Sorry about the butchering of the usage for impunity. Impunity implies something contrary to the way I used it above. Should read” If you were in their shoes wouldn’t you do the same with impunity on your side?” Sorry, it’s early and I need more coffee….
I’m not repped, so I handle this situation on my own…all the time. One thing a guy I assisted for taught me was to just say, yes, and then figure out how to get it done later. I thought he was crazy at first, b/c he always had jobs coming in the door, but in the 2.5 years of telling everyone, yes, it never was a problem. One of the jobs always fell through or was rescheduled or something. Somehow it always worked out.
I’m not quit that way, but it was a valuable lesson. Take it on, and cross bridges when you come to them, b/c so so so many jobs do get canceled. At least in the sub $75k budget area…those 20 to 50k jobs are always getting you pumped up and then getting killed the week before. Ugh.
Don’t necessarily blame it on the art buyer though. You never know. She could be dealing with a mess internally that is pissing her off more than it’s pissing you off.
its sad but it comes down to the way people are raised
proper manners…..
treat people the way you want to be treated……..
would be really nice if these art buyers were a bit more respectable
only a hand full of art buyers in america have these traits….
doesn’t take that much to return an email or a phone call…..
Unfortunately, I think it often becomes advertising culture to treat others the way you are treated. SInce the AB isn’t treated with common courtesy, over time, courtesy to vendors erodes. They say to themselves, “it’s business, they’ll deal with it.” We do, some how - then the cycle begins anew.