Should I butt in?

[vellacraptor.livejournal.com]

Okay, here's an awkward situation for you. Not going to name names yet, but here goes;

So a long time ago, I had a conversation with my friend (boyfriend at the time) and he had mentioned ordering a ref sheet and never getting it. I told him he should bother the artist about it since he paid about 40-50$ at the time. He shrugged and said he was patient, so I let it go.

Some months later, I get a commission request. I show him the WIP, and he laughs and says "hey, that's the chick I ordered art from!"
Sure enough, since he was on my page, he said he got a note with her apologizing, and she also posted a shout about throwing in a badge or something as well for taking so long. This was about 5 months ago.

Since then she's uploaded other commissions, and recently she's asked to order from me again. Nothing against her because she's really sweet, fun to work with, and her character is adorable, but I'm semi-uncomfortable doing work for her when someone so close to me has been 'jiffed' so to speak. He counts it as a loss already, but told me if it was bothering me I could go ahead and ask her about it. He's kinda on the side of he'd be happy if he got the art in the end, but doesn't want to push the artist.

So A_B, am I crossing the line by asking her about it politely? Or should I just leave it?

/edit; alrighty, so I've asked him about it and he said he'd send her a note. Hopefully we can see some results and I won't be here posting up again about her, haha. ^^'
Thanks guys!

Comments

[taasla.livejournal.com]

Funny, this kind of ended up happening to me and my SO. The artist in question kept talking to me and being generally very nice, but she kept my SO waiting and waiting and waiting on his art. Despite the fact that I really did want to say something, I decided not to. In the end if your (or my) bf doesn't want to get the backbone to say something, it shouldn't come down to you doing so. If the roles were flipped, I don't think I'd want someone's SO poking me about owed art.

[anjel-kitty.livejournal.com]

It's really your decision since it is a transaction between you and her. I would just remind her politely that you don't feel comfortable completing her commission until she resolves the art owed issue with your friend. As long as no money is exchanged you are totally with in your right to refuse a commission if you feel that you'd be uncomfortable doing it until this matter is resolved.

[excessdenied0.livejournal.com]

There's no strict rule about this, but I would personally recommend that you not get involved. Generally speaking, a commission is between the artist and the customer, and if the artist doesn't meet expectations it's the customer's responsibility to let that artist know.

That said, you have a right to take into account this person's character when they present themselves as a customer to YOU. If you want to refuse her business on the basis that you don't feel comfortable with her as a person, that is your right, but it's between you and her.

Whenever in doubt, try to keep personal life and business life separate. :P It's a rule that's undoubtedly saved my butt several times. Good luck!

[wingsofjudas.livejournal.com]

I've had a friend mention getting ripped off by an artist I was in communication with and although I really felt like I could/should say something at the time, I'm glad I didn't because it really wasn't between me and said artist and I think getting involved would have been akward if not completely out of place.

I can see why that would be weird for you but I think gently prodding the friend who is having the issue with the artist to resolve it their self would make more sense and be less sticky. If at the end of the day they don't care enough to pursue it, that's their business and I would leave it at that.

[wingsofjudas.livejournal.com]

All of this!

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

It's really up to you...
Since your ex(?) said it's okay to bring it up with her if it's bothering you, and it's apparently bothering you, I guess it's okay to bring it up? Who knows, it might light a fire under the artist's butt if there are some consequences for her neglect.

[aerospiritual.livejournal.com]

seconding pretty much everything said here; don't get involved if it's not your issue. if I were in your shoes, I'd probably do what I could to convince my friend to go after what is rightfully his. there's a difference between pushing an artist and getting an update on owed work- the former would be if he were sending her notes on a near-daily basis asking if the work would be done, the latter would be him sending her a note and asking wtf has happened with his commission.

[yowulf.livejournal.com]

Push your friend to pursue this himself. Do NOT take matters into your own hands, even if it is a friendly nudge. Echoing everyone else, keep personal relations outside of business.

My twin and I had two clients that had their SOs contact us once. Both were rude and one even threatened to come over our house unexpectedly and threaten us. Very frightening. After this incident, the second case with another client came up and we simply ignored the SOs email to avoid heartache since we WERE keeping in contact with the client. They felt the need to have their SO 'give their opinion' even though everything seemed to go smoothly.. extemely irritating.

After these incidents, I am very much against having a third party contact about a commission status for you.

[kawaiipiepie.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you could go so far as to mention it's making you uncomfortable, as that relates to your transaction with her(?), but I agree with everyone else's comments, that I wouldn't try and resolve your friend's transaction with her, I'd say that was up to him.

[familliaraver.livejournal.com]

When things like this happen to me, I like to not get involved. What I have done, however, is gently and carefully encourage dialogue between the two. Something like

"hey' hope you like your art, I'm looking forward to seeing the commission you're finishing for my friend such and such! my friend is very excited to see them :)"

It's an extremely polite name drop. Have your friend hit up the artist within a few minutes of dropping the hint.

"I saw the art my friend finished for you, how is mine coming along?"

If they don't respond after that I would encourage him to take a sterner tone.

[thejeweledhorn.livejournal.com]

If you don't feel comfortable taking commissions from them, just be professionally and politely honest about why. I've valued your patronage in the past, but I don't feel comfortable taking commissions from you while my friend feels forgotten/ripped off.

Being honest in a professional way is okay.