Top Six Things Artists Need to Know About Setting a Price on Your Freelance Art

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[@ScooterintheSticks]

You raise the big, sticky, sometimes terrifying issue of being a freelance artist. Thinking about it early in a career is important. Thinking back 5 decades to my start I can see how badly I chose and was treated in terms of money because I was just thrilled by the idea that someone wanted me to work for them.
Eventually, I was able to value my work but it's difficult to suddenly raise your rates with a client that has grown used to bargain basement pricing. Something you didn't speak to is that clients tend to categorize artists by their pricing -- the less expensive one isn't as good as the more expensive one.
I am a photographer. Retired now and only working on personal projects. It's nice to be able to say "NO" to requests. The entire photography realm is different now than it was when I was working from the 70's until the emergence of the digital age where everyone had the tools to potentially produce great work. I'm glad I'm not trying to make a living with a camera today. My day rate as an assignment photographer for ad agencies and corporate clients in the 80s and 90s is laughable today as being so high. When I speak to young photographers now they can't quite wrap their heads around how different things are today.
Your advice is timeless though. Valuing your work and yourself, regardless of the peculiar business models you may be faced with will serve an artist well.
I should say I found you via your typewriter videos. I've been struggling to get a first draft of a book from my head as I endlessly find myself distracted while working on a computer. I had a typewriter for years but fell victim to the computer age. It is fine for short pieces but long-form work is torture for me. So after watching some videos I took the plunge and am awaiting delivery of a mint condition Olympia SM9 later this week.
I hope to find myself using Genius Scan sooner than later...

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Scooter, I appreciate all the good words. Thanks for sending them, thanks for watching, and wishing you luck with the SM9. I hear they’re excellent machines.

[@RabbiSteve]

True wisdom is hard to come by. Thank you for offering it here.

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Much obliged for the compliment, Steve. Very much appreciate you watching.

[@douglasjackson9058]

Great,great,great business advice! Love the 3 legged stool. Make everyone happy 😊

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Whenever possible, Doug. Whenever possible.

[@adamarcher7847]

great advice. and i agree, never work for exposure/free.

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

Pleased you agree, @adamarcher7847. Thanks for watching!

[@FrankGrauJr]

One good piece of advice I picked up: Don’t become the “cheap guy”. Once you get known as the cheap guy, your name will be passed around to everyone who wants something for nothing and no one will want to pay a fair price. Not accepting a low price may cost you a gig or two, but it’ll prevent you from becoming everyone’s go-to cheap guy.

[@TheWriteStuffPro-DamonDiMarco]

This is very true, Frank. Thanks for noting it. Hope you're well.