Client Wants Artist To Pay Them $1K As "Security", Gets Shamed Online

A few days ago, an artist who goes on Reddit by the name BaskinMyRobbins submitted a conversation he had with a potential client to the platform's 'Choosing Beggars' community, and it gives off pretty much the same vibe as our list '53 Times People Received Such Pathetic Scam Messages, They Just Had To Laugh And Share Them Online.'

Only this interaction is a little bit more nuanced since it's not entirely clear if the person BaskinMyRobbins was chatting to had ulterior motives or is simply out of touch with reality.

The two of them came in contact with each other through Upwork—a website that facilitates cooperation between freelancers and those who are looking for one, but BaskinMyRobbin was quickly asked to continue the talk elsewhere and it got weirder and weirder with every message.

Image credit: BaskinMyRobbins

Image credit: BaskinMyRobbins

We managed to get in touch with BaskinMyRobbins and he was kind enough to tell us more about his artistic journey and the people he works with.

"I've been a freelance illustrator full-time for about a year now," the Redditor explained to Bored Panda, adding that, thankfully, doing business is usually considerably easier than this.

"Upwork has been up and down for me. I've had some great clients and some who have been pretty ignorant about the amount of work that goes into comic work. I do enjoy the safety of the contracts using their site, I do not enjoy the 20% cut they take of my pay."

BaskinMyRobbins said his Upwork clients generally are a lot better than the ones on another similar website they use, Fiverr.

"Fiverr people want their cake and to eat it too and for that cake to be basically free. I've had some extremely rude clients I found off Discord servers for graphic design. But most of my clients are fairly kind and professional," he said.

According to the findings of the 2021 Global Survey on Freelancing, so far about 20% of freelancers have joined platforms like Upwork.

"Our data say that freelancers need help in selling, managing their business, and networking," one of the researchers behind the survey wrote in Forbes. "Some platforms are already helping new freelancers to experience early success through better onboarding. Many platforms are picking up the pace in building teams, training in sales, connecting new freelancers with more experienced mentors, providing workshops on pitches and proposal writing, providing coaching and information resources, and teaching freelancers to market more collaboratively or 'hunt in packs'... By making their freelancers more successful, they increase the reputation and worth of the platform."

But the researchers said these platforms also have to train their clients. "Organizations increasingly depend on freelancers at scale; realistically there's as much a 'war for freelance talent' and for employee talent. Freelancers understand that companies expect high quality and professionalism. In turn, they expect competence in working with their freelance project workforce."

"Our data say clients are making good progress. Almost 50% of freelancers say clients know how to work with freelancers, and rate client project managers as effective in setting realistic goals and timelines, and helping freelancers feel part of the team. That's a big shift from just a few years. But more work is needed. Freelance platforms must do more to help clients work well with freelancers, and set up projects for success. The shift to a blockchain ledger is likely to be a transformative innovation. But a good start is smarter data collection on outcomes and experiences, contracting in broader success terms, and saying no to clients that don't get it," the researchers said.

Image credit: BaskinMyRobbins

And while it's impossible for freelancers to know if their clients are reasonable, there are things they can do to protect themselves from possible exploitation. "Always have a contract," BaskinMyRobbins said. "Never pay a fee to work for someone. If they speak rudely just drop them, they won't like your work no matter how good it is. I had one client who said, 'I need a good graphic designer, not a **** *** one" in response to one of my questions. He was a mess to work with."

"Other red flags include not using the right terms for things. (I had one client that didn't know the difference between a panel or a page of comic. And he kept wanting free revisions.) Good clients pay you for more work. Also, especially for comic book work, make sure they have a real script written, not just 'big ideas,'" the Redditor added.

And if anyone needs an anime/manga/comic artist, here's BaskinMyRobbins's portfolio.