Honesty/Integrity best policy with agents/clients? Umm nope

[psychocandy]

We have had a thread about this before.

I have been honest all my life and always gone out of my way to help people and do the extra bit.

It has got me nowhere - people see kindness and understanding as a weakness to be exploited for their own gain.

I am teaching my kids to be complete ******* and not give a fook about anyone but themselves - it will pay off in the long run.

Obviously they will never come and see their dear old dad as he fades away but then so what that does not earn money.

Amen. Honesty gets you nowhere at all.

[psychocandy]

Well its all gone a bit pete tong anyway. I suspect there are those that will find it a bit funny.

Seems client has got someone else in now instead because they needed someone urgently (according to agency another agency got someone in there).

Which seems a bit strange since, if you remember, they offered me straight away on the phone and we havent even got to the date discussed yet. Would have thought, even if dates changed they'd have spoken to me.

Also, in my area, there aren't a lot of contracts. Anything local to me and I get agencies on the phone straight away. In the past, I've had 5-6 agencies call me about the same local gig.

So looks like one of the two have happened:-

1) Another agency did manage to get someone else in soon and probably cheaper and client has thought ohh thats better. And kept me hanging as 2nd best.

2) My agency are lying and they've got someone in sooner and on a bigger margin they had with me. And they kept me hanging on as 2nd best.

Good news I haven't totally burnt bridges with current client so current gig is still there.

Hey ho. Next time this happens I don't think I'll be so honest....

[northernladuk]

Amen. Honesty gets you nowhere at all.

That's utter rubbish.

Don't get caught up in his views. We will probably all know one of these f em all types and from my experience they don't tend to be nice people and from what I see it makes life a lot more difficult. Not always but often you do real what you sow.

[psychocandy]

That's utter rubbish.

In my experience, 10% of people will appreciate, 90% will take advantage of it.

[northernladuk]

In my experience, 10% of people will appreciate, 90% will take advantage of it.

I refer back to the comment you quoted.

[psychocandy]

That's utter rubbish.

Don't get caught up in his views. We will probably all know one of these f em all types and from my experience they don't tend to be nice people and from what I see it makes life a lot more difficult. Not always but often you do real what you sow.

NLUK. Im a nice person. Possibly way too soft. Often scared to make a decision in case I upset someone.

Yeh I've got people who like me because of that on both a professional and person level. BUT I've been shafted a few times now because I've not been tough enough or realised whats going on.

[northernladuk]

NLUK. Im a nice person. Possibly way too soft. Often scared to make a decision in case I upset someone.

Yeh I've got people who like me because of that on both a professional and person level. BUT I've been shafted a few times now because I've not been tough enough or realised whats going on.

Being tough and being honest are too completely different things. As is being tough and being a f### em all types.

And yes, your inability to make a decision and drive it through because you aren't confident in that decision will cause problems, I can get that.

[northernladuk]

Well its all gone a bit pete tong anyway. I suspect there are those that will find it a bit funny.

I am sure no one will find this funny. You are a bit of a forum joke at times but losing gigs because of difficult clients isn't something to laugh at for anyone really. To be fair it's all a bit sad on many different levels.

Seems client has got someone else in now instead because they needed someone urgently (according to agency another agency got someone in there).

Which seems a bit strange since, if you remember, they offered me straight away on the phone and we havent even got to the date discussed yet. Would have thought, even if dates changed they'd have spoken to me.

Also, in my area, there aren't a lot of contracts. Anything local to me and I get agencies on the phone straight away. In the past, I've had 5-6 agencies call me about the same local gig.

So looks like one of the two have happened:-

1) Another agency did manage to get someone else in soon and probably cheaper and client has thought ohh thats better. And kept me hanging as 2nd best.

2) My agency are lying and they've got someone in sooner and on a bigger margin they had with me. And they kept me hanging on as 2nd best.
.

What about option 3.where they got some equal or better than what they wanted for the same money that can start tomorrow? Why do you assume cheapness or blame someone?

You've delayed by a couple of weeks.so client and agent covered there bases. Don't wanna be rude but you aren't niche and not the best catch in the market.
Do you think this carry on might have reflected on you somehow so they opened the process again?

[psychocandy]

Being tough and being honest are too completely different things. As is being tough and being a f### em all types.

And yes, your inability to make a decision and drive it through because you aren't confident in that decision will cause problems, I can get that.

On this occasion I was honest with my current client. Even though the local people were fine, the client senior management were not (so this didnt work).

I was honest with new client when I told them I was in contract and needed to be truthrful to current client. (This didnt work - they knew but got someone else)

I was tough with current client when it looked like I might lose the new gig. I took the decision/risk to do this. (This has backfired too).

If I'd lied to new client and said my contract was ending first week of Jan, they wouldnt have been twitchy about my start date. If I'd pulled a sickie at current client, and started I'd now be in that gig.

Yes I'd have an upset current client and agency but I'd have a nice new contract close to home. As it is, I've got the same old contract but an upset senior manager at client who may very well remember I tried to bail and forget any future extensions in any case.

[MrMarkyMark]

On this occasion I was honest with my current client. Even though the local people were fine, the client senior management were not (so this didnt work).

I was honest with new client when I told them I was in contract and needed to be truthrful to current client. (This didnt work - they knew but got someone else)

I was tough with current client when it looked like I might lose the new gig. I took the decision/risk to do this. (This has backfired too).

If I'd lied to new client and said my contract was ending first week of Jan, they wouldnt have been twitchy about my start date. If I'd pulled a sickie at current client, and started I'd now be in that gig.

Yes I'd have an upset current client and agency but I'd have a nice new contract close to home. As it is, I've got the same old contract but an upset senior manager at client who may very well remember I tried to bail and forget any future extensions in any case.

What? You are going back to somewhere where you have upset them before, or are you staying where you are

Neither looks very ideal.