Have you ever had difficult customers tell you what kind of art you should be doing?

I draw portraits in pencil. I had a customer that wanted to see my work. When he arrived he proceeded to tell me "Maybe... and I mean "maybe" I will use you." Then he said" I see you draw a lot of cats. I hate cats. Why don't you have more dogs?" I had a couple drawings of dogs from commissions that I then showed him. Then he asked "Why can't you draw more things like foxes or deer like some of those painters?" I'm seething inside, but keep smiling on the outside. As he left he said he would return with a photo. He wants his grandchildren drawn. Then he said "We'll barter on the price when I return." I just kept smiling. Since he is someone that has worked on our house I will offer him a bargain rate minus the handling fee even since my hope is that he will show my work around town. I'm just starting out so I don't want to offend anyone. But, really, would you talk to your doctor like this about his fees and services to get a better rate and that the doctor should try a different field of medicine?
People want something for nothing. But, I have no client base yet, because I am just starting out. Yes, I'd love to tell them to take a long walk on a short plank, but I can't. It's amazing how people think they can barter on services. Although greenbacks are greenbacks in the end too. And I am in a specialty niche where you don't make a lot of money to begin with. I have always thought of licensing my artwork as the way to really go. I'd love to do that as well or just that only really.

I was a salesman for 15 years...I have had my share of bad customers who did not appreciate my advice.

I recommended that they see my competition saying that they had a much better product than I could offer....There are too many good customers to worry about losing a bad one.

I would not barter....I would ask him what he did for a living....then I would ask him if he ever did work for less money than he felt he was worth. Tell him your prices are fair for the work you do. If that was satisfactory he could go somewhere else.