comments on posters

[Courageouspress]

Most comments on posters just seem to be people kissing their friends asses. Like the joke, how many guitarists does it take to change a lightbulb? 10. One to change it and 9 to tell him how good he was. I rarely get comments on my posters because I am not yet well networked on gigposters, but I post a new poster about every 2 weeks on average and every 4th poster or so gets acknowledged by a stranger and that makes me feel good. But I have yet to see anyone get constructive criticism or a negative comment, me or anyone else. One of the main things I miss about art school is constructive criticism, guidance, calling a spade a spade. I have seen bad posters get ass kissing comments and today I almost posted a negative comment myself. But then I decided to start this thread instead. Maybe I'm missing some crucial part to the gigposters etiquette. I'd hate to find myself black listed because I told someone their work sucks. Are we dancing around these kinds of comments because of solidarity and etiquette? Are we patting everyone on the back for trying? At least once a week I "like" every newly submitted poster I actually like on my facebook page, to practice the golden rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you) and to expose gigposters to all of my facebook friends who may not be aware of how awesome rock posters are. But I don't waste time writing comments that blow smoke up peoples asses. Is it enough to let crappy work go by with 0 comments and 0 "like"s? Or should people be receiving advice and guidance in a constructively critical way to help them become better poster artists? A critique in the comments?

[Unitus]

If you're not getting comments, it's because your posters aren't grabbing anyone's attention.

For example, before Daniel Danger was a know artist, his first B&W flyer he posted got a bunch of comments because it was fresh and grabbed people's attention.

And some folks do comment on their friend's posters just to let them know they saw it. Big deal. Get over it. Your career won't be built or destroyed on comments from the internet.

You can post all you want about how people's work sucks, but don't expect to ever be embraced by this "community" if you do.

[Unitus]

Your career won't be built or destroyed on comments from the internet.

...unless you're Eichelburger or PaulGardner.

[Courageouspress]

You miss understand. I am not pissy because I am personally not getting comments often enough. I get them when the work grabs attention and I don't get them when it doesn't. I get that.

I like your reply, and I am honored that you read my post and replied. I just looked at your work to see who I was talking to and it is awesome and very consistent. You draw and compose really well.

You've got over double the posters that I do. Is there any advice you could give me as a more experienced artist in the genre on getting gigs? Networking? Sales?

Recently I charged a band (my first significant national touring band) $200 dollars to print 100 three run posters 11 x 17 on chip board and another batch of 50 variable proofs on Mr. French paper that I threw in for free. So basically I charged them $200 dollars to print 150 posters. I barely made my ink and paper costs, much less my time and design fee. I think it was their first time having a poster hand printed (instead of color copied or offset). And they got their panties in a knot because they thought $200 was too much. The whole interaction left a bad taste in my mouth. Any advice?

[squeegeethree]

Posts Per Day 0.01

[JustinHelton]

Man its all about how hard you work, how much you market yourself and people you meet. Prime example here is that you made this post, but didn't include a link to your work, or have a link to a website. I even looked up your handle name and nothing came up...so Im left with nothing to look at. Many people here do know each other from doing Flatstocks, shows, etc, and comment when one of our buddies posts a new amazing design. Part of that is because we notice the style and recognize them right away. I post both on friends posters and non friends...but I do have to say I try and post positive comments and keep the negative to myself.

Number one thing every designer should have is a website. It takes time to get people to recognize you...just hang in there and push yourself everytime you do a new poster to do it better. With that attitude you are bound to make people notice.

[strawberryluna]

My advice is to:

1. Charge what your time and materials are worth. If a client doesn't want to pay it, that's more time for you on press for art prints, t-shirts, or hustling for other paid work.

2. Comment however you wish and there's sure to be a dialogue.

3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day and get plenty of fiber in your diet.

[louisfinn]

Realize that most bands don't really do screenprinted posters and at times... $200 is alot to a touring band. The deal you made with them doesn't really sound that good for you.

Take a look at the designers list and see how many people add work to this site... not everyone is going to get full comment threads with in-depth analysis of each work. Most are "Hey good job...",... "Nice color scheme"... or "Hey you ripped that off". If a poster is extremely shitty and it looked like no work went into it, a negative comment isnt a bad thing.... I see it more as a "step it up" encouragement to keep the work on this site at a good level.

As far as the friends thing,... I think its more that bigger named band posters get comments. It aint the fairest thing for beginners but smaller band posters tend to get glossed over. I'm guilty of it myself...

[Decabet]

There's lots of posters I love that I never get around to commenting on on here.
After a while a poster needs some other hook or reason for me to bother to comment, whether its something really fresh, terrible, etc.
Maybe what the posters need is a counter for "How many views" like they have on Youtube, of course that could just be a whole other can of worms doing that.

[Courageouspress]

patrick mayton is my designer name. GigPosters.com - Patrick Mayton