Since Time Immemorial artists have encountered difficulty receiving simple honest payment for their time and effort.
What is the origin of this hiccup in basic respectful human conduct? I look at present day social habits and notice that many people have difficulty distinguishing the professional from the recreational. And there are so many other contributing factors which I am going to pass on whining about and taking up too much time here. Fiver,...AI...ugh.
I am a person who, like your plumber or electrician, works with my hands. Like the person fitting the replacement windshield on your car, the person styling your hair, landscaping your yard, etc. I place myself among these folks generally because of a single commonality:
We spend time out of our day providing a service.
Situations and skill levels differ, specialty by specialty, resulting in widely varying pay rates. A barista is going to probably start at minimum wage which, right now, here in Seattle, is $21.30 an hour.
After taxes, knock that down to $17.00 or so. If that person is working a forty hour week, they’re taking home approximately $680. That’s a person who has undergone training, knows the steps to fulfill a client's request and repeats that task multiple times a day. I too have steps: meeting face to face or online to discuss the image, options, colors, size, style, if and how the work will be printed, selecting tools, deciding on colors, obtaining paper and other materials from the art supply store all before I can sit down and get to work.
By the time I’ve completed those initial steps, that barista down the street has made a few hundred short double lattes and completed innumerable other coffeehouse tasks.
If an average minimum wage employee is taking home $680 a week, they’re making a little over $130 a day depending on their scheduling. With my mortgage, health expenses, vet visits and other responsibilities, I need to be earning equivalently.
My average time for completing an illustration assignment is between a week to two weeks. Does that really mean you cannot hire me for less than $1300.00? Not necessarily. I mean, maybe if you're asking for a wall mural or oil painting or something else more involved and time consuming...yes, that would take the price considerably upward, naturally.
I’m unlikely to agree to any illustration job, black and white or color, unless it puts 600$ or so in my wallet. I'll always negotiate and treat you respectfully and sincerely.
Understand that I will provide a written agreement that I will sign and will ask you to sign as well and that I will require 50% in advance to establish a good faith relationship. Contact me if you desire to discuss any of what I have stated here, or have me outline contractual details. I can promise you that I go above and beyond to provide gorgeous work which you will cherish...if I do say so myself.
Chris
What is the origin of this hiccup in basic respectful human conduct? I look at present day social habits and notice that many people have difficulty distinguishing the professional from the recreational. And there are so many other contributing factors which I am going to pass on whining about and taking up too much time here. Fiver,...AI...ugh.
I am a person who, like your plumber or electrician, works with my hands. Like the person fitting the replacement windshield on your car, the person styling your hair, landscaping your yard, etc. I place myself among these folks generally because of a single commonality:
We spend time out of our day providing a service.
Situations and skill levels differ, specialty by specialty, resulting in widely varying pay rates. A barista is going to probably start at minimum wage which, right now, here in Seattle, is $21.30 an hour.
After taxes, knock that down to $17.00 or so. If that person is working a forty hour week, they’re taking home approximately $680. That’s a person who has undergone training, knows the steps to fulfill a client's request and repeats that task multiple times a day. I too have steps: meeting face to face or online to discuss the image, options, colors, size, style, if and how the work will be printed, selecting tools, deciding on colors, obtaining paper and other materials from the art supply store all before I can sit down and get to work.
By the time I’ve completed those initial steps, that barista down the street has made a few hundred short double lattes and completed innumerable other coffeehouse tasks.
If an average minimum wage employee is taking home $680 a week, they’re making a little over $130 a day depending on their scheduling. With my mortgage, health expenses, vet visits and other responsibilities, I need to be earning equivalently.
My average time for completing an illustration assignment is between a week to two weeks. Does that really mean you cannot hire me for less than $1300.00? Not necessarily. I mean, maybe if you're asking for a wall mural or oil painting or something else more involved and time consuming...yes, that would take the price considerably upward, naturally.
I’m unlikely to agree to any illustration job, black and white or color, unless it puts 600$ or so in my wallet. I'll always negotiate and treat you respectfully and sincerely.
Understand that I will provide a written agreement that I will sign and will ask you to sign as well and that I will require 50% in advance to establish a good faith relationship. Contact me if you desire to discuss any of what I have stated here, or have me outline contractual details. I can promise you that I go above and beyond to provide gorgeous work which you will cherish...if I do say so myself.
Chris
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