The Contracting Process
Overview
The events outlined here are derived from my personal experience as a freelance artist/designer and small business owner. My many interviews with other industry people that are in hiring positions and those that have run successful freelance businesses have confirmed that my experiences are not unique. This section also covers commission work and that information is derived from the many alumni I have engaged over the years that take it on mostly as a side hustle.
The Contracting Process
Finding Clients
Freelancers/contractors usually find clients by referral, Freelance job boards, networking on social media, attending events, or chance meetings. Referrals can come from your previous clients, friends, family, classmates, and alumni. Chance meetings can happen anywhere.
Referrals are the most efficient and likely way to find projects. Once a reputation is built, referrals and repeat clients can make up the bulk of your business and require little time investment towards promotion. High ratings on a freelance job board act the same as personal referrals.
To make connections in chance meetings or at events, simply get in the habit of asking people what they do for work. They will tell you, then ask what you do. When you tell them about your business, they will decide right there if they, or someone they know, might be interested in your services.
Always carry your business card. But, it is more important to get their contact information, because you can't always rely on them to follow up. Be ready to show your portfolio website on your phone.
Having samples of your work on one or more of these sites can also result in being found or referred for projects: Behance, Art Station, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Dribble, etc.
Round 1
The potential client will look at your website for 30 seconds to 3 minutes. They will look for a list of services (web design, Illustration, animation, etc) and visit the website section that has what they are looking for..
They will need to see Portfolio examples that are very much in line with what they need technically and stylistically. Most candidates will not make it past 1 minute because their work is not a good fit with the potential client's needs. Because of the competitive nature of the industry, if 2 or 3 marginal works are encountered or they do not see the type of work they specifically need, they will likely move on. They will not extrapolate from your visual style to their visual style when considering you for contracting.
Round 2
If you have done work for someone they know, they will probably call them and ask how that relationship worked out. They may ask you for client references.
Round 3
Youmay be called in for an interview, or be interviewed via phone or video conferencing. This is to get a sense of how easy you will be to work with.
Round 4
A project is given to you. If you do not deliver a quality product on time, it will be the last project you do for them... and they will not refer you to anyone they know.
Commissions
The term 'commissions' in Digital Art typically means creating non-animated, single images for individual people. They can be literally any subject the client is asking for. The visual style of the request is can be your the artist's own or, to match an existing, well-known game, animation, etc. Much of the commission market is based on fan art.
Commissions are usually gotten through an active social media presence. They can also be gotten by renting and operating an artist table at a comic, game, or Anime convention.
It can be beneficial to have a detailed commissions page on your website that contains pricing for every specific type of art that you will create. This typically includes:
Size: in inches
Production: sketch, line art, full color
Content: number of characters/people and whether a background will be included
Turn-around time: fee for rush orders
Delivery method: digital download, print, framed print