is it wise to offer my portrait services to my fellow students?

~Voaz-Kzrhovb Aug 7, 2012 Student General Artist

At school, I have permission from the principal to make profit from commission at school, but I'm beginning to think that most of the kids at my school are untrustworthy as far as money goes, and I'm not on good terms with most of them, so is it worth my time and patience making people I don't like happy? or should I do it anyway for the sake of getting money?

If I don't offer it to my fellow students I can instead make it a purely staff targeted service, because i trust them, but I was just wondering if anyone here has had to deal with that.

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Devious Comments

~insertuser Aug 7, 2012

No it's not wise for you to do commission at your current skill level, people are going to be pissed off if they don't know what they are paying for

~Glori305 Aug 7, 2012

If you want to do art as a buisness, you will have to deal with people you do not like, find distateful, and flat out hate in a professional and polite capacity.

So depends on what your goals are.

~kafine Aug 7, 2012 General Artist

It can be worth doing but you should be realistic about the kind of buisness you'll get out of this paticular audience.

You're probably not going to get much more than $5 a go out of kids so don't draw anything very complicated. Stick to quick sketches that you can knock out in under an hour or so. Get the money up front.

Also, be prepared to say NO a lot. One thing I noticed about drawing in school or the workplace is that while people are fascinated by what you do, they also have very little respect for it because they don't understand it. You'll get some people with strange, complicated requests, and you'll almost certainly get some who don't see why they should have to pay you. Be strict about what your service is (in this case, just portraits) and do not do any work for free

Don't worry about "making people you don't like happy". Partially because that's par for the course with a job, but also because providing a service will put you at risk of conflict with these people. Some people will like you less if stamping their widdle foot doesn't get them free stuff, and you have to be okay with that.

It's up to you.

~Voaz-Kzrhovb Aug 7, 2012 Student General Artist

okay, i understand you're assumption that the kids at my school don't have a lot of money, or won't be willing to pay which is one of my problems, that coupled with the fact that they have been malicious to me in the past but i'm trying to get passed that to better myself and make some profit.

In my years at the school the staff have been the only constant and caring people until just recently so i trust them and i've already gotten three commission from them, paid in advance, as well at the principals permission, which means so much to me.

I know to say no, and i have refused someone already for the reasons being their request was ridiculous and they also were rude to me when i listed my pricing and time limits, which was when i decided to ask this question.

I refuse to do free work, because that's how people have taken advantage of me before, which sucks. I've discussed with a teacher helping with the organising of my portrait running ideas and she said if they continue to be rude, we could silently switch off the promotions for it and then let staff be the target demographic, because my cause to raise money is still there whether these kids are going to be rude or not.

~kafine Aug 7, 2012 General Artist

There's no need to get defensive about it, I never told you not to do it. Just what to be prepared for if you decide to. If you think that you can take it, you have a good opportunity to learn how to put yourself in control of the artist client relationship. That could be valuable experience for dealing with problem clients on a larger scale in the future.

It's just a matter of whether you're prepared to put up with it! Personally if these kids are willing to pay, I'd take it. Knocking out a $10 sketch for someone in half an hour is pretty easy money.

~Voaz-Kzrhovb Aug 7, 2012 Student General Artist

so sorry! Oh my gosh, i in no way meant to sound offended or defensive! I'm not very aware of how i sound on the other end

i agree that it might possibly be some good experience with problem customers, but given the situation I think it would be an unhealthy option. I should have been more specific when posting. I'll remember that for next time

~kafine Aug 7, 2012 General Artist

Fair enough, no worries :3

=nelchee Aug 7, 2012 Professional General Artist

In the grown-ups world you do your job regardless of whether you like people you work for or not. You don't choose to sell them coffee or a book or design services based on their personality. You choose based on whether they have money to pay you, or not.
Can the kids afford your services? Can they pay an advance of 50% or at least 30% so you make sure you don't waste your time if they end up not wanting to pay you? If so, yes.
And don't be fooled that staff is somehow better than the kids. Read [link] for a bit to see what grown-ups can be like. Basically, just like kids.

~Voaz-Kzrhovb Aug 7, 2012 Student General Artist

I am very sorry for the rude nature of my previous comment, I didn't mean to come across that way at all. I understand your point of view, and that you in no way were supposed to already know the hidden parts of my question and dilemma.

I know already about the 'grown up' world... and I hate that term too, because some people never grow up. it seems almost sarcastic to call them that.

I have a lot of experience with adults commissioning me and I would not just give away my services to them if I didn't already consider those kinds of outer issues and possibilities.

The kids at my school range from 14-18 and all have jobs, something i've been trying to get for a year and I need money desperately for an upcoming event but they all treat me so badly that I am sure I can find another way to raise money without making them happy. the staff could be one side of my money raising and my mother could help me make some more money with another project, so it's not like this is my last chance.

I normally would and have in the past served people without regard of their appearance and treatment towards me, but in this dire time I need to be as safe and comfortable feeling as i possibly can be.

=nelchee Aug 7, 2012 Professional General Artist

Well, yes these are the things I cannot possibly know about you so I did not refer to your specific situation. If you would have to compromise your self-respect for money, it's a tough choice. People confront this dilemma all the time. People have to decide between being out of a job and broke (with debts on their back), or dealing with an abusive boss and suffering stress. No one can tell you what to do, it's up to you to decide.

And well seems to me like you already made your decision, and when you see replies that don't match it, you make sure to let us know the real circumstances so that we may change our stance... right?

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