Contest prizes and art trades - should I let it go?

[growly.livejournal.com]

How serious do you consider it if someone doesn't make you a prize you won in a contest?

What about art trades, how far should you pursue someone about a piece owed?

I've sort of given up about some things I'm owed, after waiting five years for one, and two years for another. I think it might be overkill and whiny to post about these things I'm owed, because no physical money was involved (except postage and shipping materials on the trade). And I don't want to make these people mad at me, either. One of the people I'm on good terms with. :/ Maybe that's a poor reason to not to post about somebody, but I hate burning bridges.

Should I just let it go and forget about it completely, or do you think I need to continue to ask about my art?

Comments

[taasla.livejournal.com]

Trades- It is my firm belief that our time is worth money. You may not have exchanged money, but you exchanged your services. Bailing on a trade is essentially stealing, imo.

Contests are... a bit tricky. I think if someone had to do something in order to participate, (like draw something) then yes, they are owed. It comes down again to using their time, which is valuable. Now if it's something like "Fill out this form and you might win!" or "comment to enter", then I guess I wouldn't care that much if it never comes through.

[growly.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had to draw something for the contest- the prize was worth many times the effort I put in though, so I asked if an equal amount of art could be substituted for the original prize since it was apparent they weren't going to make it. They said sure and I sent them my refs, and... nothing. :/

The contest was probably five years ago now though, so should I just drop it?

[thornwolf.livejournal.com]

Have you reminded them of it? I'd say politely remind them of it. If you have and they keep not doing it, I guess just write it off unless you feel it warrants its own AB post. If you're on good terms with them then yeah I'd just remind them, if not, let it alone and know better for the future :/

[taasla.livejournal.com]

You replied before I did, but yes, pretty much this.

[starinthegutter.livejournal.com]

I agree with Thornwolf above- ask the people who owe you trades/prizes. The worst thing that can happen is they simply forgot what they owed you.

[filthy-animal.livejournal.com]

Make someone mad at you? Really? They're the ones that owe you something you both agreed to. D: If they get mad, that's pretty silly. :|

As for what to do, I believe that's more dependent on you, and your opinion on if it's worth it to you to continue to ask for the owed items. If you feel like letting go, that's your thing. But there's no reason you NEED to let go. You are owed something, after all.

[ocelotish]

I'd remind both of their obligations.

I figure that a trade is essentially paying you in art so you are owed.

For contests - essentially I look at them as a group contract and it's easiest to think of it as a raffle. Everyone in the group pays a little for their chance to win the prize, so you're paying for a 1 in 100 chance at the art. If the winner doesn't receive the prize (or the equivalent thereof), the artist has broken the contract with everyone who entered the contest. Therefore they shouldn't be refunding just your entry, they should be refunding everyone's.

[banrai.livejournal.com]

Oh god, I hope this isn't directed at me. I know I still owe you a badge. :(

[growly.livejournal.com]

No, not directed at you- I still have the painting here, so I figure if worst comes to worst I'll pay you for the one badge you completed, then sell the painting. But I'm willing to wait a bit longer, since its really not taking up any space or anything and I haven't lost anything.

[banrai.livejournal.com]

Bah, I don't care about money. I just love your art and I'm glad you're so kind and willing to hold that particular piece for my slow as molasses arse to get in gear. For... like three years. :|

[growly.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's been that long... has it? o_O

[banrai.livejournal.com]

Probably. Time flies when you procrastinate! (Well... when I procrastinate!)

[feather-dancer.livejournal.com]

Contests, ho boy. I did one back in 2006, won first prize in a section and they did about three bits of art back in 2007 and quietly never bothered since. Drop them a note if you still feel it's worth it (Aka not fallen out of love with their art, happened to me), otherwise I'd forget about it if they continue to show no indication.

Mean I had an old contest prize >I< owed which I finished a week or so ago. I've felt gulity for having it hanging all that time but guess I'm more unusual in that sense.

Trades though? Definately poke perhaps mentioning dates/linking to yourhalf if you have it online for extra back up though keep it polite.. Time is money after all and they got a freebie for nothing. I speak as someone feeling gulity for owing one of those as well (I know seriously. It was one way to learn not to take on so much crap and burn out thats for sure!) but I always respond to asks and make it damn clear I do owe it.

Good luck on your hunting mission :)

[kiriska.livejournal.com]

You shouldn't be afraid to poke someone that owes you art, especially if you're on good terms/friends. I think most artists worth their salt would not get upset for being reminded of things they've committed to and possibly forgotten. I definitely agree that the time and effort you put into a trade is the same as paying them money, so you should get what you "paid" for.

I don't have as much experience with contests since I usually don't bother, but I think the same sort of thing applies?

[skanrashke.livejournal.com]

Contact them about it. Likely they've just forgotten or kept pushing it back. A polite inquiry will probably be best for both parties involved- they'll remember about that 'thing' thats been nagging at the back of their head, and you'll get your thing back.

If its from a person you're not on good terms with, I'd probably forget about it, but an inquiry wouldn't hurt anything(Except your relationship as is), so its up to you on that one.

[skirtandzy.livejournal.com]

Hmm, trades.
I did one back in February 2010, and still have yet to see any result. I was tempted to make another entry, becaue it is just excuse after excuse over it.

[miryhis.livejournal.com]

Contests - I've had some bad experiences with some contests in the past. I either didn't get the full prize or got some of the prize. These days I just don't participate in them anymore, especially if they're the "draw my character and you might get a prize" ones. I don't know, it seems like the person is saying "I'll get a bunch of people to draw my character and I'll only have to pay for a few of them."... it seems very sketch to me.

On trades - If you have your half done and the other person doesn't, I'd say drop them a note. If neither side has anything to show, I'd send a note saying "Hey, are we still doing the art trade?". I know a few people asked me for art trades, but it's hard to communicate with them, so I'm iffy on continuing.
I know I'm taking a long time on an certain art trade, and now I'm waiting to get some supplies to really make it up to the person. I feel really guilty about the wait, but I'm always in ready contact with them, so they know I'm not running off.

[frazzled-niya.livejournal.com]

Agree with Taasla

service for a service.

Just a friendly reminder/poke won't hurt.

[wickedtoff.livejournal.com]

Dittoing you contacting both. I've been guilty of both in the past, not intentionally, but it does happen; But whether money is exchanged or not it's an owed service!

[aurastarlucario.livejournal.com]

Taasla said what I was going to. :p

[holydust.livejournal.com]

Gah. This just reminds me that I let my clients submit testimonials after working with me and later offered a place in a monthly sketch raffle in exchange, but I haven't done a single piece since January. I feel bad, but everything just keeps getting in the way. The people who've won are repeat customers that I really really really love, but I just can't seem to make the time. I feel guilty, so I've stopped offering it for now. I intend to give sketches to the ones who won, but every time I remember I just want to crucify myself.

[rileycostello.livejournal.com]

Have you reminded the people about their ends?

Sometimes people forget! I think if you're owed something it's good to keep it on your radar and check in on it every once in awhile until you get it.

(hard for me to do though unless I keep a list- I forget about commissions I'm owed even haha)

[growly.livejournal.com]

The problem is they keep forgetting over and over and over again. :/

Or they agree to do their half, then just... never do it.

[ogawaburukku.livejournal.com]

Did you get other prizes? I'm sure you aren't even looking at this thread anymore, haha, but I thought I'd add my two cents...

I had a contest that ended in late Feb this year. The prizes were money, a sub on DA, and art by me. I gave people the money, the subs, but before I could get the contest art worked on the March 11 earthquake here in Japan kind of shook things up (ahem). It's now September and I still haven't gotten around to doing most of it. I had a pretty tight schedule for myself this year, and that earthquake screwed things up. In all honesty, I doubt I'll have time to go through and do the art for everyone, but I did get them money and subs, at least. That's probably the better prize anyway, haha.

If it's been five years, you might just drop it... If someone complained to me about something I didn't finish five years ago, I wouldn't have time to do anything about it now.