I need advice on answering clients requests on last minute work or even asking for creative work done over the weekend?

First, when someone first comes to you with a project, give something with your process on it in writing and your boundaries.

Example (Not to meant to be comprehensive, just to give you the idea.):

How CreativeCo. Works

Our process involves an initial, in-person design consultation with your representative at your place of business or our offices. At that meeting, we will get clear with you on the what the final product will be, what your desired schedule is and whether we can meet that schedule.

We then return to you within 48 hours a written description of the deliverables, a price and a delivery schedule. We ask that you sign this estimate and fax it or email it back to us.

CreativeCo. does not work on weekends, Weekend work is not figured into the schedule for deliverables.

Changes to the signed design brief must be in writing from client representative. CreativeCo. will provide a revised design brief incorporating the changes and detailing impact of the change on pricing and scheduling for client signature within 24 hours.

If you do it that way, all you have to do is remind them verbally of your policy outlined to them before the project began. Much, much simpler.

Failing having done that, I would simply say (and repeat as necessary), “I’m sorry that’s not possible.” Never get into explanations.

Tell them you can do it, but there is a special (and obscenely large) convenience fee.

If you’re willing to do the work: “I’m sorry, my hourly rate is only for work done during normal business hours. If you want me to work this weekend, I’ll need to charge three times as much.”

If you’re not: “I’m sorry, my time is already committed. I can get to it on Monday, however.”

Let them know you’d be happy to work on their day off, but not yours.

I’ve never been happier since I fired all the bad rude clients

@cwilbur My way of dealing with clients and jobs I don’t want to do. Sadly, sometimes they accept the outrageous rates!

@Marina: I’ve done that before—bid on a job I really didn’t want, and quoted them an outrageous rate, and they accepted it. I laughed all the way to the bank.

When I quit my steadily-paying job in the middle of the recession and went freelance, the only part that scared my girlfriend (now wife!) was that I’d spent all weekend working. Here are the best two lessons I learned:

1) Rush fees. Give clients a financial incentive to plan their schedules.

2) Friday deadlines. I used to set schedules where I could work weekends “if I needed to”. Turns out I always needed to (until I changed deadlines to Fridays).