Question for the artists about payment

[Heretic]

This probably doesnt belong in this forum, but we'll give it a shot anyway...

I had an artist do some tshirt designs and a logo image for a cd. He's been quite easy to work with and is eager to hellp the band.

Here's the thing: we're going to cut in him with money once the cd is out and everything, so I'm trying to see what would be a good price to pay him. he did the designs for free...but we're going to be using them on tshirts and stuff, so clearly he deserves some payment.

So, one image used as a back cover logo and on tshirts...

another image used exclusively for tshirts.

What kind of cash should I throw him in order to keep from ripping the guy off?

 

[spiderfan08]

id talk to the guy about it. i know that ive been offered to do things like that..and we just kinda worked out a price. usually an agreement can be made.

 

[donk70]

Well, that's a tough question really. These are the 2 most popular ways of payment to artists

Royalties- Give him a price or percentage based on the amount of units sold.
Flat fee- Pay him a one time only agreed upon price.

Depending on how pr0fessional the artist is and based on how personal your relationship is, he may also ask for a one time licensing fee. This usually is asked if the artist retains the publishing rights to his artwork.

As for fair price, you would need to negotiate that with the artist or his agent.

 

[Juggertha]

I prefer a flat fee and to be done with it. Royalties for something like that can go on for too long.

If you do get famous though, take care of him.

 

[iambilly81]

i just do a flat fee, most of the time, it honestly depends on what it is.

what i usually do is keep a log on how long it takes me to do it and the effort. then find out exactly what he or she is doing with it. i did a mailer once and he was making 1000 prints of it. so i charged him according to that and have it in the contract that he cant do anymore prints with out going to me first.

if you do a contract, make sure you word everything correctly. or it can bite in you in the ass later on.

 

[Ring Deacon]

Well since he is basicly doing freelance work, the artist should set the price or at the very least agree to one with you. Now if you are plaing to use him for future CD covers then you need to work out a contract with him. As for royalties, unless you have a recuring character on your CD covers ( Eddie on all of the Iron Maiden CDs ) paying royalties isn't needed. But you may choose to do anyway. As an artist myself just having my work seen by people can sometimes be payment enough, because it could lead to other jobs.

 

[Heretic]

We do have a wacky mascot guy, like Eddie. Unlike Eddie, he's a little more humorous looking than he is cool or scary, so we're leaving him off of the cd and just doing tshirt and tour posters with him right now. Eventually I think itd be fun to do a one shot origin comic for him.

Just for the sake of sanity, I do think the flat fee would work better though. Lets face it, its possible that sales will be slow, so we'd be paying him a small amount of money doled out over a few years time. Hopefully this thing will takle off though.

Thanks to everyone!