Re: FLASH: BIGNAME Media Co., Inc.

[Remik]

Brian,


Questions you should ask yourself now, knowing where this company is

dragging you...


Are they hones with you, or are they dragging you around with hopes you will

give in and do everything their way?  If you give in, they hold all the

cards and they dictate the rules.


YOU are the designer here, not them.  If they had better designers they

wouldn't be asking YOU to design characters for them.  Granted, someone else

will probably get all the credit if you stop at designing characters, but

you can still make it worthwile.  Read on.


Are you starving and/or desparate to get THIS particular job?  If not, and

if they are not willing to negotiate, walk away.  You haven't lost anything.

Don't spend weeks and months on this, it's not worth it.  Either they want

you and they pay you, or you walk and find yourself another job.  It will

only put pressure on you and a lot of wasted time if you keep playing their

game.


Ask them point blank what their intentions are as far as your designs go,

who gets credit for what, and whether they see you doing any other work on

THIS project.  Future projects - I wouldn't trust them, they may be

promising you the world just so you work on THIS project cheap and then they

will ignore you and never give you any other projects to work on.  If they

promise anything else for you on THIS project, get it in writing before you

agree to anything.


As already suggested by many here...  tell them what you think about this,

in no uncertain terms.  Explain that you are a great designer, otherwise

they wouldn't be talking to you in the first place and they would've

utilized their own employees.  Tell them that your prices normally cover

full amination and all.  If they want just character designs, your cost is

4-5 times higher, if not more, because you are virtually giving up the

rights to your own designs and have no creative input after you complete the

initial designs.


And most important... don't be intimidated by them!  This is the #1 trap

I've noticed most people, especially younger, fall into.  They may be simply

bluffing and hoping they can stretch everything to work to their advantage.

You are your own company too, you should be doing the same thing.  If they

approached you, obviously you have something they don't have and they want

it.  Take advantage of that.  Ask them what alternatives they have - use one

of their existing lousy designers?  Save a buck in short term, but not gain

any competitive advantage through cutting edge designs and animation you can

provide?


Accept the fact that you may not get the credit for the work done.  This is

the reason you ask for 5 times the normal price.  Tell them your personal

satisfaction when you see your name on a finished product is extremely

important to you, and if they did provide you full credit, you would lower

the price.  If they want to credit someone else for the work, stick to your

high price.  If they agree to give you credit, GET IT IN WRITING!!!!!!


When you tell them your prices all of a sudden are going to be much higher,

don't worry too much about it.  Obviously they will try to negotiate the

price down to "their" level, so you need a lot of room to give them a

"discount."


Hope this helps.  There's a great book on the art of negotiating and getting

things done your way.  The title escapes me, but if I can think of it, I

will pass on the info.  It has worked for me and I have won many challanging

and seemingly no-win contracts.


Good luck!


Remik





----- Original Message -----

From: "Brian" <

mattonebhip [dot] infi [dot] net

>

To: <

flasherchinwag [dot] com

>

Sent: Friday, September 01, 2000 10:52 AM

Subject: Re: FLASH: BIGNAME Media Co., Inc.



>

> > << So how DO I get credited?

> >  "Purty pitchurs by Brian Matthews"

> >  Somehow this doesn't sound right. >>

> >

> > It sounds, to me, that you've already decided not to do this.  How can

we

> > help you?

> >

> > Andrew

>

> I have decided no such thing.

> Put yourself in my shoes.

> What would you do with the same information I have?

> Tell them how it's going to be or I walk?

> Do what they say and smile about it, even though I was mislead about

> particulars at the get-go?

> Tell them I want $X for the source file (if it comes to that), draw the

> line, and wait to see what they do?

> I just want to hear some opinions, not have it assumed that I'm arguing

> because I've already decided something that I haven't.

> Why the heck would I be here asking you folks a single thing if I had

> already made a decision?

>

> -Brian Matthews




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