So, this was one of those calls where they tell you exactly what the concept is and the budget isn't great. I agreed to take it on, asking if there was anything unusual in the contract... the AD didn't think so. Page 1 was pretty standard stuff, and page 2 is where it got interesting. This first clip isn't TOO bad, but still one to make me cringe and think about dropping it, except that I just closed on an apartment and, well... uh, you know...vowing to myself never to mention it to an online group of illustrators.
cringe factor level 2
Here is where it gets interesting, stating that the image can never be sold for a cover image anywhere, ever. Then they go on to say that the CONCEPT (that they provided me) was exclusive to the COMPANY... lets just say it was something including a doctor and a balance scale, pretty original idea.
cringe factor level 3
Here is where I had to laugh. If I ever break any part of this agreement (doctor/scale illo), I agree to pay 3 times the fee paid to me along with court costs. Well...at least I would know how much I would be liable for, and agree to this in advance, depending on their attorney and his/her lawschool loans to pay back.... I wondered if it would be the same attorney that drafted this contract up? ...could be fun
I tried to talk to the AD and editor, and explain the insanity of this document. The AD was cool and just wanted me to do the illo, but the editor wouldn't back down on the more problematic bits... so I dropped it.
Any other crazy contracts floating around out there, other than the obvious ones we all know?
