Linux for Pro Audio Work How to Lose Clients FAST!!! 3833

Chad Irby

That sounds pretty nonsensical to me. Most customers choose based on ability. In actuality only a cluebie with just enough knowledge to get in trouble would expect a certain tool to be used.

Actually it would be to look at how they did with past customers.

If some customer expected me to use MS Visual Studio to write code in C I would probably tell them to bugger off. MSVS is a 'standard' in the programming arena but of course it only works on Windows. It would be the ProTools of programming. It is actually a hinderance to real development in my experience. The customer really has no business telling me what tools to use to get a job done, and if they insist on doing so I would at least charge 2-3 times as much as I would have (on top of the 2-3 times longer it would take me to do it their way)...either that or I would say, "Do it your damn self if you know so much better..."

But that has never happened to me. I am hired based on the fact that through word of mouth I am known to know wtf I am doing. (Of course I am primarily talking about side work I do but I also got many of my jobs based on this fact also) I buttume that the audio community is also heavily influenced by word of mouth just like every other industry; customers like to hear that you did someone a good job rather than, "I use ProTools therefor I can get the job done." I may have been asked what I used once or twice but it was mere curiosity...they don't usually understand when I tell them anyway.

Frankly, doing business with someone that insists you use a certain tool to get a job done is a bad idea. Usually they are operating based on having read some buzz words in an industry magazine or newsletter or heard from some "expert" friend. If simply educating them that you can do the job just as well with a different tool is not enough I say stay clear. Let them f*** up your compebreastion's life...