What Would You Have Done?

You did the right thing IMO.
There's money to print the book and there's money to be made from the sales of the book. The publisher knows that much.
$40 buys a nice lunch these days...is that worth the commission? I think you know the answer.

Always walk away when they are beating you down for money. The next time they asked they would expect the same price, been there. However, if I wanted to do it to get a foot in the door I might consider waiving the fee all together, with the understanding it is a one time thing.

Another opportunity will come your way, which leaves a better taste.

Walked away. I would not have countered offered with the lower amount. If they can't afford your work, then they have to go to a lesser quality artist.

You did exactly what I would have done after I got done laughing at the $40 offer.

Thanks everyone, I just needed some reassurance. I probably should not have replied to the craigslist ad but thought I could negotiate. In the meantime, I need to get back to creating work that people are paying for! Thanks again.

unless you really need the money, that's a low price for a book cover. i'm betting it's a vanity press deal and its totally out of pocket. everyone thinks they can get stuff for cheap.


---Mike Savad

They probably can find a cover for that price but it doesn't have to be yours! I personally think you did the right thing passing on it.

One of my bigger licensing deals so far was to a large company that originally agreed upon a certain price and then weeks later, my contact came back saying that others in their company felt they could get a much cheaper image from a stock company. I hated saying it, but my response was that I wasn't interested in competing with stock. If they could find the same image from stock at a lower price, that was their prerogative. In my case, they came back a week later at their original price, but there was always that chance that price mattered more to them. All you can do is move on to the next one. Sometimes they want the image bad enough to change their mind. Other times they find something else, but it doesn't help to chase the lowest prices.

I'd have done the same as you Chad..minus the $125 offer.. You have to stick to your guns.. if they cant afford you, it's their issue and not yours!

I agree, seems an awfully low price for a book cover. I think you did the right thing by saying no.

It is low for a book cover...although there are people on fiverr that will do it for less than that...not my cup o' tea. I think you did it right.

I wouldn't license a decent photo for $40 for that. Even non- profit magazines typically pay $150 to $275 for a quarter page size.

I'd have told them to pound sand.

I think you can accept offer if image size is 1-2Mb JPG
One time use only.

pssst, guys. READ...it's for a commissioned piece, NOT YET CREATED. ;)

if you had to create it then hell no.

glad to see Marlene pointed that out. that was what was in my mind, too.

You did right.

I'm not sure with out further information like who and what the book is and what the marketing potential is and what other opportunities may have been available.

I really don't' think it is always about the money, sometimes it is about the exposure or other value added. Many time these people may not have a budget but they will have something that is of little value to them but great value to you. You have to ask them to sweeten the pot. What else can you do for me that would make me want to do this?. They may just say, take or leave it. But you never know unless you ask.

But lacking those facts I really don't know if you did the right thing or not. All I know is when you get opportunities like that you should explore all sorts of value added possibilities and not just react to the money. This is why top pros have agents. The individual artist does not always see those kinds of things and they leave money on the table without even knowing it.

I also want to suggest that how much money they are going to make off the book has little or nothing to do with it unless you have name recognition that adds value. Now that said, I would use it as bargaining tactic, but I would not let it become a deal breaker. That's like saying shipping costs should be higher because of the money the artist is make off the painting.

But the reality is they will get a cover for the money. It is what you can get beyond the money that may make it worth doing the deal.

That would be an" Oh Hell No" moment for me. I have to be paid a minimum of sixty an hour even if my customer is unsatisfied because, after all, I'm painting their crummy ideas.

Have no doubts. You were correct. This is not a garage sale where you can bargain. I wouldn't trust Craigs list either.
But definitely don't sell yourself short. You have more respect than that, especially to yourself.

Thank you everyone for your feed back.

Floyd, I was thinking in that perspective that is why I wanted some feedback from fellow artists and their experiences. Free marketing is free marketing. If I weren't in the middle of two commissions and getting ready for events coming up, or had some free time, I may have considered it a little further. Because I agree, exposure could go a long way.

It's like this website, for instance. Even though I have not made a sale since I have joined, it has provided me with free knowledge and has been a great source of encouragement... thanks to all of you people. So I am not bummed that I have not made a sale here, but thankful for what I do get out of it.