Commission Pricing at Your Table: A Practical Framework

Someone stops at your table, points at a print, and asks "could you draw this as my OC instead?" You freeze for half a second because you have no idea what to charge, quote something that feels random, and spend the rest of the show wondering if you undercharged by half. Commission pricing at a table is genuinely one of the trickiest parts of tabling, because you're doing math in your head while also trying to be personable and not hold up the line behind them.

Why table commissions are different from online ones

Online, you have time. You can quote, wait for a deposit, negotiate over messages, and walk away from a bad fit. At a table, you've got maybe 90 seconds before the conversation needs to resolve one way or another, and there's a queue forming. That pressure is exactly why so many artists either underprice on the spot or panic and say "I'll message you a quote later," which loses the sale about half the time.

A framework that actually works under pressure

The fix is deciding your tiers before the show, not during it. Write them on a small sign or a card at your table so you're reading off a price, not inventing one.

These ranges vary a lot by medium, style complexity, and your own backlog, so treat them as a starting shape, not gospel. The point isn't the exact number, it's having ANY fixed number ready so you're not doing mental math with a customer watching.

On-the-spot vs take-home

Decide ahead of time which of these you're even offering, because they need completely different logistics.

• On-the-spot works for badges, quick chibis, simple flat pieces you can knock out in 15–30 minutes between browsers. Keep the queue visible so people know what they're waiting for, and cap how many slots you take per day.
• Take-home commissions need a deposit, always. Fifty percent up front is standard, collected via a form with contact details, reference images, and a due date estimate. Never promise a firm delivery date at a loud table with three other things happening, give a range instead ("4 to 6 weeks").

Handling the awkward moments

Some will happen no matter how prepared you are:

1. "Can you do it cheaper?" Redirect to a smaller version of the same idea rather than discounting the one you quoted. "The full body's $180, but a bust of just them would be $70" gives them an out without you eating the loss.
2. Someone wants a wildly complex piece in the on-the-spot slot. Be upfront that it needs to be a take-home instead. It's not a rejection, it's honesty about what fits in the time you have.
3. A line forms and you're mid-sketch. Have a "next available slot" sign ready so people can browse and come back instead of standing there.

The number that matters most

Work out your hourly rate first, separate from anything else, and build every commission tier up from that number rather than copying someone else's price sheet. A price that looks "normal" compared to other tables but pays you $8 an hour after materials isn't actually a normal price, it's just a common mistake. Once you know your real hourly number, the tiers above become easy to fill in and defend, even under table pressure with a line forming behind the next person.

Curious what a Shapeshift kit actually looks like in person? Head to the Artist Booths homepage to see the full lineup and find the one that fits your table.