| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Have you ever met any of your clients in person? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever met any of your clients in person?".
View the poll results »
| | | | Alex Lichanow
Germany
Local time: 07:30
Member (2020)
English to German
+ ...
While I have never met a client in person, I used to work in localization testing with a guy who would become a PM for a client of mine years later.
| | | | Kay Denney 
France
Local time: 07:30
French to English
I have met a good number of my direct clients, and they are the ones I have the best relationships with. I actually travelled to Lyon to see an exhibition by an artist whose website I translate, and she was very touched. I do actually love her work and really wanted to see it for real, because she produces enormous quilted tapestries that only fit in your home if it's a castle, a computer screen cannot do them justice.
It's always interesting to meet clients. You can get a better s... See more I have met a good number of my direct clients, and they are the ones I have the best relationships with. I actually travelled to Lyon to see an exhibition by an artist whose website I translate, and she was very touched. I do actually love her work and really wanted to see it for real, because she produces enormous quilted tapestries that only fit in your home if it's a castle, a computer screen cannot do them justice.
It's always interesting to meet clients. You can get a better sense of who they are and what they need, and they'll often tell you stuff that comes in useful when you next translate a text for them.
A good number of my clients are former colleagues, so of course I know them very well. ▲ Collapse
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When I was working in Belgium as a sworn translator, I met all my clients. I also had a Japanese client who insisted on meeting in person once a year. The funny thing was he spoke a very bad English and I don’t speek Japanese, so those meetings were helpless as I always needed a confirmation per writing. In fact, they were so helpless that once I thought he was announcing the end of our collaboration when in fact he was contracting me for another 5 years. Since I moved back to Lisbon I haven�... See more When I was working in Belgium as a sworn translator, I met all my clients. I also had a Japanese client who insisted on meeting in person once a year. The funny thing was he spoke a very bad English and I don’t speek Japanese, so those meetings were helpless as I always needed a confirmation per writing. In fact, they were so helpless that once I thought he was announcing the end of our collaboration when in fact he was contracting me for another 5 years. Since I moved back to Lisbon I haven’t met a single client…
[Edited at 2023-08-08 08:56 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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When I started translating, I had to take my work to my clients (first typewritten and later on floppy disk), so I had no option but to meet them.
Most of my work now is for museums and galleries, so I get regular invitations to opening events. I don't often go (it depends where they are) but sometimes I do and it's always a pleasure to meet those who ultimately give me my bread and butter.
Simon
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I make a point of meeting all my important clients periodically. So much better for both parties to put faces to names and deal with a real person and have a real relationship.
If you're just a faceless online supplier, you're less likely to get any loyalty even if you're truly brilliant.
Which I am. Plus I have a stellar personality and incredible good looks. They're like putty in my hands, begging me for more.
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 07:30
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
With one client, we got to know each other after a while through chatting about jobs and eventually about other things as well, and I eventually met them in person after becoming friends with them. With another client, they wanted me to come to their office personally for an interview and for an in-person explanation of my work. Yet another client I met quite by accident when he attended a translators' meeting in another country, and I just happened to be at the same meeting (I'm quite flatter... See more With one client, we got to know each other after a while through chatting about jobs and eventually about other things as well, and I eventually met them in person after becoming friends with them. With another client, they wanted me to come to their office personally for an interview and for an in-person explanation of my work. Yet another client I met quite by accident when he attended a translators' meeting in another country, and I just happened to be at the same meeting (I'm quite flattered because they recognized me instantly but I could not remember them initially.)
[Edited at 2023-08-08 09:46 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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I have met clients in person, but most of the time, I only communicate through email or - sometimes - phone/video chat.
I remember having done two big one off projects for clients in my area (even an entire book for one of them), for which we would meet in person to discuss. And when I was still certified, I did one (!) certified translation for a private person. I ate lunch with a recurring client - the owner of a small-scale agency - when he was in town, already many years ago, and I've ... See more I have met clients in person, but most of the time, I only communicate through email or - sometimes - phone/video chat.
I remember having done two big one off projects for clients in my area (even an entire book for one of them), for which we would meet in person to discuss. And when I was still certified, I did one (!) certified translation for a private person. I ate lunch with a recurring client - the owner of a small-scale agency - when he was in town, already many years ago, and I've also met some Dutch small-scale agency clients on translator meetings. Oh, and I've done some projects for previous colleagues of my day job until 2016.
[Edited at 2023-08-08 09:58 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Kevin Fulton
United States
Local time: 01:30
German to English
I've been very fortunate with my client relationships.
When I still worked with Detroit-area direct clients and agencies, I often stopped by their offices to meet the engineers and PMs I worked with. It was good to be able to connect a voice with a face.
I've also worked with agencies that flew me to Europe to meet with PMs for large multi-national projects. One US agency even flew me to their home office to meet their entire team, including accountants and IT people.... See more I've been very fortunate with my client relationships.
When I still worked with Detroit-area direct clients and agencies, I often stopped by their offices to meet the engineers and PMs I worked with. It was good to be able to connect a voice with a face.
I've also worked with agencies that flew me to Europe to meet with PMs for large multi-national projects. One US agency even flew me to their home office to meet their entire team, including accountants and IT people.
A German publisher used to invite me to speak to their editorial team when I was in Germany to attend the Frankfurt auto show every other year. The company was in a delightful corner of southwest Germany, and allowed me to extend my trip while enjoying a tax break due to the business nature of the journey.
I think these opportunities have become increasingly rare in the translation biz. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Had to go to Moscow twice to collect my pay | Aug 8, 2023 |
Somehow, when I was just a beginner translator, I found that personal visits to one of my Moscow-based customers were the easiest way to get paid. They couldn't transfer money to my e-wallet, and I can't remember why I wasn't then able to open a bank account to which they could make payments. Both of my St. Pete-Moscow trips were enjoyable, so I'd say they were worth the fuss
| | | | June Wang
China
Local time: 13:30
Member (2021)
English to Chinese
+ ...
I worked as a freelancer for a company via an agency and each month went to the client's campus for an on-site meeting on behalf of that agency. So I met my client and their client, too. Sometimes the three parties had lunch together. After two years of collaboration, I found an email from that agency with an offer to turn my status from freelancer to in-house translator. I didn't really join it, we continued working together for the next 3 years though.
How time files!
| | | | Iulia Parvu
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:30
Member (2022)
English to Romanian
+ ...
| No, and I would not like it | Aug 8, 2023 |
I don't thrive in social situations and struggle with social anxiety. That's why I opted for this particular field, as it doesn't require me to engage with individuals on a personal level. If a requirement for being hired includes a meeting, even through video call, I would have to turn it down. It's frustrating that I'm wired this way, but it doesn't undermine my capabilities as a skilled professional.
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I did meet all my direct clients when I used to sporadically have some at the beginning of this millenium. Moreover, a long time ago, I visited two French agencies I worked with when the opportunity arose.
And should the higher powers of the known universe be on my side, I might soon meet the client of a long-standing agency customer to work on site. I suppose I'll have to change my work outfit from swimming trunks to some semblance of generally accepted business attire excluding flip-flop... See more I did meet all my direct clients when I used to sporadically have some at the beginning of this millenium. Moreover, a long time ago, I visited two French agencies I worked with when the opportunity arose.
And should the higher powers of the known universe be on my side, I might soon meet the client of a long-standing agency customer to work on site. I suppose I'll have to change my work outfit from swimming trunks to some semblance of generally accepted business attire excluding flip-flops.
It's always cool to put a face on an e-mail, but maintaining virtual relationships for ever is jolly fine too.
Philippe ▲ Collapse
| | | | IrinaN
United States
Local time: 00:30
English to Russian
+ ...
Since for all my projects lasting between 5 and 26 years I used to be both a translator and an interpreter. Sometimes even a driver:-).
I love being wined, dined and complimented in person on a regular basis
| | | | Lingua 5B
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Local time: 07:30
Member (2009)
English to Croatian
+ ...
All of my interpreting clients obviously (I don’t do remote interpreting as it pays really badly).
I have a direct client in the tourism sector and once I stayed for free in some of their facilities. I have convinced them that experiential writing is the best writing, and it worked.
Soon I am traveling and will be meeting some clients as well, we actually exchanged some projects so we are more of collaborators.
[Edited at 2023-08-08 16:12 GMT]
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