Image Designer Archive
Thread: My first day as an Image Designer
That resulted in ZERO tips sometimes, but that's okay.
I seem to get alot of curious customers that way.
I think ID is probably my favourite profession so far. I have tested and disliked alot of the professions.
Welcome to the profession, and remember, it's not ALWAYS like that.
I'm fortunate to be a member of a very large guild/city, and I have three "brothers" and a fiancee in-game that take great pleasure in hunting down people who are awful to me. It helps a lot. 
Sweet, a new Image Designer! First of all, welcome to the fold!
Sorry you had some nasty experiences though. That's just how it goes sometimes. I think you'll quickly find that ID is one of the most unpredictable professions out there. You're going to have some days where you'll have a line of wonderful customers who all tip well and refer people, and there will be other days where you'll get 45 min clients who always let stuff time out and stiff you in the end. And there will even be days where you will stand out in front of the starport and not a soul will even see you there. It's a crazy, unpredictable life, but I dare say that its also the least mundane, least repetetive, and most continually exciting profession out there.
I dont have a whole lot of advice to give over what everyone else has given. However, I would like to suggest a pricing system for you to try: tips only. It's how I go about things, and I find its worked best for me. Hehehe...maybe its cuz I'm on Bloodfin, a PvP server where prices are inflated and everyone is an uber rich warrior , but 10k tips have become about standard for me, with the record so far at 100k. Ppl will never complain about overpricing either! A word of advice though: word usage is everything. When they ask you what the cost will be, respond with "I work purely for tips, so tip as you feel appropriate," or something to that effect, rather than "Just tip what you want." The difference is incredible.
Just keep at it, and enjoy the journey!