Client, friend or foe?

Clients, we either love them or hate them but why?

As creatives we may get frustrated that they don't pick the idea that we feel works the best for the parameters that have set, it could be they want to shoe horn two very different ideas into one or perhaps half way through they completely change their mind and re-write the brief or worse still can the project.

From a universal stand point it could be the strangle hold on the budget, we all know that clients always like something for nothing these days but it's getting more and more common to get good work for the budgets that's available.

Like it or hate it this is the most common struggle that happens in agencies these days.

But should this be the way?

Why do we hate clients, is it because we're now an industry of 9-5 people so we are not putting in the effort with clients or is it because we coming against a new style of client. Without being in account management I don't know but it's hard to fathom that clients have changed a great deal may be some of you can tell me something different.

The other question is should creatives fraternize with clients. I'm not sure if this is a good use of this term but "it's always good to know your enemy" but does that in turn mean your creating your ideas for the individual or does it just help you get a better understanding for the project?

I've been in my fair share of client meetings and selling in the creative has never really been that hard. Striking up a relationship with the client always helps, socialising and adding the personal touch has never gone down badly in my experience it also helps that the client feels like he's putting his two pence worth of course sometimes it's never used but at least there is more of an understanding between the client and the creative.

So basically nearing the end of this post I have mostly posted problems to do with clients but to be truthful I have been lucky in the sense that communication between myself and the client are good enough for me not to have the problems above.

Let me know if you have some good client stories or nightmares.