Ideal terms for a commission: Thoughts?

[Mr.Fantastic]

Originally Posted by Gerry Turnbull

John Byrne only takes money when work is completed and your happy with it.
Paul Smith doesnt take money till work is done and your happy with it

thats who it was Paul Smith.

[3tdanger]

Originally Posted by punisher129

For me it would go like this:
1)Client & artist discuss concept, price & time frame
2) Half the total fee upfront
3) Artist sends the client a scan of prelim
4) Client suggests changes or oks prelim
5)A scan of the final piece is sent to client
6)If clients is happy, final payment is made. If not happy changes are made.
7)Client gets artwork, artist gets money

End of story


---PUNISHER KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE---

I agree that's the way it should work in a perfect world. When there is an offer & acceptance by both parties, it is a binding legal contract. However, I know a couple of "big name" artists who I've commissioned from who have no regards for deadlines. They don't answer emails regarding the status or a refund. When it's all said & done, your only recourse it to threaten legal action for a breach of contract.

[risingstar]

Being up front is all I ask. Let's agree to terms and stick to it. No rise in price midway through, no ignoring of e-mails, no breaking of promises, no offering of one thing then changing one's mind because "the wife decided to keep it" (yup, that was the excuse), no unnecessary arranging of meetings at cons (which often may include an expensive flight) and please, provide the occasional unsolicited update as I cannot stand chasing people. Perhaps most importantly, no sense of entitlement or belief that their time is more precious than mine. It isn't.

I once waited almost three years for a commission. We exchanged goodness knows how many e-mails over that time span, which wasn't easy as I had to work hard to arrange to have many of my e-mails professionally translated into his native tongue. When I finally saw the finished product, which looked rushed, it didn't look anything like what we had agreed upon nor was it close to the artist's potential (which was what drew me to the artist's work to begin with). I had even sent numerous pics of his own work to use as a reference too.

When I politely expressed my disappointment, especially after waiting so long, rather than try and work things out (or offer the other artwork he originally considered offering), he became enraged and preferred instead to say how much of a waste of time this all was... No apologies for any of his actions. No consideration for my time or disappointment. Not even a thank you for all that effort in translating my e-mails in his language. Zip. All he was, was simply astounded that I wasn't pleased. He kept on telling me how much more he could get for the piece from his "true fans".

[Scottsdale Saint]

Star, I would appreciate a Pm on that one. I'm considering a couple of overseas commission this year, and would defintely like to avoid that artist. what a friggin' nightmare that must have been...my sympathies, brother.

[JadeGiant]

Originally Posted by Scottsdale Saint

Star, I would appreciate a Pm on that one. I'm considering a couple of overseas commission this year, and would defintely like to avoid that artist. what a friggin' nightmare that must have been...my sympathies, brother.

as would I

[snappahead]

Originally Posted by JadeGiant

I can vouch for that

Thanks

[khazano]

Originally Posted by Scottsdale Saint

Star, I would appreciate a Pm on that one. I'm considering a couple of overseas commission this year, and would defintely like to avoid that artist. what a friggin' nightmare that must have been...my sympathies, brother.

screw a PM, make his name public