My busy season for commissions is winding down, and it's time for me to be honest- With you, and with myself.
I'm underselling my time and skills. I'm lowballing prices. I'm using cheaper fabric and rushing to meet unrealistic deadlines. I'm taking on projects at quotes that end up with ~$5 per hour of labor, or less. And I need to stop.
I've been sewing since 1994. I picked up the sewing basket, and began making quilts and clothes for my dolls and ponies. I taught myself everything, and then took classes to perfect those techniques. And in 2004, with a spinal surgery looming in June, I decided to take my passion for needlework and anime, and enter a new hobby: Cosplay.
It's been eleven years since I started cosplaying. I've made 95% of my costumes by hand, with a few store-bought things pieced together as exceptions. I want fabric to be historically or contextually accurate. I want these costumes to last. And I want to be able to continue doing this, for myself and for others, without the inevitable burnout from taking on 3 commissions at a time at low quotes, rushing them all, using cheap fabric, and losing most of my profit on overnight shipping because the deadline was too short.
As of now, September 1, 2015, I will be increasing my commission costs. Existing customers can keep their quote, of course- There's about three in my inbox now, but they aren't rushes, and I'm not pulling a bait and switch like that.
Each costume will have a different cost, obviously, but if you're searching for a commissioner who will take your business for less than $200 USD, I am not the commissioner for you. 50% or more of that payment usually goes into supplies. The rest is barely profit, and I need to be able to use actual profit to pay off my student loans, and mortgage, and other debts, as well as save for the future.
To other commissioners: I understand why we're lowballing. If you value your own skill, though, it's time we form a united front and price our services at a living wage. We are talented, skilled craftspeople, and selling our services for far below the minimum wage is a disservice to the value cosplay and costuming bring to the crafting community at large, from propmakers to bespoke sewists.
If you are interested in a commission, please feel free to message me, or visit my website when I have my new page and policies posted for your perusal. And if you want to talk to me about this decision, I welcome all civil discussion.
Thank you so much for your loyalty and support, everyone. Fans like you make decisions like this easier and harder at the same time, but I know you'll understand, and even if you don't patronize my creative services, I'll keep posting all of my content for you to enjoy.Â
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