Reusing Artwork Opinions

[donationdesign]

So I created a poster for a show and my usual (though somewhat shitty) deal with the promoter is to print 50 and keep half to resell in order to recoup my costs.

I am aware that I am getting the shaft and should be charging for my services, but printing posters is currently more of a hobby and these jobs have vastly improved my printing and poster design skills and earned me a few awards.

So anyways, I've never had an issue with the promoter getting approval from the band for this deal, until now. Basically I spent a lot of time designing a poster, with the intent of screen printing it and this time around the promoter was unable to get approval from the bands management for resale on my end and the posters ended up never being screen printed and only used for flyers and online advertisement in what I can only assume is a very limited capacity.

So I know the artist and the promoter have no legal right to the art because there was no contract and no monetary exchange, but is it o.k. to reuse the art (almost exactly) and just change out the band name?

I've seen artist reuse elements of posters or the whole design (minus the band name) for art prints. I know its legally kosher, but what are your opinions?

[standard]

Jesus Christ, it's yours.

[ZOMIC]

Dude that's totally yours

Fuck anyone else who tells you otherwise

[donationdesign]

Yeah, I know. I guess I just didn't like the idea of two posters being out there with the same art and different band names. Makes me feel lazy and/or shady.

[Andymac]

you mean they took your art and used it and didn't pay you? ahhh, I get it 'donation' design. You need a new name for starters....

use the art and fuck them.

[steve w]

why would you care if it's only a hobby for you?
I would tell the promoter that he dropped the ball and needs to pay you from now on.
advertising has a value.

[donationdesign]

Yeah, like I said, shitty deal to begin with and I'm not concerned about the promoter getting mad because I got the shaft right up the old cornhole when I'm used to taking it in the mouth.

While it is a "hobby", I run my own one man agency, so I do care about the work I put out. Just when it comes to doing gig posters I haven't found very many paying clients so to keep improving my printing skills I take on shitty deals like this and call it a "hobby" so my mouth and/or ass doesn't hurt so much in the morning.

[mikeage]

personally, i think you should come up with fresh artwork for the next poster. use this design as an artprint. you could possibly change the colors and add to it for another gigposter, but just switching out the band name seems lame and lazy.

i know you didn't get paid for it and you own the artwork, but that's your lesson learned. people just see the posters and don't know the back story so next thing you know people think it's ok to use the the same artwork over and over again.

come on, you're better than that.

[steve w]

is he?

[mikeage]

he is premium. clay doesn't hand that out to just anybody.