Who pays for it?
If you are a freelancer working at someone’s space, you should assume you will pay for your own meals. Some clients will offer to pay, but don’t assume that they will. If they do, don’t order the most expensive thing on the menu (duh!). In fact, order something that will taste decent after it gets cold. Sometimes you will get about as much time to eat as it takes to cram a few bites into your mouth while you press the spacebar with your elbow.
If you are a staff editor and the client is coming to your facility (or if you are the owner), then you always pay for the meals. Supposedly, you built this expense into your estimate, so be generous. Once in a while, a client will offer to pay even when they don’t need to. Let them. It’s a goodwill gesture and a sign of respect.
As bitter as it is to hear sometimes, I have heard clients praise the vitures of other editing companies because of:
- Proximity to favorite restaurants
- Concierge style meal order service
- Real plates and silverware
- Really well organized menu books
Can you imagine losing a bid to another editing company because of … lunch? I can’t say whether this has actually happened, but you need to be mindful of the expectations of your clients. There should be PLENTY of god-awful snacks available at all times, a variety of cold and hot drinks, an excellent menu book, and some quick answers for which places to suggest. How far you want to go to provide “room service quality” meal accommodations is your call, but you cannot go too far.