Just like visiting a person's home and arriving at an opinion on their character, so should a vendor visit be just as inquisitive. Ask questions. Is the facility rented or owned by the firm? Is it in a good neighborhood or the low rent district? Are the employees busy? Are there employees?

Since digital media is a high technology enterprise where brains (human and otherwise) outleverage capital, you may not find a large facility when you knock on the door.

Some of the most profitable Internet firms are operated by only a handful of people. The trick is deciding if the amount of people are "just enough." Too many, and your job may be funding someone's overhead. Too few, and your job might not make deadline.

How do you know if you're visiting a good firm? Look at the hardware and how it is installed. Is it the latest Mac or PC (or both)? Is it sitting in an airconditioned, custom-built workstation or is it sitting on a pipe rack shelf, burried under a pile of pizza boxes? How neat does the office look? Does it look busy? Are the phones ringing?

With regard to the agenda of the onsite visit, we refer you to the page: The Vendor Visits You.

Does the vendor seem willing to accept your ideas and limitations?

This is a business frought with prima donas. Often the most talented individuals, destined for worldwide prominance in Hollywood or Silicon Alley, begin (and often end) their careers in corporate media. You may not want one of these people working on your assignment unless you are willing to act as a stepping stone. You want artists who know their place and believe that your satisfaction, not theirs, is their destiny. Such individuals are not easy to find. A good key question to ask is, "What do you plan on being/doing professionally in five or ten years?"

Vendor's brochure

Credit list

Vendor's references

Vendor visits you

Sample work

You visit vendor