Animation Source Forums

This is, yet another, scatterbrained thought via Kirada.

On a lot of forums, you see something called a Commissions Board, or sub-board, where people can post their commission status in one place.

So, why not have one for Animation Source? A lot of people here take commissions (including myself), and there aren't a lot of places to post the status and information. It can be posted in the fan art area(s), yes, but it's then easily lost or disregarded by the owner.

Also, people could get a chance to buy something from fellow Balto Sourcians, their favorite artist(s). Again, just a thought. XD

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We could also have a stickied topic, in which the 'moderator' for the area (to make sure there are no scams and it follows the rules, mind you; I'm also suggesting at most two moderators to manage the area) will post different users' commission hyperlinks in one place.

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Things to be posted in a Commission topic (For those who don't know for sure):

Samples

Prices

Category of commissions

Gallery link(s)

Monetary preferences (check, cash, Paypal, ETC)

OPTIONAL: Mailing Address (I suggest giving this to your commissioner/commissionee after you're SURE you'll be working together).

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Thoughts?

A scatterbrained idea?,I beg to differ,my dear Kirada,I think this a very wonderful idea.

I generally love the idea however for BS? Probably not..

Most users here don't have their own money or a paypal and such to pay for comissions and/or are not allowed to by their parents.

I can also foresee a lot of topics where people have basically copied someone else's prices etc. into their own topic for the sake of having a comission topic. Way huge prices for art that (Lets face it..) needs a lot more work before charging and receiving money for it. People charging and receiving money only for their comissioners to never receive the artwork they paid for no doubt with the excuse being "My scanner is broken" or "I'm leaving BS, I've had enough, sorry guys..".

I love the idea and it does work on loads of other places but I'm really not sure at all about BS.

I was thinking the same thing...

But, then I thought...it sucks that since alot of users would abuse this option, the people who would actually use it adequately miss out on it. So, I think at the very least we should try it and see where it goes. I would definately use it. I've taken a commission before and I found it quite enjoyable. =)

I think maybe there should be some "warnings" or something like that if a certain user has failed to post\send the art within a certain amount of time(long enough to complete the commission\receive the money), they should be banned from posting commission offerings.

I agree that it's a "double-edges sword." But, it is anywhere. Perhaps I should have explained the "Commissions Moderators" better?

I suggest at most two moderators, preferribly existing moderators on the site to 'care' for the area. The job for a Commissions Moderator would be, not only to make sure the section runs smoothly, but to block out/delete any potential scams. Of course, this would mean the moderators "approving" topics before they appear on the site (if there is any way to do that, of course) and reviewing topics.

Of course, though, we cannot expect all commissionees (the artists) to complete the commissions in a time we set for them. Some artists take months (like myself) to make sure the piece(s) is/are acceptable for sale. Of course, sketch commissions always take less time. But not every commissionee takes such. X]

I also agree that, the site being full of children, that there would be issues for pricing. This is for the artists to decide -- if the buyers find it ludacris, then they won't buy the artists' work. EX: "A stick figure-ish wolf for $5? I don't think so." And they'll move on to someone with "better" art and "better" prices. It is the world of "shopping," after all.

Most artists, as well, have a project to fund. Uk, take our comics for example -- the money certainly won't fall out of the sky; and having that little extra (not from our paychecks from work, which 90% of goes to 'other' funds, such as bills) cash helps more than anyone will know. I know more than anyone that it's hard to get commissions -- so you'd better bust your butt hard (especally for Traditional Artists). Therefore, the moderators would have to be realitively strict, and enforce the "No personal information" rule. In other words -- unless cleared by a moderator (and perhaps a contact to the users' parents/guardians, as well?), a member [who hasn't been commissioned before] must have "clearance" before posting their address, should they take "Manual Commissions." But most users have PayPal, or of some sort, so this problem shouldn't be "explosive."

Yeah, if Steet has a way to make sure no topics can be shown until they've been approved by a mod it wouldn't be so bad.

Aye, I really need as much extra money as I can get for funding the comic and for something else I have planned in 2010 which will cost a few thousand itself. (*dies*) A comissions area is always helpful though I still worry.

I think that we'd need very strict rules for such a section.
The "No personal information" rule is obviously a no-brainer but I think we'd have to make sure that no-one put ANY paypal addresses or postal addresses IN the topic. Instead there's e-mail and PMs for contacting an artist and of course comments.

I don't think a few weeks is anywhere near enough time, we can't really ask people to finish the comission within a short space of time but instead say that the artist must show some proof of the comission in progress (Meaning a scan of a sketch, or a photo of some sketches) within 2 months to the buyer via their preferred contact method.
If a buyer has not heard anything in 2 months, contact a comissions mod.

If someone does not complete a comission they should be banned for a considerable amount of time from the site and forums and banned from the comissions area for good.

A "template" topic would be good too. As in a mod makes a template of the criteria an artist should fill out (a form) and each topic must have each area filled in properly with correct information.
A link to a good example comission topic should be included in this "tutorial/template" topic. (*coughkirada'scough*)

Sounds good, Uk.

A moderator, if they don't have their own commission topic, should also make the "template" by means of example (EX: an image or link to their topic). If there isn't a way for the topics to be "approved" before being visable to the site, the moderators can just delete the topic/its contents and warn the member for any rule(s) they break.

And yes, the rules would have to be strict. Some users don't even want their address known to the public, but don't have a PayPal. This would have to all be in the "Instruction Topic" for the Commissions (a Sticky?) with a TON of valuable information and alternatives.

Ya dig? :3

Mmm, I don't know. I see what could be the benefits and what could be the drawbacks.
I'm more concerned about the "legal" issues. Any form of selling is not allowed in France if you haven't declared yourself as a micro-company, although of course no one does that when you sell something on Ebay for example.
But I guess these could be more "gifts" than sales.

I also fear that this could become a trend - everyone wanting to sell their creations, even bad ones.


I think it's possible with the permissions system on the forums.

I would agree to do this, but only under these conditions :

- Very strict rules : someone would need to write them.
- I decline any responsability on what happens between the artists and the buyers.
- As said, only serious topics would be accepted.

I'm no good at law at all, especially outside of my country but I *think* calling them gifts, in a way, still works. They pretty much are if you say in exchange for a piece of artwork someone is "donating" money to the artist.
(That doesn't mean anyone can choose whether to pay or not! D< )

In the guide topic there should be a disclaimer first and foremost saying any comissions are solely between the artist and the buyer and don't have anything to do with Animation Source or Steet.

A way of approving topics before they're shown in the section is the perfect way to stop non-serious and wrongly-made topics showing up, also decreasing the chance of people possibly getting "ripped off".

Comissions should only made between serious artists and serious buyers. Ever.

I'd be more than happy to comply to those conditions, Steet. And, as UK had said, there will be a post in the "main topic" that Animation Source (and yourself) are not responsible for any of the sales or "flops," and that it's solely between the artist and buyer.

I'm also not too keen about laws; would independant sales from members on your site be claimed against someone? This would also have to be a "note" on the main topic.

sounds good to me!

I'm waiting for someone to write the rules, before I start the section.

I've been working on them. I'll send them to you ASAP. :]