Quote from: pet_chia on September 28, 2010, 20:40

...Crowd is out, elite is in.

I might have agreed with this statement, except that I think iStock missed their chance to really go elite and corner the market. Late last year they had some of the elite independent artists (Andres being one of them) reconsidering exclusivity after the prices for exclusive files were increased while non-exclusive file prices did not see the same increase. iStock had the elite independents coming back to the table to give the crown another look, and then they lit the table on fire with this pay cut.

Just imagine what things might look like today if iStock had, at some point this year, raised exclusive rates 5% across the board. Or offered a Black Diamond rate of 45%. They could have even moved forward with the non-exclusive rate cut. Drop all independents down to 15%, and offer a pretty sweet exclusive deal with a rate increase. Maybe guys like Andres would be exclusive today. What if more top tier independents were enticed by the deal and were sold on a higher rate? Maybe Yuri would be exclusive, Ron, Lisa, etc. iStock might have been on the verge of major market dominance by just sweetening the deal a bit more. And we all know they could have done it and that 55-60% profit is sustainable.

Instead, any chance of the most sought-after independent talent ever becoming exclusive is gone, and some people are actually reverting from exclusive back to independent. Makes you wonder if the folks at HQ will ever be looking back on 2010 as the year that could have been. 

GREAT points. Cas is right. They should have hired you as a consultant. They'd be untouchable in the market and it would be a veritable IS lovefest at the contributor level.

Here's my thought on why they didn't wait. RC's are based on cost of the image. Each credit is an RC. If they raise the Vetta pricing now then they have a better chance of proving their point about the contributors making "1/2" of their credits in the last 3 months of the year. If they can prove they were right, and exclusives manage to get back to their canister percentages, then exclusives may choose to stick around after January rather than leave or drop the crown, which many are stating they have/will.

Hm. You have a strong point there, I think.

OMG - That commercial is hilarious. And spot on our present brouhaha

I am not sure why I got a call.  They had absolutely nothing to offer by way of softening the blow.  I don't know how it was decided who got calls and who didn't.  If it was an attempt to keep me quiet, it didn't work.  But by the nature of the call and the sadness of the administrator, I concluded that these changes were not coming from the Istock team, but higher up and there was nothing they could do about them.  

Totally bizarre. I don't know what to make of these calls. Nor do I understand, then, why Kelly took the blame for the changes, if, as you inferred from the sadness of the admin, they didn't come from iStock but higher up the chain.

In a sense it doesn't matter one way or the other. As long as they continue to sell licenses - and this week has been very good - I'll do business with them. I don't have to like them or respect them to let them run the store that sells my image licenses.

True.

^^^ Yeah, how about stopping this bashing that you guys pollute this forum with (and in multiple threads)? I know this is an open arena, not a kindergarten, but, we almost always managed to self-moderate here, so...

Yes please. Let's! It's not about being cool (whatever that is), it's about being constructive. Clearly a challenge, but I think we're up to it

FWIW, I seriously doubt Lobo is enjoying any of what's going on.  I think the sarcasm and testiness are more likely to be a result of the strain he's under.

That's my sense/opinion, too.

Rob Sylvan has been always a gentleman and a very fair person. He will do well wherever he goes, as he deserves.

+1

koolaid isn't as bitter as whatever you're drinking....

Was that an example of a constructive comment, a productive post? I'm confused ...

I think the 'other' thread on istock is the longest of its kind too. I don't know what is happening there. I haven't any real interest since it's the same discussion circling in there now, the whole situation seems a bit moot. we're moving forward, it's done and I don't know that much else will be said.

Funny how you look down on the posting that's still going on in the IS thread, say you have no interest in it since it's "the same discussion circling in there now ... moot" and yet, here you are going at it in here. Despite it being pretty much the same discussion circling in here now. We're moving forward. It's done. And yet we all, including you, seem to have plenty still to say

The pointless nature of both threads, at this point, being equal, the only difference seems to me to be that you post bark under protection of a burka here (though quite poorly or thinly veiled, I must say) and without a guise over on IS.

what does that mean to be "ignored"?  they can't see anything you post or you just can't sitemail them?

OT: Congrats, Jami! Looks like you're "doing it right" as jsnover instructed - I see you've got two people ignoring you. I've still got you beat. I'm up to four! I like it that you can see everyone's stats. That hawk_eye has the highest I've seen so far with nine!

Anyway. As you were.

^^^ Good post Sadstock (and welcome!). My sources tell me that several inspectors are leaving too. Lots going on behind the scenes at the moment.

My sources tell me that Rob will stay on as a contributor. As to whether this will be in an exclusive capacity or a non-exclusive capacity, I couldn't say. Because I don't know

It is indeed a bit rowdy at times, but these forums have been enormously helpful in dealing with all sorts of issues when they come up. Although there is no Lobo riding shotgun, be aware (if you do start submitting to other sites) that there are one or two who will (and have) retaliated against contributors for things said in this forum. That's why there are a number of independents here who don't use their regular name so they don't face their account getting terminated if they speak out about things that need to be addressed.

Just try to stay out of the bar fights and you should be fine

All good to know. Much appreciated! Thank you

ETA: I see from my profile that I've already been "ignored" by 1 member. How exciting!

I don't know who said it above, but I don't think any exclusive should be comfortable with dls numbers decreasing as long as income is increasing. I already said this once, but that is a fairly short-sighted, destructive way to manage your business. after 2008 when dl numbers fell for everyone pretty much, I started watching my numbers increase steadily. granted, money is increasing exponentially while dl number are creeping up slowly....but both are moving upward and that's what I want to see.

I agree - I am not comfortable with dls decreasing, even though income may be increasing. If iStock hadn't increased prices so significantly, this would not be the trend for many of us. Though, of course, as more images come online into any given collection, there is potential for one's dls to fall.

I also agree with the person who posted that it seems like iStock is migrating (or being migrated) toward a leader in "midstock". I wish them the best of luck with that. But I think I'd have far more sales if it remained a leader in the microstock market. Even in periods when I've not been uploading consistently. That's my hunch, anyway.

All I know is that the new model they're moving to does not inspire me to work more. If fact, it has the opposite effect. With goals that change from year to year and seem generally, vastly unattainable (if you want to move up the ladder), I don't see the point in knocking myself out as I'm guaranteed nothing for my efforts. I'm familiar with a few other iStockers ports that are small, but smashing. And even as they turn out new and wonderful work, their dls hardly tick up, and often continue to dwindle. So, just because one is producing consistently and of a high quality guarantees nothing. You could remain at your current commission level and never go up, or, go down. To me that seems like a lot of effort for random rewards.

Which is why going un-exclusive and spreading my work around makes more sense. At least for me and my portfolio and type of work. And also, given that I have a day job that allows me little time to hamster-wheel for any agency.

Quote from: Risamay on September 21, 2010, 22:14

Seems like the new model all but guarantees burnout. And unlike the old model, you can't really take a sabbatical or healthy inspiration-break and continue to reap top benefits from all the hard work you did (consistently or not) in years past. That's just bananas. Don't the kids at the top know/understand that quality creative work isn't really an on-demand, high volume, 24/7 kind of skill/talent? I would hazard that such a skill/talent is rare, indeed. And that when you push artists too far they break/down and/or their work suffers. Which isn't good for either the artists or the business of selling their work.

Actually, I'm thinking it will make less difference because the levels are so vast that it will be hard to make a change unless you're near one end of it. If you upload 0 files or 1000 files during the year, you will probably still be at the same level at the end of the year. Now, whether the level moves on you is another story.

Good point.