Question about Toons

[TaylorMarieXXX]

So I've noticed something, and since ya'll are kind of like my home-forum (granted I whore my ass everywhere like a whore on the track*), but I get the best business feedback from ya'll so I got a question.

I see people selling all these sexy toons and shit, and I assume they are for banners or graphics or whatever. Now I see people buying these toons for between $30-45 a piece. I live in a huge college town with a great graphics design program (I know because my college g/f went through it) I know for a fact that I could get some college kid who would be stoked, to make toons of the same quality I see advertised for like $10 a pop. Shit, they would be fighting for that work, the same with banners. Now since I dated a graphic designer (and i like to think I've got a good aesthetic) I can tell great pro work from a lot of the stuff out there. I think these kids could atleast do 'a lot of the stuff out there' and I know they could do great toons. So the question is, lets say I was just to do a 100% mark up and charge 20 bucks a pop for toons. Is there a market?

2nd Part of the question is I've found I spend as much time marketing as I do actually writing blogs. So here's my second question. If the above seems like a decent idea, is there someone who has contacts etc. that thinks they could really rain-make that would want to do a 50\50 split. I figure I could scare up some business, but someone who really produces would likely bring more than double business in, therefore I'm still even on the day and hopefully up. Basically you find and promote, I hire and deal with the designers. Just wanting to generate some discussion more than anything.

[gonzo]

I paid a lot more than that for a toon from Greg Boone!

Your idea does have legs. I know Id have a lot of logo and art wrk for someoen with those rates!

[TaylorMarieXXX]

Here's something I learned that's really useful.

Everyone tell me why it is a terrible idea and it won't work.

[Toby]

...Everyone tell me why it is a terrible idea and it won't work.
The one concern that came to my mind when reading about the idea is the reliability of this inexpensive work force.

[Jace]

if they can do the caliber that I have in my sig and avatar then yeah, I would be interested

[TaylorMarieXXX]

Yes, obviously caliber is the do or die, but I will be able to tell that by looking at their applications and their samples. These kids are sooo hungry for extra cash through a job that uses what they are studying and their art. What I'm going to do is pull some samples and tell anyone interested in the job to do me three toons inspired or along the lines of the stuff I showed them. And one of them will be the standard slutty toon i.e. Cindarella spread eagle. And I plan I hiring two of them (technically they are contractors) and they will get paid per quality toon. As far as jace's that's one of the better one's I've seen, not so much for the graphics (which are great, but graphics of that quality will be the standard) but more so for the concept and creativeness.

Now, aside from the workforce and quality, what would be the big problems? I want to hear any ideas of where this could go wrong. In my experience thats the best first step for an idea like this. Essentially an opposition paper. :)

[pam]

I'd have to agree with the reliability factor -- would they rather go out and party or stay in and make $20 doing a toon?

I know I need toons all the time and my favorite and best designer retired to do solely mainstream work full-time. My backup is good but not always available -- been waiting 3 weeks now to schedule me for some face drawings.

There is a certain style I like and I haven't seen many who can replicate it.

Edit: If I remember I'll show you my toon in full size, from toes to the top of my head, and then tell you the price I paid -- your jaw will drop

[TaylorMarieXXX]

Yeah I defiantly want you to get up with me on that Pam, you being my pimp and all. :) I'm like, "but Pam, I'm tired..." she's all, "Shut up boy, and get in there and tell me how sexy them hairy girls are! Yeah, tell me how sexy that 200 pounder is! or I'll comb your head back to that fat meat boy!"

Just joking girl, you know I owe this shit too you.

Just started on a job that I got because "I don't know Pam personally, but if you can meet her standards, or exceed them as she seems to say, I know your work will be fine." So I got 30 posts to bang out at $3 a piece. But I got to do the whole post start to finish. I want to do it as a case study to see time wise what is more profitable. But I'm pretty sure, your shorter ones, and now those reviews will be my bread and butter. 30 more posts and the entire Natural women is done, going to try to do that in the next 48 hours, then I'm going to finish this new job, and then I'll be on to your reviews likely Friday evening.

Anyways, about the college kids partying. College kids are poor and need money for all that weed they smoke and money they blow on beer. I think a graphic design or art major would be stoked to get paid $15 bucks to draw some sexy toons. Anyone know what kind of time investment something like that takes?

[Toby]

...Anyways, about the college kids partying. College kids are poor and need money for all that weed they smoke and money they blow on beer...
During the 15 years I spent in retail management I had a fair number of college students working for me part time. Granted, it wasn't a gig within their chosen field of study, but reliability was not a common trait.

[TaylorMarieXXX]

Cool well thanks for the info. I talked to a friend who is an illustrator and I didn't realize the amount of time (about a day) in each one of those. I'm still going to look for some college kids, but I'm not super hopeful at this point. Guess I'm going to stick with the writing because it's going so well.

One last question, what have people here paid for toons?

[Toby]

...One last question, what have people here paid for toons?I paid $50 each for Boot Babe and Stiletto Babe, which also included the graphic text headers I use on Babes in Boots (http://www.babes-in-boots.com/tgp.php) and Well Heeled Women (http://www.well-heeled-women.com/tgp.php)

[gonzo]

I think once upon a time I paid $500 for an original autographed Greg Boone.