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I’ll probably get roasted for saying this, but if you’re freelancing they’re not interested in teaching you. You’re a hired gun, and if you’re truly CD level (and not someone who self-promoted) you’re expected to perform at a certain level.
With that out of the way, sounds like this ECD might just be bad at giving direction and feedback. A lot of them are.
This is the correct answer.
Totally hear you all. You’re right. Hired gun - do the gig and don’t invest. Ego and desire to impress / make great work is certainly always going to be a factor.
For a bit more clarity of the situation - I’m not CDing on these projects, others are (though they’re not empowered to CD, more project manage for the ECD). And with the learning comment, it was more about trying to understand why the ECD thought something was right/wrong (it can be quite inexplicable and the Leads don’t even know)…so developing/starting again can be such guesswork. Just wastes so much time/energy.
But certainly at a broader level, you also don’t want to be arrogant enough that you stop learning. Who knows what they might know about their client/sector that could be valuable in future?
Hopefully you listen to the feedback you're getting here. Though it does sound like you're pushing back. But maybe I'm reading it wrong.
People are trying to help you, listen to them.
Speaking up will do you no good.
Would you rather get paid or be right?
The magic of freelancing is that you know that there is a time to end. Finish your job and walk away. And get a better one. At this point in your career, you are a Creative Director, and not every opportunity will be a learning experience.
They hire freelancers at this level to do the job. not to train it up.
You can learn a lot about a bunch of things freelancing. about time management, efficiency, finances... if you expect a mentor to learn the craft, then freelancing might not be the best for you now.
Just roll with it. This is very common, even with full time employees, and as a freelancer there’s not much you can do about it without hurting your chances of being rebooked or referred.
There are tons of ECD’s out there that can’t manage. Dare I say this is the norm?
Speak up. Name names.
If you’re a freelancer, you’re contracted to help your client - not to learn from them. If you’re at CD level, yes, you are expected to own the work. That is true whether or not leadership is competent. Some ECDs are not competent. You can (and should) ask for clarity on feedback that isn’t clear. You can’t force it. If you’re not happy with the client, don’t work with them again.
Freelancer is just there to do the work. Do the work. Learn from the ECD on what not to do to. This is a good education that will make you more valuable.
Most places with let you go if you speak up as a freelancer. gold
One point I haven’t seen here yet: as a freelancer, you might not be working on the most important work. The ECD is likely busy and would prefer to spend 10 mins making notes in your deck instead of booking an hour meeting to go through everything with you. If you were a full timer working on something more important, it’s possible the ECD would have a totally different approach.
They are using you and paying you for it. Is what it is. No ego allowed.
I don’t know, how about learn from this person? Maybe they know a lot more than you do? They clearly have a lot more experience.