In Monday’s blog post, entitled “The Art of Being a Business Person and an Artist,” I advised folks in our industry to “TRUST in your ability to create. Some artists buy into the lie that being an artist is only reserved for a select few. But if creating your art makes you feel alive, then you are an artist.”
That post generated many wonderful responses, but one comment in particular stood out. Renee Shea of Luminoso Blu Events wrote:
“As usual Preston your latest post came at a timely moment for me. I have been thinking all morning about benchmarking and quality work. I want to ask a question to your readers in relation to the ‘trust in your ability to create’ point. How do you get that trust? How do you benchmark your quality designs against others? How do you know that what you do is good, quality work?
I ask this from a position of a start-up business – I don’t have a back-log of clients who can attest for my work. I understand that it takes time to establish a business, but every business person knows that if you aren’t selling a decent product (quality or price wise) then being in business isn’t going to work. How do you know whether you’re selling a quality product/service?”
I think Renee’s question is incredibly important, and I know she really wants to know your answers. So do I! What would you say to Renee? Here are my thoughts:
Dear Renee, I completely understand where you are coming from. In fact, I joke that my next book should be a compilation of all the designs I’ve done that I thought were quality, but my clients definitely did not. There have been quite a few of those over the years!
I think your comment brings up two different issues: Artistry and Value. When I set out to create all those designs I thought were so brilliant, I had no idea my clients wouldn’t agree. In my mind, those designs were art. However, to my clients, they had no value.
As much as we are artists, we’re also in the service industry. We must remember that our jobs are to provide a service. That means, in part, that we have to give our clients the best quality product we can. In order to do that, we have to listen to them and hear what they need and want — not just what we want to produce.
The bottom line is that if my clients are happy, then I know I have a great product. Over the years, I’ve honed my instincts, and today I have a much better understanding of what my clients will and will not value. With time, you, too, will strengthen your instincts and develop your own signature look, style and interpretation.
Dear Readers, regardless of the product or service you provide (flowers, event design, stationery, food, lighting etc…) do your clients usually like the first ideas you come up with? What do you do when they don’t? Please share!
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George Bernard Shaw once said: “You see things and say, ‘Why?’ But I dream things that never were and say, ‘Why not?’” That quote embodies how Preston Bailey approaches every event.
Gerard Carelli
January 25, 2012
Dear Preston,
Thanks for all your thought provoking questions. I book music and run a collective of bands. If I listen closely to my client, understand their vision, stay centered and take my ego out of the mix then my first ideas are usually very well received. Sometimes I even surprise myself!
The wrong idea can really turn a client off. I often tell my clients there are several ways to go so I don’t box myself in. It has taken me years to realize that what I want, may not be what the client wants. Da!
I love Stephen Covey’s words, “Seek first to understand” and “The main thing, is to keep the main thing, the main thing.” Finding out what that main thing is, is the key!
At Last Weddings & Events
January 26, 2012
This article as helped me and motivated me. To answer the question if my clients like the first idea I come up with, not entirely. But that doesn’t discourage me one bit! I often tell my clients that it is not my wedding, it is their wedding, so it needs to represent who they are and what their vision is. So we get back to creating. And as long as they have that confidence in me that I can help them design their special day, then I will stop at nothing to make sure I do exactly that!!!
Sileola
January 26, 2012
Thanks Renee for the question and thanks Preston for your perspective. I am an event planner and my clients don’t always take all of my ideas. What I try to do instead of making suggestions to them first, is listen to them and understand fully their vision and ideas. This way most of the suggestions i will be giving the client are guided by the information I have received. That being said every client is different and there are some clients that come in with very set ideas, so they might not be as willing to take on suggestions.
Ultimately I know my work is good when my clients are happy/satisfied and because of the time, detail and effort that is put into it. Ultimately it is extremely important to listen to the clients and have an understanding of what they want and have their vision inspire your suggestions, also know the personality of your client because that also plays a huge role.
When they don’t take the ideas, I don’t try to push further. For instance if I pitch a “first look” to a bride and she is a bit more traditional and will like for the first time her groom sees her to be when she is walking down the aisle, there is nothing I can do. I will keep giving my best suggestions, most times they take it, but other times understandably they don’t. I never let that be a reflection of my ability to produce good work, it just means it was not the right fit for that client.
What is always the focus for me is creatively making their vision come to life and not necessarily imposing my agenda.
Angela
January 28, 2012
When my client is not impressed with my first idea, I feel challenged to dig dipper to give them something they will love. what is important at the end of the day is fully understanding each client and knowing what they want. I am always so mazed to see how different almost all my clients are.
Renee
January 30, 2012
Preston, thanks for responding so thoroughly to my email – I really appreciate it. I also love your idea of Random Acts of Professional Kindness. I will be on the look out for folks to offer some help to!