Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Now that I have gotten your attention please listen.

A while ago I solicited some freelance artists to see some portfolios to hire some for projects relating to my T-Shirt business www.thetfactory.com

I did have some response, but most were reluctant to show me ANYTHING, as they were afraid of getting their works INFRINGED.  Here is an email to me from an one artist:

Dale,
  I`m sorry I won`t be sending my samples. I am no longer participating on this website. I have helped a few people on startupnation.com and have gotten nothing in return (not even a thank you) they have taken my ideas and that was it...After I fine tuned some artwork/concept ideas for them they took it and ran, not to be heard from again. I`m sorry, but for me, they`ve ruined this website and I no longer trust it`s members.

I know you`ve done nothing wrong but I would suggest finding another entrepreneur family.

Sad, sad, sad. Not only does this ruin any relationship I could develope, it gives Startup Nation a slap in the face.

Too bad there are business `owners` (I use this term loosely) who think stealing is a way to lower expenses (A.K.A. Imbiciles). Sad, sad, sad.

To all you artitsts, I APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO! Keep on creating! You make the world beautiful to look at!

Dale Schumaker

The T-Factory

 

 

 

 

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Design It, Print It, Wear It (TM)

www.thetfactory.com

Save the whining for somewhere else...

To come and post garbage like that is a complete waste of your time. For this so-called artists to make generalizations like that, it`s highly likely he isn`t talented to begin with, and probably won`t be in business much longer with his attitude and expectations that someone is "suppose" to give him business just because he helped a few people.

A slap in the face to Startup Nation...Why??? Because this whining kid didn`t get what he wanted...go figure --- it`s likely his/her work was sub-standard to begin with.

Now I don`t condone the idea of "stealing", but when people like you and this so-called artist, start generalizing an entire community because of a bad few apples, that really shows how ignorant you are.

"Oh my...Startup Nation is a bad community because a few people out of thousands did some poor guy wrong..."

Get out of here with that garbage...

That`s almost the equivalent of you having 5,000 t-shirt customers and 9 of them received a defective t-shirt, and then some guy comes and post a rant about how pathetic your t-shirt company is because you had a few defects out of 5 Freakin Thousand customers!

It`s possible the artist just plain sucked!

I don`t condone stealing, but keep the generalizations to yourself and do something better with your time.

Cartess

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Website Startup Coach: Step-by-Step Coaching to Help You Build a Profitable Business Online!

Not whining. Sorry to come off so harsh.  I haven`t been on here in a long time, so I do have better things to occupy my time.

This is not a unique incident.  I have had several artists relay the same problems ON THIS SITE.  You are right, one bad apple don`t spoil the whole bunch.  Apologies to all the good apples.

Sorry, now back to my regularly scheduled life.

Dale

 

 

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Design It, Print It, Wear It (TM)

www.thetfactory.com

Simmer down folks.  (I always liked that phrase, simmer down.)

As a very active member of this community and an artist, I have had nothing but positive experiences from my interactions with other members.  I`ve gotten several jobs and more inquiries simply from the exposure I get by being involved.  Everyone I have worked with has been a pleasure to do business with.  For the jobs that didn`t pan out, well, that just happens and there were no hard feelings on anyone`s part.

We all come here because this is a vibrant, active community.  But with so many people interacting, there are bound to be conflicts.  And just like anywhere in the world, some people thrive on drama.

The important thing to remember is that the point of these forums is for encouragement and the sharing of knowledge!

I think we`re doomed. If this artist on the other site won`t deal with Startup Nation people, it looks like the Sloan brothers will just have to take down the SuN site, shake their heads in dismay, and give up. It`s a tough world out there, y`know, and we have to give weight to one person`s opinion. After all, everyone has a right to their opinion, which seems to mean that everyone`s opinion is right.

Oy!

Camp Steve, I use "simmerdown" too... from SNL.... very funny!

There should of been some kind of system in place, to charge for spec work, if payment was expected. If the folks did not want or like the artwork, then that is their choice. If something was done inkind or for no cost, then there should of been no expectantcies. You have to have a system that works with a current goal. If the goal was to get folks excited by the artwork in order to buy tshirts, then hey, maybe that did not ahppen. Set up a pricing section for spec work on command or folks will have to use their own artwork. If something was offered for free , then leave it at that. I have helped a few folks here out at no cose, and i honestly did that will no motives of getting in return. I wanted to, i had the time, and i like helping people succeed. If I wanted to be paid, then we talk about that first so there is no miscommunication, alwardness and bitter feelings. Just because someone feels like they are doing something nice, doesn`t mean it will automaticly turn into something more. I think that the communication should of been by your t-shirt company about what was expected, instead there was akwardness created and it probably ended up hurting you the most. The guy may of expected more...maybe you led him to believe this would bring him payment...and it did not. So next time, have a system in place and spell everything out and never make someone feel like they will get something in return unless it is 100% true. Also never expect people to pay for work they never agreed to. Hopefully this was a good lesson and you will build a better system.

erin

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

Also , if what he says is true, and he sees that his work is being used w/out license to do so, then he has recourse. But it sounds as if the folks maybe just were not interested. Also he can format his work so that it can not be "stolen".

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Our Goal Is Your Success!
Founder Girls with Goals

And let`s remember this site, posted here on SuN....I just can`t remember the original person who referenced it: No Spec

I think it`s just a matter of perspective. There are probably several people in business that do things nice. I am sure some of them reside here. There`s also likely to be people who expect things when nothing should be expected. All in all. I just let that kind of stuff fall to the side. What did Mom say? If you can`t say something good, don`t say anything at all. After all, there is no need to give negative comments power.

If a negative comment is made about a subject which we have an ability to improve, then fine, just quietly improve it. If it`s a negative comment about a subject which we have no ability to improve (the actions of many), it falls the the side... defused. A simple... "sorry to hear that." Should be enough.

But it is too bad there isn`t 100% agreement on how a business should be run from beginning to end. Then we would all be happy, right?


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Vincent Wilcox (a.k.a. KRAKR)
Drummer
My band: Letters Make Words

@Steve:  I think your work is incredible.  Very nice porfolio

@everyone else: After a few nights sleep, I realized I was generalizing too much.  A few pieces of facts do not necessarily make a trend, so I do apologize.

My suggestion to artists is put a copyright watermark on all your submitted proofs, ideas, and sketches.  Make sure you prospective client knows you are just making specs and anytime spent on a project after that, there will be art fees paid in advance.

Good luck to all,and great Site guys.

Dale

 

 

 

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Design It, Print It, Wear It (TM)

www.thetfactory.com