Hey Guys!

I haven't posted in a while but I wanted to make mention of our new site re-design along with some new offerings.  For the past 2 years we have been providing shared web hosting to the community from personal sites to business. Recently we moved to a new data center that is allowing us to grow and offer much better pricing and services.

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So it came, it's lame, and sometimes the rain in Spain falls (mainly) in the plain.

I think here's as good a place as any for a small business tax forum to discuss our strategies for maximising our refunds, what forms to file, who needs to file, what's considered a deductable, etcetera. I only know about fursuit-y type things for deductions, so I will start things off.

I'm filling out a Schedule C(1040), a schedule SE(SUPER IMPORTANT if you don't have a 'primary' job) and of course a 1040.

Schedule C part 2 is super nice this year, with a well detailed expenses form and (part 3) cost of goods form.

The only things I can say that aren't obvious are remember your vehicle counts as a work vehicle so maintainence and gas can be deductable under certain circumstances, and convention expendatures can count as advertising/business deductables!

Hey guys,

Has anyone noticed anything in particular that makes people more likely to keep your business cards as well as to actually keep you in mind?

What do you put on your cards? Do you stay simple with just a name and web url or do you give out everything? Do you use a piece of art on the back of your cards?

Who do you recommend for printing business cards and other marketing materials?

Lets get some brainstorming going on here?

Hello! Not really sure how to introduce myself. I was Kynliod or Kyn over on Artspots before its demise, and I am also Kynliod on DA. I'm a hobby artist (anthro and otherwise), but I occasionally do some commission work when it comes my way. In my everyday life, I am a stay at home mom and a homeschool teacher, and I have a small *very* part time business making crochet hats--especially baby hats. Lately my hats have taken on an animal theme, which has been loads of fun. =)

ETA: I have an additional question, to those who are experienced with shipping art. How would you go about shipping a piece that is 18x24 on Bristol? Ordinarily I sandwich between two sheets of foam board and slip inside an envelope of the same size to prevent slippage. But on a piece that large, I'm not sure this method would still work. Thoughts?

Anyway, here is my question--I hope someone here can answer it. I am doing a commission piece for someone to whom I am relinquishing the copyrights of the drawing, for an album cover and other merchandising uses for their band. I was just kinda going along my usual methods of something in the 9x12 size range, real media, etc., just as I have always done. But I have never done a piece where I gave up the copyrights.

The buyer just informed me that (to make a long story short) they worked in a job where art or photo reproduction was a part of their work back in the day (not sure how long ago, but certainly more than 20 years, let us say). He is thinking that the drawing needs to be 18x24 to accommodate resolution concerns and so forth. I have never done work of this sort before, but I'm thinking that perhaps he is mistaken, with the way technology is these days, and everything being so digital and such. So I told him I wasn't sure, and that I'd look into it.

So, does the drawing really need to be that big?? Or is 9x12 sufficient for, say, an album cover, t-shirts, and maybe posters? I can't imagine them merchandising further than that, but those are the three things they mentioned. Naturally, my main concern is the poster, since if they really are planning on printing posters, the posters are going to be bigger than the original drawing.

So what should I do? I told them that if I drew it that large it would definitely effect the price, and I am also concerned with the deadline now, because this would add a very significant amount of work to what has already been a pretty extensive project.

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:)

I need some help with pricing, specifically for conventions.  I'm pretty new to the furry con scene, my first one ever being last year's Further Confusion.  I made the mistake of WAY undercharging for badges, and filled up much too quick.

So I'm wondering what a reasonable price would be for fully-rendered watercolor conbadges, laminated 3x4 size.  Something roughly like these (the samples from last year).  If it makes a difference, I'm specifically wondering about at-con rates for badges that will be finished and ready for pick-up by the next day.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Hey guys,

I read recently that the sales for books IRL are down because of e-Books and I find that completely understandable.

However, I have had my own 'how-to-draw- book project planned for a while and have my own concerns about it. My original customer base that I'll aim for is furry/anime artists and convention artists but I want to cover more than just drawing...

Would you be interested in a HTD book/series if it included additional information like

• Selling/Marketing your Artwork and Expanding your customer base (Selling online, printing services vs. printing at home, how to price your work, etc)
• Convention Tips and Tricks (Typical convention AA, setup and selling techniques, etc)
• DIY Art Products you can make (buttons, charms, jewelry, etc)
• General Species Study Chapters (Differences in species, reference study techniques, a 'scientific' approach at mythological creatures, etc)

I'll likely plan on selling the books as e-books, books on CD and have a few physical copies printed through Lulu or something.

I'd have a few lessons published online for free and then have most of the material for sale.
What sorts of other art-related info could people want?
And would you even be interested in this sort of thing?

Does any of the admins still visit this community? Getting lots of spam through it lately.

Whats with all the russian posts lately with no reply option available?

Since it sais we are allowed to introduce ourselves, i feel i should at least do that for now.

My name is Temrin. I am currently a Web Design student but also a furry artist. Art is my only means of income and amazingly enough I've been able to scrape together what i need month by month with the help of the amazing people who have commissioned me.

I have an official business portfolio website in the making in hopes to have a place to display wider variances of my work, especially when i get into more of my web and graphic design work.

I've only considered myself a REAL part of the furry community (online and offline) for about 2 years. I have been drawing anthropomorphic and Fantasy artwork since grade 5 but never really knew about the communities online. (Unforunately when i did, i was opressed my by parents as well as the boyfriend at that time. They were both very, discriminitive of my art in some ways.) Now though, i live with roommates who are all int he community and I've never felt more connected. My parents have really come around and accepted my artwork and now are proud that i can support myself with it. (at least most of the time.)

I've only just started getting into the Convention scene so i am not very experienced. I've been to Rainfurrest twice ('09 and '10 ) and plan on going again every year from here on in. This passed RF was my first time dealing at a furry convention and it was a blast. I have dealt previous at an Anime con but due to circumstances beyond the staff's control me and many other artists got shafted and business was so very poor even for those famous artists who make thousands of dollars in one weekend.

I have also been to Howloween (Vancouver BC) and will be there this year as well. There is no dealing at this venue as its a one day con and the hotel doesn't allow it. But it is a great place to hang and meet local furs. (Its like a giant day long furmeet. With a bowling after party the next day.)

I've dabbled in fursuit making but with time constraints of making a living off digital/traditional art commissions and having school every other free moment i haven't had the time to delve into it more. Even if i did i think i'd only do it for fun. I've always loved costuming since i was little and so i find the process of fursuiting very relaxing for me. I wouldn't want to ruin that by making it a job as well as everything else. (Everyone needs a little fun in their life :3 )

You can find me in many different place online but i only seem to update two major galleries.
Deviantart and Furaffinity. (commission prices and status are stated on the front pages of both. DA: Under the journal, FA: Links in the profile area)

I also have an Inkbunny account that is updated with only prints so that they are available to any who may be interested. (its cheaper then Deviantart too! )

I don't use my LJ account other then receiving messages and sending messages and community posts but links are supplied on my journal to where you can find me.

If anyone has any questions for me i'd be more then happy to consider answering if i can :3

~Temrin