Give a credit
 

Here's an idea that's not fully baked. There's probably more than one good reason not to do this.

You've just finished a rather expensive portrait of Ms. Gotrocks' granddaughter and you'd like to thank her for the business. Here's what: spend a $100 and get her a pre-paid credit card with the image of the painting of her granddaughter on the card. It's the newest thing, credit cards with your image on it.

How thrilled would she be? Free money, plus a reminder of the painting ever time she whips it out. She will probably show it to all her friends, and when the money runs out she may even add money to it so she can keep on whipping.

Here's a web site of one of the companies that offer the service, there are others:

http://www.smartmoney.com/consumer/i...050627&pgnum=2

George said to Jerry Seinfeld one day: "Do you ever get down on your knees and thank God that you have access to my dementia?" I forget what Jerry's answer was.

Creative Advertising
 

Mike, you are one creative dude! I absolutely love the idea. That could be a whole lot of advertising for very little. (Of course, it depends upon how much the commission was!) :oops:

It's clever, but in a rather tacky way. Too gimicky.
I guess it would depend on how seriously you would like your work to be taken.

( only in America) ;)

I give my clients half a dozen nicely printed notecards with their image on the front and my contact info on the back. That way they can frame one for grandma and send the rest to out of town friends. They're kind of upscale looking and are in nice gold lined envelopes. Anyway, that's just what I do as a follow up thank you, and as a way of possibly rounding up some future business.

This may fall into the category -- just because I can do it doesn't mean I should do it.

I think Michele's idea is a better one.

Although..... I've never gotten a commission that way, but hey, maybe someday!

I do something similar to Michelle but with business cards. I have a business card program on my computer . The design has an image of a painting and I have two versions, one horizontal and one verical card depending on the painting I am using. When I finish a job I give the client about a couple dozen business cards with their painting on it.. It is easy to switch images on the computer. The one I thought looked the best was when I ran out of business card stock and instead used a glossy photo paper. I had the image right up to the edge of the card at the top and sides( it was a vertical card) then I just trimmed them with my paper cutter. It looked great, kind of like a wallet photo with my info in the white space on the bottom. The photo paper gives a sharp, clear image. Just remember to change your printers set up to"best". This gets your info right into someones hand to keep. And people are always happy to show off their painting and some even set them on their desks at work and advertise for you.

Cynthia & Michele, those are nice ideas.

Mike, I am glad you thought to shelve it. Sorry if i was a little blunt.
I think it was the gimmicky thing with $$$ attached that i found rather tacky.

Of course, you must not listen to me. I have sold one painting only so far - so who am i to speak. :thumbsdow

Tricia,

No worries. The good news is that in a recent University study it was determined that 76% (82% overseas) of the people have no idea what I'm talking about 62% of the time. Of those that indicated that they did, more than half were lying.

They said that as long as these numbers hold up they weren't too concerned about what I say in public.

Huh?

;)