Fox

TO ARTISTS: ✦ Have a clear TOS so both you & the commission can refer back to it if needed during any of the process ✦ Communicate with people who paid you ✦ Give them honesty ✦ If they a commissioner is treating you well & with respect, then you do the same to them ✦ Do NOT take more commissions than you can feasibly get done within the time frame you set: ━ It's not fair to anyone who puts trust in you & it puts stress on yourself which will compound problems ✦ Do NOT keep accepting more commissions when you have a massive backlog: ━ This makes people you have taken money from feel even more ignored ✦ I recommend not accepting ANY PAYMENT for a commission until you are about to start it. ✦ I also recceomnd only accepting half of the payment for larger commissions over $100 as it will remind you that you will be gettin more money AFTER you finish the art: ━ It's a psychological thing that if you have already been given the "reward" for doing something, most people then don't want to do the thing they were supposed to do. So knowing you will be getting MORE after it's done will make you focus on the project getting finished ✦ Whether or not you like it, ACCEPTING COMMISSIONS IS A FORM OF BUSINESS: ━ You are being paid by someone, getting their hard earned money to do a service. Either complete the service or give the money for the service you didn't complete BACK. It doesn't take a business degree to understand that concept TO COMMISSIONERS: ✦ Be respectful to those working on your art. ✦ Ask how long a commission will take before paying or accepting any terms. ✦ KEEP TRACK OF WHAT ITEMS YOU HAVE COMMISSIONS AND FROM WHOM: ━ This way you know how long that commission has gone un finished. I personally like to use a google sheet to track commissions and their progress ✦ Protect yourself by looking up how long you have to get a refund if you suspect you are being taken advantage of: ━ Most Credit or Debit cards allow chargeback for only a couple months after purchase ━ PayPal tends to be 180 days (roughly 6 months) ━ It can vary so look that up and keep track of how long your commissions are taking to get done. ✦ If your artist stops communicating with you. Make an honest attempt to send them a message letting them know you plan to charge back. If you aren't given answers or if they give you more excuses then make sure to follow through on your end with the chargeback ✦ It if your right to get the work you paid for or your money back if they can't complete it. Simple as that. I've both been an artist who accepts commissions & a commissioner who is paying someone else to make a project for me. I've been on both sides & I know that each situation is very different. I just want to see less people feeling scammed (Both artists or commissioners cause it does happen on both sides), more positivity in artist / commissioner relationships, and an overall sense of trust to be restored. I hope people on both sides can find some of my experiences & advice helpful! ✨

How does this keep happening??? - An artist starts taking commissions - They take on too many... - Artist is also always posting about how they are also out of money too... - Patient commissioners are too patient and let the artist go without much communication or "bothering" - Lots of time passes... sometimes a YEAR or more without the work being done - Commissioner starts reaching out but often gets ignored or if they do get a response its "soon it will be done" - Doesn't get any response until they make a call out post - The artist then has to write a huge post about how they are overworking themselves to finish everything or giving refunds... If you're an artist, learn to communicate actual answers... not just tell people what they wanna hear. It hurts to upset people, but it's worse to ruin your reputation because you want to make everyone happy but you legit can't cause you over booked yourself. Most people will be understanding if you are honest. Also some advice, don't accept money for a project until you are STARTING THE PROJECT. If you are a commissioner, I know what ts like to not wanna rush somoene, but stand yp for yourself. No art should be taking over 6 months to do after you have paid unless its a huge project that has been explained as needing to take that long. This type of situation cant keep happening. It sucks for everyone involved.