A potential client's behavior has escalated from 'odd' to downright alarming, leaving a freelancer questioning their professional boundaries and personal safety.
As a freelancer navigating the creative landscape, especially after significant life changes, encountering unusual clients is almost a rite of passage. You've joined a professional society, paying a yearly fee for access to job boards and a sense of community. This is where you connected with a prospective client who, from the outset, presented a series of perplexing signals. There were the tell-tale signs of AI-generated images being passed off as authentic photography, an interview where the client seemed more interested in dismissing your expertise than understanding it, and a curiously evasive demeanor regarding their background. You've learned to tolerate a certain level of eccentricity in the creative world, recognizing that many successful artists and professionals operate with unique quirks. Your current roster includes individuals who, on paper, might raise eyebrows but are ultimately reliable, professional, and excellent at their craft, meeting deadlines and payments without issue.
However, this particular individual is beginning to stir a deeper sense of unease.
She shared a piece of her work, intended for you to "familiarize yourself with her style." What you found was a stream-of-consciousness narrative, difficult to decipher and bordering on the unbelievable. What's more, the very next post on her blog, published a mere three days after you responded to her job listing, was a scathing critique of all the freelancers who had contacted her. She broadly dismissed them as "too small-time" and incapable of grasping her supposed genius. You've seen her sample work, and it appears to be rejected by industry gatekeepers because it fundamentally lacks an understanding of basic artistic principles, rendering it almost incoherent. The most disturbing part? She quoted your email verbatim, using it as an example of a freelancer too "small-time and stupid" to comprehend the "grandeur" of her vision, specifically targeting your mention of working with smaller organizations and independent artists.
This blatant misrepresentation naturally sparks anger, but it also triggers a genuine sense of fear. Your professional communication style is direct and candid, a trait your existing clients value and appreciate. You understand this approach isn't universally suited, but you've focused on cultivating relationships with those who benefit from it.
But here's where it gets controversial: Should you confront this client about her actions? Or is it wiser to simply hope she disappears and move on? Is reporting her to the freelance society an overreaction, or a necessary step? And if she doesn't vanish, how do you gracefully extricate yourself from this situation? You acknowledge a part of this is on you for delving into her online presence, but it's your standard practice to understand a potential client's scope of work. This situation is particularly unsettling, especially given your reliance on this job board for your income. While friends might dismiss your concerns, this is a novel and unnerving experience that has your hackles raised. Are you perhaps overreacting to a situation that, while unpleasant, isn't truly dangerous?
Dear Looked Under the Iceberg,
Yikes, indeed. Your potential client sounds like a deeply concerning individual. Her actions point to a pattern of dishonesty (the AI images), hostility (publicly denigrating peers), and delusion (claiming her art is too profound for established critics). As a freelancer still establishing yourself, you may not have extensive experience in terminating client relationships. This situation, however, presents a valuable learning opportunity. Even if financial necessity is pressing, a client like this can make your professional life a living hell and potentially jeopardize your career. They can consume excessive time and energy, engage in public criticism, spread misinformation about your work, or damage your reputation by association. In the freelance world, perhaps even more so than in traditional employment, trust is paramount. You clearly cannot trust this individual, and that alone is a sufficient reason to sever ties.
The next time she reaches out, respond with a professional yet firm message stating that you will unfortunately be unable to proceed with the engagement. If she presses for a reason, do not offer further explanation.
To safeguard other freelancers, it's crucial to review your professional society's code of conduct. It's highly probable that this client has violated it through verbatim quotation of private correspondence without consent, disparaging remarks about fellow members, and misuse of the job board. Consider contacting the executive director of your professional organization, share your concerns confidentially, and inquire whether this client's behavior constitutes a breach of membership terms. Allow the society to address the matter.
And this is the part most people miss: If your professional society lacks a clear code of conduct, I strongly encourage you to advocate for its adoption. You could suggest that the executive director and/or the president of the board of advisors implement one. Resources like the National Association of Science Writers' code of ethics can serve as an excellent model. Proactively contributing to the establishment of clear professional standards could be a meaningful way to engage with your new professional community. You might even consider volunteering or running for a board position to help shape the culture of your profession and connect with like-minded individuals.
—Laura
