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Hi all, been awhile. I haven't been to Dakka in ages, school has been priority #1, you know how it is

Anyway, I'm working on a project for my marketing class, (excellent excuse to come back for awhile ) and was hoping I could get some help from those of you who offer commission painting services, or have paid for them before (or know someone who has).

I'm going to post 2 surveys, one for customers and one for commission painters.
It would mean a lot to me if you could take a few minutes to fill it out.

Either respond in this thread or send me a private message if you prefer. All questions are optional, but the more info I can get the better.

Thanks in advance! This is really going to help me out
-H
____________________________________________________________
AS A CUSTOMER

• 1) How many times have you paid for commission painting?
- if more than once, did you use the same painter each time?

• 2) How many miniatures did you have painted? (single piece/whole army/vehicle/etc.)

• 3) How much did you pay for the services? (Not including shipping, please include what currency was used)
- 1-50
- 51-100
- 101-250
- 251-500
- 500+

• 4) Roughly how long did it take for the job to be completed?

• 5) Who was the painter you used?

• 6) How did you find this person or studio?

• 7) What other painters/studios did you consider?

• 8) What factors led to your final decision?

• 9) How satisfied were you with the result? Rank it out of 10.
- (10=extremely happy, 1=would never do it again, terrible experience all around)

• 10) What were you most and least satisfied with?

Thank you!
____________________________________________________________________

AS A COMMISSION PAINTER

• 1) How long have you been painting for commission?

• 2) Is commission painting a full-time job for you, or an “on-the-side” kind of thing?
- If “on-the-side,” would you like it to become full-time?

• 3) Is it just you, or are you part of a studio or group of painters?

• 4) Do you have a website? (include it! Free advertising )

• 5) What are your rates?

• 6) What is the average size of orders you do? (single minis/armies/etc)
- do you place any restrictions on job size?

• 7) On average, how long does it usually take you to complete a job?

• 8) What other painters do you consider to be your toughest competition?

• 9) What do you do to get more clients? If you have a website, how do you draw traffic there?

• 10) What, if anything, do you dislike about working as a commission painter?

Thank you!

For the second bunch of questions I suggest you watch this.

Les brakes it down quite nice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnv6EaFDcPI

I actually just did some of my first commision work so let me see what I can give you:

1) Painting commision for around 6 months
2) It's on the side, and it will definitely stay that way
3) It's me, myself and I. Although I am thinking about bringing in a buddy to help.
4) No website, as I only work locally right now.
5) I currently charge the following:
level 1 (base colors): 15% of model value
level 2 (base plus detail): 20% of model value
level 3 (above plus freehand/extreme detail): 25% of model value
assembly: 10% of model value
I also have a $5 (USD) fee for materials
6) I have done a full army and I am currently doing two vehicles. I would not fufill a full army sized order all at once, but would rather do it bit by bit.
7) The full army job took me 2 months to fufil, I can usually turn out a 5 man squad or a vehicle in about a week (like I said, very on-the-side)
8) There is a local painter who's fulltime career is to paint shocase models for Reaper, but I really don't think she does a lot of commision for the local people. There maybe a total of 2 other guys painting for commision locally.
9) I use word of mouth and simply offer to paint for somebody if they seem interested. I am my own marketing agent.
10) My only fear is that if I do work as a commission painter, I will eventually begin to dislike painting in general. That has happened with my current career forcing a career change, and I don't want it to happen to my hobby.

I will say that I work a full time job and would never consider myself a great painter, only a fair or maybe on my best day a good painter, but not even close to pro.

Check this thread: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/248070.page

I have commissioned a few people and my word of advice will be to find someone who has a solid reputation. Don't go with someone just because they're cheap or a smooth talker. There are a lot of flakes and scammers out there, unfortunately. You can find edorsements in that thread I linked as well.

Thanks guys. Some solid info in those links and thanks to the few of you who responded via PM.


Still hoping for more responses though, don't be shy!

Fairly new commissioner here as well

1) How long have you been painting for commission?
For around 6 months

2) Is commission painting a full-time job for you, or an “on-the-side” kind of thing?
on-the-side commission, I have a full time job to handle

- If “on-the-side,” would you like it to become full-time?
perhaps one day, once I've got debt all paid out

3) Is it just you, or are you part of a studio or group of painters?
on occasion it's just me, also partnering with another commissioner

4) Do you have a website? (include it! Free advertising )
I do! Itsacoyote Workshop

5) What are your rates?
Rates may vary depending on the scope of the project as well as if I'm working with my commission partner

6) What is the average size of orders you do? (single minis/armies/etc)
I've done a couple figures, some around 20-30 figures in a batch, next upcoming will be 100. It varies.

- do you place any restrictions on job size?
I currently have no restrictions on job size.

7) On average, how long does it usually take you to complete a job?
I could get 30 at a higher than tabletop level done in a month.

8) What other painters do you consider to be your toughest competition?
Anyone who has a full time commission job

9) What do you do to get more clients? If you have a website, how do you draw traffic there?
I play with working on my website to show in search engines (I work full time as a web designer), maintain a presence on forums/social sites/groups for hobbyists, reach out to those looking for a painter, share my works

10) What, if anything, do you dislike about working as a commission painter?
Sometimes deadlines, simply because I like to take my time with certain things. I also would dislike it when it starts becoming a chore instead of a hobby I enjoy doing for others.