why pick and choose your ideas? instead of first come first serve or do drawings for slots. that way everyone has a fair chance.

why not*

That has been talked about but I don't know if I'm in a position to pick and choose, hah. Mostly for money reasons and I don't like leaving people out.

Whatever method you use to do it, someone will not get a slot and complain :x

The method you are using right now seems fine to me. Saying that you do so and so many slots and then first comes first serves.

You could be like that a person who got a slot the last time will not get another one, so others get a chance.

That is an option, people having already got one have to wait a few days or a week till they get another one

Only thing I see is any fur keep taking more than 1 slot and it wouldn't be fair for anyone who wanted to commission ya only to see some furs taking 3 or 5 slots.

Aye, I've tried to cut back on that happening

FCFS really does favor those who have a lot of free time to hang out on FA. Also when you factor in time zones and work schedules, it means that if you tend to offer commissions around the same time, then the same people will (or won't) be able to commission you.

How about just a simple raffle? Accept maybe 50 raffle slots and then just randomly pick 5 using random.org. That seems fair.

That is an interesting idea. It certainly gives everyone a chance.

I always seem to be at work when you're taking commissions. Luck of the draw, I guess.

Have you ever thought of making a commission form? One like these:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet.....NNZVE6MQ#gid=0

or

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet.....RKOEE6MQ#gid=0

You can still make a journal about taking commissions and also decide on how many you will take or at least take commissions in a commission period of a set duration. <=3

I don't think there's a problem with your current set up but maybe take more in each batch. You seem to get through them soo fast why not take a weeks worth or more? I think a lot of people (Me Included) are happy to wait at LEAST that long. I've been waiting over a month on a few. Plus the one slot per person rule sounds good. Maybe add a caveat of if the slots aren't full after 48 hours you can have more than one slot?

why not keep a commission journal open for a certain amount of time and then use a random list thing like this? http://www.random.org/lists/

that way it's luck and not guaranteed for those who happen to catch the first sight of the journal

Was going to suggest exactly this, where you'd open the journal and set a cut off time where afterwards you won't take any more names, then pick at random.

Because really, it's nearly impossible to commission you unless you have magic timing since the slots are always instantly taken XD

and usually it's the same people who get the spots

It is nice that you worry about the people that miss out, even if you don't need to ; )

I had noticed a trend of your taking commissions, and those slots filling up in the half hour that Iam taking a shower most mornings, like the last three times, heh. I think first come first serve is just about as fair as anything, though may be offer half the slots at one time of the day, and offer the other half on the opposite end? May be give people who are not on at one point another shot later in theday.

But really, it's all up to you, and may be I will be on time one of these days ^_^

I say and agree with using the random picking, but with a light stipulation. Those that you've picked before have to let others get a shot at them. That or you could always let people grab a spot before hand like you let me do that one time. Though when it comes time to do the commissions and they don't have the money then at that time. They have to give up said spot to someone else that does.

I think having a journal open long, and using a random number generator would be fairest, so timezone trouble and such isn't an issue.
Doesn't mean everyone will be happy, but no solution will do that.

I think it's nice for you too. I mean, as an artist, it's nice to have more than strictly needed. Sometimes you see something someone wants to commission, and think you can do one extra if you really like it. Here you only see the three fastest folks, who have to decide fast on taking a slot or risk losing it, so may not have thought as much about what they want?

I dunno, but don't see any major problem with the random method. Not rewarding speed and constant FA presence I don't think is one.

i have no complaint it is a first come first serve. i have missed many. but i keep watch for when the next one is open so i can try and get one. i say do it how you want to do it.

How about a set list that works by time, and not taking repeat customers for a small but substantial amount of time until the next or so list? I'd absolutely love to commission you, but the moment i -see- your journal come up, its absolutely full!

Randomness combined with a very temporary disbarment of one or some rounds' winners to give some other people a chance also seems like it would work well, like a raffle, like some have mentioned.

Gotta do what works best for you. If there's a limit to the number of commissions you can or are willing to do, and demand exceeds that supply, there's always gonna be someone who feels left out or jilted because they didn't get a slot.

A few ideas have already been bounced around; the ones I would consider:

1) Opening FCFS slots like you do, but vary the day and time of day you offer them, to try to cover people with various work schedules or in different time zones.

2) You could announce those FCFS slots ahead of time ... Like, "Tonight at 7pm EST, I'll be taking on five commission slots." So folks can plan for it.

3) You could make a randomized raffle, where you take names and then randomly pick the X number of them that you have time to do.

You could even vary between these methods, to give people under different circumstances different chances ... An unannounced FCFS this week, a raffle next week, a pre-announced FCFS the week after that. Or you could combine ideas: You'll take the first three requests FCFS, and then randomly select two more from the remaining requests, something like that.

But if your goal is to make everyone happy, unless you're willing and have time to do every single request that comes in ... sadly, someone will always be left out.

Many things to think about, heh.

Maybe make it so people can't do multiple slots Nor can they commission you back to back. Or perhaps limit people to once a week for their slot for people that like to commission you a lot.

I would agree with Cooner on his points. When your open I can't get to them as they are during the times I'm at work and well can't really access FA for reasons that should't be on at work reasons. lol

So 2 and 3 are the best ones I think. Random raffle seems pretty fair to me. Open a journal then close it a day later, then choose from that.

Later in the day so I can actually catch them. T_T I always catch the journals 3-5 hours after they're closed.

No matter your method, there will always be someone complaining. I'd say your slot system was fine, but it could do with varying the times of day you'd open them, catch more people that way. Or open up an auction or two for those who are determined to get some.

yeah, i was planning on asking for a commission, but everytime i go online, i only see journals form you saying "commissions closed/full" and stuff like that. Maybe its the time difference.

Best thing to do is to randomize your openings. You always open commissions during late morning.

Only thing I can think of is changing up the time and maybe giving a bit of a notice that you will be opening. That or just take a large group and use a random number generator and raffle spots. No matter what you do, you'll probably still get people who will complain.

I haven't had a lot of problems with the way you've been doing things. I tend to prefer your sketches over your colored work (but mostly 'cause I'm a cheapass :p) so I wouldn't mind seein' more of those over your colored work (which in turn means more slots to give more folks). I'd say something like "set a strict specific time" to open things, but this leads to people (including myself) watching for your journals 'n F5-ing like hawks. :p

One thing I have noticed (not naming names or anything) is how sometimes someone will show up on the list practically right when you post the journal, without even posting a comment. That'd lead me to believe that they'd talked to you previously and were guaranteed a slot already. I wouldn't see this as a problem except when the same person has shown up first in line on numerous occasions.

I understand if you've made friends and feel like doing nice things for them. But if you're going to promise a friend a slot ahead of time, why even include that in the listings? Just leave that private and take your normal slots anyway. Or take one less than you would normally and tack theirs onto your workload. If one of your slots is already pre-filled, it's unfair to the rest of your commissioners, not to mention it looks more like favoritism, even if it's not.

Other than that, I'd agree on limiting how many slots one can have in a given period of time, but wouldn't make it as restrictive as one commission per week or something. Allow for two or so slots within a given time period, because sometimes you just want more than one thing drawn. Helps cut down on commissioners who frequently nab slots before others can, while not penalizing them too harshly for wanting to throw money at you.

The other thing I've noticed is that things do tend to slow down after you've done the same thing long enough. Usually those who want in on something get what they want and shuffle off, allowing for more varied commissioners as time goes by. If you begin to vary your times at this point, you'll gain a larger breadth of possible clients, probably allowing for faster commissions as well. I'd say start off around the times you've been doing it, then when it slows begin to change.

Hah, I figured someone would call me out on this eventually.

A few of those were from being contacted by notes when I opened instead of commenting on the journals though.

Many things to think about, thanks for commenting

Honestly I figured some of them were, not all. Basically one person. I mean, far from it for me to tell you to turn your back on a steady source of income (because that's retarded, artists kill for that), but if I were in the same position, I'd take an extra to balance out the odds.

Do it auction style... take advantage of all the interest!

Perhaps...One thing I won't ever do though is that " your character here " thing. It's like, " I totally started to draw this picture for myself...but wait...how do I make money off this..."

Yeah, those are awful and I get the same impression. Also "adoptables."

Mix it up, I'd say. Do a random slot draw one time, a first-come-first-serve draw another time. Can also do commissions on a theme sometime or stuff.

Easy: decide what kinds of commissions are available (i.e. sketch, full color, badge, etc.), decide on your prices, and bam, there you have it.
Personally I only have a few open slots at a time because for some reason people ask for one when school starts up again. XD
As far as payment, that's up to you. Take a portion of the price as a down payment and collect the rest at completion, take it all when you're done the piece and take your time with it, whichever. I always give my commissioners fair warning that I don't accept payment until it's done and how long it will probably take. If it's longer than that I make sure to message people on time. This may change after I graduate college in 5 months, but it works out (sometimes to my disappointment when I have to choose school over finishing the commission on time).
It also kinda helps that everyone who has asked for one has been understanding of my schoolwork and have been the most patient people in the world with me. ^^;;;;;

I like the random slot draw idea. I think that would be fair