What makes a client crappy? These days, you'd think any client would be welcome, especially for artists who have seen their markets dry up quicker than most "needed" commodities. For a "starving artist", any client is a good client. Right? Well, no. There are some clients that are just bad people, and they want to inflict their sorrow/curse on everyone they deal with. This is especially hard for an artist to take. Artists tend to be more emotional, more committed to their work, and much less able to think that it's "Nothing Personal—Just Business" when it comes to anything related to their creations.

But what makes clients crappy? Is it just because they didn't pay on time? No. But that is a big problem. Artists tend to not have a steady income, so when a paycheck is supposed to arrive, usually many important things hinge on that money for the artist — keeping the studio running, paying subcontractors, purchasing raw materials, buying groceries, art supplies, shipping costs are just a few. By withholding a paycheck when it is due, the client starts a chain of events in the artist's life that further brings worry and hardship to the artist. And what artist can create beautiful things when they're worried about money and trying to collect from someone who rightfully owes them? Our clients withheld payment for a *YEAR*, but we persevered anyway, taking other jobs to support ourselves. Then they complained that we weren't working fast enough. If they had *paid*, we'd have been able to buy the materials that would have let us work on their project and complete it eight months earlier. At the end, when payment was due, they continued to withhold for another month and refused to pay the interest on the delinquent payment. Just not cool.

So then what is it that makes them crappy? Once we were well into working on the big commission for our client, the contact person changed. The teachers at the community college who originally saw our work, liked it, and worked out a commission with us were great. They wanted the piece, were excited about it and understood that it was a special order, not something that could just be picked off the shelf — it would take some time to make. Once we had to start dealing with the administration office, it was clear that they did not share the same good will toward us or the project. They were condescending, threatening, insulting, rude, abrasive, and would outright lie to us. They tried repeatedly to sabotage the project and the financing by giving us fictitious hoops we had to jump through. These actions put our studio and business in jeopardy. There were days that the vitriol and insults were so thick that I became physically ill and couldn't work the rest of the day. There is no excuse for this.

This negativity and outright horrendous treatment of us is what makes them a crappy client. It's actually interesting to think, too, that if you're having an artist make a large scale sculpture for you, wouldn't it make sense to support your own project and keep the artist happy? A happy artist will certainly make a more stunning piece for you than one that has been verbally abused and had their income held for ransom. This was certainly the case for us. While the piece we created was in fact quite beautiful, it was *going* to be so much more. We had planned on adding features and special items at our own cost, to the tune of thousands of dollars, but when the abuse started, we didn't have a warm, fuzzy feeling anymore, so why add in extras? For an abusive client? No way!!!

So, why did we continue? Why not just cancel? That's a tough one. I grew up with a "handshake" mentality. If you make an agreement, and you shake on it or give your word, you do it. No monstrous contracts required. I gave my word. I would complete the project. It is not in me to cancel and not do what I agreed to do. So we did it, even though it was very difficult and harmed our psyches in so many ways.

We also have a saying: "If you have a problem client, even if you lose money, do whatever it takes to get them out of your life." We also did this. They got their piece, but it was *only* what they originally commissioned. Nothing more, nothing less and certainly nothing more expensive to build. And I will never, ever work for them again. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to work for another community college anywhere, just because of the abuse that was allowed to happen from this one.

Should I be ranting publicly about them? That's a tough one. Of course, part of me thinks that anything negative about clients should never be voiced. On the other hand, given this new age of tweets and status updates, I think it can be alright to reach out to your supporters when you need some feel-good mojo, or advice on how to respond. Also, if we *don't* say anything, future artists/contractors have no clue of what they may be getting into. There is an ethical responsibility to do so. If bringing out what has happened to us saves some future souls from being abused the same way, I'm all for it. I wish someone had warned me!

I also have found that people have, maybe not "enjoyed," but at least appreciated the progression of ups and downs that we go through as we're making our artwork. The successes and failures both bring one's supporters into a better understanding of life as an artist.

I might mention, too, that I also LOVE to tell everyone about the really great clients we have, naming them, showing what they got. Most of our clients are fabulous. We've only had a few clunkers over the years, thankfully, so maybe we're good for another few years before the next one comes along.

What do you think? Do you discuss your art clients? Have you had abusive ones? I'd love to hear your views on our situation and how you have dealt with yours. It's all a learning process, after all.

Peace,

Joy

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Well, after more than 60 days looking at the thick smoke and breathing the ash, the skies have finally cleared. I'm able to go back out without a respirator on and actually do some work! Our projects are so so far behind, it's ridiculous, but we've been working very hard on them to catch up. Here is a photo taken from our deck. Scary, eh? You can read more about it in BJ's journal of the fire and our preparations to fight it.

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The ridge line to the NW from there and a short ways to the SE is all ablaze, subtending an angle of 90 degrees. I was taken aback when I first saw it. Each time I go out, I am hoping that somehow it is going to be better. Never is. At times, an entire tree will burst into flames, shooting them hundreds of feet into the air like rock concert pyrotechnics, although it's not fun to see.

A separate section farther to the SE at nearly that angle is still on the other side of the ridge but is very bright, lighting the clouds for quite a distance from the site. Seeing nearly 90 degrees of fire is not a happy feeling because you know you are at the middle of it.

I feel so sorry for all of those life forms out there who cannot move to get away. At least this has happened at a time of year when young animals and birds have grown enough to be able to flee and not perish. Those species who are able to move but not move quickly enough are not so fortunate. I can't bear to watch for very long. I feel for them all, deeply.

One of the endangered California Condors that was missing was located and is in fine shape. We expect to see increased wildlife populations here as the fire progresses in our direction. This will of course mean more, Foxes, Bobcats and Mountain Lions, so we have to be a little more careful. If they are pressed for food, they do come around here. Pressed for territory and food, we'll have new neighbors for a while. Bird population is already up; different species, too. We ran out of bird seed today filling the feeder. Tomorrow's trip into town to get the needed parts will include a stop to get another 40 lb. bag of seed and more suet.
This thread -IS- space related after all, though I'll leave the title as it is. I made an analysis with the topo map tonight and our fire hose will reach from our tanks on the NE corner of the property up to the observatory that sits ESE from us, so we can defend it as well. (I KNEW I wanted the tanks over there for some good reason. Didn't really dawn on me until tonight--even having thought about clearing around it. I'm so stressed.)

There's a hydrant up there but, as I said earlier, it's little more than a wishful thought when this many chips are down. We'll have to re-configure to get that far. One 300' section won't quite make it. This will mean a lot of running, dragging a 1.5" 400' single jacket fire hose full of water up that hill. I don't know if we could even pull it full of water. It'll take more time but we may have to drain it on something useful and pressurize once we're up there. Either that or find something that will hold that volume temporarily. I'd hate to waste our resource. If you need one more gallon and you don't have it.... We may opt to get another 4 sections, if only to save our bodies and time.

I'd like to find a Y fire fitting. Then we could use all 600' — 400' up the hill and two 100' sections off that to get around both sides. Each hose will have less pressure when they are both running but we can cover a greater area. If one of us needs more distance, we can shut the other off temporarily and get the pressure back.

If the fire happens to advance first up our section of the property that is out in front of the dome and we can defend the observatory, it will make our job of defending the studio easier. We'll see how the finances are after we're set.

Hmmm, I had better go over there tomorrow and see if the louvered ventilation windows are closed. Wouldn't be good to defend on the ground, only to have airborne brands fly in through the vents.
Gotta run as many scenarios as you can--while you can--in relative calm, so you will be less surprised when it all goes south in a way that you didn't think of.

Time to try to get some rest. Temp at this hour is still 87 degrees. At this altitude under these conditions it doesn't drop much like it does in the valley. The fire loves it. Tomorrow will be another 100+ day; the last for a while, thankfully. We can get through the day by looking forward to a 68 degree night. Should trickle down to 88/55 by Sunday and the relative humidity is creeping back up out of single digits. Yaaay. That will slow the fire down... if it isn't going up another mountainside by then.

Timing is everything.

The complete chronicle is available on BJ's Blog, high-rez photography and all.

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