Why You Should Actively Scare Away Clients

I have a confession - I start client calls with singing and jazz hands. Seriously.

When potential clients hop on a call with me, they're often greeted by an impromptu musical number and theatrical hand gestures...

So why would I risk looking like a complete dork in front of someone I'm trying to impress?

Because I'm not trying to impress everyone. I'm trying to filter out the bad fits.

The Power of Strategic Repulsion

After 20 years in the music industry, I've seen time and time again that the fastest way to build a thriving studio business is to actively repel the wrong clients.

Not just wait for them to self-select out. Actively push them away.

When I first started out, I tried to be everyone's cup of tea... Professional. Buttoned-up. Safe. I'd hide my goofier side until clients got to know me better.

Sometimes I got lucky - they'd really appreciate it and we'd create long lasting relationships. But pretty often, I'd find myself with a calendar full of projects that drained my soul and clients who made it feel like a day job.

The Turning Point

Everything changed when I started leading with my most polarizing qualities:

• My unapologetic enthusiasm (hence the jazz hands)
• My tendency to question conventional wisdom
• My directness when something isn't working

Beyond Filtering: Creating Deeper Connections

The beautiful consequence is that I wasn't just filtering out the wrong people... When I show up as my authentic self from the very start, my ideal clients immediately drop their guard.

They see me being vulnerable and weird, which gives them permission to do the same. This means we can skip the awkward small talk and dive straight into the deep, meaningful questions that ACTUALLY matter for their project.

The Results Speak for Themselves

Suddenly, the clients who did book with me were excited about my approach from day one. Projects became more fulfilling. Rates went up naturally because I wasn't competing on price anymore.

And the wrong clients? They run for the hills before wasting my time or theirs.

This isn't just about being yourself (though that's part of it). It's about strategic repulsion as a business tactic.

This Is What I Want You To Take Away From This Blog Post

Your confidence in repelling the wrong clients is directly proportional to your ability to attract the right ones. Let me say that again.

Your confidence in repelling the wrong clients is directly proportional to your ability to attract the right ones.

Because the more comfortable you get with people saying "that's not for me," the faster the right people will say "you're exactly what I've been looking for."

Your Turn

What's one authentic aspect of YOUR personality or approach that might repel some clients but attract your ideal ones? How can you lean into that in your social media? Your website? Your intro calls? 

Carl ✌️