Looking for Advise on Freelancing

[L-DLS]

I just got contacted for this freelance job but when I question the guy about the possible outcomes he just got a little mad about it and that is what he said

" Well, if we had our own press facility, maybe we'd make more, but we don't. Only very rich publishers make money in the book industry, because they are in the business for 50 years and more, and have long paid off their equipment. Any new publishers are still paying off bank loans for the press machines, not to count paper, etc. Therefore, all of us donate our work to the almanac (writing, editing, art, design etc.) and expect to make some money by something else. I know this sounds like a hobby, but what else can we do? Once the big publishers know us and like the quality of our work, we can probably sell to them as a team.

Another thing. We're not even sure if the publisher will publish our illustrations, which we're preparing for the eBook version in PDF. The printed almanac itself could be just a plain book of anthology (1 cover and 10 short stories of clear text). If this disappoints you and you are not interested, don't worry, we have many professional illustrators who will do it just for the glory. I'm an artist myself, so I can illustrate all the stories myself. I just thought I could give the chance to all our artists to gain some exposure as well. "

What is your views on this ? I am also being asked to copy another artist style of painting and drawing for this ? is it a common practice to do this ? It feels weird to be asked to copy other.. I would rather have my own style.. if not were is the creativity behind.

:carnifex:

[Crass]

I think you've already given yourself all the advice you need, if it feels weird, don't do it.

[Farvus]

I think I just wouldn't take it.

EDIT: I looked into your sketchbook and portfolio. You need to work more on your art to become so good that you'll be irreplaceable for certain jobs. I think this way you'll get less of such replies in future.

[L-DLS]

thanks for the response guys , appreciate it..

[Baron Impossible]

Nothing good will come of getting involved with this person. Stay well away. He sounds like a loser on many levels.

[Xeon_OND]

If you haven't even started work and ask him questions and he gets a little mad just for that, it won't be easy working with him in future and will have plenty of bumps.

There's plenty of good work and good bosses out there. ;)

[carlosranna]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2a8TRSgzZY

[Chris Saksida]

Typical manipulative way of speaking "if you don`t like it, fine, we have many professionals working for us JUST FOR THE GLORY, we have Alex Ross, Syd Mead; even Rockwell and frazetta came back from the dead to work for us because they felt honored to participate, they don`t just think on the money, they are not soulless greedy people like you; even me, Many paintings of mine are being exhibited in the louvre museum, I could do it all on myself; I`m just hiring you because I`m doing you a favour..."

:rolleyes:

"Do you know what Chuck Berry said every night before counting one two three four? ... WHERE-IS-MY-MONEY?"

[J Wilson]

I'd like to meet the "professional" illustrators he knows that will do it for the "glory" of doing unpaid work for an unknown publisher. I don't know too many professionals who could stay in business making those kinds of decisions.

[Dusty]

we have many professional illustrators who will do it just for the glory.

What glory is there?

1) Copying another artists style
2) Getting "exposure" from something that no one wants to pay for.

That's sort of the opposite of exposure...
The idea there would be for lots of people to actually see what YOU can do. Sounds like you'd have no visual identity here and no one will see it in the first place. Save your time for personal projects that actually make you better at your own style.

[L-DLS]

Thanks everyone for dropping by and giving ur views on this.. You are all absolutely rite about it, I shall drop this bum... and move on..