Handling things that you don't fancy (at all!)
www.jackmancer.com (545 pencils) | Fri, 2010-04-09 14:51Ever get an assignment from a client that doesn't appeal to you at all? Like making a design or ad for cigarettes, or an company that makes meat from little chickens, or an organisation that cuts down a lot of tree's, whatever.
Or just something that's totally not your thing, like making something for typical woman's while you have no sense for that whatsoever, or making something for Harley Davidson riders while you are a Greenpeace activist.
How do you get started? I think the creative process is very sensitive, and it requires a certain fuel and motivation. But having such a subject might mean you're on a false start no matter what.
I'm in such a situation right now where I have to make a commercial for a youth channel on Dutch television. It's fictional, but I can't reject it since it's for an Art Academy I really want to go to. But I barely watch television (I think 98% shown on telly is crap), and I even hate the channel. It's noisy, cheap and all to flashy. Just not my thing! But I have to come up with something good.
So again, how do you handle such a situation?
I'm very interested, as well as handling my own situation better but also just the general idea, I'm curious.
Looking forward to replies!
-Jack
Commenting on this Forum topic is closed.
i think this is a whiney, self-interested question. if you dont like the product, dont take the job.
if you cant afford (either politically, financially or socially) not to take it, then buck up and get to work.
if you dont have the background or knowledge to do the job properly. then admit to them youre not the right guy and refer someone who would be better suited. or better yet, shake off your cry-baby attitude and do the research to do the job justice.
Well first off, pray that your client doesn't read CB or decides to google your name. I don't think they'd be crazy about finding out you absolutely abhor their product and channel.
I make it a point to not do projects I wouldn't endorse or don't believe in myself. Like wgzn says if you can't afford NOT to take the job buck up and get it done. The point of freelancing is getting jobs you enjoy.
If you do it and have no idea where to strat, research research research till inspiration strikes!
Leaky Penny
Check out what I've been up to lately!
http://petersonjoseph.com
I'm going to print it out and eat it.
-Unknown Artist
wgnz, geez, what an attitude. No need for that. Did you even read what I stated in the opening post?
@fccctorres
Plain and simple, probably best thing to do ;p
@Leaky:
Well I'm not afraid my name will be Googled. It's a fictional commercial I have to make, and at the Academy I will say I didn't really enjoy the subject as it's really not my thing. Couldn't get a worse test for entering the academy ;D I'll just be honest about it. Of course it's a challenge and maybe when it's all over I'm happy I did it.
But yeah, I guess you're right Leaky, research research research. Didn't yet have that inspiration strike yet but hopefully that'll come ;p I'm also watching more television these days then I ever did ;p
Anyway, this wasn't a self centered topic. I just came up with the problem and started wondering how you guys solve this (I'm still finding myself a rookie, so I look upto you people ;p (exception made for wzgn, what a retard)). You guys must also have jobs you don't care about or don't like. Being a freelancer makes it easier to decline them but some of you work at agencies. I just wondered how you guys handle this.
http://jackmancer.com/
http://twitter.com/jackmancer
Well, I wouldn't go and be that honest with them as well. I'd say, like with anything in life, do your best, grin and bear it. They don't need to know you disliked the project.
Don't worry about wgnz, he just needs a hug.
Leaky Penny
Check out what I've been up to lately!
http://petersonjoseph.com
I'm going to print it out and eat it.
-Unknown Artist
Best to perform your duties! Submit to the will of your client! I find it easier if I close my eyes and think of the glory of England.
Without my sense of direction, I don't know where I'd be.
I once did up a presentation folder with two inserts for a farm that fattens deer up and then lets loose hunters into their tamed midst...kind of like shooting fish in a barrel... a real hunter would take it out to the bush imo. Not my cup of tea, but as mentioned above by Scrawny...professional detachment is the key.
"Art -- the one achievement of Man which has made the long trip up from all fours seem well advised." - James Thurber
No big deal. Approach the issue from an artist's view. Forget what you're selling and concentrate on the artistic process - try to improve upon what you see as the negatives concerning the company (Too loud and flashy? Try to tone it down some). This could be a very enlightening experience.
I've found myself in similar circumstances - at one point working for the embodiment of pure evil... the Republican Party. Yes, I try to keep this under wraps as best as possible, but in the early days my career actually depended on making my boss happy by creating mailers for the state GOP fund raising campaign. There was simply no way around the project without quitting my job outright, so instead I said a few Hail Marys, a couple Our Fathers and then cranked out the least appealing direct mailers I could conjure up - which (of course) - worked wonders because Republicans love unappealing stuff.
Thanks all, I find your stories really interesting and somewhere comforting. I'm just at the start of my career and I've surely learned a lesson by this =) Thanks again.
Personal detachment seems key yes. In the end, it's work, and not a hobby. Having said that, for me, it wasn't a matter of really disliking the subject (and thus disliking to promote it) but just troubling to find inspiration, since I'm so far away from it.
http://jackmancer.com/
http://twitter.com/jackmancer
The web agency Stuff and Nonsense has a great ethical and political policy.
While I differ from them on some points, I respect their stance and the 'It helps us sleep at night' paragraph sums up why nicely.