sounding 'professional' for contract illustration

[rainbow2bryte]

hi there
biting my nails over here trying to determine what to say to a man I got contact info. for thru a friend/ co-worker to do an illustration.
my friend's doing the graphic design for some brochures but cannot draw himself, so he told this man he'd find someone. that someone is me!

so, iI have to call him tonight and i'm afraid i'm just going to stammer and say 'UH...' a bunch of times.

i've never been contracted to do illustration before so i have no idea what i'm getting myself into. i have no prev. experience getting paid to draw something. I'm not even sure how to base what i should charge.
any thoughts?
preferrably before 4:30 my time! ;} which is um... central? whatever. MI.
thanks a lot!

EDIT:
OKay, got some more info. on this, so now my question is what the heck to charge. I think I'd like to do a fixed rate.
Basically the guys wants a map illustrated like something you would find to 'guide' yourself thru a park like King's Island, Cedar Point, Six Flags.
These are all substantially larger than this water park i'll be doing the illustration for. it's about 11,000 sq. feet. about a 3rd of the other big parks.
well spit.
never mind, we can't discuss pricing!
Grrrrr....

thanks anyway!

[PrintDriver]

Get a GAG book or check other illustrators' websites.
Maps, depending on style of illustration and accuracy, can be pricey. Or not.

[rainbow2bryte]

thanks for the reply printDriver-

what's a 'GAG' book?

have talked w/ some other peeps that experience freelance artists, so i'm starting to narrow down some stuff.

now i just gotta figure out how to make a nice illustration in illustrator rahter than good 'ole pen and paper...

[PrintDriver]

Does it have to be in Illustrator?
Most (but not all) of the map artists we've worked with do them in paint of some sort. Of course, again, it all falls to style and use.

Graphic Artists Guild = GAG

[budafist]

I'd go for fixed rate too. Figure out how many hours you'd spend on it, add a couple more, multiply by what you'd like to be paid per hour and voilia!

[PrintDriver]

I'd highly recommend using a contract.
Usually those who commission a map want perpetual use rights to it (ie they want the copyright). It doesn't do anyone else any good.

Charge accordingly.

[rainbow2bryte]

hi all,
I already gave the quote (hourly after I guessed my time plus a little cushion) and 'twas accepted.

my comrade who hooked me up w/ the job HAS been paid, so the dude pays. I'm paranoid and still wanted to draw up a contract but didn't. oh well this time. :(

i REALLY wanted to do and artist rendering but was persuaded to do it vector. It may prove easier for changes later as well as reproduction due to the independent res.

ha! DUH, Graphic Artists Guild- thanks again PD

thanks for all of your 'expert' advice...
i hope it RULES and gets me some more jobbies