Artists who don’t list prices/TOS when closed

[Foxridley]

Quite a few artists don’t seem to have their prices/TOS displayed when they’re not open for commissions. I can understand why, since they don’t want people asking for commissions when there are no openings.
But I’ve found this a bit, for lack of a better word, off-putting?
Most of the time I commission something, it’s an idea I’ve had in my head for a bit, and I usually pick the artist a bit before I approach them or decide to wait for an opening (for one, it’s a good way of knowing it’s something I want). But I don’t really feel like I can do this if I don’t know the prices or TOS. If they don’t have them posted somewhere, it seems like it would be bad form to ask, especially if they’re closed. And it would be awkward to ask about prices and TOS then back out because they’re out of my price range or there is a non-starter in the TOS.
Thoughts on this?

 

[Deleted member 160111]

Quite a few artists don’t seem to have their prices/TOS displayed when they’re not open for commissions.

Many artists do not display prices and ToS public when they are OPEN for commissions. lol. I didn't see any problems with clients, to be honest.

 

[Foxridley]

Many artists do not display prices and ToS public when they are OPEN for commissions. lol. I didn't see any problems with clients, to be honest.

So people approach you even when not commission info is given?
Kinda makes sense. I’ve had to tell one or two people that I don’t take commissions.

 

[The_Happiest_Husky]

Yeah lot of artists just don't ever list pricing and stuff publicly. They got no obligation to but I really wish they would, sucks when I see someone with awesome art so I ask them pricing for commission, and it's something huge I can't afford like $150 base fullbody price w/ no background and basic shading. Just sigh and regret even getting excited

 

[Deleted member 160111]

So people approach you even when not commission info is given?

No one addresses me. My prices and conditions are always open. I'm talking about the fact that I've really seen a lot of artists who don't bother with it. And yes, I think they just write to dm. In fact, it is much more important how many commissions the artist has already completed.

Kinda makes sense. I’ve had to tell one or two people that I don’t take commissions.

I don't understand the position of hiding information, for me it brings more problems. If someone asks me about something that is already indicated in bold letters, I just block they. If a person cannot read one paragraph, problems will inevitably arise for me with him.

 

[Vanessa Howl]

I'll just straight up ask if I don't see any prices listed anywhere and I'm thinking of commissioning.

You're trying to give them your business so as long as you don't try to PUSH for a commission while they're closed than I don't see any harm in simply asking so you can make up your mind for when they ARE open.

 

[quoting_mungo]

I think there’s good reasons both for and against having prices permanently posted. At least some parts of TOS should probably always be available, IMO, specifically the parts naming acceptable uses for the finished art. In general it’s good even for non-commission artists to have a brief public statement about how they feel about reposting and other use of their work. If the artist has any outstanding/in-progress work, their full TOS should be available at least to those commissioners.

If you regularly take commissions and anticipate for that to continue to be the case it’s good to give potential clients a rough idea of, like… the general order of magnitude you charge. However, if you don’t have a general idea of when you’ll open again (or you do and that’s a ways off), there’s always the risk that you’ll be changing (increasing) your prices before you open again. Cost of living changes and all that. At that point, people who have been saving up for your old rate may feel understandably discouraged/upset. Depending on how you work and the relationship you cultivate with your community, that might not be worth it to you.

There’s also artists that open for specific types of projects that they feel like doing at that time. For them having prices permanently listed might simply not be relevant - it would end up being a broad enough range to just… not really give much information at all.

 

[Foxridley]

No one addresses me. My prices and conditions are always open. I'm talking about the fact that I've really seen a lot of artists who don't bother with it. And yes, I think they just write to dm. In fact, it is much more important how many commissions the artist has already completed.

I don't understand the position of hiding information, for me it brings more problems. If someone asks me about something that is already indicated in bold letters, I just block they. If a person cannot read one paragraph, problems will inevitably arise for me with him.

Yes, I added it to my profile since then. Partly because, until then, I hadn’t anticipated people asking about commissions when I started posting my own art.

 

[Judge Spear]

Quite a few artists don’t seem to have their prices/TOS displayed when they’re not open for commissions. I can understand why, since they don’t want people asking for commissions when there are no openings.
But I’ve found this a bit, for lack of a better word, off-putting?
Most of the time I commission something, it’s an idea I’ve had in my head for a bit, and I usually pick the artist a bit before I approach them or decide to wait for an opening (for one, it’s a good way of knowing it’s something I want). But I don’t really feel like I can do this if I don’t know the prices or TOS. If they don’t have them posted somewhere, it seems like it would be bad form to ask, especially if they’re closed. And it would be awkward to ask about prices and TOS then back out because they’re out of my price range or there is a non-starter in the TOS.
Thoughts on this?

Commission TOS's and prices fluctuate based on the artists needs and how their metrics are looking. Artists generally have a strict queue and a somewhat regular schedule for taking clients.
Remaining successful means adjusting in between opening and closing shop. If you think you need to change prices the next time you open, it wouldn't be fair to window shoppers to have cheaper prices displayed one day and then you've had to raise them next week.
And announcing pending price changes absolutely does not reach most viewers.

Now why in the fuck artists don't have their info readily available when they're open is beyond me.

 

[Connor J. Coyote]

Quite a few artists don’t seem to have their prices/TOS displayed when they’re not open for commissions.

Honestly, if they're not open, then.... their prices (whether they're posted or not) don't really matter in some ways does it? as you won't be working with them anytime soon, most likely.

You need to remember: you're the customer, with (I'm assuming) the money to spend..... right? And honestly also - within the commission world, it's often times a "buyer's market" I find.

And so, if there's nothing posted on someone's profile besides saying they're closed - and you're interested in getting a piece done at that time, then - why not just look elsewhere where there are people that are open (and that have their prices posted) at that same time?

There are many other people out there that need the work right now. ☺

And so, you can advertise *yourself* by placing an ad - as someone who's hiring; and then (state your price range that you can afford in the ad) and then - people looking for work can come to you and not vice versa.
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An also, I'm not trying to be downer here when I say this mind you: but...... anytime there's someone I might be interested in commissioning or "collabing" with - tells me something like: "there's a queue right now" - I generally start looking elsewhere after hearing that. Seeing that in my mind - if someone has "a queue" then - they're probably too busy already to work with; and frankly, waiting a month and even more (like some people are willing to do) just to hear back if the project's a go or not - can frankly be a waste of time (at the end of the day) seeing that you're "in limbo" all this time, instead of having the project started or even done, with some people.

But I don’t really feel like I can do this if I don’t know the prices or TOS. If they don’t have them posted somewhere, it seems like it would be bad form to ask, especially if they’re closed. And it would be awkward to ask about prices and TOS then back out because they’re out of my price range or there is a non-starter in the TOS.

Well again, (it sounds like to me) you need to remember that you're the customer. And as someone that's *hiring* you need to take the position within yourself that you're potentially engaging in a business transaction - and with that, not apologize to someone for feeling that you need to ask about these things (their prices, their TOS's, etc.) seeing that there's no information posted..... or to be afraid to approach them at all about this to begin with.......

as there's a big difference - between taking up someone's time too much versus making a reasonable inquiry with them.

 

[Foxridley]

Honestly, if they're not open, then.... their prices (whether they're posted or not) don't really matter in some ways does it? as you won't be working with them anytime soon, most likely.

You need to remember: you're the customer, with (I'm assuming) the money to spend..... right? And honestly also - within the commission world, it's often times a "buyer's market" I find.

And so, if there's nothing posted on someone's profile besides saying they're closed - and you're interested in getting a piece done at that time, then - why not just look elsewhere where there are people that are open (and that have their prices posted) at that same time?

I see your point, I guess it just has to do with my approach. I kinda keep a short mental list of ideas and artists who would be a good fit for them and wait for an opening but I can’t really consider an artist for commissioning if I don’t know their prices.

 

[BunBunArt]

A mentor I had told me I shouldn't even post prices of commissions because each commission is unique and shouldn't be charged the same, so I'd make a price depending on the project. However I only saw that working for popular artists, like my mentor is. So yeah they are usually quite expensive. But really in the industry, artists don't have prices listed, they get offers and budgets.

However I'm a tiny small artist so I do show my prices all the time on my site, even when I'm closed.

 

[redhusky]

I would only do such a thing if I plan on changing my prices after my current queue was full. I've stopped doing so for sometime for "off season" customers who might consider me. So it's it's a good option either or. The artist would need to consider their business plan and see what work best for them.

 

[quoting_mungo]

So yeah they are usually quite expensive. But really in the industry, artists don't have prices listed, they get offers and budgets.

Worth considering when it comes to listing prices vs giving quotes for projects:

- When “industry” artists advertise products aimed at persons, rather than businesses or organizations, they do frequently list prices. See e.g. pet portraits, which may well be the most common category of mainstream commission work.

- Managing requests and giving quotes takes time. Time spent giving quotes to people who have a significantly smaller budget than they’d need to afford hiring you is essentially time wasted. Having a general price range posted saves you that time. When working with the kind of numbers you see on a business contract, there’s more padding to soak up that time spent on initial communication. Even “expensive” fandom artists typically won’t be charging the same kind of numbers. (Which is pretty fair - businesses can expense it and what they spend on art is probably going to result in more money coming in later.)

That said, presenting your prices as absolutes does have the potential to shoot you in the foot. It’s always a good idea to make clear that you reserve the right to e.g. charge a complexity fee if someone comes to you and asks for an image of their biblically accurate sparkledog angel laying a 5000-piece puzzle. A rough range is enough to avoid wasting both your and a prospective client’s time if you’re way out of their price range.

 

[Foxridley]

A mentor I had told me I shouldn't even post prices of commissions because each commission is unique and shouldn't be charged the same, so I'd make a price depending on the project. However I only saw that working for popular artists, like my mentor is. So yeah they are usually quite expensive. But really in the industry, artists don't have prices listed, they get offers and budgets.

However I'm a tiny small artist so I do show my prices all the time on my site, even when I'm closed.

Though it still seems a good idea to give a general idea. There are general categories and tiers, but the same category can vary by an order of magnitude between artists. You can find, say, a full body flat color for $20 or $200.

 

[Connor J. Coyote]

I see your point, I guess it just has to do with my approach. I kinda keep a short mental list of ideas and artists who would be a good fit for them and wait for an opening but I can’t really consider an artist for commissioning if I don’t know their prices.

Well, if you want to work with someone specifically, (due to the quality of their work or their style that you might like) - then honestly, the onus is really on you to contact them initially, and try to make that happen. If you're okay with looking outside of specific people though, then..... (if I were you) I'd just place your own ad like I mentioned above; as - given the explanation you gave about your situation (above) it sounds to me that'd be what you might want to try...... if you're shy, or don't know what to say initially, or your funds are limited, or whatever.

And within your ad, if money /funding is the hangup, then..... just clearly state your budget to people, (how much you can afford on the piece(s) and then - if your budget works with what someone might be willing to work for, then you'll find someone probably.

That way there, as the one who's doing the hiring they'll come to you that way, and not vice versa. So by placing your own ad - you can solve both of these issues for yourself....... the communications issue and the funding / budget issue.