Boy, Does It Ever Suck Not Getting Paid!

[Rafael Ceurdepyr]

At this point, no, it doesn't look like any of us will see payment from Dog Soul. I emailed and asked when they re-emerged, and was assured I'd get paid, but didn't believe it then and don't really now. I agree, it is sad. And very annoying. I'm proud of the work I did for them and have had mixed feelings about posting my authorship of it.

 

[EP]

just wanted to give this a nudge since I am also owed money by Dog Soul - I worked on The Road of Worlds project and it's been years since it was commissioned and no money paid.

after reading this thread I don't think I'll ever see my money.

so it goes, as Father Kurt would say.

still... such a pity.

Crap, I was afraid of that. I take it that means the content is ours again as those contracts would be null and void by now.

Anyone else involved with the Road of Worlds project and still interested and salvaging their brilliant work, please contact me at warden@emeraldpresspdf.com. No promises on anything - just discussions as to how to salvage the work.

 

[KeepFlying]

Look, your situation with freelancing, I definitely feel your pain.

Let it be known that within this thread are folks who would have you believe that they're not involved in the same exploitation of people's hard work, but guess what?

I'm abstaining from stating outright, but dropping a line here to let the party know that the other site they frequent is about to have a similar thread, with not just one but several artists who have been treated this way.

I'll quote Malcolm Reynolds: 'I do the job, and I get paid.'

Thus far, several folks can't say the same thing.

KF

 

[Crothian]

What other site?

 

[KeepFlying]

What other site?

Hey Cro...

Well...I've been waiting to respond to this until I heard what the other guys would want to do about this. Some were merely not kept informed of their royalties for their work (and so pulled their product from the line), and decided not to push forward.

If my situation were similar (and simply withdrawing my art were possible/feasible) I would likely let this drop.

Let me state for the record, that the person in this thread has been notified that I'd like to be paid...numerous times.

I created a thread over at the Atomic Think Tank, where this person seems to be farming out new artists/playtesters, I suppose. I've declined from naming names, but believe me, I've not made it hard to clue in to who it is.

I finished my work for this person 2 years ago...and since release (unlike our OP person, the book I worked on has been released, can you believe it?!) the book has been one of the company's top sellers.

To date: no payment.

I've asked a few other publishers for comment/advice, since I'm fairly new to the freelance graphic artist stuff, and a man whose opinion I trust said that just naming names would be fine, since they defaulted on payment so long.

What's REALLY ironic, is that even in this thread, this person seems to pity the plight of the freelancer...and yet has refused to pay. Or is unable.

Seriously, as I read the excuses given to the OP, it was like I was thumbing through the email responses to the payment requests I was given. Believe you me, I am almost certain this company's NOT going to pay unless they're MADE to pay...and in this thread, this certainty was given credence...as that's JUST what it took.

Now, for the good news, other companies, in this thread, have actually read my proposals for art, and I'm currently working on one of their projects. Emerald Press, in case you were curious. The owner/writer/editor was up front with the budget (fancy that! he HAD a budget) and I worked with that to come up with my price.

If only all business deals could be this simple and honest.

Anyway, this has become a rant, when it probably just should have been a link to the thread.

The Atomic Think Tank • View forum - M&M Superlink

 

[dmccoy1693]

Hey, I got tired of being stiffed (most notably by a major rpg company for a large high profile release) so much that I quit freelancing and started my own rpg company. I get all my material published and I always get paid. Win, win. More work in other respects, but its a tradeoff for getting paid.

One thing about my company, I always pay those that write/draw for me.

EDIT (some time later): I should add that I did finally get paid for that project.

 

[KeepFlying]

Update: Big Damn Hero Gets Paid!

So, after talking it out with the publisher, who made himself known at the other thread I talked about, I got paid a sizeable portion of what I was owed. This actually sparked people's interest in my commissions and work, and so, I've thus far got four paying projects! O.O

And, furthermore, the people who hired me, Phipps Publishing (producer of the hit 'Halt Evil Doer' supplement under Mutants and Masterminds' Superlink banner) has already paid for services rendered (no pun intended) thus far!

Life is good enough for me to celebrate a hard won victory.

Oh, and here's a sample of the stuff you can expect from Phipps Publishing's new books: