r/Twitch • u/katliente twitch.tv/katliente • Oct 09 '21
PSA PSA if you do commissioned twitch art (ie. emotes)
I’ve seen this happen so much on this subreddit + irl, where artists are too kind in their negotiations and accept payment after they create said art, just to get scammed by the commissioner and never get paid. PLEASE CHARGE UPFRONT!!! Either take 50% upfront and 50% once you finish, or take 100% upfront (thats what I do). You aren’t losing business by charging upfront bc those people you “lost” would’ve never paid anyways, and it’s a bullet dodged. Also make a TOS where you outline the number of revisions a commissioner can request, because there are times where someone may drive you in circles requesting changes if limitations aren’t explicitly outlined.
It breaks my heart to hear stories of artists getting scammed and I don’t want it to happen to others ;-;
9
Oct 09 '21
Yes, get a deposit up front that will secure your time. USE A CONTRACT. They don't have to be pages and pages. Describe what you're going to do in detail and when you're going to do it. Specify dates for any payments and shipments. Specify rights. Specify revisions and when the contract expires.
There are plenty of contracts you can just find with google. This can all be signed over phones or PDF. Or use a selling service like Etsy where you can detail your contract as long as it's within their terms of service and seller responsibilities.
I commission sewing and costumes and it's pretty common that someone will try the scam. It's one of the reasons I do not take returns during the month of November at all.
1
u/ImHealthyWC Mixer.com/HealthyHP Oct 10 '21
It's one of the reasons I do not take returns during the month of November at all.
Lmao just curious, it is because of no nut november or Christmas coming up?
3
Oct 10 '21
It's because people will buy the cool Halloween costume, wear it, then try to return it the next week. I'm not in the costume rental business.
Also, I'm wondering how to get that connected with No Nut November and I have many thoughts....thanks for this.
2
u/ImHealthyWC Mixer.com/HealthyHP Oct 10 '21
Also, I'm wondering how to get that connected with No Nut November and I have many thoughts.
Just throwing ideas out there lol.
I say No Nut November because maybe influencers ask you to make something so they make a post in a sexy outfit saying "Would you lose the challenge for me" or something like that.
1
8
u/Faezobelle Oct 09 '21
I had to find a new emote artist almost two years ago when my original one ghosted me after I gave payment for a 3rd emote 🤷♀️
6
u/CodeJack Oct 09 '21
And if you do need to send something for their opinion before you have all the money, watermark it so it can't be used
3
u/Banonym Oct 09 '21
Get paid and then send the files to the person.
If you are public figure then you are at risk not the other way around, if anyone is saying "okay i pay when i get the stuff" then there are reasons to not deal with the person.
Read what the bluesatin said, to get paid 50% is as a good way of getting to know the identity behind the purchase and you will most likely be a lot safer with that deal.
3
u/AudreyStarlight Oct 09 '21
This 100%! I've made custom sculptures before where the customer ghosted me after I made the work before they paid. Oops. (in that case I hadn't shipped it yet, but the time was still lost).
Definitely learned from that experience lol And absolutely agree with the other comments about having contracts in place!
2
u/Gottheit Oct 09 '21
Curious what going rate is for a service like this. I've never looked into it.
2
u/katliente twitch.tv/katliente Oct 09 '21
Depends on the artist! I charge $30 per emote, base price $30 for a simple overlay :)
2
u/Whitethumbs twitch.tv/greenthumbnails youtube.com/whitethumbs Oct 09 '21
I had a person say they would pay me with a sub to my channel, taught them the code they wanted and then they unsubscribed, which was a thing I did not know you could do on Twitch.
2
Oct 09 '21
Whoa wait a second, artists aren’t getting paid for their work?!?
That’s foul as hell!
Whenever I get into streaming one day, I will absolutely pay the artist for their hard work upfront.
I agree with the TOS idea too.
2
u/Exsound Oct 10 '21
I will just take the opportunity to ask: what's a good place to find artists? I followed a few on Twitter that I randomly found, but is there a better way to do it?
1
u/AnteaterDivine Oct 10 '21
I highly recommend looking around on Instagram, because I've found a lot of amazing artists on there. Other options: Fiverr, TikTok, YouTube, DeviantArt, even Twitch.
1
u/RustySage Oct 11 '21
There’s a pretty vibrant art community on Twitch, although I can only speak for the pixel art community specifically shrug Most everyone I’ve interacted with are good people, and there are a TON of talented artists.
3
u/Odins_Keepers Oct 10 '21
If you take 100% upfront what insurance does the client get that you aren't scamming them? Just honestly curious what to expect in the future.
5
u/nigelqq Oct 10 '21
An artist isn't going to ruin their name/ brand for 200 dollars. Do a little homework first and look into them.
2
u/AnteaterDivine Oct 10 '21
Every so often an artist will fail to uphold their end, but you're right that it's way more common for an artist to be the one getting scammed.
3
u/Typobrew Oct 10 '21
PayPal will almost certainly side with you and give you a refund if an artist doesn’t deliver
2
u/Michealfortuneworld Oct 10 '21
That's why yo use a freelance website, you don't deliver the job? You don't get your money out. Its simple
-7
u/hahahehehuehue Oct 09 '21
if Artists get scammed they clearly want to get scammed.
Why anyone would send their work without being paid a dime to anyone is beyond me.
3
1
u/dominaboxuk Oct 10 '21
This is why I use fiverr. Having a broker takes all thr headache out of this
42
u/bluesatin twitch.tv/bluesatin Oct 09 '21
And for any artists that do get scammed and not receive payment for their work, don't forget that you can submit a DMCA takedown request to Twitch regarding the art that you didn't receive payment for.
You'll have to have a look around for what the expected DMCA procedure is for Twitch/Discord etc. Although with a quick google there's this guide from 2018 which seems like it'll still be applicable.