Know Your Rights – AOI, Handsome Frank, Matthew the Horse, & Sonny Ross
Posted on June 5, 2017Our final panel of the day featured Lou Bones from the Association of Illustrators, Amy Veried of Handsome Frank, and illustrators Matthew the Horse and Sonny Ross. We ended on conversations abour empowering yourself as an illustrator, protecting your rights when working with clients, and making sure that your work pays off (both artistically and financially).
Brilliant line up! So much to learn from them all currently discussing ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’ @PictureHooks #PicHooksConf pic.twitter.com/OM1aewtwEV
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
#pichooksconf @theaoi @PictureHooks pic.twitter.com/HHq0cmQeBq
— Rachel Suzanne ✏️ (@RSillustrations) May 20, 2017
Panel discussion: Making More Money, hosted by @theaoi #pichooksconf #illustration #livesketches #notes – Really useful! pic.twitter.com/hHEVwuLx5F
— Maxine Soylent Green (@Emanix) May 20, 2017
How often have you been asked to work for exposure with no fee? Don’t. It undermines the industry, and your own value.
Once you work for free, you will always work for free. It’s very difficult to change that – @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Ask for payment, know the worth of your work – @sonnyrossdraws & @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
You can’t eat promotion, you can’t pay rent with promotion – @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
But how much should you charge? It depends on the size/reach of the project.
Calculating your fee according to time spent on work can help you have a frank discussion about payment – @matthewthehorse #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Be aware of the ambiguous phrase “and online” – demand a bigger fee for bigger digital audiences – @AmyVeried #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Remember, if you are not happy with the fee you have been offered, you can change it.
‘You have to negotiate but you don’t have to be Alan Sugar’ Matthew the horse @matthewthehorse #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
And if you can’t change the fee, change the project instead.
If the client won’t negotiate the fee, you can manage their expectations – @AmyVeried #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Don’t be afraid to negotiate! It is a normal part of the working relationship with a client.
Illustrators are NOT bottom of the ladder. You have every right to dictate how a project goes @matthewthehorse #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Knowing your rights will get you better work. Every contract needs to be negotiated – @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
You will not lose the work by taking your time over a contract – @AmyVeried #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
It’s not being confrontational when you are being professional. You have every right to be that way – @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Contracts should be tight and explicit. But about what?
The main thing to set out in a contract is the deliverables – @AmyVeried #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
What’s really important to agree? Deliverables, territory, fee – don’t feel bad to negotiate and push back @Handsome_Frank #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Ask questions about your contract and commissioning – one word can change the nature of the work – @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Make sure you know what is expected of you. That will rule out nasty surprises and delays in the project later.
You want to get a nice clean brief before starting work. If the client doesn’t have one, ask more questions – @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Commissioner: ‘Do whatever you want…’ *presents work*… ‘oh not that’ Clarify no of amends in contract @sonnyrossdraws #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Remember to make work that you enjoy. If you take on a project you are not passionate about, you may be stuck with work you are not interested in forever.
Can you sleep if you’re not proud of your work? Compromises to make- and not to make @sonnyrossdraws #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Any last words from our panelists?
Key advice: Keep on top of your promo- all the time. Have fun with it but remember directors are busy. @sonnyrossdraws #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Key advice: it’s not a race. Invest time. Quality is king. @matthewthehorse #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
Key advice: stay positive,finish work to a professional standard. Get it in writing. Don’t work for free. @Handsome_Frank #PicHooksConf
— The AOI (@theaoi) May 20, 2017
You will make better work when it is true to you. Don’t give clients space to exploit you – @iamloubones #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
Stay positive. Finish your work to a high standard. Don’t work for free – @AmyVeried #pichooksconf
— Picture Hooks (@PictureHooks) May 20, 2017
To sum up…
3 things that stayed with me today on moving forwards: Know yourself, Work Hard, Know your worth @PictureHooks #pichooksconf
— Baljinder Kaur (@Ballyjinder) May 20, 2017
#pichooksconf Lou talks sense @theaoi pic.twitter.com/zimkWAO90h
— cherie jerrard (@cheriejerrard) May 20, 2017
This is the first part of a series of recaps from Picture Hooks Conference 2017: Inside Publishing. Click here to read more tweets from the day and interviews with the conference speakers.