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So I think I'm going to change the way I do "commissions"...
13 years ago
General
With the combination of:
- Being slow
- Having a poor turn around
- "Underpricing" (so I've been told)
- Not knowing how to price my work
- Getting more joy out of making gift art instead of commissions
I feel like I should just do gift arts for everyone and occasionally take specific commissions. Instead of being "open" for mass commissions. If I see a character I like and I want to make a badge for you, I'm going to make you a badge without asking for anything in return. If you feel the need to want to pay me back, I will strictly take tips of any price in return for it, instead of making up a "commission price" sheet. If you think a badge I make you is worth two dollars, pay me two dollars. If you think a badge is worth twenty dollars, pay me twenty dollars! I'm not going to set a base price anymore.
My only worry about doing this is if I do get a note saying "Hey, I'd like to commission you for a badge", how would I manage that? While I think my idea is suiting for me and the way I work, I also don't want to be taken advantage of. I don't want to take time and effort into making a $20 worthy badge and get paid five bucks for it just because this is my new system.
When it comes to commission specific art, should I say "Okay. I don't have a price sheet, but this is around what I would normally charge for a badge like this. Pay what you feel is worthy of the piece, but please try to keep it fair"? Should I HAVE a price sheet for actual commissions and just aim for only tips everywhere else?
Does anyone have opinions or other ideas on this? I'd love feedback.
- Being slow
- Having a poor turn around
- "Underpricing" (so I've been told)
- Not knowing how to price my work
- Getting more joy out of making gift art instead of commissions
I feel like I should just do gift arts for everyone and occasionally take specific commissions. Instead of being "open" for mass commissions. If I see a character I like and I want to make a badge for you, I'm going to make you a badge without asking for anything in return. If you feel the need to want to pay me back, I will strictly take tips of any price in return for it, instead of making up a "commission price" sheet. If you think a badge I make you is worth two dollars, pay me two dollars. If you think a badge is worth twenty dollars, pay me twenty dollars! I'm not going to set a base price anymore.
My only worry about doing this is if I do get a note saying "Hey, I'd like to commission you for a badge", how would I manage that? While I think my idea is suiting for me and the way I work, I also don't want to be taken advantage of. I don't want to take time and effort into making a $20 worthy badge and get paid five bucks for it just because this is my new system.
When it comes to commission specific art, should I say "Okay. I don't have a price sheet, but this is around what I would normally charge for a badge like this. Pay what you feel is worthy of the piece, but please try to keep it fair"? Should I HAVE a price sheet for actual commissions and just aim for only tips everywhere else?
Does anyone have opinions or other ideas on this? I'd love feedback.
mixnmatch
~mixnmatch
well for specific commissions you could have like a base price and they can pay that or more?
Mordrude
~mordrude
This is exactly what I was going to say.
Eluned
~eluned
OP
I was kind of thinking that also, but if I said a piece was at least $10 worth and I mess something up and they think it's only $8 worth, should I still make them pay at least 10?
mixnmatch
~mixnmatch
hmm well if its a major mess up and something you cant fix if they wanna take a couple of dollars off i say go with that otherwise just keep it the normal price.
wowimlacey
~kipper0308
Usually it's safe to set your price based on how long it takes to complete the work. Think of it as a part time job, and even though you don't necessarily have to charge per hourly rate, keep in mind how much you want to make for the effort/time spent on a project!
Eluned
~eluned
OP
But sometimes I can power through a piece in a couple hours or a day, other times it might take a week or longer to get it out. :/ That's not fair, then..
wowimlacey
~kipper0308
Best to base it on an average, then! That way it IS. C:
