An Article from Mind Design.

What makes designers so different from hairdressers?

This is from an e-mail I sent to our printer a long time ago as we often share the frustration of delayed payment. The credit crunch made the subject very relevant again (there even is a similar film on You Tube now — someone may have stolen my script). I never quite understood why some clients think that as soon as creativity is involved the rules of payment are different to those applying to other services. All that designers want is to be paid fair for their time like everyone else — carpenters, plumbers, cab drivers or hairdressers.

Unfortunately, compared with hairdressers it often goes like this:

Can I get a haircut? I will not pay for it today but go home first and show it to all my friends. If they like it I may come back tomorrow and pay half of it. If I find a girlfriend within a week because of my new haircut I promise to pay the rest. Next day: My friends basically liked it but they criticized how you cut it around my ears. Can we fix that as part of the original agreement? Two days later: I met a nice girlfriend now but she hated the haircut and introduced me to her friend who is also a hairdresser. So I won't pay you I am afraid but I gave your address to a friend who also needs a haircut and knows many other people. This will be great for your future business but you don't have to thank me.
— posted by Holger