Commission form critique.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I've edited the form with some of people's suggestions, so feel free to refresh it and take a look!

We have a lot of threads about TOSes and the like, but I'm here to ask for critique and help with my commission form.

I built it a while back, but I rarely take commissions, so I only had the opportunity to actually try using it recently. The commissioners seemed overwhelmed by all the information I was asking for, even though it's all things I would need to know and would usually have to chase them down for a few days to gather via email.

But if I can help it, I don't want to intimidate my commissioners, so I'd like to see if anyone has any suggestions. And I figured anyone else who has a commission form can throw theirs into the comments if they want critique. Should be a handy thread for anyone thinking of building a form, as well.

Anyway, my form is here: http://fs12.formsite.com/Kayla-La/form470441986/index.html

I eventually intend to add a link to my TOS once I've rewritten it, as well as replace the image at the top with a custom one assuming formsite'll let me. Otherwise, have at it!

Comments

[pariahsdream.livejournal.com]

Firstly, TOS is a misnomer for what you have here. These aren't your Terms, this is an order form. I'll show you mine- http://pariahsdream.ladyvulcan.com/cof.html

Always remember KISS- keep it simple stupid. Instead of listing every possible variation, you could take it and make your choices the most popular you receive and then add another box for 'inquiries' or specials. Also, I would not let both refs AND a description of the char be optional. If they don't have refs, they can email and tell you.

[pariahsdream.livejournal.com]

Never mind, I misread what you meant about TOS's, strike that part.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay, I was confused for a minute there!

[ocelotish]

Oddly enough, I'd get rid of some of the optional stuff; I think that gets a little overwhelming. Just make accessories, scope of picture, media, and description mandatory (they can always say no accessories and I'd think you'd always want some personality). Then I might condense extra info for both the character and the commission into one field. I know that you're trying to give them more freedom, but I think it actually may result in confusion. If you say something is optional it adds another decision of "Do I need to fill this out?" on top of adding the information. I know it sounds silly, but try going through it yourself and fill it out for your character and you'll see what I mean.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I actually did fill it out myself AND had my boyfriend fill it out when I first built it, and we both thought it was fine, which is why I was confused to hear the complaints about it.

I might look into removing the accessories field and some of your other suggestions, thanks!

[ocelotish]

Actually what I mean is just remove the "Optional" note from those fields. If people don't have that they can just write in "none." What I was getting at is that it essentially makes them think, "Do I have accessories?" followed by "What accessories do I have?" instead of only "What accessories do I have?" It's kind of a stupid distinction, but when you have of optional questions that first "Do I have blank?" adds another step of thinking each time. If you go through and count each optional as a question, it adds 12 questions onto your form!

Now obviously, I'm not saying that you shouldn't have any optional questions, but make sure they're really something that's a bit outside the norm or has some sort of consequence (like the deadline question).

Also, do you want to change the deadline phrasing to "Deadline (optional, may incur extra charge)" or something like that? Otherwise it looks like it they want it by any solid time, even 6 months or a year from now, there might be another charge.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I suppose I figured I'd be done with any normal commission before then, but that if they wanted a deadline I'd have to rush for, they'd better expect to pay for it.

It wouldn't hurt to change it to 'may' instead of will, though. I'm editing the form now. I understand your reasoning now, but a lot of people have told me it's too complex, so I've trimmed some of the options down. I've edited the form, so feel free to take a look!

[ocelotish]

Fair enough, and that may be something you discuss in your TOS, but they're obviously not there yet! ^^;

I think it looks better already. :) I'd still recommend removing the "optional" text from a couple of them to streamline it, but it's your choice.

[shiftergoddess.livejournal.com]

I, personaly, won't accept commissions without a highly detailed description or a reference sheet simply for the fact i've seen WAY too many commissioner complaints because THEY didn't submit enough info to the artist. I just eliminate that problem before it starts.
But again, commission work is my hobby and i take them when i want to, not as a source of income, so i can be uber picky with what i accept.

I would say that if they don't provide enough information to you the first time around to just reply to their e-mail stating what you need and if they don't give you the right amount of info you need, pass them up and go on to the next commissioner.
I believe it was someone in this comm. not long ago that said if the commissioner doesn't have enough respect to give you all the details you need to provide a service for them, they don't respect your business.

[shiftergoddess.livejournal.com]

Er huurr stupid me, forgot to add...
For the form, i just keep it simple and have the important fields 100% necessary to complete the work. Like species, gender, ect. But again the reference sheet eliminates a lot of the guess work for the character.
Things like background type, pose (optional) and such can be lumped together as extra options in one field.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, most people, myself included, don't seem to have ref sheets... but I love them when I do receive them!

That's been the biggest suggestion so far, grouping more optional stuff into one field. I'll probably do that.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I've condensed some of the optional stuff if you wanna look it over!

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Well, getting the information via email and then chasing them for specifics IS what I've been doing for years. The point of the order form for me is to get all the information I need at once, so I can start work ASAP as well as have it easily accessible since it's all in one place. I'm just tired of people giving me a gallery with refs that are all different, not telling me anything, then telling me I 'got the eye colour wrong' or something when it's info they never gave me to begin with and was different in all their refs.

[shiftergoddess.livejournal.com]

Ah yeah, i see how that would be an issue. But you could always make it required to have one detailed character reference for the form. That way you have them submit the best image they have of their character and they don't give you the "here's my character gallery, find a good one" kind of thing.

[xylophagous.livejournal.com]

Honestly I can't figure out what might seem like too much here, almost all the fields are optional other than things that are one word answers (Species, Eye Color, Gender). It may honestly just be the fact that there's a form involved but honestly if someone had a decent ref sheet and just linked that and filled out just the required info it would only take maybe 5min (this includes going and fetching links/info).
So I have no idea what to tell you as far as how to make it less "overwhelming".

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

See, that was my reaction too. When I first made it, I filled it out myself AND had my boyfriend fill it out, and we both thought it was fine. I tried to keep it to just the stuff I needed. But then the first two commissioners ever that I have fill it out tell me it's complicated and will take them forever to fill out. Then someone else that wanted an icon just kind of disappeared after I linked them to the form, so I have to wonder if I scared them away.

Part of it probably is having to fill out an actual form. I think most are used to tossing a few reference pictures, going 'make them look sexy!', and then flitting away. But I got tired of having to ask for eye colour or poses or markings after a while so voila.. commission form!

[sigilgoat.livejournal.com]

I'd agree that it's just overly complex.

I don't think there's a need for the email twice. If they got it wrong, that's their mistake and they need to contact you at your contact email. You don't need a field for eye color, they should have that in the general description, just extra stuff like that

I don't think my form is in any way perfect, but it does work pretty well: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dDhmMWJyMXQ3RHV1RVE0RndJelBYc2c6MA

I occasionally will send out an email for clarification, but more often than not, everything is there that I need.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I can pretty much guarantee you that they won't even realize they got the email wrong most of the time. And if they fill it out and I don't know their FA or the like, I'll have no way to get in contact with them, and then they'll be sitting there figuring I ignored them and.. yeah. I understand that it's their responsibility, but I just don't want to risk turning off a customer even if it were their own fault.

As for the eye colour, that's on there because it's a detail people constantly forget. If I don't ask for it, they don't give it, then I have to go ask them and wait for a reply in the middle of colouring. Trust me, it's there because otherwise, people wouldn't tell me. Just a week ago I had to deal with someone cranky that I got the eye colour wrong even though it was the colour in some of their refs and they didn't tell me otherwise.

I probably will try to condense some of the optional fields, however, after some suggestions I've received here.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

My old form has a place to put their username and a place for their email. That might help with misspelling.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Not everyone would have an FA, though. I do take commissions off FA once in a while.

I hate that it's basically a 'protect them from themselves' thing, but... I don't feel like I have any options that would be as effective.

[ichigoneko33.livejournal.com]

you could also say, username on which site?

[grandioze.livejournal.com]

I don't really see a problem with it TBH. Most websites require you to do the same thing when you sign up for an account.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that was my reasoning when I put it in there. It's a pretty standard thing, and I know it's actually helped me once or twice when I typoed my email and didn't notice! It's just security to make sure I can get a hold of you.

That is a VERY pretty icon, by the way. But I love birds.

[grandioze.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, birds are awesome.
I'd have more bird icons if it didn't cost money. XD

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I've condensed some of the optional stuff if you wanna look it over!

[sigilgoat.livejournal.com]

that does look better! 8D I like it c:

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Oh, and sorry to spam you, but I noticed you use googledocs for your form. I tried to use it for my own once I discovered it existed, but I couldn't figure out how to get it to send results to my email the same way formsite does. Do you know if it's possible to have it send an email with all the information instead of just an email telling you someone filled out the form and making you look at the results via a spreadsheet?

[sigilgoat.livejournal.com]

no, i just have to look at the spreadsheet once a day, I dont even know how to get it to email me that someone did it XD

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Aw. It sucks, because if I could just figure that one thing out, I would TOTALLY use google instead. They have some really pretty themes!

[sigilgoat.livejournal.com]

Yes, I gotta remind myself to check it every morning ;__;

luckily the people who use it usually send me an email letting me know they did it

[pariahsdream.livejournal.com]

Not to butt in- but I'm using a google-theme myself and ran into the same problem. What I've discovered is you may have to host it offsite. That's what worked for me anyways.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Can you explain how that works to me?

[pariahsdream.livejournal.com]

Do you have your own space on the web? You would need to take the info that the google theme gives you (after you edit it to your needs) and upload it to your server.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Well, I mean, how could I then get it to send me all the information to my email?

[pariahsdream.livejournal.com]

When you're putting the info in the google temple, I believe it automatically sends to your gmail account. At least that's what I remember, it's been a little while since I created mine. I do know I get an update to my gmail whenever my spreadsheet gets updated/I get a new client.

[mrfurfag.livejournal.com]

SHUT THE FUCK UP

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

No thanks.

[teahound.livejournal.com]

And this is why you were denied membership to FD_2.

[onesteptwo.livejournal.com]

As far as your form goes, it seems completely reasonable to me. I even showed it to my not-in-the-fandom boyfriend who said he didn't see the problem and that most of it was optional anyway, so what's the big deal?

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Apparently it's complex, or at least was moreso before. I didn't think it was before, either. But whatever I can do to make it easier on people, I suppose!

[onesteptwo.livejournal.com]

Don't make it too easy. ;) You'll encourage the stupid.

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

"Do you want porn?: Yes/No"

[onesteptwo.livejournal.com]

It's the furry fandom. OF COURSE they want porn.

[uozlulu.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't call it a TOS, but it's a good comission submission form.

What I would add to it (if this is possible on the template) is a TOS and a little check box that says "I have read and agree to the TOS" so that youc an prove that this person did read your TOS so they can't play "But I didn't know" if something were to come up. If you can't add a check box, you could always put a drop down at the end

But you'd need to formulate a TOS before you could add it to the submission form. like Type of Commission and have Yes and No as the options to the answer "Have you read the TOS [link]?"

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

It's not a TOS.. not sure where that idea came from.

I did plan to rewrite a separate TOS and include a link to it eventually. I just haven't had the time to sit down for such a project yet. If I put my TOS on there and they try to play 'I didn't know', I'll point them at it and tell them too bad!

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

I think because TOS stands out in your post o_O;...

I don't see anything wrong with your submission form, but that's me, I do agree with don't make it too easy comment that onesteptwo

And yeah adding a link to your ToS would be good too :)

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

I guess. I just mentioned we talk about TOSes a lot here, I didn't think people would take that to mean I was offering one. It's not even remotely similar to a TOS, so I just think it's weird people keep reaching that conclusion. No biggie, though.

I've just been procrastinating on writing it up. I hardly ever take commissions so it's not really something I need to rush. But mostly, I just hate writing!

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

hehe you get that :)