How to win commissions on Book An Artist

Who is Book An Artist?

Book An Artist is an online platform for artists to connect with customers and win commissions. Our team works hard to bring cool jobs to you! We’re trying to create a space that celebrates creativity, originality, and the art community. 

The platform offers the opportunity to get discovered quicker, manage your business with ease and have creative control over the jobs you choose. It can take time to build a following on Instagram, while a marketplace has the resources and expertise to bring in a wider audience of interested customers seeking art. In addition, Book An Artist has developed tools and services catered specifically for booking art commissions. We’ve made the process simple and easy to follow for both artists and customers looking for custom artwork.

Check out some more benefits for artists using a marketplace to commission art!

How to apply to join Book An Artist?

You can apply to Book An Artist either via the Artist Benefits page or by visiting the Artist Signup page. (Make sure you’re creating an account as an artist and not a customer.)

Fill in the required information before logging in. Once logged in you’ll need to completely fill out the profile (both personal information and portfolio) in order to be cleared for a review. 

A team member will review your application and you’ll be notified if it has been approved. It’s important to note that some cities have higher demand than others. Popular cities may have an application waitlist.

How to win commissions on Book An Artist?

So, your profile is complete, you’ve been accepted to join – it’s time to get creative! But, how do you win commissions?

It’s no secret that landing art jobs can be challenging. Book An Artist provides a platform in order to bridge the gap between artist and customer making things far easier! But, there are still several tricks and techniques you can implement on your own.

Learn how to apply for an open job.

What should your first response to a customer look like?

Communication is key to an efficient business transaction. On average 4-6 artists apply for an open job on Book An Artist. A great way to boost your chances of landing a job against other artists is to show the customer how interested you are. We mean more than just “I’m interested”, we mean a solid response that gets the ball rolling.

• Introduce yourself – share why you’re right for the job, talk about similar projects you’ve done and refer to your profile for the best examples of your work.
• Explain your interest – give a little background as to why the job interests you.
• Ask questions – sometimes customers need some guidance to provide you with the right information, help them out by asking questions: When do you need this? What size are you thinking? Do you have any reference images? 
• Quick replies – being hasty with your responses can also help you land the job. Customers appreciate not having to wait days in between replies. Download the Book An Artist app [Apple or Google Play] to help stay on top of your enquiries!

Getting the full picture not only helps the customer gather their thoughts but allows you to see if the job interests you too. Don’t be afraid to walk away from a customer or job that isn’t right for you. Read more via our blog: How to avoid time wasters?

Explain your process:

Once the conversation begins to move along we recommend finding the time to state your process clearly. Every artist has a different approach and sometimes you’ll be working with customers who don’t understand how things work.

• Time frames and deadlines – let them know how quickly you can work and what your schedule looks like. If they have a deadline it’s crucial to have the work ready by their allocated time.
• Deposits – let the customer know how much deposit you require to begin work. We recommend always taking a 20% deposit before beginning your designs. Read more via our blog: Why artists should artists take a deposit?
• Explain your rates – occasionally a customer might need a breakdown of your prices. Be prepared to share insight on your fee which may include your time, quality materials and experience. Read more via our blog: Deciding what to quote as a freelance artist.

Next steps to win commissions:

Once you’ve received your deposit or you can see it held in Book An Artist Pay – it’s time to get workin’.

• Keep in touch – try to avoid disappearing on your customer whilst painting or creating their commission. Send regular updates, ask questions (instead of winging it and guessing) and get their input. Afterall, this is a custom piece for them.
• When should you do a site visit? – there are a few things to think about before visiting a mural or workshop location. Do you require a travel fee? Is the customer trustworthy? Is it necessary? Discuss these questions with your client.

How to win commissions?

One job down, hundreds more opportunities to seize! Getting your foot in the door is the hard part, now it’s about keeping momentum.

• Be the social butterfly – talk about it! Share and post your projects to your social media platforms. Make sure to tag Book An Artist and we’ll be able to re-share to help promote you to our audience.
• Get good reviews – after you complete a job we will send your customer a request for a review. Whilst we automatically ask customers for reviews, we suggest reminding your customer to leave a review too. The easiest way to get reviews is to make the commissioning experience a good one!

The final step to ensure success when booking commissions is the knowledge that, much like art, practice makes perfect. Whilst you might not win a job immediately, it’s important to leave a good impression and build relationships. The best customer to work with is a repeat customer. Good luck and make more art!

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