Convention Rates

[Stalzer2002]

Does anyone know what Mike Zeck charges these days? I'm specifically looking for a sketchcard sized headshot for one of my jams.

[carlito1978]

anyone know how much Michael Golden or Don Rosa charge?

[lordrycon]

Here are the rates for Michael Golden:

Head shot: $150 inked
Torso: $250 inked
Full Figure: $350 inked

This is convention style rates.

I believe Don Rosa sketches for free at cons, provided you dont mention Ducktales :P

[carlito1978]

awesome. thank you!

[Ghost9]

Something I witnessed firsthand at East Coast Comic Con this weekend. Guy approaches Steve Rude with a small sketchbook, maybe 5x7 inches max. Asks Steve how much it would be for a small headsketch. Steve asks his female associate (wife? not sure) what he charges for those. She says $100. He says to the guy "$100 and I'll make it real nice". The guy kind of nervously laughs and repeats back "you'll make it real nice." Then he says ok, gives him the $100. Steve takes the sketchbook, and starts penciling out a Nexus head & shoulders. Takes him maximum 3 minutes. No inks, and mostly just flat side of the pencil type shading in on the costume. Extremely limited details. He hands it back to the guy, done. I was next, got my free signature, thanked him, and walked away.

A couple observations. 1) I can't believe the customer went through with it given how tiny the sketchbook was for $100. Surely in his mind he thought he was going to get a freebie or maybe shell out $20. 2) I can't believe Steve felt that sketch was worth $100 and handed it back to the guy with a straight face. 3) What is this hobby coming to that these are the prices asked for....and received?

[carlito1978]

unfortunately we are in a bizarro world of pricing.

[JadeGiant]

Originally Posted by Ghost9

Something I witnessed firsthand at East Coast Comic Con this weekend. Guy approaches Steve Rude with a small sketchbook, maybe 5x7 inches max. Asks Steve how much it would be for a small headsketch. Steve asks his female associate (wife? not sure) what he charges for those. She says $100. He says to the guy "$100 and I'll make it real nice". The guy kind of nervously laughs and repeats back "you'll make it real nice." Then he says ok, gives him the $100. Steve takes the sketchbook, and starts penciling out a Nexus head & shoulders. Takes him maximum 3 minutes. No inks, and mostly just flat side of the pencil type shading in on the costume. Extremely limited details. He hands it back to the guy, done. I was next, got my free signature, thanked him, and walked away.

A couple observations. 1) I can't believe the customer went through with it given how tiny the sketchbook was for $100. Surely in his mind he thought he was going to get a freebie or maybe shell out $20. 2) I can't believe Steve felt that sketch was worth $100 and handed it back to the guy with a straight face. 3) What is this hobby coming to that these are the prices asked for....and received?

This is just another example of collectors who let their fandom get in the way of better sense. $100 for a tiny 3 minute sketch would certainly warrant a comment about wanting/expecting more out of a commission. It doesn't sound at all like "he made it real nice" and should have been called on it if the collector did not feel he met the expectations of the commission.

[ratchet]

Originally Posted by JadeGiant

This is just another example of collectors who let their fandom get in the way of better sense. $100 for a tiny 3 minute sketch would certainly warrant a comment about wanting/expecting more out of a commission. It doesn't sound at all like "he made it real nice" and should have been called on it if the collector did not feel he met the expectations of the commission.

Agreed - I think too many people have reservations about calling out artists for the product received - but they certainly have the right to say something!

[Ghost9]

JG - I agree and should have made that my third observation as that was certainly what I was thinking standing there at the time. I absolutely would have said something....I felt bad for the guy.

[lordrycon]

Originally Posted by Stalzer2002

Does anyone know what Mike Zeck charges these days? I'm specifically looking for a sketchcard sized headshot for one of my jams.

It can be hard to get info on Mike Zeck, he doesn't always sketch and when he does, he doesn't always charge the same. It is usually in the same ballpark, but nothing concrete.

I get a lot of Jam's done, and while I haven't gotten Zeck, I have gotten some quite big names in the past and I would say that Zeck will be somewhere between $30-$100, probably somewhere in the middle.