Artist pay all calculated.

[ellenmillion]

I want to lie.

My intentions are good - I want to lie and tell people that their work sold like bubblegum monkeys, report huge sales to them and reassure them that their artwork has tangible value. When I get to the .02 pay reports, I find my fingers reluctant to hit post. Maybe I could tack on a dollar. I wouldn't miss a dollar. $1.02 is a helluva a lot better than just $0.02.

In the end, I don't. They might ask me, "what sold?" and I'd either have to extend the lie, or backpedal, and then they'd probably feel worse, knowing I felt sorry for them.

Of 189 artists, only 19 made $10 or more. A few of them significantly more.

Those artists who do the strongest are the most technically skilled (though there are some baffling exceptions of spectacular artists who were totally overlooked), who use brilliant colors, have a large selection at EMG, folks who work large enough and give permissions for large prints, those who have prominent links from their (often already popular) galleries and homepages, and those who have been around a year or more so that I'm more likely to have their work in stock for in-person sales.

Wholesale was up a lot this year, percentage-wise to total sales, which meant more work for less pay for all of us.

There are bright spots in artist pay. A few folks were 'found,' and got decent royalties. Not, you know, rent-paying royalties, but enough that I don't feel embarrassed handing over their totals.

The bulk of the task is done, now (the database and notification stuff), and I'm glad.

I'm ready to move on to final-proofing the anthology and working on the print services webpage.

Comments

[uneide.livejournal.com]

*hugs* in all seriousness, you're too hard on yourself. I rejoice at anything - cent or not. The fact that you take the time to do all the work, to send the reports and let me know -- that means a lot. And that you haven't dropped me for not producing that much for you, for one! We are the ones that should be thanking you for representing our work, after all. <3

[carmensylph.livejournal.com]

I agree, you are too hard on yourself. :) I don't have huge expectations of anyone in licensing, I know it can just be hit-and-miss with what ends up being popular images for a company!

[kiri-moth.livejournal.com]

Thirding that you're too hard on yourself! Besides, markets shift and move in cycles...what's popular now may not be popular a year down the road, and vice-versa. I know that you do so much hard work for all of your artists! Really, anything that comes in from licensing is like free money for me, it wasn't such a grueling chore to upload my files to you. ;)

And speaking of grueling chores (just kidding!) I've cleared my plate a bit and I'd like to start on your commission. :)

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And yay!

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

I am continually amazed by all that you do and how well you handle it.

[flasher.livejournal.com]

Ellen, you should never feel embarrassed for reporting sales to the artists. I'm always thrilled when I get my yearly notice and I don't sell all that well through EMG. Know why? Because those are sales that I didn't have to really work for. I didn't have to print it and fight with the colors. I didn't have to package it up. I didn't have to fill out registration paperwork or make oddles of little price stickers for it. I didn't have to worry that the post office would mangle it in shipping. All I had to do was spend a little time on the computer and *magic*, there is money in my account (I know its is no where near that simple from your point of view ...)

Compared to all the other ways my art makes money, EMG is a cinch.

[andreags.livejournal.com]

I don't think it has anything to do with you or how you run your business. I've stopped selling art on ebay because it just doesn't get me anything worthwhile nowadays. It's tough to sell a lot of things when people are looking for ways to pinch pennies.

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

Good point, I need to paint larger :)

I think being involved in projects helps too.

I don't think you should feel bad either. Compared to other licensing companies (well you already know many good reasons why we like you compared to some others) you are working with many artists who aren't full time professionals and haven't reached their highest skill levels yet or are still unknown. You don't have the marketing power of a huge company either, so to feel bad about not being able sell as much for artist is silly.

[thaldir.livejournal.com]

Ellen, if not for you, painting would still be just an hobby for me.
You were the first to whom I offered my works, and our dealings gave me the courage to keep proposing.
Through PA I discovered that there *was* a market for my style and that was the push that encouraged me to try and learn digital. Through you, just last year, I got selected for my first cover.

Never feel sorry for 'not doing enough' for your artists.

[kittrel.livejournal.com]

Don't feel too bad. I do think a lot of the effort needs to come from the artist's themselves, they need to sell their work too. I know I did a crappy job of that. I know the artist I'm kinda fangirly of, who I'm sure was one of those 19, does a really good job of promoting her work and products. I intend to work harder this year!

[ursulav.livejournal.com]

Being one of the few, I can't really speak with any moral authority on the topic, but y'know...you personally can only do what you can do. You are exceedingly kind, you work exceedingly hard, but you can't protect artists from the world. Sooner or later, we have to get out there and take our lumps.

It'd be great if everybody could be wildly successful, but particularly in THIS economy, all you can do is treat them like professionals. That, in and of itself, is a great kindness.

[redrevvy.livejournal.com]

Aye! You said it best, in my humble opinion.

[marukka.livejournal.com]

Oh, one of these years I'll have enough to cover the transaction fees that'll turn it into Real Money. Then, I'll buy me an ice cream!

In all seriousness, Ellen, you can only gain anything as an artist by marketing yourself to your potential audience (I have not done so, to your audience. Hell, not adding anything new, I'm surprised I get anything at all from you, heh!). You can't create that for others. Being a solid resource aviable even to a small-scale artist is still a good thing, though.

[brightling.livejournal.com]

I think your artists are telling you good stuff Ellen. :)

Also... am I the only one who thinks bubblegum monkeys could be very, very messy? All that cheery pink stuck to fur, flung everywhere, howling, screeching. Teeth. Folks may be very happy that such forces of adorable distruction weren't sent in their directions! It would wreck havoc on studios. :D

I can understand your tension though. I'm just thankful your so honest and open. It makes working with you very pleasant.

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

Those artists who do the strongest are the most technically skilled (though there are some baffling exceptions of spectacular artists who were totally overlooked), who use brilliant colors, have a large selection at EMG, folks who work large enough and give permissions for large prints, those who have prominent links from their (often already popular) galleries and homepages, and those who have been around a year or more so that I'm more likely to have their work in stock for in-person sales.

Um. Yes. Technique ... intensity ... large enough ... better and My Own gallery... yup. All things already on my "how to get better list" (if I only didn't have these other TimeEaters called Work I Love and Mothering My Nifty Kid. Er, now, I don't want to give those up either! Dang... Guess I'll just keep moving SLOWLY in my busy multiply-committed state...). Actually, it's very encouraging to know I've got the right next steps down, just need to flippin' keep takin' 'em.

[metasilk.livejournal.com]

p.s. ((Embaraassed)) what they said, too!

[thrivis.livejournal.com]

You didn't promise us gold coins falling from the sky if we sent you our art. :P I think the fact that some artists do way better than other artists shows that the factors are not in your control. I don't know about anyone else, but I don't expect you to bring me fortune and fame for the art I make - it's up to me to pimp my stuff really. So yeah... you shouldn't be so hard on yourself, and don't feel bad about low pay. *hug*

I've found myself in a community that tends to prefer original art more than prints and stuff like that. Getting into an audience that wants stuff and things has been an ongoing challenge. As you said, they like technically accomplished work! I'm not quite there yet I guess. :P

I wish there was a way to see what sells without bothering you for the info. XD

[redrevvy.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm not unhappy with what I earned! I love working with you, Ellen. I just wish life hadn't gotten so much in the way of things in 2008. I hope to be far productive next year and contribute more to EMG-Zine and other projects of yours, and spend a little more time in the EMG forum. :)

[toeknuckles.livejournal.com]

ellen, you can send me a royalties email saying i made $0.01, and i'll still be thankful that i'm with you. you're honest, hard working and give a toss about your artists.
personally, i know if i ever make low royalties with you, it's usually 100% my own fault for not linking or promoting enough. you do a fantastic job, and sales or no sales, i'm thankful that i'm an EMG artist. really and honestly.
so never, ever, EVER worry yourself on my account. ;-)

[amanda-now.livejournal.com]

I don't have a licensing thing with you but I wanted to comment anyway. Don't feel bad- I have one licensing thing with HAED and my last check was for $2 or something. If it were me, I think I wouldn't want a check for two cents, that is a little embarassing to cash at the bank, haha ;-). Do you have a rollover program like Zazzle that has a total you can set or something? That way, you can offer artists the option of cashing on their royalties after it hits $20 at the end of the quarter or however it works.

Anyway, you obviously care a lot about your artists, its wonderfully refreshing.

[ellenmillion.livejournal.com]

Yes to the rollover program, actually! They can't cash it out until it hits $10 (though I make exceptions if an artist asks personally), it just keeps a balance and every statement adds (hopefully) a little more to it. And no matter how low it is, they can cash it in for credit at any point if they want to shop the site. AND they can get wholesale pricing on their own work (including group projects like calendars and coloring books), no matter how small the order. It's a pretty nifty program, she says humbly. My webcoder did a bang up job on it.