expirience makes all the difference

[runcoyoterun.livejournal.com]

i was reading a mass backlog of things in this community and some of the stuff people here have gone through is appauling. ( as well as my spelling, lol ). ive been hesitant to post here only because i thought MY first commission practices were bad. at least i think im not so terrible anymore.

a little over a year ago, i took three commissions off furbid. near the end of the year, around December. i planned to finish them up over holiday break from college since we got a few weeks off it would be nice and relaxing and a change of pace to do someone elses characters. little did i know AOL purged ALL my emails from the time and i lost everyone contact information. since no money was exhanged i eventually stopped fretting and let it go. one commissoner did manage to get in touch with me and get his image ( as well as giving me payment for the image ) and i was happy. to the other two whose images were never completed, and in my traveling one was even lost. i just wanted to say how sorry i am and how unprofessional i was back then.

now, fastfowarding to current times ive changed my commission practices GREATLY. i have a few tips that might help other artists struggling to keep things organized and in check.

- write all contact information on 3x5 cards that you store in a little box. that way when your emails get deleted // purged,
- get an email account that is just for your commission info
- dont be afraid to give your commissioners updates on their work even if you havent really done anything more on it at that point. they'd LOVE to hear SOMETHING rahter than NOTHING and think they're getting jipped.
- dont be afraid to be honest, but never guilt trip the people paying you.
- if your commissioner takes some time getting back to you, just refoward the email. sometimes they dont tell you when they're going on vacation or shit just happens.
- only take commissions when you have time to complete them. believe me when i say i know that shit really can JUST HAPPEN to some people. (its happened to me) but just talk to them and let them know you've been pushed back in your workload and that their stuff will get done.

i hope that helps some people, assuming you guys arent already doing something like that. one of the old commissioners from the "beginning" is actually recommissioning me currently. and he seems to enjoy the work im producing for him which makes me happy.

Comments

[tyrrlin.livejournal.com]

- dont be afraid to give your commissioners updates on their work even if you havent really done anything more on it at that point. they'd LOVE to hear SOMETHING rahter than NOTHING and think they're getting jipped.
- only take commissions when you have time to complete them. believe me when i say i know that shit really can JUST HAPPEN to some people. (its happened to me) but just talk to them and let them know you've been pushed back in your workload and that their stuff will get done.


Amen to that. I commission people and I can be a very patient person when I receive either annoucements or emails with little "I haven't forgotten about you" notes in them.

PLEASE do not take on more than you can accomplish in a reasonable amount of time. Right now, I have personal experience with an artist (who I paid in full) who has apparently taken on more than they can handle. It's been three months now with no sketch, and only one piece (in a total commission list of 15!) uploaded. I'm trying to be patient, but I kinda got upset when I saw they're taking on *more* commissions. They are active online, and were very nice when I chatted with them (and I was nice, too), so I'm being a good little person and leaving them pretty much alone. Sometimes things happen in life to delay completion of art - but...I just got a little miffed when I saw more commission slots opening.

(And before you ask; no, it's not you. I don't think this person even has an LJ account) ^^

But please, remember what your actions might look like from the other side of the PayPal window. Thanks! ^^

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

Having the time to complete doesn't mean you will get to complete them. I've got two free requests still outstanding that I've not been able to finish due to screwing up my back.

[vogeldrache.livejournal.com]

I think your back problems fall under the "SHIT JUST HAPPENS" part. XD Although you're right about freetime VS getting work done. I was so guilty of that back when I still took commissions. X___X

Sucks about your back though, sorry to hear that. :x

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

I have uncertain health to start off with, I spent a month lapsing in and out of unconciousness once. :P So the point I was trying to make is to be aware of what can go wrong and budget time for if the worst happens. I'm just terrible at explaining.

Thanks for the concern. :)

[vogeldrache.livejournal.com]

I think those are good tips, especially the 3x5 cards idea. You can't go wrong with hard copies (unless you lose those too? D:).

[growing-rose.livejournal.com]

I think anything that might happen to the cards would fall under "shit just happens", too. :P

[lemonfruitpie.livejournal.com]

*giggles* Oh, you.

[lilenth.livejournal.com]

I dunno about that, my room usually manages to eat things. I'd be afraid if I kept cards that they'd vanish and turn up 100 miles away or something. >.>

[yuuago]

The thing with the cards is a great idea. I never would've thought of that.

[higginsdragon.livejournal.com]

One thing I always recommend is setting due dates, no matter how far out. Like, if someone were to commission me today, I might say, "Okay, you'll have it by March 1st, 2008." They may agree, or want it sooner, which is when price negotiations happen. If it is accepted, then I can draw/do whatever I want as long as they get their art by March 1, 2008. No stress in drawing for myself or for others during all of 2007. I may get it done early, they might have it as soon as April. But I am not obligated to deliver it until the due date, which can take a load of stress off my mind depending on how much needs to be done.

Also, not that I'm trying to promote it or anything (but I am :) ), there's a commission tracker (http://community.livejournal.com/artspots/5076.html) on http://www.jaxpad.com

[dinogrrl.livejournal.com]

I agree with this. Even if the commissioner doesn't set a 'want/need by' date, I ALWAYS give them a date when I expect to have their work done. That way I remember it better and I'm not so prone to taking on new projects in the mean time. :}