Comments on: I’m Confused. Just What Constitutes a Business These Days?

By: connieterwilliger

connieterwilliger — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 05:02:45 +0000

In reply to Christian Taylor. Christine, I know what you mean. I just checked on payment on something done through an agent back in May and got the response that they have emailed the "engager" a couple of times and have had no response.

By: Christian Taylor

Christian Taylor — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 22:48:41 +0000

Yep. It’s confusing indeed. And it feels so wrong. And I have to say… I have the most trouble with getting paid in a timely way from agents. Usually, when I deal with the clients directly, I have been paid within the month. But I have waited up to 9 months to receive payments from agents because they are “waiting to get paid.” And who’s to know… maybe they really aren’t? I don’t know much but what I do know is that i HATE just waiting… and waiting… and waiting to be paid. Thanks for writing Connie!

By: connieterwilliger

connieterwilliger — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 19:48:58 +0000

I think non-payment is the exception Michael. Unfortunately, I don’t think the “you’ll get paid when I get paid” part is the exception any longer. And you never think to ask about that! A couple of my agents work this way and they are pretty good on their end to vet the people who hire them to find talent for their projects.

By: Michael J. Schoen

Michael J. Schoen — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 18:58:03 +0000

Sometimes it’s hard. A foreign client came to me with a new job — and I said I would be glad to do it if they paid me for the last job several months ago. Ugh! I am still waiting, now two weeks. It’s disconcerting but as you note in your splendidly candid post, Connie, it is the exception. It doesn’t work for me to demand money upfront or to do anything that inserts any element of distrust. My business depends of forging relationships with clients who return multiple times — and I would rather protect those burgeoning relationships than protect against a few rogues.

By: connieterwilliger

connieterwilliger — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 23:44:50 +0000

Thanks Scott, We do need to do that CYA thang! (Super to meet you, by the way!)

By: Scott Lyle

Scott Lyle — Fri, 11 Oct 2013 22:04:39 +0000

In this age of home studios, I think people forget sometimes that there are real people depending on them to do what they are supposed to do. It is hard to have a relationship with a computer, and every so often you find someone who isn’t as professional as you. Then you come up against this kind of stuff of “you’ll get paid when I get paid.” I’m sorry, but that isn’t how a professional works in any business. I believe that if you are responsible for a project, then you should have planned how you’re going to get paid and how you’re going to pay the people doing work for you (Luke 14:28-30).
I think that this can become the norm if people let it become so. If there is someone that wants to business with you, and you don’t know them, then (to me) it makes sense to have some kind of document that spells out what everyone’s obligations are so that there are no questions should a discrepancy arise.
Best of luck to everyone who is facing this right now. It kills me when I hear of folks having to wait 30+ days for payment when the work had to be done “right away!”