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In a pretty big bind... (╯︵╰,)
13 years ago
Commissions are currently OPEN! See below for more information.
Don't wait for the queue to shrink—the commission docket is rarely empty.I'll keep this short and sweet!
Okay, so rent is due in 8 days. I don't know if I mentioned this, but Cory lost his job of 9 years last month, and he worked really hard to get a new job — and he has been working that job for a week and he LOVES it, and it's going to be a great job, really. Better than the one he had. So that's great.
Problem is, I was having issues without my Cintiq and as you know, had to drop $300 to fix it (special thanks to cobalt-blue for helping me recoup a little of that, you don't know how much that meant to me). I was working very slowly, if at all, and so I have had a bit of a backlog and I'm only just starting to get through it. That means new commissions are a little ways away, and I don't expect anyone to jump right in with me until I've chewed through a few more of the ones on my list right now.
Our phones have been turned off and our internet is probably going to follow pretty quickly, which is going to make life pretty tough. That, though, I could deal with for a few weeks... but if we don't have rent, we're going to get evicted faster than you can say "what, already?"
I'm out of my ADD medication and to get it again will cost SO much money without insurance (we will have insurance again in 3 months--we lost it when Cory lost his job). So I'm working au naturel, I suppose. It's tough, but I think in a few weeks I'll be used to it if I need to be. I'm so used to it, though, that my energy levels have REALLY plummeted. But normal people do it every day, and I'm determined to do it, too.
But yeah. Rent. Rent is important. People have suggested I do some quick sketches for cash, but I honestly don't want any of my currently waiting clients to throw tridents at me for it (and I think they'd deserve to). But I sketch so slowly that I've been loathe to try it anyway.
And you might expect me to slop through my commission queue with little care for the results because I'm desperate, but I'm not lazy and I don't turn in crappy work if I can help it. That's just not a thing I'm ever going to be cool with, no matter how desperate I get. I will go sell newspapers by the highway before I do that. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
I honestly didn't want to post a journal like this, and I've been considering it for a week. I don't want to become one of those assholes who relies on FA friends every time things get rough. I try not to punch that card unless I'm desperate. But after a week of consideration, this counts.
So, if you'd like to commission me now, or just want to help me out, I'll leave this here and assure you I'm doing all I can to work in spite of the fact that I don't have my meds right now.
Okay, so rent is due in 8 days. I don't know if I mentioned this, but Cory lost his job of 9 years last month, and he worked really hard to get a new job — and he has been working that job for a week and he LOVES it, and it's going to be a great job, really. Better than the one he had. So that's great.
Problem is, I was having issues without my Cintiq and as you know, had to drop $300 to fix it (special thanks to cobalt-blue for helping me recoup a little of that, you don't know how much that meant to me). I was working very slowly, if at all, and so I have had a bit of a backlog and I'm only just starting to get through it. That means new commissions are a little ways away, and I don't expect anyone to jump right in with me until I've chewed through a few more of the ones on my list right now.
Our phones have been turned off and our internet is probably going to follow pretty quickly, which is going to make life pretty tough. That, though, I could deal with for a few weeks... but if we don't have rent, we're going to get evicted faster than you can say "what, already?"
I'm out of my ADD medication and to get it again will cost SO much money without insurance (we will have insurance again in 3 months--we lost it when Cory lost his job). So I'm working au naturel, I suppose. It's tough, but I think in a few weeks I'll be used to it if I need to be. I'm so used to it, though, that my energy levels have REALLY plummeted. But normal people do it every day, and I'm determined to do it, too.
But yeah. Rent. Rent is important. People have suggested I do some quick sketches for cash, but I honestly don't want any of my currently waiting clients to throw tridents at me for it (and I think they'd deserve to). But I sketch so slowly that I've been loathe to try it anyway.
And you might expect me to slop through my commission queue with little care for the results because I'm desperate, but I'm not lazy and I don't turn in crappy work if I can help it. That's just not a thing I'm ever going to be cool with, no matter how desperate I get. I will go sell newspapers by the highway before I do that. (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
I honestly didn't want to post a journal like this, and I've been considering it for a week. I don't want to become one of those assholes who relies on FA friends every time things get rough. I try not to punch that card unless I'm desperate. But after a week of consideration, this counts.
So, if you'd like to commission me now, or just want to help me out, I'll leave this here and assure you I'm doing all I can to work in spite of the fact that I don't have my meds right now.
★ Here's the Tip Jar! (donate, or ask for credit on a future piece!) ★
I'll pimp you on my journal tho to get the word out.
As for the Rent, i hope things pick up for ya, Just got a job offer myself after 4 years of unemployment
Regardless, I hope it works out.
GO FOR IT!!!!
Really! I don't mind waiting, I have nearly eternal patience, and if the matter is making it through with the rent, then I have no troubles waiting longer for my commissions.
Some things come first, and rent is one of the biggies. If you need to do quick sketches for cash, then please... I would like nothing better than to see a journal post today advertising that.
I can wait. I'm in no hurry, truly. Plus, I have no tridents. :)
And yes, one good thing to come out of that is that you might end up a faster sketcher. ;)
Setting up the servers for the reg system and a bunch of other things.
Setting up the computers for Reg, Con-Ops, Art show, etc, etc.
Barcode scanners for Art Show.
Building and configuring the network.
Getting the cameras to work with the EyeFi cards and upload pictures to put on staff and photo (fursuit) badges.
Setting up a camera system or otherwise getting a video feed from Theatre to Reg and Con-Ops.
The phone system we use.
Setting up, testing, fixing, packing up, and dragging all of this stuff to the con just to:
Set it up again! And then on Sunday I get to pack it all up again.
Also, alot of programming and other stuff to make all of this stuff work.
(the list is actually much longer than this, but I kinda dont want to ramble for too long)
And I do it all because I want everyone to enjoy themselves at the con, and help others out too.
(ps: I pay my rent before anything else, so Im never hard up for that, just having fun paying for all this stuff after having spent a week in Vegas at hacker con(s))
This is what people don't understand; these little drops in the bucket make a MASSIVE difference.
Just a few people here dropping as much as you did have already taken a giant chunk out of my deficit, and that has given me such positivity. It ALWAYS is much. ^___^ always.
Also, I'd consider talking to your landlord and explaining the situation. I knew it was a stretch to get this place in the first place and you had to do more than what should've been required...but it's not like Cory DOESN'T have a job. And you DO have income. Your landlord WILL be getting their rent.
What price were you thinking of for those commissions? Put your fears aside and do what us women do best, do what needs to be done.
Consider as well, posting the total amount you need for rent. A goal tends to help people a lot, especially if the amount collected goes up over time. Oddly enough when people see others contributing, they also feel like they should. Sociology is weird. >>
Okay. I'll do the sketch commissions. I'll make time. You (and a few others) have convinced me that it's just good practice besides, and I know I won't be just putting my queue by the wayside for three months while I jerk off doing whatever I want. I've never been that kind of person—my "docket guilt" has prevented it. But now I see that it's that very trait in me that I think my clients already know pretty well. An artist has to get better, and if it means dedicating an hour or two each day so that future clients get their actual work faster, you're right; it WOULD be irresponsible not to do it.
Thanks for the swift kick in the ass. ^____^ please never change, okay?
As for changing prices... I've been keeping my estimates at $10 an hour out of guilt over my slow turnaround time. But I don't know. I just already get enough inquiries that walk away at my current rate that I guess my fear of getting nothing but "no way!" has kept me from upping my prices again. I have hoped that I could simply shut up and learn to work faster to make up for it, but it hasn't happened yet.
I'd still like to try to learn to work faster rather than increase my fees again. People like my darling Azelyn crank out work twelve times as good as mine in half the time, and I just worry that upping my prices because I work slow would be selfish or lazy.. I keep hoping I'll just get better and faster if I try. If I knew what people valued in my work, I'd have a better idea of what to do.
I know some clients who tell me I'm good because I keep them posted or because I'm positive about change requests. I just wish that I could feel that was worthy of a price jack, but I don't... I just feel that's good business!
However, I might be weird, so please take what I say with a grain of salt. I apologize if I insult anyone here, but I have noticed that people (especially furries) seem to be cheap when it comes to artwork). While I'm not an artist myself, I remember how difficult it was for me to pick up the basics in the first couple of art classes I took (and, on a related note, how hard it was to learn how to paint miniatures). It's all gone now, though :P
If you're nervous about the rate, totally learn to do more with less time; also a challenge -- a HUGE challenge -- but one that'll pay off for you.
I hope what I sent helps.
Though yes, many furries are cheap...but you also need to understand they're coming from a point in life where they don't have much money. And, quite frankly, they tend to be too inexperienced to understand WHY artists charge as much as they do. (Life is expensive. Also it's a skill that's been worked on for years. )
Thanks for your reply -- I needed a bit of a nudge to help me remember. ;)
That said, having $100's in expendable income would be nice... >>;
Also: http://facedl.com/fvideo.php?f=aqau.....e-perfect-gift at $6.50
I will, however, start trying to learn to work faster, as well. Thanks to you both for helping me see that I've been kneecapping myself. @_@ I won't overdo it.
Good to hear you've decided to open up for sketches. I completely agree with the entire paragraph, you're entirely correct. :)
Welcome. XD I'd like to change...I kick other people in the ass better than I do myself. I'd like to get those even, haha.
Honestly, flat fee is better once you learn to work faster. If something you SHOULD charge $100 for only takes you 5, and you're charging honestly, then you're losing money. Granted, that's once you're so good that you're working very quickly. From what I've learned of talking to others and the glimpses I've got on my own, working quickly is achieved once you have your process down and can go through your steps very accurately. I don't think it would be either of those...fuck, look at what
I feel the same...but you could also flip that and say it's part of being a professional..and another part of being a professional is respecting yourself regarding valuing your time, and pricing yourself accordingly. If $20/hr seems like too much of a jump, start at $15 after you take care of this issue? Worst that happens is demand drops like a rock, and you don't have the income you need...which just means you found the point at which you need to price yourself for now. Maybe check out
I'm also willing to commission you, as well.
I made a donation to the tip jar. Hope that it will help you out. Also, I would like to see if you would be willing to draw my succubus Lady Watamaraka or her human persona, Tamara Blackwood. We can talk about offsite via email, but I've linked the ref sheets below.
Lady Watamaraka http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8570391 Tamara Blackwood http://www.furaffinity.net/view/8570492
You really should consider the sketches idea as a way to boost some extra income. Their timing wouldn't necessarily have to take priority over your already-paid commissioners. Just make sure the sketch commissioners understand you already have a lineup so returns won't be immediate.
I did consider just divvying up my day work hours into commissions vs. sketchy on-the-fly stuff. I just have never tried it yet, so I'm scared I won't do well. But I'd like to try it. Thank you for another vote of confidence! ;_;
As far as being scared, you'll never know until you try. It's worth a shot, and if it doesn't work out you can return to your current method.
it's not that much, but I hope it helps you a bit, could donate you a bit more money, just planning to go to Eurofurence next week and dont know how much money I will/have to spend for it.
I also hope that you can pay your rent and that everything will turn out well for you :)