mel jacobson on fri 6 nov 09
we all get the `can you make this for me free` kind of talk.
you know, `art is fun, and why should they pay for it.`.
it is a common problem.
churches come to me, political groups, schools,and they want
free stuff.
often.
i could make my life `empty bowls`...i get requests from
all over america.
here is a helper.
i got this from my teaching partner 55 years ago.
he said. `when they come for free signs, art materials, help
and knowledge...always say sure.`
this is what he did.
had some stationary made up:
jerry korte art services
statement.
he would do the work for them, then bill them.
you know
art services @ 20$ and hour
5 hours
materials 18$ / tax
total $124.95
give it to them when they pick up the stuff.
they either pay it, or not.
if they pay, you have a customer.
if not...they never ask you again. gone forever.
(and the word spreads.)
sharlene does this too:
`shar, can you do this 200 word poem in calligraphy, nothing
fancy, just write it out on nice paper...for a friend for christmas.
don't fuss or
anything.`
sure.
it may take her 15 hours of draft, work, rework, then final piece.
she inserts a bill.
15 hours @ 25$ an hour.
then she may cross it out, and say
`paid in full/gift`.
they get the point, fast.
never again.
but, she does get great commissions and they pay her.
so,
don't be a victim. artists are usually their own enemy.
and that is because many do not trust their own professional worth.
respect that you are worth almost as much as a plumber, and they don't work
free very often. (although, they get the same crap from relatives
and friends.)
mel
from: minnetonka, mn
website: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/
clayart link: http://www.visi.com/~melpots/clayart.html
new book: http://www.21stcenturykilns.com
William & Susan Schran User on fri 6 nov 09
On 11/6/09 8:36 AM, "mel jacobson" wrote:
> it is a common problem.
> churches come to me, political groups, schools,and they want
> free stuff.
> often.
> i could make my life `empty bowls`...i get requests from
> all over america.
As Mel has written in the past - sell within a 50 mile radius.
I do this and I also give in a 50 mile radius.
Each of us has to decide what is important to us.
I don't give out my pots to folks who call and think I should give them
something simply because I make pots.
As I make pots throughout the year, I always make a couple bowls each
sitting.
Collect and store them until my local empty bowls event is held.
I give them bowls and I work the event.
Our empty bowls event benefits our local women's domestic violence center.
It is all in the community where I live.
I will give to another empty bowls this year, locally, near where I teach.
I am also asking my students to make a couple bowls each.
This one will benefit "Our Daily Bread", a local food bank/kitchen.
They have seen those seeking food increasing dramatically.
Check the charities you would like to support.
Had a "police fraternity" call me several times asking for a pledge.
Looked up their fund/charity online.
Discovered only 10% of money collected goes to the charity.
The rest goes to the guys calling.
I give to my local NPR station.
That is what I listen to.
I am paying myself on that one.
Paul Lewing on fri 6 nov 09
On Nov 6, 2009, at 5:36 AM, mel jacobson wrote:
we all get the `can you make this for me free` kind of talk.
you know, `art is fun, and why should they pay for it.`.
My teacher, Rudy Autio, once said to me, "Every person who gets a
piece of art for free is another person who thinks art is worthless".
Paul Lewing
www.paullewingtile.com
www.paullewingart.com
Elizabeth Priddy on fri 6 nov 09
With 26 years of experience and a strong confidence that I can complete the=
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tasks I get paid for competently, I am worth as much as a qualified plumbe=
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r.=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=3D0AI have never seen a plumber work for free for the gen=
eral pub=3D
lic. Charity or credit is a personal choice, but free is just not how it g=
=3D
oes.=3D0A=3D0AI can do what I do with the same level of expertise and exclu=
sivi=3D
ty. When you need sewage to empty through the drain right, call the other=
=3D
guy.=3D0A=3D0AIn other words, when you need a pot to piss in, I'm your man=
. =3D
=3D0A=3D0A- ePriddy=3D0A=3D0AElizabeth Priddy=3D0ABeaufort, NC - USA=3D0A=
=3D0Ahttp://www.=3D
elizabethpriddy.com=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A--- On Fri, 11/6/09, mel jacobson s2@VIS=3D
I.COM> wrote:=3D0A=3D0A> From: mel jacobson =3D0A> Subje=
ct: fr=3D
ee art asked/advice=3D0A=3D0A> don't be a victim.=3DA0 artists are usually =
their =3D
own=3D0A> enemy.=3D0A> and that is because many do not trust their own=3D0A=
> prof=3D
essional worth.=3D0A> respect that you are worth almost as much as a plumbe=
r,=3D
and=3D0A> they don't work=3D0A> free very often.=3DA0 (although, they get =
the sa=3D
me crap=3D0A> from relatives=3D0A> and friends.)=3D0A> mel=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A=
=3D0A
Dale Neese on fri 6 nov 09
Or discounts on several pottery pieces. "If I buy 4 bowls do I get a
discount?" Sure,...these conditions apply. Fill one gasoline tank of my
F-250 that brought all of these pots to the show and I'll give you a
discount.....
I'll be seeing some of you in Nashville next weekend.
Dale Tex
"across the alley from the Alamo"
Helotes, Texas USA
www.daleneese.com
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