I had driven to Springfield, Illinois to deliver a previously ordered commercial perspective illustration and wanted to make a day of it with my wife and children by visiting the historic Lincoln sites.  Usually the delivery of the original artwork is routine with a final personal approval after having viewed the preliminary images.  However since the client was so pleased with the work, he asked if I would accept a new project.  He promptly gave me drawings of the proposed lodge to be built on a golf course and stated that he would like an aerial view.  Since I needed information as to what would be seen beyond the image, I requested a site plan or photographs for definition.  He gave me an (8" X 10") color photo of the complete multi-acre site as that was all that he had.  He then offered to take me on a short tour of  the golf course and said that it would be very helpful to my rendering.  With my wife and children staying behind and waiting in the station wagon, I rode with him to the nearby course.  As we pulled into the parking lot and to my absolute amazement, my client drove his big Oldsmobile onto the greens and showed me the layout first hand.  I took notes as he made points about how each fairway should appear.  Midway he turned to me and said, "You know that I would shoot anyone who would drive onto these fairways, but since I am the owner, I can do this!".  I could only chuckle as I wondered what his grounds crew was saying about him at that moment.  About 45 minutes later he returned me to my family and I took them out to lunch to make up for the unplanned time.  Two weeks later I submitted this image to him who approved it minus half the trees which had been shown on the site plan.
  
  I enjoy this type of client interaction when the project is not yet fully designed and artistic input is welcomed.   It is this sort of personal way of doing business that many clients have also expressed their gratitude.  Having worked with on-site hands-on construction people, corner office design executives, and everyone in between I relish the direct contact.  How do you like to do business?
Dave