10 | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 per page
Oldest First | Newest First

Organization and Commissions

Not sure if this should go here or in the "Ask an Artist" section...BUT..

What I want to know is, how do you artists keep track of your "to do"'s?

With me its sa combination of Excel Documents, LJ lists and Post It notes.

The post it notes I generally use in a convention setting, I write down the name of the person, the name on the badge, the price, and a little doodle of what markings they have, then I stack up my "to do pile" of post its and put them in my money box upon completion.

So, what are your methods?

I have a log book that I keep receipts/addresses/etc. in that works really well for me, in combination with an easy-to-read handwritten to-do list (organized by priority/deadline) that sits on my desk. That way I can keep an eye on the things I need to do and try to do them when the feeling strikes, or know I have to finish them because a deadline is coming up.

I used to use my Quickbooks software to keep up with a lot of it, but I've been a bit lazy about that lately. I should get back into it! I know my husband uses Google calendar/to-do list because he's really tech-savvy and doesn't like my handwritten style. I suppose whatever works for you, really, is good. :)

I have a plastic filing box that has all my reciepts/completed work organized by year. That way if I need to go back to something, I can. I usually keep notes of when I completed work/emailed people, when the final was sent, and staple a post office reciept/tracking code when applicable, then file it.

For cons, I used to use a stenobook spiral notepad to keep track of request types and their descriptions (pencil, ink, badge, picked up or not, and the person's badge name- I have a horrible memory, so if they go by a name other than their badge I end up being confused :P). Writing down requests started taking up a little too much time and was getting hard on my hand, so I use half-sheet work order sheets now to hand to customers on a clipboard in combination with a name list on the notepad. It is a little less personal, but most folks are happy to oblige. It can be more efficient too when there's more than one person waiting. :) I'm thinking of bringing a container of paperclips or something with me next time. Sometimes people give me their own descriptions/reference images, which tend to get misplaced.

At home, I use google spreadsheets (which I totally love- anything that gets saved on my computer inevitably gets buried, so it's great that they're kept online on my commission email account to boot). Before I discovered google spreadsheets, I liked using the Artspots commission system.

For a while I had no system at all, just scribbled lists in the back of current sketchbooks. Eventually I moved to text files, then Excel files when I had recurrent complex categories to keep track of. These days I just use Artspots' Commission Tracker.

Since I don't take on more than a handful of commissions or trades at a time, I've more or less been able to keep track of them in my head. But, to be safe (y'know, in case I bumped my head and forgot things) I made a list of who I owe and what I owe in the LJ Notes section.

Hopefully, from now on most commissions will be done through the commission system here.

I used to keep them in a table in my LJ but the AS commission tracker works great for me these days.

I also apply separate labels to my commission emails in my gmail inbox.

I made a really simple html to-do list, and set that as my Windows desktop. That way I couldn't lose it or avoid it in the mornings ;3

First I want to thank you so much Kitsumi. I had never heard of Google spreadsheets until now and I love you for exposing me to such a useful and nifty tool!

As it sits, I've just started sending my clients a request form that has all the info I need and I have them email it to me on Google so i keep track of it and all email conversation that way. I also have all this info backed up on my PC and I have a project book that I try to write them down in also.

I am an extremely unorganized and easily forgetful and distracted person. I still feel I can better simplify this process and I'm trying to figure out a good way, but it's working ok so far.