Possibly Monitor Workloads in Artist Alley?
 "Pie! :3" Location: Oklahoma
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Hi, I think this bears discussion... while at AC, I spent over $100 in the artist's alley in sketches, badges, etc. However, I returned home empty handed (okay, no- I had a keychain), because artists were not monitoring their workloads responsibly and not a single one of them was done with what I bought. I bought things early on Saturday, and stayed all the way till Monday morning. I returned to each artist at least once on Sunday. I have one thing out, and have contacted the artist several times. I know she's been on DeviantArt where I contacted her, and she refuses to reply to any of my messages. All messages have been polite. She will not even update me on the progress of her work. She has posted non-convention related art since the convention. I hope that she's simply got a lot of messages and can't reply to them individually. However, if this artist does not come through in the next several months, I feel it would be in bad taste for AC to let her participate in the artist's alley in the future. Perhaps we need a feedback system for artists who participate in the alley, so that those who are irresponsible consistently (ie, have a lot of complaints against them) can be banned from participation until the complaints are resolved. This isn't fair considering that there are always people waiting on the alley, while others sit there taking well over their reasonable work load. Edit: Oh, and yes, I did read the FAQ, I realize it's my responsibility/ the artist's responsibility to follow up. This is more targeted at the idea that we may need a system for penalizing artists who regularly fail to do so. Feedback and thoughts on this would be appreciated. I'd also like to hear how many of you walked away from the con without the majority of the things you bought in the artist's alley. |
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I doubt the con would want to touch rating artists or leaving feedback lists of artists .The drama and conflict would be nothing good. I know though that I`ve been burned many times by artists who take your money then dont deliver the art.The best recourse if you dont trust them,is to demand a refund from the artist sunday as the room is about to close if they haent finished it by then.
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permalinkLocation: Fairbanks, Alaska
I made it out of the con with everything I purchased. I bought 6 con badges, and made certain they would be done before the convention was over by asking them how many badges were before mine, and how long on average each badge takes to create. Those who said they would be unable to complete it before the convention was over, I thanked them for their time and let them return to their work. Not without first complimenting their artwork though.
It is unfortunate that the artist you made a purchase from hasn't followed through with heir part yet. Hopefully it's being worked on...
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My Anthrocon 2008 montage video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xfIYmueKeI
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permalinkIt's unfortunate, but with some artists it IS a rather chronic problem. I myself have been badgering an artist for about two years now for a simple 1-character drawing and a con badge. I've gone from very polite to stern, and if I don't start seeing results I may have to start getting very irate with her.
I can certainly sympathize with the point he's making, but agree with the first poster. The staff wouldn't want to touch that idea with a 10-foot pole. Right now I'd say the best idea is to look out for communities that have popped up for just this sort of thing. Furry artists and their commissioners have some forums dedicated to this purpose: providing feedback on bad artists and bad clients. I haven't visited the site myself, but I hear it referenced often.
Give the artist in question some time. What a "reasonable amount of time" is, is up to you, but try to give the artist some time then ask around for whatever forum/web site I mentioned. Start a negative feedback and perhaps that will motivate him/her to uphold their end of the bargain.
-There is no truth
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permalinkBlog: [Link]
Caveat emptor.
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permalinkEnglish please?
But I'll make a guess that the phrase is that infamous Latin term for "let the buyer beware"?
-There is no truth
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permalinkLocation: 12 scenic miles from Hell
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That's what it means, all right.
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permalinkLocation: Laredo, TX
Website: [Link]
AC probably wouldn't have the time and resources to track down every artist who didn't comply with his/her request or commission(s) for someone and threated to give them a spanking if they didn't finish it.
I hate to say, this actually did happen twice to one of my friends during AC in the artists alley and dealers den. One wouldn't respond back, and the other was just, well, bitchy about it. I think they need a remainder that its not looked highly upon in the furry fandom and in the eyes of artists to take someones money and run. And also to limit themselves on what they can accomplish during the time period of AC unless they made other arrangements. You'd be surprised how many artists their are that cant resist the temptation not to say no to every request out there (especially if its a commission), and end sacrificing sleep and even their eduction and jobs to try to fulfill every need.
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permalinkLocation: Hainesville, IL
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Blog: [Link]
Unfortunately, we do not have the resources to monitor all of the artists in Artists Alley. We had 185 artists use the Alley this year (a number that will only increase in the coming years), and the manpower and time needed to to do this objectively is simply beyond our capacity.
As Kage said, caveat emptor. There are several forums on LiveJournal or various message boards where one can give feedback on artists. I would recommend that you investigate those.
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Tom Brady/Duncan da Husky
Artists Alley and Con Store Manager
For fastest replies to questions about Artists Alley, e-mail me at
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permalinkLocation: Oklahoma
I realize that now, thank you for the reply. I think this will have to be an independent project, then, and I may contact you at a later date.
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permalinkWebsite: [Link]
Just my two cents.
I recall that the Artists Alley included a sign listing all of the artists present for that day. I used the sign to locate artists that I was specifically looking for (DDB if memory serves, and Blade) As you go looking through the various wares available, keep in mind who each person is. Take a notepad, or simply ask if they have a website.
Then, go back to the Westin and visit Tiger's Den. LOOK YOUR ARTIST UP. Check out whether or not they have any bad history.
Also, ask up front if they'll have time to finish the commissions. Some artists will have various sketchbooks and other items around indicating they have work piled up.
Another item to be aware of is that some artists are pretty much flooded from the moment they walk in the door. Max Black Rabbit comes to mind. If your favorite artist tends to be a little popular, you might be better off commissioning OUTSIDE of Anthrocon.
***
Something else I'd suggest is to check out the artists who are not doing anything. You might get some incredible artwork out of somebody you've never heard of who is just sitting their twiddling their thumbs.
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