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Reading the Fine Print
10 years ago
Halloween is coming and do you want to read something spooky scary?! It's called TOS!
When ordering commissions from your favorite artist I know a lot of us get excited about what we're going to get, what we want to be wearing and how it'll turn out. Unfortunately a lot of the time people get lost in all of the excitement that they forget to read the all the important stuff that comes with commissioning an artist. When you agree to commission someone you are also agreeing to their TOS. Terms of Service. While normally most of us can follow the rules and never have a problem with Artist's TOS, there are a few people who think they are above this requirement.
We all have to remember as soon as you agree to ordering a commission you are agreeing to be in a business contract with another person. Money for a service. If you do not agree with an artist's TOS it would be in your best interest not to commission them. Declaring that you have never read the TOS is not an excuse. It will only case stress for everyone involved.
All that being said, it's fine to talk to a artist about their TOS. If you have any questions I'm sure they would be happy to answer them for you. Just don't be rude about it. Remember artist are people too, they have feelings and view points just like everyone else. You have no right to ask them to change his or her terms to make it fit your needs. If they state that they don't want to draw porn, elephants or pink bow ties for money that is their prerogative. If in their terms they also declare there is a 2 month waiting period after your payment has been processed you commit to abiding by that rule. You can not pick and choose what works for you and what does not. You must fully understand and accept what their terms are. BUT REMEMBER! You have the right not to buy from them. You do not have to give away your money to someone you don't agree with. There are so many artist out there. Fine one who works for you. :)
Finally,
An artist does not write up a TOS to screw people over or point out what they will and will not draw to lesser groups or fetishes. These terms are provided to help and protect everyone involved in the commission process. Please read them and never agree to something you don't fully understand.
This is also why, if I don't intend to put a crap ton of detail in my ideas, I will always say that the artist has free range with whatever pic they're doing for me. Surprise me, ya know?
Oh, and it isn't going to kill people to have some patience. No, seriously, I can fully say that with confidence, because on more than one occasion, I've waited Months on end for pics to be done. And at peast once, a year and a half! Sure, I might ask if there's any updates, but I still get that it'll take awhile.
I've gotten impatient myself though, but I still dealt with it and waited. Clearly seeing as I'm still posting, it didn't kill me.
Although I don't do commission work I have done free requests and such in the past. There was only one individual who requested something beyond my TOS to which we very easily and kindly sorted it out. While it may not have happened to me, I can quite easily see how irritating this issue can be. It's not right to have to shoehorn in exceptions for specific people. And you're right, artists aren't making TOS to make lives miserable. Personally I just don't like drawing anything pornographic or suggestive. It's not that I want to ruin anyone's day, dreams, or artistic freedoms... it's that I have guidelines I like to work by and I frankly don't feel comfortable drawing that stuff.
The sad thing is when you get it as bad as what it appears
It sucks that this stuff happens because it's not a majority of people who offend. It's a minority with a voice. It's a small amount of people who are able to vocalize better than the people who do good. They know how to twist people, to make them bend over backwards. They have the blackmail, the friends, or even just the voice in general. It's not just chalking it up to the artist being too kind to negotiate it to fit their TOS, it's far beyond that.
And frankly, excuse me for going on a slight rant here, but the mindset of "I paid for it I deserve it the way I want it" is disgusting. It's a selfish mindset that has only dug society into a hole. I've seen it far too many times to just let it slide. Sure, when you pay for something you expect a service in return. However just because you paid any amount doesn't mean you have the right to force people to do your will. People are too quick to think they're entitled to something these days. And I seriously am getting so sick of it.
Gah, sorry! Got a bit carried away. ^^;
We all need to be carefull with those kind of clients from hell.. some of them can be identify before acepting their commissions. Some of them, indeed, don't read our TOS. u.u