Repeating clients/commissions.
 

I completed a commission for a local corporation several years ago. They were reffered to me by a local Gallery that represents me and the gallery received their commission.This same client contacted me directly recently to paint another portrait and the question arose as to wether or not this same gallery should get a commission. I have agreed to pay the commission but would like to know what is the typical understanding in these situations?

Jim Riley

Portrait agencies spell such things out in their contracts with their artists. In a similar case with an agency, the artist would be responsible for paying the agency a commission on any subsequent works that were commissioned by the same client.

Thanks for this information, Michele. This is a situation that we artists should be aware of and prepared for.

This policy may seem counterintuitive, and there's a temptation to not send the commission check if the client subsequently comes to you directly. But I've always done it, and if you spread the good will around, the folks spreading the word about you will spread it that much harder.

Besides, you wouldn't have known the client at all if the agent hadn't introduced you and promoted you. So it's not a bad instinct to "dance with the one that brought you." You won't be sorry, in the long run.

Thanks all for your input

I was reasonably sure that follow ups should be paid but thought I would check to see if that was universaly understood and practiced.

Jim

Jim,

I think that for some, if not all, portrait brokers, the expectation is that the artist pay a broker commission, even when a client's neighbor sees your work and contact you directly.

Choices
 

Integrity or expediency? That is the question that one should ask oneself. To paraphrase someone's insight, the mark of a "man" (I suggest any human) is for one to evaluate what is moral when no one is watching. Does one behave honorably and do what is integrous or what is expedient. That sums up the question and the individual answer.