Artists — if you take commissions, here's the number that should frighten you. Scope drift, the polite, gradual expansion of a commission beyond what you agreed, eats twenty to thirty per cent of the original fee in unpaid work on most commissions I see. That isn't a margin problem. That's your profit. Gone. On every job.
And it isn't because you did bad work. It's because nobody taught you how to manage what happens after the deposit lands.
This episode is part six of a nine-part series on commissions — how to prepare for them, respond to them, deliver them, and stop them burning you out. If you haven't followed the podcast yet, hit follow so you don't miss an episode.
Today we cover three stages. Managing the making - which is where most commissions go wrong, and almost never for the reason artists think. Delivery and the story of the work — the bit that quietly funds the next commission if you do it right. And the legacy package — the stage almost every artist skips, and the single most commercially valuable thing you can build into your practice.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Once the deposit lands, you’re managing 2 things: the work and the client’s psychology. Build in named updates and review points so they feel heard, without turning the project into an open invitation for endless tweaks.
Treat the legacy package as your quiet sales engine. A simple bundle—certificate, process images, care instructions, and a short narrative, turns a buyer into a custodian. Custodians come back, commission again, and quietly introduce you to your next three clients.
Ceri´s tried and tested but simple 11‑stage process means you stop rebuilding your practice from scratch for every enquiry. Instead, you run each commission through the same calm, repeatable structure.
BEST MOMENTS
“Scope drift … eats 20 to 30 per cent of the original fee in unpaid work on most commissions I see. That isn't a margin problem. That's your profit. Gone.”
"Saying no to a commission that doesn't pass the filters is not lost income, it's preserved capacity."
You can get a text version of today's episode plus new practical guidance every week if you subscribe to my Beat The Block newsletter – Access it here - https://cerihand.com/subscribe/
EPISODE RESOURCES
First episode of 9-part series - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/designing-the-way-you-want-to-work-the-mindset/id1709105337?i=1000769915059
PODCAST HOST BIO
With over 35 years in the art world, Ceri has worked closely with leading artists and arts professionals, managed public and private galleries and charities, and curated more than 250 exhibitions and events. She has sold artworks to major museums and private collectors and commissioned thousands of works across diverse media, from renowned artists such as John Akomfrah, Pipilotti Rist, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer and Vito Acconci. Now, she wants to share her extensive knowledge with you, so you can excel and achieve your goals.
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Book a Discovery Call Today
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