Semi OT how do I do a commission for someone who is vague
Sfariah D
Posts: 26,557
I had only one client who commissioned me to do a work but was so vague about the work. I tried to get the client to be more specific but the client refused to be any clearer than to commission a project. Without any clear idea of what this client wanted I have no clue where to start.
Also talking to this client has proved to be challenging as the client has refused to listen and would rather blabber than to give any ideas about what the project should be about.
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Simple, if he can't or won't tell you what he wants, turn the commission down. If you do not, you'll be working on it for ages.
I suppose it all depends how vague. Some people aren't intentionally vague, they just aren't quite sure what they want themselves. They have an idea in their head, but getting it down on paper or putting it into words is tricky for them. If the client is willing, it may be worth brainstorming with them and bouncing ideas off to see what sticks, if they're less receptive to a discussion then it'll be difficult to work on.
It may be this person is really only trying to get involved with you and using 3D as an excuse.
I am no psycologist but people feign interest in others hobbies to get close to them.
maybe that was right but now it is just being used to make me look bad.
Don't commit until you have a clearer idea. Make it clear that you're not commiting but offer a couple of sketches or rough renders and discuss them with the client but if no progress is made toward a plan and a price that you are both comfortable with, then politely turn down the project. Otherwise you are setting yourself up for possible trouble down the road. If possible get something about the agreement on paper.
Wishy washy clients can be the most vicious, not always, but I speak from experience.
http://clientsfromhell.net/
Hours of frustrating amusement for anyone who has ever done graphic design work.
If someone is vague about requirements then get them to agree to pay you by the hour/day rather than on completion of the finished product. If you have no idea what the finished article will be, you are in no position to propose a price for it.
EDIT: Would be a good idea to get them to pay all or part of the fee in advance, in case the whole project falls flat when the client realizes how long it will take to implement
Say no thanks and move on. They can't make you look bad from one project not working out unless you give them bad work, and bad work is often a result of vague requirements. You're going to have an unpleasant interpersonal experience when they find out, because if they weren't unpleasant they wouldn't be giving you this much trouble to begin with, but believe me, it's worth going through it to get rid of them. Then if they become annoying block them from whatever site they contacted you on. Deviantart has a way, most sites do.
maybe that was right but now it is just being used to make me look bad.
And whatever you do don't give them any contact details, this could so easily be a troll or some sort of scam merchant. Why did they come to you with a "commission" in the first place?
payment up front !
So far no contract so I guess there is nothing make me to do the work.
Dont commit to it.
If they cannot give you enough details then they are not worth your time.
I would also ignor all communication from them afterwards too so they get the picture
When I did artwork for a living many years ago, Commission work was the bane of my existence. I took every commission I could, as it was good money, but I hate commission pieces, too much worry about what the client wants (and often too much constriction on the creative process to boot) and it was rare I enjoyed commission work. However, only once did I encounter someone who wanted me to do a commission piece for them, but never got me the details. after 4 meeting with the client, where he vaguely described what he wanted then promised to get me a outline drawing of what he wanted with the colors and materials he wanted "the next time", I came to the conclusion he really didn't want the work done. He asked when I would start working on his project for years, and I would reply "When you get me the information on what you want" 5 years after the initial meeting to discuss what he wanted I still had not gotten more than a vague description of what he wanted, I gave up.
Basically, if they don't give you enough info to do the project, and they won't clarify, It's not worth dealing with them, and in all likelihood, they won't like what you deliver. Better to cut your losses now.
If someone is overly vague, they probably don't even know what they want or in a worse case scenario are try to get close enough to you to steal or eat your liver.
This has happened to me several times... luckily they usually drop my liver during the struggle and I've managed to reinstall it using a rudimentary network of wires and duct tape.
In the event they are actually serious about the commission work, you have to lay down some rules (first off the "no eating my liver" rule), but next most important is they have to be clear or stop wasting your time.
Say it nicely, but be firm in your requirements.
Realistically you have to ask yourself how did they find you and do they even sound legit... Any commission work I've ever taken is from a trusted source, another clients recommendation or by some venue I can weed out nuts.
Even then there have been a couple of commissions that were way more trouble than they were worth.
Like everyone has said... Payment up front, no personal info, and a comprehensive contract.
The best way to put it is if from the onset the client is difficult and demanding then forget it... It will only get worse.
Worse yet you say they are trying to chat you up, blabbing and not giving you info... It could be a scam like others have said, either to get close to you or to get personal info...
That's pretty creepy...
You never know some people's motives... For example I'm only responding because I had something like six cups of coffee and I can't sleep or stop typing and now I'm here warning you to protect your liver... About a half an hour ago I joined a gardening forum to make a post about azalea bushes and I'm not even sure I know what an azalea bush is...
It's a kinda plant... Right?
See... I was using them because I can't sleep and everything seems funny right now...
That's creepy.
People are weird and creepy.
Be cautious and alert.
And don't worry about looking bad... I never worry what I look like, or sound like... I just write whatever the hell comes into my head... People either accept that and go with it or they skip over my posts the moment they see my avatar...
Mostly I think they just skip over my posts, but thats besides the point...
You won't look bad to the people who know you here and nobody else really counts... Right?
Wow... That almost made sense.
Well, I should go before I start bringing up liver theft again...
Good luck.
There's also the possibility that whatever project he is trying to commission you for is bound for failure, he knows it is bound for failure so he is trying to get his ducks in a row so that when it fails he has someone to take the blame.
Why are you so worried about your liver. As long as they leave you one lobe, it'll grow back. Heck, sell your liver, and you'll likely make more than the next 3 commissions combined, and then you can pay to have a professional close you up in with clean duct tape.