"sculpting/production collective (15mm sculptor)" Topic
12 Posts
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Dave F | 22 Feb 2015 8:27 a.m. PST |
This goes out mainly to sculptors/caster-moulders. I'm looking around to see if there are any similar sculpting collectives akin to what I see Trollforged was aiming for (I think Ed, over ther, is focused on casting at the moment, and the collective idea is on a low flame). Basically a profit sharing system as opposed to up-front payments to the artist to acquire new minis (aside from initial mould-making cost). I think a major downside, creatively, in requiring payment up front as opposed to 'royalties' down the line, is that it creates a major bottle neck in getting things done. You get a few full-scheduled artists working for a few producers who wait to accumulate enough cash to commission new figures. And on the side, we see a lot of small operations that follow the same model but lose the momentum, possibly because of this system, to fill out their shops. What I would propose Is, instead of a commission system to decide on figures which are expected to sell, use a submission system to filter models by quality, and then allow artists to follow their own creative inclinations, while paying the cost of their initial mould-making materials and time. I think it would allow sculptors to work more freely, communicate on projects, and I think the community would really benefit from a possible golden age of product availability…. well, idealistically! I can imagine the production side looking down the line imagining all the casting work, while the artist is lounging around, and wondering why they should pay out a royalty. Well, the success is shared, but so is failure and wasted time on the artist's side; basically the days we would spend working to bang out sculpts that bring no royalties down the line is money lost, that is a risk the producer isn't saddled with, and it is also a motivator to artists to work at their best. Basically, to succeed down the line, you need something built in the present. This is a way to get something done now, so that a future is possible. If I can get some people behind this, if nothing like this is happening, then I would be willing to build the page. It's been stirring in my head so I bought the domain ArmiesofAnything.com. That's what I was thinking would be a cool name for the collective, Armies of Anything. I'm not proposing myself as any kind of leader for such a thing (I imagine it being more or less 'democratic'. Basically I just want to sculpt, paint and just create cool stuff. Get in touch with me here, or at z0rg0burger@gmail.com. OR, take this idea, run with it, and let me know so I can shower you with sculpts. Dave |
Micropanzer | 22 Feb 2015 10:05 a.m. PST |
I would love to be showered with photos of your works -- micropanzer@micropanzer.com |
Dave F | 22 Feb 2015 10:41 a.m. PST |
Got some pics of my sculpts and painting work in me' facebook photos :-) link link |
headzombie | 22 Feb 2015 1:07 p.m. PST |
We've talked about this a bunch over the years and even started it in a way with Flytrap and another that is about to be announced. Although, Anton at Flytrap quickly just became a partner in the whole thing. There are also a couple of companies out there that we quietly cats their entire line for them (Not uncommon in our industry.) |
napthyme | 22 Feb 2015 1:38 p.m. PST |
Nice idea Dave, but I doubt it will work. I have some minis here that the sculptor would still be waiting 3 years later to see any payment from simply because they have sold zero since there release. Better to get paid something up front and let the manufacturer take the risk of making any money with them. |
Dave F | 22 Feb 2015 2:19 p.m. PST |
Napthyme: Well, I think if the sale success of sculpts determines whether a sculptor is paid or not, then advertising becomes a shared responsibility. Your example illustrates perfectly the kind of scenario that I want to be involved in solving through a new model, and it illustrates the causes of creative bottlenecks. For, every time you commission sculpts (if you aim to produce them) and they don't sell, then you are less inclined to do it again. Things stop. Failure isn't so scary if there less riding on a group of sculpts; the mindset would not be on digging oneself out of a hole. Sculpts would be acting more as 'seeds' that are planted with the potential to grow. |
napthyme | 22 Feb 2015 3:03 p.m. PST |
Its not that I would not do it again, its that it takes 1,000 times longer to find the money to do so. I'd certainly be interested in any new fertilizer ideas for minis as I can get them to come up and bloom, but the fruit is slim when there is a harvest. |
headzombie | 22 Feb 2015 4:53 p.m. PST |
Our idea, and it has been working so far, is to give sculptor's their own chunk of our webstore. We do all the manufacturing, and some adverts when they come out, but since its royalty based it also gets the sculptor drumming up business as well. |
Dave F | 22 Feb 2015 9:20 p.m. PST |
Headzombie: So this idea is 'in play' somewheres aboutz? Or wait, or are you re-stating the OP. In that case, I think that would sum it up, though variations to the idea may improve major holes. |
headzombie | 22 Feb 2015 10:23 p.m. PST |
In play, I do it now with two sculptors and about to be a third. |
Dave F | 23 Feb 2015 7:21 a.m. PST |
What's it called? Can I get it on it? (depending on what's happening) maybe drag some sculptors with me. |
Dave F | 24 Feb 2015 8:18 p.m. PST |
Nvm, got it, put my lazy fingers to work and looked up your stuff :-P Well, cool ,that you have that sort of set up in play. if that's what your doing and you have room for more 15mm stuff (possibly NSFW – thinking of doing the heavy metal magazine catalog in 15mm…. or whatever. Looks like you have sci-fi, apoc that could be added on to) let me know. Like I said, I just want to sculpt because I like to, and I know others do, and having an avenue for them to get out in a more straightforward way would be great. |
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