5 things not to say to a comic artist
FREE TALK + NO SELLING OF BOOKS = FAT HOPE
I did lots of free talk last year and sold my books there. That was how I managed to clear 1,000 books all by myself within a year. But the downside was I became so busy preparing the materials, doing promotion for the events, that I have ZERO time to work on my new book.
The last comment "MORE EXPOSURE", which was used by 80% of potential clients last year to negotiate my fees downwards actually made me motivated to grow my fanbase to proof that I don't need your exposure, you need me to promote you instead.
Unfortunately this year, I am caught up with tons of commission work, some were paid last year but delayed till this year. That's why I am very grateful to all my patrons at Patreon, who provided me a steady flow of monthly allowance so I could jack up my commission rates and lessen the projects I had to do. This means more time to work on all-new content for my book, while still keeping the regular Monday comic strips! Of course, I do still get requests to conduct workshops (which sometimes require lots of meetings and get cancelled last minute, so I will be declining all workshops for corporate HR training), tons of requests to negotiate my fees and collaborations, etc. Sometimes I wish I can just ignore all the emails and go somewhere far far away to work on my book... But money is important, especially in Singapore, so I will still read emails.
I can so relate to this xP I'm a person who digitally draw anime/manga from Brunei (a country in which these kinds of industry -self publishing comics - are weak).
ReplyDeleteJust want to say that your comics are great and I love the way you relate your everyday life with them haha. I hope I can be like you too one day :) (Im currently 16) Have a nice day (or night, depending when you're reading this :))
16 is very young! I dream of being a comic artist when I was 16, all the best :)
DeleteHihi~~ Long time no see ur Blog. Tis is HuiComics.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha! I ever ganna the same responses as U, even fr my own siblings! (do cards for free, do cartoons for Flash/Powerpoints at weddings for free, take it as showcasing. Rubbish! Bt i still do it, cos it's my sibs. T_T)
Bt i tink hvg a price on arts make it easier to let go........ and will not hurts so much when they discarded it. Though its easy to draw, it still takes effort and $$$ does not fall fr the sky! Hope they understand.... we also need to survive!
But i tink U doing great! n going towards ur goal! Jia you yah!
Btw, i tink your cushion is not expensive at all, n is unique. ^_^/
Thanks Huicomics! It's been a long time!
DeleteI think it is very reasonable but you know, there will be people who keep asking me for discount and want to self-collect at my home to save postage!