Lil horror story from me that ends well?
Once upon a time, I commissioned an artist I really admired on dA. The artist took commissions from a lot of people at once, so we all were always expecting a wait - several weeks to a few months, but communication was there. Then, one day. . . the communication stopped. I won't say who it was. But communication just dropped entirely and people felt like they'd been robbed of money (25$+). Months passed, and we saw the artist create a new account on a new site, we knew who it was because of the advertising on that original dA's journal - so we crept around. I personally never made any accusations and just assumed I was the victim of money theft and left it at that. No need to stalk the artist and harass them when my goal was to obtain the art - the money was meh.
Months passed, then years, and it just became my sad story that I fell back on "why do I not commission people" for over 20$ any more. [Still my go-to story and reason mind you.]
Then, one day. A new journal popped up on that dA account we had assumed had been abandoned and forgotten. Even a copy of it on their second dA account, and one on that other site. It said basically the same thing: an apology, they were honest that they were young, took on too much in commissions and didn't know how to deal with it, and so they ran. They wanted to make it right and were requesting anyone who had commissioned them, if still interested, to send them a message and a free art would be given for compensation.
It was super touching and honestly, I responded basically immediately. I spoke with the artist in a polite manner but firmly that I'd love an art, but I'd also love it if they could color the linework of the wip they had sent me years before. They were honest in their response that they weren't sure if they could do that art style anymore, and I said that was okay, and if they felt like it, to try their best -and if not, it'd be okay.
I also know from my friend who takes commissions that although her price is low for her quality of work, she tells everyone commissioning her up-front that they'll be stuck with the waiting game of several months to a year. She tells them right away that she draws slow since it's not her main source of income. She's very firm and makes sure they understand it's not a joke before accepting them. She states it like this so that she can deter those who want instant art magically appears gratification, and and whittle it down to the people who really want her art specifically.
She told me once how she got aggressive behavior from a buyer once who had given her like one vague thing to go off on and she asked for clarity again and again, and never got it. And they were of course upset with the art she finished and she was like, I asked for weeks and got nothing - no re-do's. And just refused to accept them as a commissioner again because if their crummy attitude.
#artists have the powerrrr