To continue off the post my friend made yesterday about people asking for things for free when it comes to your art, and how I said that you realize you have two types of friends (and family, actually):
1. The kind that’s like, “Oh man that’s cool that you can do that you should give me something.”
2. The kind that’s like, “Oh man that’s cool that you can do that how much is it I should buy it.”
The frustration also lies in the fact that it’s not like we’re making a bunch of money, you know? Not right off the bat, anyway. This is a career path that you constantly work at, because you have to keep putting yourself out there, and you have to keep trying to make something out of it. And you’re constantly worrying about what price you should set your product to and if it’s too much, or too little, or how to get it to sell, how to pitch it to people, how to make it stand out, and all sorts of things.
It’s nice to have friends who see that. It’s nice to have family that gets it.
Example being: my books.
I had two types of reactions from people in my family. One was this: "Hey your book just came out that’s great when do I get my copy?“
The other was this: "Hey your book came out it’s already on my kindle.”
Which one do you think meant more to me?
I mean hell, my own parents didn’t even ask for me to give them copies. They weren’t like, “We expect to get our copies on day one from you,” they were like, “Already reading it. When’s the physical copy so I can buy that and get you to sign it.” But I have family members and friends who were like, “When are you going to send me your book so I can read it?” Uh… I’m not. Go on Amazon and get it yourself like my own mother and father did. Hell, my mother won’t even lend out her copy to anyone she tells them to go and buy it.
It’s about showing support, you know? Sure when I was little and I wrote something or drew something and someone was like, “Wow can you draw me something?” I was like, “Sure!” Because back then it was just neat that someone liked my art enough to want it. But now it’s different. This is me trying to make a career out of what I love to do. It’s not nearly as flattering to hear, “Damn that’s cool let me have it,” as it is to hear, “Damn that’s cool how much is it?"
If I decide on my own to make you something, that’s fine. This generally happens around birthdays or Christmas, or if I just think you’re awesome (i.e. voice actors and that sort of thing, people I admire and people I’m just a fan of).
It’s nice to have friends and family who can respect that this is a career instead of being pissed that "I haven’t gotten my coaster yet.” No, you haven’t, and you probably won’t, stop treating this like some hobby. I’m not 13 anymore, I’m not just doodling in my notebook for the hell of it then willing to rip out the page and hand it to you.
Not only that, but this is my partner’s business too. Just because she makes me costumes doesn’t mean she’s going to make costumes for everyone we know for free. Like, “Damn girl I should have you make me something,” no. No. You can certainly have her make you something, here’s how much it would cost, we ask for half the payment up front. That’s hundreds of dollars, no, we’re not just giving that away. Even my own cousin came to me with a costume AS A COMMISSION! As a, “how much would this cost,” sort of deal. Then again he’s got his own business too that he’s trying to do so he gets the frustration of those family and friend calls of, “Hey why don’t you give this to me?”
No.
The thing that really irks me though is that any other profession and people would understand. If my best friend was a doctor, and I walked into the office like, “Hey I know I don’t have an appointment but I need you to check this out for me. Oh and no I’m not going to pay for it, we’re friends right?” That sounds ridiculous, right? (not saying that this doesn’t happen to doctors I can’t speak for them, just making an analogy). But you get what I mean. For some reason I feel like with the creative field it’s like, “Now you know you can make him that thing and just give it to him,” and that’s not cool at all.
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