Your Handy Project Checklist

Introduction

Avoid headaches and unnecessary stress by ensuring you these things the next time you’re thinking about taking on a new project or commission! We’ve learned the hard way, and don’t want you to make the same mistakes as us! It’s important to set realistic expectations for yourself and the person you’re working with.

For use when you are:

• inquiring about an opportunity

• responding to someone who has reached out to you for a service

Part One: The Checklist

▢ Ask whether it’s a paid position/role/job
This might make you a bit uncomfortable to ask, but it is the most important question. The answer of it will allow you to decide whether you’re going to take on the opportunity or not. You wouldn’t apply to a job in any other sector without inquiring about your rate of pay, so treat this exactly the same. Simply ask.

▢ Draw up a contract
This might seem a bit much, but you’re giving up your time and energy for this. It’s very much worth it (trust us, we’ve had multiple times where we’ve regretted skipping this!) and so much time-wasting and tears can be avoided by sending over a really simple contract.

▢ Send over an estimated materials list, timeframe, and overall cost
Being honest and transparent by setting your rate from the VERY beginning is crucial to ensuring full expectations of you and your client are outlined from the start. This can be simply put in an email.

▢ Consider whether you have the time and capacity for this right now
How realistic is this for you and your life right now? I’ve saved myself sooo much time recently by being realistic with myself instead of jumping at every single opportunity by just quickly checking in with myself. Regardless of whether you’re a full-time artist, a freelancer, a student… you have a lot on your plate. Your mental and physical health is way more important than any job, so think about whether you actually can and want to take this on.

Part Two: Some tips for taking on new commissions/projects

How to ask if an opportunity is paid:

Simply like this: “Thank you so much for considering me for this opportunity! Is it a paid position?”
Be straightforward; there’s nothing rude about wanting to know if a job is going to pay your bills.

Help with setting your rate of pay:

We have a support guide called “How to Price Your Work” which includes various tips on how best to figure out what to charge for commissions/individual artworks in general. We also touch on setting your rate of pay - I usually use Scottish Artist Union’s rates of pay (accessible here, and updated each year so remember to do that!!) but there’s alternatives for this depending on where you are based. A quick Google search should pull this up for you.

How to draw up a contract:

Again, bc we love you, we also have a support guide specifically for this. Check it out here.

Remember:

Just because someone presents you with an “opportunity,” doesn’t mean you:
a) need to take it, and b) are going to gain something from it.