DESIGNER TALK
WHEN A CLIENT WANTS MORE
(BUT DOESN’T WANT TO PAY)
I.
Lead-in.
A) What type of extra work can clients ask designers
to do for free (without client paying for this task)?
B) What can designers do when a client asks for more
things or gives extra work, but doesn’t want to pay?
C) When did you last have a client who didn’t want
to pay for extra work or changes? How did you work with that client?
II Vocabulary focus. Match the words to
their definitions. Use four words in your sentences.
1.
|
still
|
A.
|
ready to give more money, than is necessary
|
2.
|
to process
|
B.
|
group
of services offered together
|
3.
|
assumption
|
C.
|
to
ask an amount of money for a service
|
4.
|
to charge
|
D.
|
|
5.
|
to hire
|
E.
|
a
fact believed to be true
|
6.
|
unreasonable
|
F.
|
to
speak (angrily) with other people to change their opinion
|
7.
|
coverage
|
G.
|
not
fair or acceptable
|
8.
|
to argue
|
H.
|
an ordinary static photograph
|
9.
|
package
|
I.
|
to
grasp or take something eagerly
|
10.
|
generous
|
J.
|
to
think about a situation
|
11.
|
to appreciate
|
K.
|
to
recognize how good something is
|
12.
|
to accommodate
|
L.
|
reporting
of event
|
13.
|
fair
|
M.
|
right
or reasonable
|
14.
|
N.
|
||
15.
|
to deliver |
O.
|
to employ someone to do a job |
to mess around; to figure out; to make a concession;
to do someone’s best; to stick with it; to draw closer; a couple of; nominal
fee; I see; to do someone a solid; in the middle; to get in a jam; rush fee
A.
to understand or solve something
B.
two things of the same sort
C.
I understand it
D.
minimal amount of money paid for work
E.
in the position between the highest and
the lowest
F.
to get into a difficult situation
G.
to spend time doing unimportant things
H.
to approach, to become
nearer
I.
larger amount of money a client pays for
a job because the task is urgent
J.
to try as hard as you
can to do something
M. do
someone a favour (informal phrase)
IV
Watch the video and answer the questions.
1.
What do the
freelance designer and his client talk about?
2.
What did the
client hire designer to do? What does the client want the designer to do now?
3.
Does the
designer agree to do what the client asks? Why or why not?
4.
What solution
to the problem does the designer suggest? Does the client accept it?
5.
How does the
conversation end? Will the designer and the client work together on this project?
Will the designer do the additional job or task the client wants him to do?
V Watch
the video and fill in the gaps in the dialogue with the words and phrases from the list.
A.
Let's just stick
with it
B.
agreed on the
price
C.
need a minute
D.
I'm gonna deliver
E.
sounds fair
F.
pay you an extra
G.
to mess around
H.
figure it out
I.
I don't want to
argue
J.
appreciate
K.
charge a totally
separate fee
L.
Why is it so
expensive?
M.
I want to do this
project
N.
what I charge
O.
doesn't work for
you
P.
I'm excited to
work with you
Q.
Does that work for
you?
R.
a little
unreasonable
S.
the package price
T.
a problem
Client: So I know we 1)_______ of $ 800, but if you could
just throw in a couple of stills… I need a couple of stills. So is that gonna
be 2)_______?
Freelancer: Wow, I 3)_______ to process this because I
came into this conversation with a totally different assumption that we're
moving forward. And you're asking me for more things. I just need a minute to, kind of, 4)_______. So, in order for me to do
that, I have to charge you some nominal fee. Ok. Normally, when people hire me
to do photographs, I 5)_______. I do
want to work with you. I think we originally agreed to $800. So why don't we,
say let's say, 1200. 6)_______ An additional $ 400.
Client: Oooh, that’s a lot
more for a couple of photos...
Freelancer: Yeah, I know. I agree…
Client: Wow, that seems 7)_______, I have to say. Where are you
coming up with that number? I just need
a couple of stills. 8)_______
Freelancer: It's just 9)_______.
Client: I see.
Freelancer: I mean, if you were
to hire me to do event coverage and just do photos, I would probably charge you
$800 just to do that. Look, 10)_______ with
you. You have a lot of choices to make. You can choose to work with whoever you
want. I make videos. I also do still photos as part of what I do. So 11)_______
is
usually a lot higher. It's usually $1,400, but I'm
thinking 12)_______ with you. I'll
do it for $ 1,200.
Client: $1,200 just seems
like a lot. But look. If that means so much for you, I’m gonna 13)_______ $100 for the stills. Which I
think is more than generous. What do you think?
Freelancer: So you're gonna pay
me $ 900 total.
Client: Yeah.
Freelancer: Yeah. That doesn't
sound quite like in the middle, does it? I'll tell you what: if we can do it for a thousand, let's do it.
I 14)_______ you accommodating me.
If it doesn't work for you, why don't you think about it? But I know that time
is drawing closer. I know the event’s in two days, and I don't want 15)_______. If you need to find another
person, I totally respect that. You probably need to do that right now because
otherwise you're
gonna get in a jam and you're gonna pay rush fees. I'm trying to do my
best to make a concession. If that 16)_______,
I totally get it.
Client: You know, maybe I
can find someone else to do the stills. 17)_______
Freelancer: OK. I like that. That 18)_______ to me.
Client: I guess, if that's what
we have to do… I'm a little disappointed that you couldn't just snap these
stills for me, do me a solid, because I'm gonna… I would love to give you more
work in the future. I’ve got all these other projects, but I don't know. We'll
see ..
Freelancer: Yeah. I'm gonna
make you the best video that you we agreed to and
19)_______. And hopefully
you'll like it.
Client: Absolutely. 20)_______.
Freelancer: Cool, I appreciate
it, man. Thanks!
VI Useful language.
Write these headings in the correct places (1-5).
A. Responding
to suggestions. Agreeing.
B.
Acknowledging what someone else says.
C.
Making a suggestion.
D.
Buying time.
E. Responding
to suggestions. Disagreeing.
1)______________________________________
(Wow,) I need a minute to process this ...
I (just) need a minute to figure
it out…
(Hmm,)
let me see/ think about it…
(In
fact,) I’ve never really thought about it/considered it/been asked about it
before…
That
requires a moment’s thought…
My
mind has gone blank. Can you give me a second?
(I
mean,) to be honest/frank with you…
(I
mean,) to tell you the truth…
(Actually,)
that’s a tricky one…
(Well,)
all I can say is that…
(Well,)
all I know is that…
(Come
to think of it,) that’s a difficult question…
(I
suppose) it depends on what you mean…
2)______________________________________
If you could just throw in a couple of stills… So is that gonna be a
problem?
So why don't we, say let's say, ….. Does that work for you?
You have a lot of choices to make. You can choose to work with whoever
you want.
What do you think?
I'll tell you what: if we can do
it for a thousand, let's do it.
If it doesn't work for you, why don't you think about it?
You know, maybe I can find someone else to do the stills.
Could
you…?
Why
don’t you…?
It
might be better to…?
How
about (..ing)?
I
think you should…
What
about (..ing)?
You
might want to…
Have
you tried (..ing)?
3)______________________________________
If that means so much for you, I’m gonna (pay you an extra $100 for the
stills)
Let's just stick with it.
OK. I like that. That sounds fair
to me.
Absolutely.
Yes, that’s
right.
Exactly.
Excellent
idea.
Fine.
Exactly.
I
agree.
That’s
fine with me.
Excellent
idea.
Great.
OK.
Let’s do that.
Sounds
good to me.
4)______________________________________
Wow, that seems a little unreasonable, I have to say.
That doesn't sound (quite like in the middle, does it)?
I don't want to mess around. If you need to find another person, I
totally
respect that.
If that doesn't work for you, I totally get it.
I'm not sure I
agree.
Yes,
but what about (the cost)?
Sure,
but..
It’s
a good idea, but…
I’m
not sure that’s a good idea.
5)______________________________________
Yeah, I know. I agree.
I see.
I appreciate you accommodating me.
Yes,
good point.
I
take your point.
I
see.
Yes,
fair enough.
I
hear what you’re saying.
I
take your point.
VII
Language in use. Work in pairs. Rewrite the dialogue between the designer and the client changing
the phrases in bold. Use phrases
with the same function from task VI (useful language). Read or act out
dialogues in pairs.
Client: So I know we agreed
on the price of 800, but if you could
just throw in a couple of stills… I need a couple of stills. So is that gonna be
a problem?
Freelancer: Wow, I need a
minute to process this because I came into this conversation with a totally
different assumption that we're moving forward. And you're asking me for more
things. I just need a minute to, kind
of, figure it out. So, in order for me to do that, I have to charge you some
nominal fee. Ok. Normally, when people hire me to do photographs, I charge a
totally separate fee. I do want to work with you. I think we originally agreed
to $800. So why don't we, say let's say, 1200. Does that work for you? And additional 400
Client: Oooh, that’s a lot
more for a couple of photos...
Freelancer: Yeah, I know. I agree..
Client: Wow, that seems a little unreasonable, I
have to say. Where are you coming up with that number? I just need a couple of stills. Why is it so
expensive?
Freelancer: It's just what I
charge.
Client: I see.
Freelancer: I mean, if you were
to hire me to do event coverage and just do photos, I would probably charge you
$800 just to do that. Look, I don't want to argue with you. You have a lot of choices to make. You can
choose to work with whoever you want. I make videos. I also do still photos
as part of what I do. So the package price is usually a lot
higher. It's usually $1,400, but I'm thinking I want
to do this project with you. I'll do it for 1200.
Client: 1,200 just seems
like a lot. But look. If that means so much for you, I’m gonna pay you an extra
$100 for the stills. Which I think is more than generous. What do you think?
Freelancer: So you're gonna pay
me 900 $ total.
Client: Yeah.
Freelancer: Yeah. That doesn't sound quite like in the
middle, does it? I'll tell you what: if we can do it for a thousand, let's do it.
I appreciate you accommodating me. If it doesn't work for you, why don't you
think about it? But I know that time is drawing closer. I know the event’s
in two days and I don't want to mess
around. If you need to find another person, I totally respect that. You
probably need to do that right now because otherwise you're gonna get in a jam
and you're gonna pay rush fees. I'm trying to do my best to make a concession. If that doesn't work for you, I totally get
it.
Client: You know, maybe I
can find someone else to do the stills.
Let's just stick with it.
Freelancer: OK.
I like that. That sounds fair to me.
Client: I guess, if that's
what we have to do… I'm a little disappointed that you couldn't just snap these
stills for me, do me a solid, because I'm gonna… I would love to give you more
work in the future. I’ve got all these other projects, but I don't know. We'll
see ..
Freelancer: Yeah. I'm gonna
make you the best video that you we agreed to and
I'm gonna deliver. And hopefully you'll like it.
Client: Absolutely. I'm excited to work with
you.
Freelancer: Cool. I appreciate
it, (man). Thanks
VIII.
OVER TO YOU.
A)
Watch
the video again and note down the tips for designers that are written on the screen. How do you understand those tips? How
does the speaker illustrate those ideas, what phrases does he use to express
those ideas? Do you find the tips useful?
B) Work in groups of two. Use the phrases from task
VI (useful language) to write a similar conversation between a client and a
designer.
