Image Copyright Enoch BollesI have been waiting for months for six of my designs to be returned by a magazine publisher. One of them has been held hostage for over a year. I’ve emailed them, messaged them and sent smoke signals begging for my projects back...and I occasionally get a reply that yes...my six projects will be returned...after they find them...and then nada. What...did they send them on vacation? Are they wearing them?
I love these designs. Several of them are made with one-of-a-kind materials I simply can’t replace. I sold them the right to publish them, but I did not sell them the actual pieces. The understanding was they’d return them to me. They’re fully aware of that...but they keep stonewalling me.
Then today I returned home from the hair salon feeling like a Breck girl and in a lovely mood only to find a thinly padded envelope with THREE class samples tossed inside. Where did the bubble wrap packages I created for them go? Why couldn’t they have used a box? I’m amazed they weren’t shattered into a zillion tiny pieces. PLUS they actually GRADED them with RED PEN! What?! Are you friggin’ kidding me? I got a low ‘B.’
Uh, okay, what...ev...er.
I give them a big red ‘F’ for packaging followed by a very juicy raspberry.
Sheesh.
I don’t think it’s asking so much from my clients that they treat my work and me with the respect we deserve. They don’t have to like my pieces, but they should return them in a timely manner and packed with some semblance of care and respect. I’m seriously considering not working with either of these companies again. Sorry, Charlie. I’m not going to let people walk all over me.
The point of this rant is to remind everyone that we do not have to allow other people to treat us like crap just because they think they’re in a position of power or because they appear to wield so much importance we’re afraid of standing up to them. So maybe we won’t do business with them again, but who wants to work with people who don’t respect us? Everyone deserves professional courtesy. After 12 long years waiting tables...I made a deal with myself that I was NEVER going to do a job I hated again.
Find another sucker.
I know some folks are willing to work for the honor of associating their name with something big or are so happy to get a book deal or a magazine article they’ll pretty much do it for nothing and suck it up. I’m just not there anymore. I’ve built something and when you get me, you get my considerable talent, insight, hard work, dedication and my brand. It’s a mutually beneficial situation.
Aretha was so right on. Sing it, sista.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
It's a damn good thing my hair looks this good or I'd be a mighty grumpy Gertie.
xoxo,
Madge
I love these designs. Several of them are made with one-of-a-kind materials I simply can’t replace. I sold them the right to publish them, but I did not sell them the actual pieces. The understanding was they’d return them to me. They’re fully aware of that...but they keep stonewalling me.
Then today I returned home from the hair salon feeling like a Breck girl and in a lovely mood only to find a thinly padded envelope with THREE class samples tossed inside. Where did the bubble wrap packages I created for them go? Why couldn’t they have used a box? I’m amazed they weren’t shattered into a zillion tiny pieces. PLUS they actually GRADED them with RED PEN! What?! Are you friggin’ kidding me? I got a low ‘B.’
Uh, okay, what...ev...er.
I give them a big red ‘F’ for packaging followed by a very juicy raspberry.
Sheesh.
I don’t think it’s asking so much from my clients that they treat my work and me with the respect we deserve. They don’t have to like my pieces, but they should return them in a timely manner and packed with some semblance of care and respect. I’m seriously considering not working with either of these companies again. Sorry, Charlie. I’m not going to let people walk all over me.
The point of this rant is to remind everyone that we do not have to allow other people to treat us like crap just because they think they’re in a position of power or because they appear to wield so much importance we’re afraid of standing up to them. So maybe we won’t do business with them again, but who wants to work with people who don’t respect us? Everyone deserves professional courtesy. After 12 long years waiting tables...I made a deal with myself that I was NEVER going to do a job I hated again.
Find another sucker.
I know some folks are willing to work for the honor of associating their name with something big or are so happy to get a book deal or a magazine article they’ll pretty much do it for nothing and suck it up. I’m just not there anymore. I’ve built something and when you get me, you get my considerable talent, insight, hard work, dedication and my brand. It’s a mutually beneficial situation.
Aretha was so right on. Sing it, sista.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
It's a damn good thing my hair looks this good or I'd be a mighty grumpy Gertie.
xoxo,
Madge
13 comments:
Oh Miss Madge! That is just downright WRONG! No one deserves to be treated in the manner you are recounting. No body! I am so glad that despite the rain on your parade that your fabulosity is still shining through. Breck girl! Blast from the past! You know that we love you. And we would never dis you!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
It must be in the air with people today! That is too rude! I think we need to pump that song out loud and at every corner.
Funky Monkey Girl,
Jolene
RESPECT
Ow, ow, ow. Someone once mailed back (also greatly delayed)one of only two copies of my video reel in a completely unpadded Tyvek envelope without so much as a post-it note inside. I don't even know what my grade was. I guess I was just happy to see that so little of the plastic casing was broken off and that they hadn't tossed my tape into the erase/recycle bin.
I just don't understand this mentality. I mean, maybe the work is meaningless to the other person, but that doesn't universally render it worthless.
A loud applause and two thumbs up for respecting other people's work, creativity, and belongings. Margot, you hit a way big nerve on this one. Makes you want to stand up and scream, "How dare you!" doesn't it?
Hey Madge! I was mighty pissed off after reading this post as I also consider my art pieces valuable in more ways than monetarily. Would you be willing to share with your fellow artists who this was that did this to you so that we don't risk sending our precious pieces to them ever?
Oh Madge that was wrong. Girl...it ain't worth it. If that is the way your are treated now, then what would be next.
"NO CAN DO!"
laura.
Well Ladies, this isn't all that uncommon. You have people running things that have no clue what it takes to make a design and therefore they don't get why it's a big deal.
It is what it is. I feel better after ranting. Unfortunately I can't tell who it is, that could present problems for me legally and professionally.
Cheers,
Madge
No problem Madge, I totally respect your not wanting to say who it was. If these people only knew the love we put into our artwork they would understand and possibly get a clue! Anyhow, glad you are rolling with the punches...keep on truckin, girlfriend :)
Commiserations Madge. Every so often these things seem to happen.
I've had an article published in a prominent magazine for which I didn't receive payment.
When I contacted the editor he agreed that it was shocking and that my fee would be sent immediately. That was 3 years ago and I'm still waiting!
I submitted a design for a large ceiling mural that I worked ages on, but discovered later that the client had used a cheaper artist to carry it out.
I've had neighbours who've been to one of my jewellery shows here at the beach who have taken a necklace or pair of earrings promising to send the money later. No prizes for guessing that it never came but it's difficult to chase it up with somebody who greets you with lots of "mwahs" and keeps saying how they adore the piece I made.
Now I NEVER let anything leave a show without money in my hot little hand, will NEVER write for that mag again and before handing over a design I make the client pay for the time I spent which is refundable if they go ahead with the job.
Sad that you have to become cynical with people. :-(
Judy
That royally sucks! Common courtesy would have dictated better treatment than that.
I know you're feeling all "Breck" girl, but what about L'Oreal, because you are worth it!
I boycott companys that do wrong to the little people. I take comfort in knowing that we are in the middle of a photon energy convergence (which means change is a comin'!). Big Business will have their comeuppance...
It seems there is a lot of this going around of late. Here's a quote and a link that everyone who creates for a living should read:
The fiction is that writing and drawing are not assets...they are things we whip up out of thin air and which cost nothing to create. If someone steals your work from you, you can always bat out another for nothing.
If you believe this, it's your right, but you do our profession a grave disservice. Every time someone tramples on our work — ruins it, changes it, mauls it, damages it — it's because they have no respect for it. And, generally speaking, they have no respect for that which cost them nothing.
They think writers and artists "just knock it out" but we don't...not really. And even when it seems like we do, it's because of a lifetime of developing whatever skills we bring to each project.
####
read the full article here, then print it out and hang it up where you will see it every single day...I have. I'm also done being trampled on.
http://www.povonline.com/cols/COL210.htm
thanks for starting the conversation, Madge! I think it's time you send them a bill for the lost goods. with interest added.
xxxooo
Brenda
Wow. Just found your blog from someone who was telling me about you. LOVE what you have to say & I intend to follow you & your journey. I've been pretty lucky with getting things back from magazines/publishers, but I'm fairly new to all of this. Only thing that happened to me was that one of my big pieces that was traveling the USA for 2 years finally came back home 6 months after the original contract & then it seemed to have lost the double packing box that I sent. I have no idea where it lost that extra security, but I was lucky that nothing important was damaged. I did have to give it a little clean up as whomever at the last gallery wasn't too kind. But I agree with you about people being rude. I've had several gallery personnel treat me like crap. I am polite, but swear to never let my Art grace their walls ever again. You are so right. Respect is a two way street & so many forget that I've got a big A$$ "car" that can run their rude hides down. LOL. dot
Excellent thoughts! Timely for me to read this after having finaished up a week of volunteer work where I was treated as if it did not matter whether or not I showed up or not. Could this be why people - even those who genuinely care- decide not to volunteer? I give back becuase I am grateful; yet I think those who are in charge should give respect to the giving of time and talent. Rock on girlfriend!
Post a Comment