When I arrived at the studio I was given some very useful overriding direction which was to guide my performance in the booth. The direction was designed to lead me to the type of performance which expressed the script according to the wishes of the client. I worked mightily to do that but I believe in the clients anxiousness to achieve that very effect, he tended to over direct. By doing so he squeezed out any opportunity of mine to interpret the script and perform it according to my interpretation and taking into account his overarching direction.
He was happy with the work but it left me wondering if we had indeed satisfied his initial objectives.
I'm the first to admit--the client is ALWAYS right. He's paying for the privilege to be right so if he wants it then give it to him.
This happens sometimes. Sometimes a client leaves the work in the hands of the studio and the discretion of the engineers and talent and sometimes the client is very hands on and wants to mini-direct every nuance of the script. Of course the client sometimes knows exactly what is wanted and should watch closely to ensure that what is needed is achieved. And sometimes the client doesn't know but feels compelled to control the read of each line in the script.
I say allow the client to have his way. As a talent, I never insist on a particular rendition of a script. I might see how it should be done but I'll only do what the client requests me to do. I advise any talent who wants to get more work from the same source to do the same. Because even though we might know how it should be read, doing so might lower your stock in the eyes of the client. Or worse. I'm always too grateful for the work to interfere with the style of the read. I'll interpret the script my way but will quickly defer to the wishes of the client.
So when the client is really involved in the talents performance, be happy O ye talents, it could be a harbinger of more work to come. Just give'm what they want.
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