As a commissioner, I've always thanked my artists for the lovely work they do; it's just common courtesy. Still, I was a bit surprised when I saw artists complaining about silent pick-ups in the past. Yes, it's rude to accept your commission without thanking the artist, but it didn't seem worth the fuss some people were making.
Now, I've only started opening for commissions within the past year or two. It's rare that I'm commissioned, but I'm grateful that my customers have always been friendly and understanding throughout the process. Still, half the time, my commissioners (usually one person in particular) just pay me after I e-mail them the completed work – not even a quick "thanks" to accompany the payment. And, well, I was startled (and, honestly, a little embarrassed) by the extent to which that irritated me.
So, I guess we get to my questions. Are silent pick-ups commonplace, in your experience? Do you hardly notice when they happen, or do they influence your readiness to work with certain commissioners again, especially if they've done it more than once? I'd really appreciate any advice you all have!
Edit: Thank you to everyone for your advice! I've received some excellent feedback from you all, including how to approach these situations more positively and professionally.
Now, I've only started opening for commissions within the past year or two. It's rare that I'm commissioned, but I'm grateful that my customers have always been friendly and understanding throughout the process. Still, half the time, my commissioners (usually one person in particular) just pay me after I e-mail them the completed work – not even a quick "thanks" to accompany the payment. And, well, I was startled (and, honestly, a little embarrassed) by the extent to which that irritated me.
So, I guess we get to my questions. Are silent pick-ups commonplace, in your experience? Do you hardly notice when they happen, or do they influence your readiness to work with certain commissioners again, especially if they've done it more than once? I'd really appreciate any advice you all have!
Edit: Thank you to everyone for your advice! I've received some excellent feedback from you all, including how to approach these situations more positively and professionally.
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I wouldn't say it's required, per se, but it should be common courtesy. Unfortunately, it's going to happen. I've even done free art plenty of times, delivered it, and not been thanked, and I'd consider that even worse.
It's understandable that it bothers you, and it bothers me too (I tend to think they hate what I did for them if they don't say anything). But it just comes with the business, I suppose. It doesn't really influence my want to work with anyone and I'm not sure I'd call it 'commonplace' so much as just 'not rare'.
Though I think people who are willing to pay you fr your art is enough and wouldn't find it rude if someone didn't thank me for my work as the payment would be thanks enough.
I had a rather large commission on my plate and it took many hours. I got positive feedback on all of the WIPs and when I delivered the final image? Nothing. No favorite on the submission, no comment, just a read note that wasn't replied to. :(
I know it's part of being in business that folks won't say something all the time nor are they obligated to, but I would love to know if they like the image or if not, how can I help them.
Most artists I've talked to have run into this before, and yeah it feels pretty shitty as an artist but I guess it's a thing that happens. I do find it rude to a point, but more than anything I just end up worrying if I as the artist messed up somewhere. Makes me more paranoid than upset.
Best bet is to just make sure they get it in general, and not think about it too much. I find it rude, but I realize sometimes it's hard for folks to respond. And sometimes, they even might just forget to! Lots of "what ifs".
If they do it more then once, then it's something that's just common for them to do. If they pay, and keep coming back, they're still a repeat customer and valued to me. I wouldn't turn a customer down for not responding, not if they paid and returned for more.
A lot of us here know how you feel. I've had a popular artist commission me and do exactly this- no favorite, no comment, nothing. They didn't even reply to my note, and I got paranoid that I didn't meet their standards, even if they made me draw something out of my comfort zone and I put my all into it.
I also try to add a "thank you for commissioning" and/or "hope you like it!" at the end of the artist description, but this doesn't always make the person comment or fave.
It is common. The best thing to do is not to think about it too much. If they come to you with a problem later, after the work is finished... well, that's another story. Until that happens there's really not much else you can do.
Edit: I just saw what Neolucky said, and I greatly agree with them. If they're coming to you as a repeat customer, I really don't think you need to worry. That's just how they work as a commissioner.
Edited at 2013-03-17 12:48 am (UTC)
i suppose i can understand why some artists might not like them, though. it makes you feel like maybe you somehow screwed up and they didn't like it but didn't want to tell you how/what to change to make it better.
It honestly made me feel really crummy and used. It turned me off from offering anything in the future. Chances are I won't even bother doing it again and it left a really sour taste in my mouth regarding the both of them. Frankly I'd rather not deal with either again as I found it incredibly rude to not even so much as note me (if they wanted to keep it private for whatever reason.)
However, there was a bit of a fiasco or two that I have had where the commissioner was upset that I "never informed them" of their commission being completed, and was pretty much blacklisted by those customers. It made me feel pretty crummy. My favorite part of the whole commission process is the "Voila! Here it is, and it's done!" step.
So, practically, it's best to figure out a way that they have received the artwork for sure. But I don't really mind whether they make a ton of comments on it or not.
...you know what really bugs me though?
When they hate it, but won't tell you or just don't say anything, and then re-upload it to their gallery (or just show it to friends) and complain about how bad it is in the artist's comments or user comments sections. That's also a huge bummer.
I had that happen to me once. I shot the guy a note and asked "what can I do to make this better for you?" I ended up doing a request for him as my attempt to 'make good' so to speak.
(this is not always the case, but in one particular case with a commissioner who has been difficult for maaaany artists, I felt completely disrespected as they silently picked up, reuploaded to their own gallery, and then misspelled my username wrong, not even fixing it after I asked - so, it does leave a nasty taste)