CoHeth (Comms Open)

I'm doing a census: Hypothetically, if you commissioned a comic from me at a per page rate, how much should each page cost? Be so for real right now.

I really like the question, "Why are people getting mad over my prices," because it's very multifaceted. I think the first thing is that the sticker shock is something people are simply not used to in a commodified culture. But it IS expensive, that's true. if this Peach took 80 hours to draw and in the future you're charging about 55 dollars per hour of work you intend to do. The average person does not think of Illustration as a 'skilled profession' that should command that kind of price. Centuries of devaluing art and perpetuating the idea of the struggling artist has ingrained the idea that art is both, a luxury and not meaningful. Another angle is the idea that, "You are advertising something that people want, but not giving them the ability to get it." I think many people don't believe that they themselves have the ability to save money to buy luxuries that aren't materially meaningful to them. In most cases people would be able to if they're willing to give up some of their vices but in many cases the small things they spend on are the same things that get them through the day and it prevents them from accessing the product that you're advertising, and being stuck in that position is incredibly frustrating and you've become the outlet for their frustration. From artists, there's a perspective of jealousy in that you're able to charge these rates and have people honestly consider them where as they do not have the reach or capability to have that kind of consideration even when their 'ask' is much lower and accessible. There may also be a sense of disgust, that's not borne from jealousy, where-in they feel that you haven't actually 'earned the right' which is a very real moral response that comes from a sense of injustice. A sense that you're doing other artists and your clients wrong in some way. I also think that there may be some synthesis of ideas as well, where people, who believe they deserve your services but can not access them, seek to use tools to generate works in your style at a fraction of the price. And because of this you've led people who might have purchased art they could afford out of the market, damaging other artists who are unable to charge similar rates. I could yap for ages, but really I think something like this is very volatile to a lot of people. But you've done literally nothing wrong and should charge the rates you want to charge and should have the people that want to support/pay for your services support and pay for your services. In the case of consumers I think there's value in inculcating within yourself the idea that, 'good things are worth working for.' and that the work you do is the proof that you've earned something. For the producers, I think it's worth remembering that markets aren't complicated and are only ever dictated by demand and supply.