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Commission Woes
Hey guys, long time no see! I haven't had much computer access for a while, because, well-simply put, I don't have a family anymore. Got kicked out and disowned after an argument with my mother that she started over wanting me to bake a cheesecake for her (no, really) so...yeah. I'm staying with my boyfriend and his family for now, until I can get a job and he gets steady enough employment for us to get a place together. But his mom's letting me use an extra laptop they have for now, so yeah. Could be a lot worse.
Anyway, some of you probably know about me being an artist, and the major hit that My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic has been. Well, I make these little trotting or flying icons of ponies (pixel art being all I can do without a drawing tablet, sketchbook or scanner) and I take cheap commissions for the time and effort it takes to do them. Namely, five bucks a pop, even for more complex ones. Nothing wrong with that, right? It gets me a little (note: VERY little) toward food, clothes and other things I need since all I own in the world right now is what clothes I could fit in an old canvas laundry bag, and I'm making things that make other people happy, for cheaper than pretty much anyone else will.
The process of ordering one is extremely simple: On my gallery's front page, I have a little box that has my commission info in it. You just note or comment me telling me what you want, pay for it, and I post it for you. I'll even adjust the sizing and all for you if you want. Prices are right there for all to see. Simple, right? Evidently, not so much.
There are a few problems that seem to constantly crop up.
Ex. 1: So-and-so asks the price repeatedly as if hoping it'll magically go lower. It won't.
Ex. 2: They want one, but have no money, so can they do an art trade instead? Oh, I know you specifically stated multiple times that it's cash payment only, you aren't doing art trades right now, but I'm really really good at drawing (usually this is said by someone with a gallery of stick figures, sloppily edited photos or screenshots with the colors changed) and won't you pleeeease make an exception? Uh, no. No, I won't. Like they taught in kindergarten, if you do it for one person, you have to do it for everyone to be fair.
Ex. 3: Oh, I want one so much, but I have no money so can I have one for free? I promise I'll tell other people about you/I really really want one. GAH. I had one person note me back with " *sigh* i guess i wont get teh pony ive alwys wnted thn" Um...yeah...you won't. Acting like poor deprived little me isn't going to make me feel sorry for you and make a free one. The only people I do occasional freebies for are close friends of mine who I've been friends with for years.
Ex. 4: Oh yeah I'll totally pay for it, but can you post it first? I want to see it before I pay for it! I know you said payment in advance, but can't you pleeease make an exception? (Now, this isn't totally unreasonable-you don't want to pay for a load of suck, naturally-but they can see previous examples of my work, know what I'm capable of, and before I even take on the task of making their icon I tell them that I take payment in advance, no exceptions. I make the thing, tell them when it's ready, they pay for it, and I post it. I do this because I've posted my half of something before ((art trade in this case, was a long time ago)) and been skimped on, and unlike other services that can just not provide whatever it is they said they would, or take it away if they're not paid, once I post the thing I pretty much have to keep it up, or the individual who didn't pay for it may just download it the instant I post it, and if I take it down they can just post it themselves, claim they made it and I will have no real proof to the contrary since I'd have to repost it and my post date would thus be later than theirs, so as a precaution I always take payment first.)
And one of the biggest pains, Ms. Self-righteous Hypocrite. Namely, a particular user who got on both my pages (moved galleries due to a stalking problem that had nothing to do with them) and accused me of art theft and illegal profits yadda yadda, saying that I had no right to profit off of the subject matter I was using, how dare I, the creators didn't make it so I could make money off of it-while charging out the nose for Sonic related commissions. Needless to say she shut up after I and one of my friends pointed out the hypocrisy to her.
GAH. Some people make me want to ditch art galleries and such altogether sometimes. It's just a headache. Anyone else have to deal with people like that?
[Edit] To miss Tia, thank you so much! I'd be happy to make some of the trotters/dashers/gryphons for you if you'd like.
[EDIT 2] Miss Clarissa Helps, to contact me you can either use themuffinknight@hotmail.com, message me here or comment/note me on my deviantart account which I'd be happy to give you!
Anyway, some of you probably know about me being an artist, and the major hit that My Little Pony; Friendship is Magic has been. Well, I make these little trotting or flying icons of ponies (pixel art being all I can do without a drawing tablet, sketchbook or scanner) and I take cheap commissions for the time and effort it takes to do them. Namely, five bucks a pop, even for more complex ones. Nothing wrong with that, right? It gets me a little (note: VERY little) toward food, clothes and other things I need since all I own in the world right now is what clothes I could fit in an old canvas laundry bag, and I'm making things that make other people happy, for cheaper than pretty much anyone else will.
The process of ordering one is extremely simple: On my gallery's front page, I have a little box that has my commission info in it. You just note or comment me telling me what you want, pay for it, and I post it for you. I'll even adjust the sizing and all for you if you want. Prices are right there for all to see. Simple, right? Evidently, not so much.
There are a few problems that seem to constantly crop up.
Ex. 1: So-and-so asks the price repeatedly as if hoping it'll magically go lower. It won't.
Ex. 2: They want one, but have no money, so can they do an art trade instead? Oh, I know you specifically stated multiple times that it's cash payment only, you aren't doing art trades right now, but I'm really really good at drawing (usually this is said by someone with a gallery of stick figures, sloppily edited photos or screenshots with the colors changed) and won't you pleeeease make an exception? Uh, no. No, I won't. Like they taught in kindergarten, if you do it for one person, you have to do it for everyone to be fair.
Ex. 3: Oh, I want one so much, but I have no money so can I have one for free? I promise I'll tell other people about you/I really really want one. GAH. I had one person note me back with " *sigh* i guess i wont get teh pony ive alwys wnted thn" Um...yeah...you won't. Acting like poor deprived little me isn't going to make me feel sorry for you and make a free one. The only people I do occasional freebies for are close friends of mine who I've been friends with for years.
Ex. 4: Oh yeah I'll totally pay for it, but can you post it first? I want to see it before I pay for it! I know you said payment in advance, but can't you pleeease make an exception? (Now, this isn't totally unreasonable-you don't want to pay for a load of suck, naturally-but they can see previous examples of my work, know what I'm capable of, and before I even take on the task of making their icon I tell them that I take payment in advance, no exceptions. I make the thing, tell them when it's ready, they pay for it, and I post it. I do this because I've posted my half of something before ((art trade in this case, was a long time ago)) and been skimped on, and unlike other services that can just not provide whatever it is they said they would, or take it away if they're not paid, once I post the thing I pretty much have to keep it up, or the individual who didn't pay for it may just download it the instant I post it, and if I take it down they can just post it themselves, claim they made it and I will have no real proof to the contrary since I'd have to repost it and my post date would thus be later than theirs, so as a precaution I always take payment first.)
And one of the biggest pains, Ms. Self-righteous Hypocrite. Namely, a particular user who got on both my pages (moved galleries due to a stalking problem that had nothing to do with them) and accused me of art theft and illegal profits yadda yadda, saying that I had no right to profit off of the subject matter I was using, how dare I, the creators didn't make it so I could make money off of it-while charging out the nose for Sonic related commissions. Needless to say she shut up after I and one of my friends pointed out the hypocrisy to her.
GAH. Some people make me want to ditch art galleries and such altogether sometimes. It's just a headache. Anyone else have to deal with people like that?
[Edit] To miss Tia, thank you so much! I'd be happy to make some of the trotters/dashers/gryphons for you if you'd like.
[EDIT 2] Miss Clarissa Helps, to contact me you can either use themuffinknight@hotmail.com, message me here or comment/note me on my deviantart account which I'd be happy to give you!
If people are haggling with you over a $5 for a pony graphic though, part of me would be tempted to tell them, "what's more important to you for $5? Putting food on the artist's table and supporting them, or having a neat-o graphic that you can tell everyone belongs to you?"
That's when I learned, money first.
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