Custom Convention/Fair Badge pricing?

[Rhini]

Hey guys!

I'm making custom name badges for the fair this year, but I'm reeallly struggling on pricing. They would be high quality laminated digital prints on card stock, with your arena and/or real name, and a pony image of your choice. They would be picked up at the fair, or mailed to you for other events for like $1 or 2.

The three options would be:

-A FIM character
-Your OC/pony of your choice, in the custom G1 bases I provide
-Full custom OOAK drawing from scratch

I was thinking $5, $10 and $15 respectively, but I fear that's too high. On the low end I was also considering $5/8/12. What have/would you pay for a badge?

I don't want to show the badges themselves yet, but here's a few examples of my cartoon-esque work since I assume quality of work will affect pricing.

Spoiler

visitors can't see pics , please register or login


visitors can't see pics , please register or login


visitors can't see pics , please register or login


visitors can't see pics , please register or login

X posted in Fair Forum

Thanks!

[ZennaBug]

I've never bought a badge, so I'm not sure what a fair price would be.  But your art is lovely and I think you'll be able to find some people who are interested! 

[hathorcat]

You know I ll be in touch later on looking for a Baby Fifi - I dont have a badge for the UK PonyCon and I love love love your work!

[Rhini]

D'awww thanks ladies you're making me blush!  Got a few new sketches done, very excited to really get this project on the road!! 

[Rhini]

Sketches all done and digitally inked! All 16 of them  I went overboard as usual

But i'm really happy so far! Hoping to start taking orders in the next week or two! 

[DancingPhoenix]

Those prices look fair to me (the $5 increments) especially if you provide lamination and such. I'm pretty sure the badge I got at the Orlando fair was $5.

[Corona]

Those sound like really fair prices. For fully custom badges at furry cons I've paid 15-25 dollars each. 5 dollar increments depending on compexity sounds pretty good for your work!

And I'd love to get one for my Applejack/Team Fortress 2 Engineer cosplay for an anime con this summer once you open up!

[Moondust]

For the custom ones specifically I almost think the $15 is too low, when I do badges for cons I tend to streamline mine starting at $25, because it just wasn't worth the hassle at $15.  When I pay for custom badges, 25-35 is what I will generally buy, though I am a furry as well and perhaps that community is different.  I just worry you might be undervaluing your convention time--from experience, it can be a real hassle if you are up all night finishing badges for a small sum.

[Rhini]

I certainly don't want to undervalue my work, but this is the first time I've done anything like this and I'd like to make them accessible and start getting my work out there  I'm really trying to develop my pony style and have been drawing like a fiend, to the point where I can sketch/ink/color in under an hour. So $15/an hour seems a pretty reasonable payment! If things get too out of hand and I feel like I can't keep I'll temporarily close or raise prices accordingly. I don't see that happening though 

i'm just happy there's interest at all! I'm really proud of these and I really hope people will enjoy them. This is also why I'm starting really far in advance, I want to do as little as possible last minute, but we'll seee about that

[Moondust]

Speaking from experience from 4 years of conventions: while most customers are awesome to work for, many want to see the sketch and may have other ideas about where you should take it.  In my experience, it can be overwhelming!  It can also be difficult to draw/sell at the same time, you it might end up being a lot less per hour than doing the same commissions online----also each $15 also covers the time you spend tabling to get those commissions + cost of table.  It can be hard to raise prices at a convention, often people see you earlier in the day and come back--not that it's not allowed but some people do get sour about it.   

I don't mean to sound so negative, conventions are fun and I'll bet you'll have a great time =) Only you know your work-style! I wish you much luck and sales =D

[Rhini]

Oh no Moondust I won't be doing them at my table! I'll only do custom work online up until the fair, and then have a selection of finished ones with a blank name box where you write in your name . I wouldn't try to sit there doing them while at the fair, I got ponies to buy!  This is really only a fun side project anyways, my table will mainly be for getting rid of my 200+ extra ponies

If I get bored I might do like $5 sketches, but that's it. 

[Moondust]

Ah I misunderstood, sorry!   For an online badge beforehand $15 is totally fair! 

[Rhini]

Thread is UP! huzzah!

http://mlparena.com/mlp/index.php/topic,330732.0.html