<\/a>Could a Plumber do this?<\/p><\/div>\n
Artists, are you charging more than your plumber does?\u00a0 I think you should.<\/p>\n
We live in a historical home, built in 1926.\u00a0 They didn’t have good plumbing back then….so we spend a lot on plumbers.\u00a0 Typically, our plumber charges about $200.00 an hour, PLUS parts.\u00a0 (Southern California’s not cheap!)<\/p>\n
When I price out a small commissioned painting, (particularly surfboard paintings)\u00a0many times\u00a0Drew will question my quote, saying, “oh, that’s too much.\u00a0 Charge less.\u00a0 It’ll only take me about 2 hours…..”\u00a0 And I argue, “But I don’t want our plumber making more than you do!”\u00a0 Here’s my thinking, in two parts:<\/p>\n
1.)\u00a0 A 2 hour painting takes more than 2 hours<\/strong>.\u00a0 You spend at least an hour talking to the client, discussing the painting.\u00a0 Then you spend time researching, then drawing the sketches.\u00a0 Then you scan & e-mail sketches, then, after the client gives their changes,\u00a0you re-sketch.\u00a0 Then add 30 minutes to go to get the supplies, if necessary, and another 60 minutes to prep the item you’re painting.\u00a0 So now your small, 2 hour painting actually took over 5 hours<\/span>.<\/p>\n2:)\u00a0 When it comes to art, people aren’t paying for LABOR, they are paying for UNIQUE TALENT<\/strong> and all the YEARS it took you to learn your techniques, build up your name, develop your skills and talent.<\/p>\nUnlike plumbers, who are a dime a dozen (just look in a local phone book – there are at least 50 listed in your town), there is only ONE DREW BROPHY (or only one ___________you fill in the artist’s name here).<\/p>\n
The next time you go to price a commission, or a project, ask yourself if you are really, truly charging a fair price for yourself.\u00a0 Take into consideration ALL the time you put into it, including the time discussing it with the client, your research time, prep time, etc.\u00a0 If you aren’t sure, start keeping track of your time.\u00a0 Keep a sheet handy and write it down.\u00a0 You may be surprised to see just how much more time you are spending on a project than you realized.<\/p>\n
For general pricing on commercial art, check out the BIBLE for pricing guidelines for artists, graphic artists, photographers: THE GRAPHIC ARTISTS GUILD HANDBOOK:\u00a0 PRICING AND ETHICAL\u00a0GUIDELINES.\u00a0<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n I want\u00a0you to\u00a0be profitable!\u00a0 Make sure you are charging enough!<\/p>\n
xxoo Spunk Brophy<\/p>\n
(Follow me on Twitter:\u00a0 www.twitter.com\/mariabrophy<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Artists, are you charging more than your plumber does?\u00a0 I think you should. We live in a historical home, built in 1926.\u00a0 They didn’t have good plumbing back then….so we spend a lot on plumbers.\u00a0 Typically, our plumber charges about $200.00 an hour, PLUS parts.\u00a0…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[104,886],"class_list":["post-3285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-drews-tips","tag-art-marketing","tag-pricing-out-your-art"],"yoast_head":"\n
Should an Artist Charge More Than a Plumber? - Drew Brophy - Surf Lifestyle Art<\/title>\n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n