Potential bad commissioner...

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

I would like to advise artists to exercise caution in taking commissions from snowfox19.
He commissioned me after I responded to a post he made in furryartists three weeks ago. Aside from the commission mentioned there, he had at least two more ideas for things he'd want me to draw asking me what I'd charge for such or such, I can't recall offhand if it was me or him that made the distinction that it'd have to be decided after the first piece was done. I was very sick with a nasty cold at the time, but nevertheless told him I'd email him a sketch within two days, and he could pay me the $25 I'd asked and he'd accepted when he'd seen the sketch. Great, sketchwork isn't that troublesome for me (though a lot more so when I'm sick and dizzy), and I needed the money.

I email him May 8th, sketch attached. No answer, and now he's suddenly not on AIM anymore. He's been talkative almost to the point of being disruptive up until the morning of May 8th, my time, I emailed him around lunch time.

I email a reminder, saying I'd like to know what he thinks about it, on May 14th. Still no answer.

I emailed another reminder on May 21st, noting that I'm going out of town soon, so I can't work on his art if he doesn't get back to me before then.

He's posted in his LJ as late as yesterday, at least ten entries since I first emailed him the sketch, and that's provided he doesn't have additional locked entries.

I'm frankly rather pissed about the whole ordeal -- I made sure to get a sketch done that soon despite being sick and having other work I also needed to do, I'm fairly sure I told him I'd be busy soon and wanted to get the thing out of the way before that (I was still waiting for specs regarding comics for the school yearbook and my little part of our graduation art show), and I have now also told him I'll be going out of town. I would have had much use for the money, as well as the money from any subsequent commissions, since my only source of regular income dries up over summer and I have the worst luck when it comes to getting a day job.

Anyone else had trouble with this guy before, or have suggestions as to what I should do now?



-Alexandra

Comments

[moonstone-wind.livejournal.com]

Ive dealt with him on commissions. He owed me about 100-150 worth of computer parts for 6 slated art pieces. I have done two for him, they were paid in full before I Inked. But I got really tired of daily getting these "peeks over to see if your done yet" type msgs. I get harassed enough as is without this. I waited from Jan till about March to find out why the hold up yet he could buy himself a new computer and moved twice. So I was only lenient in the aspect of well he moved Ill give a month to get my stuff. Never got it canned his commissions and ive not been asked again since for more.

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

I just don't understand what he wanted with the sketch -- as one of my sketches, it's WAY too, well, sketchy, to do much with... And I still made it clearer than I normally do because I don't think people like being shown a sketch which basically has a circle with a muzzle on it for a head.

It's not like I'm going to get frustrated, finish it, and send it to him just to get it over with.


-Alexandra

[moonstone-wind.livejournal.com]

Dunno hes quite a puzzlement

[dreamaria.livejournal.com]

I did a badge commission for him a few weeks ago. I had no problems in receiving payment from him. He also said he wanted to commission me for a few other things in the future and gave me his ideas, though I didn't start them yet.

He IM'd me every time I'd log on MSN, I don't mind talking to people on MSN, in fact, I like it, but my computer is weird and MSN has to load before anything else can work. He'd IM me as SOON as he saw me log on, which would cause my computer to freeze up and most of the time I'd have to reboot. I asked him very nicely not to do this but he didn't listen :/ The first few times I didn't care so much, but it got kind of annoying.

He requested to see the sketch of his badge (which usually I don't do because it's just a badge, but I don't mind doing) and asked if I'd fix a few things, so I did, then a few days later I colored it and told him once he paid I'd show him the colored version. He said he would rather me show him first to see if I had actually done it, so I figured, whatever, only $10, and showed him. I did recieve his payment, though.

I had been meaning to ask him his address because I realized I didn't have it, but every time I caught him on MSN (I dunno, he randomly stopped IMing me the second I logged on) it said it was Away or busy or something, so I was hesitant. I e-mailed him twice, no response. I IM'd him one day when I caught him Online, and I apoligzed for taking so long and that I was hesitant to IM him because he was always Away. He seemed annoyed when he came back with "It always says that!". So I asked him for his address and told him I'd have it mailed out this week. I've been having a VERY stessful week, so that didn't happen, but surprisingly he hasn't contacted me to ask where it is. I wouldn't be mad if he did because it was my fault, and I'd just explain that I've been busy. I had asked him if he needed it for a Con and he said to take my time, so yeah.

He seemed very friendly and all, but I don't know. I guess if anyone else reads this, don't let him have your AIM/MSN handles if he commissions you.

[lacy.livejournal.com]

I had spoken to him in the past about a fursuit commission of a body-suit he wanted. He promised to send payment on several occasions, but time went by and he never paid. He then began posting either on fursuit communities or his own LJ that he was looking for someone to commission the same thing from, I even replied to mention to him he had discussed the same thing with me, and although he did reply back favorable he still never went through with the commission.

[mistystriker.livejournal.com]

He talked to me once months ago about a potential commission but never went anywhere. Then he found me again a few weeks ago (he didn't seem to remember me) and started discussing one again saying he couldn't officially commission me for a few weeks because he didn't have the cash. And now it's been a few weeks and he's mentioned he still doesn't have the money.
I don't mind waiting but I wish he'd make up his damn mind, y'know?
I see him on Furnet IRC a little. I can prod him about yours if you'd like.

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

Only if it's no trouble, but it would be very nice of you -- I wouldn't much mind if he'd say "no, I can't afford it" or "no, I don't want it anymore" at this point... I just want some kind of answer because it's stressful for me to have obligations that I'll have to fulfill whenever someone else gets around to doing their part.

Someone needs to have a face-to-face sitdown with him about how you treat artists, I think.


-Alexandra

[mistystriker.livejournal.com]

He's away on MSN but I left him a message saying he should check his email as you were getting worried. =) IRC has his nick as Snowfox|Sleeping so I'd say he should get it when he wakes up.

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot for the help!


-Alexandra

[felisepia.livejournal.com]

I've done a good handful of commissions for him. The first one took him 6 months to pay for. It was my first commission ever, actually. Then the other 5 or so, he was okay with payment, though he harassed me every single day on the status. I eventually told him I'll let him know when there are updates, heh.

Right now, he has 3 commissions lined up from me. I finished one, and gave it to him. Since he's had so many before, I figured no problem, but I've been waiting for payment for at least a week now. My mistake for giving him the art first I suppose. I'm not even going to think about starting the other two (which he wanted me to begin last week..) before I receive payment, obviously.

..He hasn't been online much at all since. But I do expect I'll get paid eventually... After this, I will be done with commissions from him, unless I'm paid upfront.

[harliquinnraver.livejournal.com]

hes been on yahoo IM nearly every day.

[felisepia.livejournal.com]

Hmm, he hasn't been around on MSN. I caught him on one day, messaged him but he wasn't replying..

Starting to get a little irked.

[harliquinnraver.livejournal.com]

his yahoo (if you wanna try there) is : Christian Dark

[rs-studios.livejournal.com]

he can't even keep a job or a place to live for more then 2 weeks. he is a local fur that had a lot of problems with past friends of mine. not going to go into details. but he is 1000 times worse then i ever was.

remember artists: 1/2 up front. then sketch. then payment in full for the rest.

[snowfox19.livejournal.com]

I would like to apoligise first thing, I actually lost your email adress through no fault but my own. And sad to admit forgot your LJ name, please contact me at alex1983@telus.net (new email adress and we will get it squared off asap.) Whether or not you choose to finish the commission is up to you.

[quoting-mungo.livejournal.com]

Things are a mess at this moment (old-fashioned worldly mess, I need to organize my desk), but I'll email you when I get things in order.


-Alexandra

[snowfox19.livejournal.com]

heh

I'm also on AIM right now and will be for next hour if you want to talk. Again sorry for this mess.