helveticastandard
patreon
IMPORTANT: Restructure to commissions and commission slots.
🕑 Added 2019-08-23 20:28:12 +0000 UTCPreface:
As most of you know, I have a strict work ethic, and I have completed 100% of commissions since I opened Patreon and started accepting them. To my knowledge, no commission has been left unfinished or forgotten. Demand has steadily grown over the past year and now our family is over 100 wonderful people who support my work and allow me to pay the bills and lead a fulfilling life. This demand has led to overbooks. I have been struggling to keep commissions on schedule due to this demand. This means, delays are in effect for a while, and like I've said in footnotes on all monthly reports, commissions now take longer to complete, but all will be done eventually. I'm doing my best to work as fast as I can, but we are at a turning point where we are too big a family to sustain the same output we had 1 or 2 years ago. I now need to watch my health due to my NAFL and carpal tunnel syndrome so I have to measure my drawing sessions. All I ask is patience. I know it's selfish, but that's all I can ask of you while I do this.
What's this all about?
Demand for commissions has not stabilized after 2 years, only grown exponentially.
It is partly my blunder, as I kept opening slots despite having a backlog.
So a restructure to commissions and slots will be in effect from September and onwards.
This is to stabilize demand.
Why keep opening slots then?
Commissions are a welcome extra income to help me sustain myself as a freelance artist, but they are also the foundation for tiers 4 and 5 rewards. Patrons in these tiers commission regularly and I must honor their pledge. It was my mistake to think that demand would not increase, however.
What exactly is "high demand"?
There was 5 slots opened bi-monthly as well as a maximum of 4 secured slots for high tiers.
The first year, only 5 slots were taken and maybe the occasional secured one.
few months later, we had all slots taken in few hours. early on the second year all slots were taken in under an hour. These past months all slots are taken in less than 10 minutes.
Something must be done about the exponential increase in demand.
Why not close slots for a while?
While that would allow me to clear the backlog it would do nothing against demand and we'd be back to overbooks very soon. higher tiers would also not be able to claim their commission benefits.
You mentioned overbooks, can't you decline some commissions to give yourself some room?
This was briefly done some months ago, I decided to decline a commission that was too time consuming and would undoubtedly delay me. The client then proceeded to delete pledge and leave a negative review. In a similar vein, slots are filled very quickly and many patrons who can't get a slot become understandably upset about it.
I wish I could have slots for everyone, but I can't. The restructure aims to mitigate this issue; lowering demand will allow for everyone to have their slot eventually, even if they must commission less frequently.
Maybe rates are too cheap?
While I wish to keep prices accessible, a rate boost is the most sensible choice, rather than limit commission bonuses or spread commission months even more.
The overwhelming demand evidently indicates rates are a bit low. I will confidently say that much.
Got it. What are the details of the restructure?
Commissions and commission slots changelog:
- Limit for slots is now 4 slots (secured slots remains unchanged at 4 slots). some more changes to specifics and rates will be listed below.
-Only one couple commission is allowed per commission month (as in 2 characters in a single artwork.) Patrons will be notified when this commission has been taken.
-Regular 4 slots are now tentative: If I see the workload surpassing my schedule, I will have to decline a commission or 2. (secured slots for high tiers will remain secured.)
-Only 2 dakimakura commissions are allowed per commission month. Patrons will be notified when these are taken.
-Base rate for commissions will increase from $30 USD per character to $60 USD per character.
-Specifics and extras like custom outift/accesories/pose will remain adding $10 USD to the base rate.
-Lewd will now increase from $20 USD to $30 USD added to the base rate
-Backgrounds will increase from $20 USD to $30 USD
-dakimakura rates will remain at its $80 USD(1 side) $160 USD(2 sides) rate
-discounts to commissions are unchanged and you can still factor them in according to your tier.
Notes: A full breakdown of commission rates is always available at the discord server.
It's highly recommended you join this server to get updates and WIPs in real time, as well as having a direct communication line to me. You can get an invite by claiming "discord rewards" from your tier subscription. If you don't get an invite, please contact me and I'll issue you one.
That's all for the changes to commissions. These will come in effect on September 1st when commissions re-open.
Thanks everyone for your invaluable support and patience. *bows*
Comments
LelouchLampy
I mean as i sadly cant afford to do a commission anyway haha this doesn't effect me much. But you do what you gotta do for yourself. Dont push it and work yourself into the ground.
