It really does depend on who you work for and why. I would do work for a "Bayani" on consignment... in fact I am doing one for someone now, who shall remain nameless. But only because their "name" had some clout for me.
I try not to be one of those artists that doesn't learn by their mistakes, and I try to learn from each piece, in how it effects my work habits and pacing. Which is probably one of the reasons I am currently only doing a 4 at a time set.
I think that for me is manageable. I don't get overworked, and more importantly the client gets their order. I could dig deep, lose sleep and be a general pain to live with IF I wanted to do every possible commission out there, and never look back... I think that would hurt me and any rep I still had, and certainly I would be sending more emails apologizing out than work. I hate doing that. A LOT...
If the customer is new, and I know of no one vouching for them, I expect the money up front, or they can hire someone else. That's how I chose to work. They have the choice NOT to hire me. IF the person is a repeat customer, I pretty much know they are good for it, and 10 out of 10 times they have already paid me upfront, because "they" know that's how I like to work, and they are okay with that.
When I split the funds, 1/2 now, 1/2 later, I feel like I have to go chasing for the second 1/2, and if the client is unaware that the piece is done, sometimes their money is not ready to be transferred. Which is okay again if I trust them, if they are new, my hackles go up and I put them on a mental, never again list.
Not to say that I am not guilty of missing a deadline, but I have yet to have been burned, or to burn a customer. I took an order once for 6 pieces, but the client and I had simultaneous RL problems and the order got lost in limbo. That is something out of my hands, while I would gladly fill the order now, I have some guilt of asking them for money on something they wanted when they were healthier... no I think I will let that one go, and hopefully they won't hold a grudge on me.
Overall I would tell the client, only do what you are comfortable doing, and for the artist I would say, sometimes you have to take a risk if you want to make the cash... know your client, and your artist, buyer/seller beware...
