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How To (Not) Pitch Your Commission Idea - With Examples
4 years ago
General
--> My T.O.S. <--
Thought this might be an interesting read. I've taken commissions from all kinds of folks for about 10 years now
and here's something of a little guide on how to raise your chances to get a slot and how to pitch your ideas more precisely,
since giving the artist a good image from the get go is very, very important imo~
The examples here are ones that I've been receiving from you guys, but I'll be hiding the names and all, just the pitch is important here.
#1) --> https://puu.sh/IokkZ/0671d68af2.png
Short but precise is what I always wanna see and you get a good image in your head just from reading those two lines (+refs)
Though it would have even been more crisp with facial expressions and the angle stated, could have been from the side or the front.
It may sound nitpicky, but it prevents me having to redo a WIP because important info may have slipped your mind.
#2) --> https://puu.sh/Iokp3/b0376eab12.png ( ref half cut off )
Too vague. Unless the artist is really into the idea/character/setting, they will just move on to the next guy's idea that they can already picture.
#3) --> https://puu.sh/IokrW/bede5c7020.png
Also too vague, plus always remember reading through what the artist offers carefully since I for example always mention "no or simple backgrounds".
Like, more often that not, I personally add backgrounds on my own volition, always check what other artists offer cause we all do our own thing.
#4) --> https://puu.sh/IoktR/83ec0e712e.png
This is a weird one cause, while reading this, I have like no idea what is even being talked about. "Something like that old pic" is extremely vague and
rings no bells for me at all, same with "like that char you made on patreon." I have no precise references here to work with. Since I cannot remotely picture
this one, I have also no idea where Schwarzpelz would fit into any of this, so... pitches like these are ususally a hard skip for me.
#5) --> https://puu.sh/IokEB/98b5542384.png
'Tis a special one. I remember taking this one, but even though it said "freedom for the exact composition" I ended up having to redraw the smaller character
like 3 or 4 times because I couldn't nail the exact position they had hoped for. Still thinking about that one from time to time x3
It's not.... thaaat big of a deal? But it made me remember that "you have a lot of freedom here" is generally to be taken with a grain of salt.
Just don't say it if it's not true is my point x3
#6) --> https://puu.sh/IokLG/ae51e07f61.png
This one just looked funny with the triple post x3 Also incredibly vague.
This falls into the category of "Artist, here is like.. half the idea and half the characters.. decide on the other half on your own" x3 Hard pass
#7) --> https://puu.sh/IokOj/a756ab8f33.png
A... borderline too long one, but still ok. But believe me, scrolling down and being hit with two of those at once can be a bit much at times x3
This is also a good example of an idea that could have been explained with less words, like I get what you want, but it all sounds quite a bit convoluted.
Also you don't have to post 7 different links for refs x3;
#8) --> https://puu.sh/IokTV/dd49234783.png
A completely fine way to present your idea for a change. Not too short, not too long, only the necessary refs, you immediately know what they wanna see.
That I never picked it just comes down to preference, but I'm sure 10/10 artists would be completely fine with how this was pitched.
#9) --> https://puu.sh/Iol1t/5df8c211b4.png
I'm really sorry you took the time to write all that, but I really don't wanna read it x3 It's too long, there's no way you couldn't have gotten your idea across
with much less words. Also there is a bunch of stuff in there that doesn't really have anything to do with the picture, I think? I... I don't know, still haven't read it all.
#10) --> Burger King Foot Lettuce ...... Wait, what?
#11) --> https://puu.sh/Iol46/4f9712c5d0.png
Don't. Make. The. Artist. Choose. Your. Characters x3
I can't be the only one who gets upset with these x3
#12) --> https://puu.sh/Iol6y/4a83b9db22.png
Working on this one at this very moment. In fact I'm half writing this journal just to postpone it a bit x3
Is this like a... 2 panel idea? Like a main pic and a small throat bulge? Cause it sounds like that to me but I wanna be suuuuuuuure.
Just tell me please x3
And no you can't just say "Well just send a note and ask"! ....I mean, you can.... and I could... but as an artist, at least me, you have these moments where you just wanna
start RIGHT NOW. Imagine me having to wait till morning for a reply, what am I gonna do with the rest of the evening? No time to ask, just gotta doodle and hope I'm
correct with my intuition, which most of the time I am but what if I'm not?! D8
Aaannd that's it.
Spiraled a bit into madness there at the end, buuuut yeah I gotta start that picture now x3
Anyway, really hope this helped at least one person out there or made some of you go "oh" at least.
Just remember to be precise and formulate your ideas without "unnecessary fluff".
But at the same time, if you see your own messages here or you recognized that you fall into one of these categories: No hard feelings, these are
just friendly suggestions and no matter how you pitch your idea, the artist will always be happy that there was someone out there interested in getting a picture.
And even if you repeatedly can't seem to get on the final list, even though you feel your messages are always proper and follow all the regulations, that's just...
unfortunate, nothing personal, just bad luck. But thanks for taking the time and consideration to make the artists' lives easier by having your message easy to
understand and digest ( No we don't do digestion in this gallery)
Anyway, thanks for reading
and here's something of a little guide on how to raise your chances to get a slot and how to pitch your ideas more precisely,
since giving the artist a good image from the get go is very, very important imo~
The examples here are ones that I've been receiving from you guys, but I'll be hiding the names and all, just the pitch is important here.
#1) --> https://puu.sh/IokkZ/0671d68af2.png
Short but precise is what I always wanna see and you get a good image in your head just from reading those two lines (+refs)
Though it would have even been more crisp with facial expressions and the angle stated, could have been from the side or the front.
It may sound nitpicky, but it prevents me having to redo a WIP because important info may have slipped your mind.
#2) --> https://puu.sh/Iokp3/b0376eab12.png ( ref half cut off )
Too vague. Unless the artist is really into the idea/character/setting, they will just move on to the next guy's idea that they can already picture.
#3) --> https://puu.sh/IokrW/bede5c7020.png
Also too vague, plus always remember reading through what the artist offers carefully since I for example always mention "no or simple backgrounds".
Like, more often that not, I personally add backgrounds on my own volition, always check what other artists offer cause we all do our own thing.
#4) --> https://puu.sh/IoktR/83ec0e712e.png
This is a weird one cause, while reading this, I have like no idea what is even being talked about. "Something like that old pic" is extremely vague and
rings no bells for me at all, same with "like that char you made on patreon." I have no precise references here to work with. Since I cannot remotely picture
this one, I have also no idea where Schwarzpelz would fit into any of this, so... pitches like these are ususally a hard skip for me.
#5) --> https://puu.sh/IokEB/98b5542384.png
'Tis a special one. I remember taking this one, but even though it said "freedom for the exact composition" I ended up having to redraw the smaller character
like 3 or 4 times because I couldn't nail the exact position they had hoped for. Still thinking about that one from time to time x3
It's not.... thaaat big of a deal? But it made me remember that "you have a lot of freedom here" is generally to be taken with a grain of salt.
Just don't say it if it's not true is my point x3
#6) --> https://puu.sh/IokLG/ae51e07f61.png
This one just looked funny with the triple post x3 Also incredibly vague.
This falls into the category of "Artist, here is like.. half the idea and half the characters.. decide on the other half on your own" x3 Hard pass
#7) --> https://puu.sh/IokOj/a756ab8f33.png
A... borderline too long one, but still ok. But believe me, scrolling down and being hit with two of those at once can be a bit much at times x3
This is also a good example of an idea that could have been explained with less words, like I get what you want, but it all sounds quite a bit convoluted.
Also you don't have to post 7 different links for refs x3;
#8) --> https://puu.sh/IokTV/dd49234783.png
A completely fine way to present your idea for a change. Not too short, not too long, only the necessary refs, you immediately know what they wanna see.
That I never picked it just comes down to preference, but I'm sure 10/10 artists would be completely fine with how this was pitched.
#9) --> https://puu.sh/Iol1t/5df8c211b4.png
I'm really sorry you took the time to write all that, but I really don't wanna read it x3 It's too long, there's no way you couldn't have gotten your idea across
with much less words. Also there is a bunch of stuff in there that doesn't really have anything to do with the picture, I think? I... I don't know, still haven't read it all.
#10) --> Burger King Foot Lettuce ...... Wait, what?
#11) --> https://puu.sh/Iol46/4f9712c5d0.png
Don't. Make. The. Artist. Choose. Your. Characters x3
I can't be the only one who gets upset with these x3
#12) --> https://puu.sh/Iol6y/4a83b9db22.png
Working on this one at this very moment. In fact I'm half writing this journal just to postpone it a bit x3
Is this like a... 2 panel idea? Like a main pic and a small throat bulge? Cause it sounds like that to me but I wanna be suuuuuuuure.
Just tell me please x3
And no you can't just say "Well just send a note and ask"! ....I mean, you can.... and I could... but as an artist, at least me, you have these moments where you just wanna
start RIGHT NOW. Imagine me having to wait till morning for a reply, what am I gonna do with the rest of the evening? No time to ask, just gotta doodle and hope I'm
correct with my intuition, which most of the time I am but what if I'm not?! D8
Aaannd that's it.
Spiraled a bit into madness there at the end, buuuut yeah I gotta start that picture now x3
Anyway, really hope this helped at least one person out there or made some of you go "oh" at least.
Just remember to be precise and formulate your ideas without "unnecessary fluff".
But at the same time, if you see your own messages here or you recognized that you fall into one of these categories: No hard feelings, these are
just friendly suggestions and no matter how you pitch your idea, the artist will always be happy that there was someone out there interested in getting a picture.
And even if you repeatedly can't seem to get on the final list, even though you feel your messages are always proper and follow all the regulations, that's just...
unfortunate, nothing personal, just bad luck. But thanks for taking the time and consideration to make the artists' lives easier by having your message easy to
understand and digest ( No we don't do digestion in this gallery)
Anyway, thanks for reading
complete artistic freedom, noice!
It was a paragraph longer due to passing on a message from a friend who didn't have an account. Not sure if it would have still been too long without it.
I got like 20 journal comments and 15 notes and that one was the most intimidating just from its length x3
But I guess it was probably for the best, I ended up getting commissions from other people and wouldn't have been able to afford all of them plus you all at once.
Next time though
Guess it stems from me being a writer who can't draw at all, and gets these pictures in my head of a Good Idea to get illustrated. A picture's worth 1,000 words, and sometimes I may take that too literally. : p
I'll keep this in mind should we happily cross paths on the commission front one day! To favor succinctness overall.
So now I try to get as much detail out and it still bites me in the butt
I learned an important lesson about this sort of thing long ago, in a discussion about visual design. Someone showed an example of these crappy ten-second stick figure sketches their boss would send to the graphic design team as guidelines for the layout they wanted, and said he could only imagine how depressed the company artists got when they saw those... Then a professional graphic designer replied he would have absolutely loved to have more clients make it that clear what they were picturing for a scene. "It gives a solid idea of the intended picture without being cripplingly restrictive, I would have prayed for directions this simple."
You'll appreciate this: https://64.media.tumblr.com/8fb81a6.....no1_r1_500.jpg
And I agree on that story, but with both sides kinda, on some days I'm ok with vague directions that give you a lot of freedom but the way I'm doing commissions right now, I always wanna start the conversation with a WIP already doodled, like my first message to someone will always already include a WIP to get things moving quicker, so a precise pitch just helps a lot with that x3
About the meme and the case you're showing I have a different argument to reply.
Considering the following facts
- a work's a work, it must be taken as serious as possible, especially when it's payed
- health is a first necessity if compared with art, a personal benefit.
I'd say that your case is kinda specific. A freelancer certificated artist is different from a hobbyist. The first is seldom, if not always, hired and bonded to a contract which can be held in a trial in case of fail. The second is a worker free of said bond which could be insulted and shamed in the worst case scenario.
Now I don't know if there's an official professional register for artists in Germany or elsewhere, but as far as the profession is not regulated those professionals will not risk to be subjected to any restriction nor radiation (a mandatory decrete where you're forbidden to practice). Which is kinda tricky for both consumers and professionist.
All said above [b]I'm not aiming[\b] to say Snowball above and other free artist are not free to put up their rules about their work šš
On the other hand, I personally would encourage to set up a public national register for artists in many countries. It's a good way to safeguard the interests of the artist and the clients at the same time.
Well, I agree on number 11. Bcs, well like Razim said :3
Haha, this is very insightful, thank you!
You're their favourite artist and have big respects on you...
For than find their comment below this list, without receiving any pm explaining what's wrong with it and fix it, respecting who were faster.. Like who follows you are just numbers
I'm sorry for that friend, for how much supported you.. Didn't deserved this treatment, people have to remember are talking to people and not bots..
(Now you can block me if you want, it's enough you read it)
1. Why does this guy need to hide behind you and not say anything to me personally?
2. Patreon-Favoritism does not exist. You are not paying people for a higher chance to get a commission, that's not what my patreon is for.
3. Do you think I will send back PMs to every single person explaining why their idea pitch was a mess? Get real.
4. How fu**ing dare you imply that I treat people like bots and numbers. If I did, I would have just blocked you like your emo comment demanded.
2. Sure.. As you said;
3. The fastest ones yes, you could, i don't think your plan was to comms. 50 people at once;
4. You just did with this journal man :/
(English is not my first language either, i do what i can)
4. In what sense? Me trying to teach people how to pitch their ideas better is the opposite of treating people as bots, it's treating people as people who make mistakes and can improve on them. You can not just say "yes you did" and just believe that statement becomes real through magic, you need to actually make a point.
4. It's an Excuse to justify and hide why some people were not chosen, not necessarely by how they writes
(At works at the moment, may answer later if you want to proceed)
First you say yourself "I don't think your plan was to comms. 50 people at once" and then you cry on about me having to cut 40 ideas to not go over the 10 commission slots, one of which was the guy you're talking about, whoever that is.
And it's not an excuse, I have a completely different journal going into detail how I chose slots, by own preference, by how well you pitch your idea and by mixing new commissioners with old ones. Stop spreading lies about people you don't even know.
You are also blocked now by the way.
Seriously though, this has been my first year doing commissions online (out of necessity) and i have to say, what i have found is that most of the ones you call 'vague' are actually people who are just happy to get a picture from the artist and happy to leave it open to their interpretation too, thus giving we artists more creative freedom and joy in our work. They aren't after a precise product, they just want the joy of owning a commissioned piece from their fav artists and showing it off.
And some just want to help support you and are more interested in helping than getting a precise pic.
I do the best with what is offered as far as detail goes. As the artist, i assume its my role to be imaginative and do the majority of creative thinking. Although sometimes a 'little' extra detail does help inspire, usually i will ask for it if i'm unsure. ;p
XD honestly i hate the commissioners who give an overly detailed and exact plan in the form of a text wall. You just know they are gonna be difficult if the slightest thing is out of place. Plus, it forces you into a corner where you HAVE to follow an exact plan that is just soul destroying at times, especially when you're not in the mood to draw it 2 weeks later when the calendar slot comes.
I would say keep it basic and simple:
1) Have a basic idea description. example; ''draw bob in a pair of speedos with a giant sally dunking him in a pie''. (lol)
2) Give at least one reference picture of each character. (preferably most recent look and full body). If you don't have a reference pic, then say so and most artists will happily discuss your preferred appearance. (again reference pics for looks and details often make life easier than trying to describe).
3) And remember be open to a little leeway and creative freedom on the artists part. If there is anything we are unsure of, we will ask. (Don't leave us hanging on a response for days! XD )
If the artist suddenly gets a case of 'brain fart' and they can't visualize the idea when its offered, anything the artist is unsure of can always be asked and discussed in further detail afterwards.
examples; what kind of pie? Any preference on poses or expressions or can i do whatever inspiration depicts?
There's no sense in overwhelming an artist off the bat with too many restrictions and details, nor shunning potential clients for a lack of detail. Clients should be open to interpretation, Artists should be patient and BOTH should be open to queries.
And remember...
Artists aren't robots that need programming, nor are they gods lording above.
And clients aren't sewer rats, nor are they here to impress a teacher with a detailed essay.
Gotta learn to meet each other half way and be respectful during the creative process.
Art is supposed to be fun! Creating, making, viewing, collecting and buying, just enjoy it! Woo!