Gagwriter/Cartoonist Collaborations
Here is how gagwriter/cartoonist collaborations have traditionally worked in the past. The gagwriter would submit typed gag ideas to the cartoonist. The cartoonist then looks through them and picks the ones he thinks are right for him. The cartoonist submits the cartoons and if he makes a sale, the gagwriter gets 25 percent of the check and the cartoonist keeps 75 percent.
A debate that has always been part of this is, which is more valuable -- the drawing or the gag? Obviously it takes more time to do the drawing, but which is the most essential element to making the sale? Arguments could go either way. And I feel there is a third element which is equally, if not more, important. I'm talking about the marketing. In the 75/25 agreement discussed above the cartoonist typically does the marketing as well as the drawing. The combined functions would certainly justify his 75 percent share. But, suppose the gagwriter was the one doing the marketing? Then perhaps a 50-50 split might be much more appropriate.
Another thing to consider is how much the cartoon could potentially earn. If a cartoonist regularly sells to high-paying publications, that adds to his worth. Or, perhaps a given gagwriter might have more sales to his credit than some other gagwriter. Perhaps one gagwriter understands a publication's slant much better than another gagwriter.
Here is the arrangement I propose to make with gagwriters I use:
For gags I hold I will submit to the highest-paying markets first, then work my way down to those that pay less. I will pay the gagwriter 50 percent of any sales over $50 and for sales of less than $50 I will pay 25 percent. If the cartoon is sold by a third party, such as cartoonstock or some other stock agency, I won't pay a commission, but cartoons won't be submitted to them until I have tried elsewhere first. Commissions to gagwriters will be payable for a 5-year period or until I pass on. I will try to add the gagwriter's name on all cartoons. If the gagwriter sells the cartoon to a publication, I will increase his commission to 50 percent. If I hold a gag I might assign it to other cartoonists if I am too swamped to draw it myself. In those cases I will pay the gagwriter a flat fee, which we can negotiate and I will do the same for the cartoonist I assign to draw the cartoon.