Comments on: Is the Contract Monster killing your freelance career?

By: George Coghill

George Coghill — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:25:53 +0000

I was thinking as we discussed this over email “hey, he should make a blog post about this…” and voila!

You brought up some great points and your honesty about your ‘unconventional’ approach was refreshing.

A big problem I run into working with smaller clients—some who are probably working with a freelance illustrator for the first time—is that they are unfamiliar with how the industry works as far as pricing for rights, copyright transfer and the like.

A few of my illustrator pals take your same ‘unconventional’ approach—go with your gut. And also it is reassuring to know that other professionals like Sparky/David struggle with the same issues at times.

Again, thanks for the advice and glad to see you capitalized on the discussion with this post!

By: Laura Bergells

Laura Bergells — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:32:02 +0000

One time, I was asked to sign a contract that basically stated, “While you are working for us, we own every thought you have, whether expressed or unexpressed, for the term of this contract.”

I didn’t need a lawyer. I laughed, pushed it back, and said “no way I’m signing this draconian contract! It’s straight outta Orwell!”

It ended weirdly. A meeting with a group of corporate lawyers and HR folks, who told me, “But everyone who works with us signs this. Just do it. Please. We really want to work with you, but there’s no way we can if you don’t sign this. This is bigger than all of us…bigger than you know.”

I kind of went nuts in that board room that day. I told them I had a lot of obscene thoughts — did they really want the liability of owning those?

I said this in fun — but it hit a nerve. Another meeting was called to determine the firm’s liability on owning the rights to obscenity. During this whole fooferall, one of the corporate firm’s departments hired me — sans contract — to complete the project.

They paid me up front. I completed the work. I never heard from them again.

By: Sarah Bray

Sarah Bray — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:06:00 +0000

The contract monster (and the what-an-idiot-was-i-to-create-one-two-hours-before-the-weekend monster) came and bit my head off. Except it was my own contract and my own mis-understanding of the project that left me headless. Putting me right in the middle of a job that I was getting paid one-fifth of what it was worth.

When we’re talking 200 hours of work for the price of 40, it suuuuuucks. I tried to get out of it, but couldn’t without a war and feeling guilty for the rest of my life. So I sucked it up, had to turn down new work for an entire month, and lost incredible momentum because of it, and am now completely gun-shy. And I’m still working on that project.

Fun, eh? So yes kiddies, make sure someone doesn’t screw you over — but also make sure you don’t screw yourself over by expecting people to be reasonable in their expectations. Their definition of reasonable and yours might be quite different! (Thanks for the article, by the way. Obviously, it hit a nerve!)