So here is the skinny, I am positive this is an old topic, but I have not been on DP (Donkey Punch maybe?) for that long and want to hear your answers. I have been a Graphic Designer/ Tradional Artist / Video Editor-Special Effects Artist/ now learning Web-Flash Design, for a couple of years. I have networked with many many people in the industry, people that have been around when everything was analogue, to kids that don't know the meaning of analogue. Everything is faster, people want satisfaction right away...but does that mean that we have to sell ourselves cheaper at quciker times? I, for one, am a FIRM!!! believer that you should never undersell yourself. The price you sell yourself for speaks loudly of how you view your own personal worth. Granted, I get how the flood of 'McArtists' and supply and demand and competiton all work. Every vocational industry is jammed packed with people needing someone to hire them over you. This isnt the renaissance were we merely skip about the streets, and there were only a few superior artists to each town. MOST clients are ignorant to what goes on with our work..and mostly, they don't care, they just want the end results. Thats why most of them really don't appreciate what we do and what goes on behind the scenes. It's funny how they also DEMAND a deadline to get the product, which is reasonble of course, then then when it comes to pay you, they seem to think that the same deadline rules don't apply to paying you for your work. (I have had that happen all too often) So most of you Artists can actually add DEBT COLLECTOR to your skill trades. Bottom line, you have a skill they dont. Take in for example a mechanic. He has a skill most don't. You go in for an estimate, you see the bill and wonder why its so high. Parts and Labor is one thing, first of all he jacks up the price for what could be a $30 part to 80-100 bux, then labor, he is charging you what he thinks his time and skill is worth, plus all of his overhead [rent,electricity,employees, ect..) The fact is, you don't have his kill, so you have to pay him for the time he spent learning it, and the skill being applied to your situation. People need cars, they also NEED us, all of the artists, especially in todays graphically oriented world. Without us, no messages would ever come across clear to all of the end users in such a very very pretty bow, the web would be a jumble of tables and text with little vareity amongst them all. We are a part of what makes this world appealing..really, its not some egotistical BS, its the truth. Everywhere you go, any sign, ad, flyer, banner, commercials, clothes, ect...was done by an artist of some sort. My other gripe is that some people think they can hold "Contest" and get away with just paying one designer for their work and gip the other ones out of their money..but that is also a double edged sword as well, because of the 'McArtists' that give people the image that they can treat real artist that way, like as if all of us want to be under sold. If you are seeking artist intervention on your project, and you have a small budget, then too bad, do the graphics yourself then. If you have a deadline and are riding my ass about it, then you better have that same ass riding gusto attitude when it comes to paying me. If you want to change your whole scheme of things mid project, then you better be paying me over time for the extra work I already did. If you want me to give you full PSD's and Jpegs before you even pay me, too bad, you are getting a thumb nail or a watermarked version. Guys, we need to protectect ourselves too, its not all their faults if we do nothing to better our perception of things and how they work. We as artist have the free will to charge whatever we want for our skill (or lack there of) But don't we all realize that we reach the same community. if you think you are worth 10 an hour for a logo or design, then go apply at the mall so you can iron on some ugly babies face on a t-shirt for some uglier proud parents, because your price quotes effect us all, word spreads, quality diminishes, baby jesus cries, raptor jesus break dances. be proud of your art skills, have faith and confidence, and respect your time. So would you undersell yourself?
Amen brother, that is what my mentor said to me. I always wondered how a fat guy who sits in his pajamas can make almost 8k off of a logo and matching website. The fact is if your skill is high enough you will make the money. Everyone knows that you will pay the price for something if it is truly worth it.