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| I didn't know what to illustrate this post with, so here's a photo of me looking young, windswept and interesting in 1976 or '77. What a handsome chap, even if I say so myself |
Sometimes I'm too soft for my own good. Allow me to elucidate.
There's a small-time, part-time comics 'outfit' who produce the odd
publication every few years, for whom I once did some lettering. I did
it for half my usual rate, on the understanding that if any future issues
were to be produced, I'd get to letter them at something closer to a more
realistic amount. A few years went by, and I happened to meet the self-
styled 'publisher' (it's not his real job - he's got a nine to five one doing
something else), who mentioned that he was going to produce
another issue featuring the same character.
There's a small-time, part-time comics 'outfit' who produce the odd
publication every few years, for whom I once did some lettering. I did
it for half my usual rate, on the understanding that if any future issues
were to be produced, I'd get to letter them at something closer to a more
realistic amount. A few years went by, and I happened to meet the self-
styled 'publisher' (it's not his real job - he's got a nine to five one doing
something else), who mentioned that he was going to produce
another issue featuring the same character.
"Will I be lettering it?" I enquired of him, mindful of his past promise
to me. "Well, I'd like that," he said, "but because you do hand-lettering
and everything's done on computer these days, there'd be a few practical
problems to sort out. If we can work our way around them, I don't see why
not. Leave it with me - I'll do my best." I was left with the strong impression
that he was going to go all-out to facilitate my participation on the project.
to me. "Well, I'd like that," he said, "but because you do hand-lettering
and everything's done on computer these days, there'd be a few practical
problems to sort out. If we can work our way around them, I don't see why
not. Leave it with me - I'll do my best." I was left with the strong impression
that he was going to go all-out to facilitate my participation on the project.
On a couple of subsequent occasions when I ran into him (in an
art studio in Glasgow), it was pretty much a repeat of the same. A few
minutes after our last chat, I walked into another room in the studio to find
him and another fellow hunched over a computer, lettering the strip with a
computer font. The same fellow to whom I had given my lettering samples
(for nothing) on a previous occasion so that he could letter his own artwork.
I don't think he ever got around to transferring the fonts to computer. If
he did, at least he had the 'decency' not to use them on the job which
I had been led to expect I'd be doing.
art studio in Glasgow), it was pretty much a repeat of the same. A few
minutes after our last chat, I walked into another room in the studio to find
him and another fellow hunched over a computer, lettering the strip with a
computer font. The same fellow to whom I had given my lettering samples
(for nothing) on a previous occasion so that he could letter his own artwork.
I don't think he ever got around to transferring the fonts to computer. If
he did, at least he had the 'decency' not to use them on the job which
I had been led to expect I'd be doing.
"Thought you said I was going to be lettering it once you'd worked out
the practical problems?" I put to him. "Well, that's not quite what I said,"
he lied, in finest weasely form. Obviously, he had been stringing me along
with no intention of ever using me, but was just too spineless to say so
up-front. Even allowing for a genuine misunderstanding of our recent
exchanges, however, he was clearly in breach of the promise he had
previously made to me when I did my first lettering job for him.
the practical problems?" I put to him. "Well, that's not quite what I said,"
he lied, in finest weasely form. Obviously, he had been stringing me along
with no intention of ever using me, but was just too spineless to say so
up-front. Even allowing for a genuine misunderstanding of our recent
exchanges, however, he was clearly in breach of the promise he had
previously made to me when I did my first lettering job for him.
Which just goes to show that some people are full of p*sh and will
say whatever is expedient to get what they want at the time. Never
mind - what goes around comes around, so they say.
******
Since posting this, I've found a review of the publication I lettered for
this outfit which originally appeared on a website. Thought you might
be interested in this relevant extract: "The whole thing (is) capped by a
bravura hand-lettering performance by Kid Robson who, in these heady
days of Blambot Fonts, PCs and iMacs shows us what can still be done
by a talented human." So, no question I did a good job then - and for a
reduced rate. I can only assume that the short, bald 'publisher' resents
me for being tall, with a full, luxuriant head of hair. It won't be for my
obvious integrity - that's clearly not something to which he aspires.
say whatever is expedient to get what they want at the time. Never
mind - what goes around comes around, so they say.
******
Since posting this, I've found a review of the publication I lettered for
this outfit which originally appeared on a website. Thought you might
be interested in this relevant extract: "The whole thing (is) capped by a
bravura hand-lettering performance by Kid Robson who, in these heady
days of Blambot Fonts, PCs and iMacs shows us what can still be done
by a talented human." So, no question I did a good job then - and for a
reduced rate. I can only assume that the short, bald 'publisher' resents
me for being tall, with a full, luxuriant head of hair. It won't be for my
obvious integrity - that's clearly not something to which he aspires.
 |
| The end of the world - from a signboard outside The Salon cinema at the bottom of Albert Road, Southsea, in 1981. The cinema was demolished in 1985 |
However, it's not only people playing at being publishers who let
you down; those with less exalted pretensions are also prone to taking
advantage of folks of a helpful disposition such as myself. Case in point:
Someone I knew had started up a business somewhere in Glasgow. It was
a Fish & Chip shop with a cafe next door, and business had been slow.
Would I be prepared to go in and bestow the benefit of my professional
calligraphic skills upon their fitted menu boards and thereby improve
the look of the place? They couldn't afford to pay me much, but....
you down; those with less exalted pretensions are also prone to taking
advantage of folks of a helpful disposition such as myself. Case in point:
Someone I knew had started up a business somewhere in Glasgow. It was
a Fish & Chip shop with a cafe next door, and business had been slow.
Would I be prepared to go in and bestow the benefit of my professional
calligraphic skills upon their fitted menu boards and thereby improve
the look of the place? They couldn't afford to pay me much, but....
"Say no more," I ejaculated (behave), "I'll help you all I can and
won't charge you a penny!" I was working in a job at the time which was
three days on, three days off, so at the first available opportunity, I was
driven into Glasgow and set about my task. I was kept busy until early
evening, and at the end of it I was asked "How much do we owe you?"
"Relax," I said, "I told you I'd do it for nothing." "How about something to
eat then?" enquired the grateful husband. "Oh, well, I wouldn't say no to
a fish supper," I replied, salivating at the prospect. And what a fish it
was - huge, with plenty of chips and a can of Coke to wash it down.
won't charge you a penny!" I was working in a job at the time which was
three days on, three days off, so at the first available opportunity, I was
driven into Glasgow and set about my task. I was kept busy until early
evening, and at the end of it I was asked "How much do we owe you?"
"Relax," I said, "I told you I'd do it for nothing." "How about something to
eat then?" enquired the grateful husband. "Oh, well, I wouldn't say no to
a fish supper," I replied, salivating at the prospect. And what a fish it
was - huge, with plenty of chips and a can of Coke to wash it down.
However, the chap's wife wanted a few more signs up around the
place, so I consented to return the following day. Again, it took a good
few hours, and when I finished I was once more asked if I wanted a fish
supper. "Lovely, thanks very much," I said, dribbling at the mouth. How-
ever, just then the hubby's attention was required elsewhere for a few
moments, so he asked his wife to see to my seafood sustenance. As she
was telling the assistant behind the counter what I wanted, I heard her
mutter "Just give him a small fish." The supper I was handed was a
poor second compared to the substantial helping I had been given
the night before - with fewer chips, to boot.
place, so I consented to return the following day. Again, it took a good
few hours, and when I finished I was once more asked if I wanted a fish
supper. "Lovely, thanks very much," I said, dribbling at the mouth. How-
ever, just then the hubby's attention was required elsewhere for a few
moments, so he asked his wife to see to my seafood sustenance. As she
was telling the assistant behind the counter what I wanted, I heard her
mutter "Just give him a small fish." The supper I was handed was a
poor second compared to the substantial helping I had been given
the night before - with fewer chips, to boot.
But wait, there's more! A sign needed a finishing touch, so I agreed
to return the next day. The wife said she'd pick me up at a certain time in
the morning, to which I assented, but I said that if she wasn't there for that
time and if I didn't hear from her to say why, I'd assume she wasn't coming
and go out for the day. I made that very clear because it was the last of my
three days off and I didn't want to be sitting around the house waiting
for someone who wasn't going to arrive.
to return the next day. The wife said she'd pick me up at a certain time in
the morning, to which I assented, but I said that if she wasn't there for that
time and if I didn't hear from her to say why, I'd assume she wasn't coming
and go out for the day. I made that very clear because it was the last of my
three days off and I didn't want to be sitting around the house waiting
for someone who wasn't going to arrive.
The next day dawned and there was no sign of her at the appointed
hour. No 'phone call was forthcoming, so as I was all washed and dressed
I decided to go out and hit the shops and perhaps treat myself to a fry-up
breakfast. Later that day when I returned home, there was a message on
my answering-machine apologising for the 'no-show' and saying that she
would be along for me shortly. This had been left a good hour (perhaps
more) after the agreed time, and as I'd been out when it was left I
never heard it - nor was I in if or when she'd come chapping.
hour. No 'phone call was forthcoming, so as I was all washed and dressed
I decided to go out and hit the shops and perhaps treat myself to a fry-up
breakfast. Later that day when I returned home, there was a message on
my answering-machine apologising for the 'no-show' and saying that she
would be along for me shortly. This had been left a good hour (perhaps
more) after the agreed time, and as I'd been out when it was left I
never heard it - nor was I in if or when she'd come chapping.
There was no point in returning the call as it was now too late in the day
to do anything. Besides, she'd probably 'phone back and arrange another
time. As I was the one obliging them on my days off, for nothing more than
an ever-diminishing meal, I wasn't about to put myself out any further - it
was up to them to contact me. (And, I must confess, I was somewhat narked
by her meanness the day before.) Never heard from either of them again,
which just goes to show how truly appreciative they were of my generous
nature. It was as if they thought they were doing me a favour.
to do anything. Besides, she'd probably 'phone back and arrange another
time. As I was the one obliging them on my days off, for nothing more than
an ever-diminishing meal, I wasn't about to put myself out any further - it
was up to them to contact me. (And, I must confess, I was somewhat narked
by her meanness the day before.) Never heard from either of them again,
which just goes to show how truly appreciative they were of my generous
nature. It was as if they thought they were doing me a favour.
One thing I've learned in this life is that the more you do for for nothing
(or next-to-nothing), the less people respect you for it. So charge the full
price whenever you can. Then at least you'll have your self-respect -
and some cash in your pocket into the bargain.
(or next-to-nothing), the less people respect you for it. So charge the full
price whenever you can. Then at least you'll have your self-respect -
and some cash in your pocket into the bargain.
11 comments:
So she let you overhear the, "Just a small one..." that's so rich. Those signs they put up in the shops aint cheap either
It's not so much that she 'let' me overhear, DSE, it's just that I had keener ears than she obviously thought. Some people, eh?
Most people wouldn't expect a plumber to unclog their drain for free, or a mechanic to repair their car for free, or an electrician to install their wiring for free. With artists and writers, however, there seems to be a constant expectation of free service. "Would you make some signs for our bake sale?" "How about writing a story for our fanzine?" Robert Heinlein said that the most useful word in any language is, "No."
It is indeed a word to be cultivated. However, there are two even more effective words, the second of which is 'off'. I think I'll be using them more often from now on.
Well, the thing is you see, plumbers and electricians and folk like that...well, it's work, isn't it?
But you (and by that, I sadly include myself) arty sorts, well, you like doing that kind of thing, you'd be doing it even if you weren't getting paid for it, right.
...And so since it's not really work, you oughtn't really worry about not only doing it for nothing, but standing by as "clients" suddenly become the pickiest, most finicky, demanding b*st*rds whom you'd normally cross the road to avoid.
You (and I really mean we) should be so grateful that they asked you (as in us) to do something for them...it's a matter that's come more to the fore lately with photographers discovering images posted online being pinched and turning up promoting other people. "You should be glad for the exposure" etc etc....but I'm wandering into another whole rant here.
grumpily
B Smith
Sounds as if you've had the same experience as myself, eh? Someone once asked me if I'd draw a portrait of some pop star for her daughter as she wasn't prepared to pay £17 for an unframed print from a shop. I politely excused myself on the grounds that I was too busy. After all, what made her think that an original, unique piece of art would be cheaper than a mass-produced print from a shop? As I said - some people, eh?
Don't get me started on this topic. I've long been an advocate of 'You get what you pay for', and if I think the publisher isn't going to pay or is going to 'renegotiate' the rate after the fact, I give them a standard of work that I consider appropriate. Record so far, 55 minutes to do a page I eventually got £20 for. Not great, but not a bad rate!
Good on you, NP. However, if I thought a publisher wasn't going to pay, I wouldn't do it in the first place. Having said that, however, my art jobs were occasional things that weren't my main source of income. As you're a fulltime cartoonist whose living depends on it, I suppose you have to occasionally take the risk in the hope of generating future work. Still, it's a bummer when people try to take advantage, eh?
It's easy to make promises, but it's hard to make good on them. A certain comic editor back in the day promised to send me a drawing board, set square and art materials in the post, knowing that I was poorer than a church mouse at the time. 21 years later, I'm still waiting.
On the off-chance that he's reading this, stick them up your bum. I'm not interested.
An editor promised to send me some extra back issues of a Summer Special I'd lettered for her (and some more work) back in the early '90s. Like you, I'm still waiting. Let's hope she's now doing a job for which her talents are more suited - working in McDonalds.
Hi Kid:
That makes for sad reading.
You go out of your way to help someone and they think jackshit of it your time, your talent it is as nowt to them...you have done what they wanted from you and got it for next to nothing..they are laughing..you are Joe Soap. Sad reading.
Paul Rose from near Southsea
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