However, having been on the recieving end of a couple of ‘deaths’ from audiences, it’s never as bad as one imagines. Life goes on and you learn from the experience. You learn because you never want it to happen again.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), in stand-up there’s no easy route. Everyone dies and it can happen at anytime – I guess that’s what makes it such fun!!

Loved the opening–my first thought was–did he want you to pick up any random dwarf you saw on the way, or did he have a particular one in mind:)

As crap technically as I am, I actually understood what you meant!

For a rank amateur like me, open source stuff is great – but I can fast see limitations in stuff. Audacity is perhaps the best example I can think of – a great idea, good application, but ever so limited in many ways.

Right off to do some work now.

Paul

In the end it’s all down to the right solution for the right job – sometimes, as in the intranet application I am completing, Drupal is most certainly the right open source solution. The problem comes when trying to demonstrate to a client that your bespoke solution is the most appropriate over OS, it’s the perception of value they have a problem with and immediately assume your intent to move them away from an OS solution is based on you wanting higher returns.

These days I am starting to quote based on providing the solution to their requirement, as opposed to a more traditional multiple option ‘this will be this much, that will be that much’ approach. When clients refocus on the value they get for the price rather than a supermarket pick-and-mix mentality, it actually simplifies the whole sales process and frees the developer from being forced down a route based on the client’s misconceptions.