Me:

Hi. I’m returning your call. I understand you’re looking for some help on your project?

Them:

Oh, yeah. I’m looking for an architect to do the drawings for the building I’m going to build. Are you the one who does the drawings?

Me:

Um, sure…. um, I’d love to help. Tell me a little about what you have in mind?

Them:

I just want you to throw together some rough ideas. It shouldn’t take too long. I mean, I don’t want you to spent too much time on it. Can you just whip up a few images for us? No, Actually, I know what I want, I’m just looking for someone to draw it up. It should look some thing like this.

<pushes torn page from the August 1996 issue of Home and Garden Magazine towards me>

Can you just make it look like this? Only not as expensive?

Actually, I really like the way this plan works…

<points to a drawing of the Taj Mahal>

But I really like the way this looks…

<points at a magazine clipping showing Martha Stewart standing in her garden, with the corner of her neighbors gazebo peeking into the frame>

Can you combine those two?

Me:

Um, that might be a challenge…

Them:

Actually, wait, I really just need the drawings for permit. I don’t need all the details worked out. I just need the minimum required to get the building permit. Do you have some drawings that I could use?

Me:

You mean like somewhere in the back?

Them:

Yeah. Do you?

Me:

No, not really. I do each individual design specifically for each individual…

Them:

No, no, I know that, I just mean, do you have something similar that you did for another client that might work for this? It doesn’t have to be exactly like my project. I just need something to turn into the city for a permit. Do you have that?

Me:

Um…? No.

Them:

Oh.

…

Well, could you refer me to someone who does?

.

.

The photo of the Taj Mahal is by Christian Haugen and has been used under the creative commons license. Original photo is HERE.