I may get pushback on this · Raise Your Rates

I may get pushback on this

I had an important conversation this morning about how to treat someones client when you're a second shooter or a team member in general.

The analogy that we used was if you were coming around a persons wife (or husband).

As a guy, if I need to come around someones wife(for whatever reason) - I'm not going to initiate conversation with her about anything. If she initiates conversation with me, I'm going be kind to her and defer the conversation to her husband. It's not my job to make her smile, that's his job and I hope she has a very forgettable experience with me.

Likewise, when I go to help someone on their shoot - I don't have anything to say to the client. I'm going smile and keep it pushing because making sure the client feels good is not my job. It's my job to make sure the person who hired me feels good. I hope that client leaves the shoot not even remembering who I was because the only reason they met me was because of the person that hired me.

Some people will argue that the client having a good conversation makes them feel more comfortable - but that doesn't matter because getting work done has nothing to do with comfort. Being professional, prompt & proficient at my role is what matters.

Here's what happens when a person does talk to the client and try to give them an "experience" outside of doing what their role requires.

The client is paying more attention to the quality of work being provided - if your team makes a mistake, the client will change their thoughts from "fun to be around" to "unfocused" as a description
The client will trust you less as a leader & when bigger opportunities come along they'll think you're not ready
They client will feel like you don't take them serious if your team is too relaxed around them
You'll always have to show your face because if you don't the client will feel unimportant because your team is not treating the project like it's the most important thing.

Likewise, If you have a "buddy buddy" relationship with your client and they don't trust you - it's because they think they know you because ya'll are so buddy buddy.

They will trust you less because people in general don't trust the expertise of someone they know. They would rather it someone they don't know. Don't believe me? How many of your friends have hired you to make content for them?

What are your thoughts?

Ps. if you want to shadow my team or you want me to shadow your project sign up for the waitlist using this link

I love ya'll!

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