Looking for 2 extra comic book artist [Paid]

[darthmongoose]

You would be paid 35-40 per page

35-40 of which currency? This is a very low rate if the answer is £GBP and a ridiculously low rate if it's $USD.

[Kaydreamer]

If you're running a studio and looking for professional artists, you may want to have a look at this document with Australian comic artist rates and really re-assess your budget. You should be offering rates in the ballpark of $250USD per page at a bare minimum.

What you're offering is not a liveable hourly wage.

[kanisgir]

Thank you for the input! Since its just starting out im starting at low rates, I've looked into what some artist charge per page and based off of that! I already have a few artist who are willing to work with me on the prices I have set and I'm hoping further down the line I can pay more!

[kanisgir]

USD and yes it could be higher but for now this is what I can afford until further notice. I have a few people who are willing to work with me already with the prices I put in place but I'm hoping to pay them more in the future. To add on to that I always ask the artist if they are comfortable with the wage we agreed on and increase the amount as much as I can, if I cant afford them I let them know and let them go so they can get paid what they are worth.

[Kaydreamer]

Not gonna lie, it's really troubling to me when studios do this, new or not. It sets a dangerous precedent, and puts downward pressure on the rates artists can charge. When one studio gets away with it, others start trying, and it just spirals down from there. We've been feeling this squeeze for some time now, with sites like Fiver and such making it even worse.

It's getting to the point where it's becoming extremely difficult to make a living as a commercial artist, due to so many of the rates on offer being poverty wages like this. Instead of approaching people who could finance your studio, you're perpetuating a trend which is destroying livelihoods.

[kanisgir]

I understand that. I'm an artist too but simultaneously I dont plan on keeping the rates as low as they are. If I could I'd pay way more then I do. Currently I make 0 money off of this and all profits I do make in the future I do plan on giving it directly to the studio and its workers. It may not be ideal but its all I can do for now...

[darthmongoose]

If you can't afford to pay the artists appropriately for the project, you should change the scope of the project to budget appropriately with the funds you have. Do something smaller that only requires one artist so you can pay them double that amount (which is still about half what I'd consider reasonable, but it's a start).

If you're trying to found a studio, you need to act like a studio head, manage your projects properly and pay your workers like professionals.

[kanisgir]

Yeah I'm pretty new to this but I get what you're saying! I appreciate the advice though! That does give me something to consider. I'd like to get more advice from you all of you dont mind, can I DM you?

[kanisgir]

Can I Dm you as well for some opinions and advice? This is a learning experience for me and would help to have further imput

[darthmongoose]

Yeah I'm pretty new to this but I get what you're saying! I appreciate the advice though! That does give me something to consider. I'd like to get more advice from you all of you dont mind, can I DM you?

Please do not DM me. I'm not a free business advice person. Please contact an actual business advisor or find and read guidelines on setting up a business that are appropriate to the country you're setting up in.

[kanisgir]

I can respect that once again thank you for the advice, you both have given me a few things to consider.

[Kaydreamer]

I've never started a business besides just... my little Etsy shop, which barely counts. So I wouldn't be able to give you useful advice. But there are two ideas I'll leave you with;

• I agree with what Darth said about scoping down; have one project, with one experienced artist, and pay them according to professional rates. That, combined with a really great story, will give you a solid project to build a good reputation with.
• I was approached the other day at a con by a guy who had started a small studio, but instead of paying them to create stories/comics for him, he was using what funding he had to help artists who chose to affiliate with him create their stories, by helping create marketing animations and some promotional material. This is another way you could build a 'portfolio' of artists and stories affiliated with your studio.

[kanisgir]

Oh! I've never even thought of that, thats a great idea too! Thank you! I really do appreciate this!

[sushy00]

I sent you an e-mail.

[kanisgir]

Got it thank you I'll read it now!

[Kuma]

@RedLenai I summon thee!

[RedLenai]

I'm interested! I've sent a mail with my prices and samples ^_^

[leslibusinka]

I have sent you an email! Waiting for your responce.

[KokoLei]

Hey there! I have started a business myself and why it isn't related to comics or animation I can give you some advice.

As a business owner who is presenting their business as a professional studio, your priority should be creating a work environment where your artists will thrive mentally and financially so that you can keep talent. Especially if you have certain expectations for the quality of work. You can't present yourself as a professional studio with absolutely no budget for paying these artists a decent wage for their work.

You should have a business plan, you should not be seeking business advice on the same thread that you are looking for employees. That is an extremely bad look. You should have already done your due diligence before deciding to hire anyone. You are setting yourself up for failure by not having a grasp of the industry standards of how a studio should employ and compensate their artists.

[system]

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