I Didn’t Get the Gig - So I Asked Why. Not the Answer I Expected

A client I had never worked with before asked me to send a price for a project and told me a few others had also sent estimates. In the end, I didn’t get the assignment.

A few months later, I followed up and asked the client why.

(If I had guessed, I would have thought maybe my price was too high.)

I’m really thankful the client gave me an honest answer.
It felt surprising, but also like a relief.

The answer: “You seemed a little negative.”

I was surprised because this is not how my friends would describe me, in fact, they’d say the opposite. That’s why it was such an eye-opener. The client said he was already feeling stressed, the project was a mess, and when I showed up, I didn’t seem excited.

I’ve worked with film and photography for 15 years. One of my strengths is seeing quickly what needs to be fixed, made simpler, or improved to make a project really great.

I’m also very thorough in my work and always keep my promises. That means I usually keep my expectations low at first, and then deliver something much better than promised.

This has worked very well for me because people trust me.

But there’s one time it doesn’t work.

That’s when I meet a new client for the very first time.

This made me realize that even if I’m right about the work or changes that need to be done, I still need to take a moment to acknowledge, take interest in, and show enthusiasm for the project, especially the first time we meet.

I mean, I lost simply because I made a bad first impression? They loved my work. They didn’t mind my price. I just made a bad impression in a stressfull situation.
It's almost silly and yet understandable. Humans are humans, first impressions and feelings matter.

For context, this same client gave me another chance later. We’ve worked together many times since, and I’m still really glad he told me the truth.

So here’s my simple tip:

Follow up and ask your customers for feedback after an assignment, especially if you didn’t get the job. You might learn something important, just like I did.

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