[w i l l]

Will, I think the whole point is around the concept.
If this is their own registered trade mark it may be difficult to get attention for putting their logo in another context. You may have a lot of trouble to proof that you have done some art work for them.

On the other hand, If this is your own design and they did not register anything... and their business started to run well... they may need some papers to proof they own their trade mark.

Well this is what worries me. Now i'm dealing with an 18 year old pikey (probably) who has no money and is impossible to find. But that render is my own design (not just a render of his existing logo) which is becoming recognisable to that event... an event which could become quite popular partly of the back of my free branding.

i.e. a 3D render like that is quite recognisable so it could potentially make him more money in the future/branding etc etc. I basically need to find out where this event is being hosted now and somehow track down his address/caravan (where's that can of petrol?).

[corneliu]

Will, if it's your own work there should be a way to register or "sign" it in some way.

My personal opinion on this is to try to get to the bar owner in a friendly context.
They may have spend alot of thoughts on putting together some event that would point to their club in some way.
Maybe it took some time until they got to know it was worth the effort and they just forgot to take you into consideration.
Maybe the promoter got a contract price including your work and they consider it solved.
And maybe ... don't get upset with this idea... they need some more stuff in the future and you just need a friendly ocasion to give your card directly to the owner of the club.

I can realy understand how you feel. It hurts to see your picture again and again and knowing they did not give a damm about you, at least to pay you the money. But it may be am opportunity to get into a healthy relation directly with these guys who may need more art work in the future...

... i don't know .... just a thought...

[Eric Lagman]

Some money up front is a good idea for entrapaneaur types. If they dont want to pay you some money up front and they go somewhere else odds are they wouldn't have paid you anyway after you did the work. They probably went somewhere else to find someone to take advantage of. Once you establish a good relationship you dont always have to do that. Bill them in phases for larger projects that go on for weeks or months so that you are not starving until the job finishes. Also document things like someone else said. Get signed purchase orders before you start any job on a customer you have never dealt with. Sorry to hear that happened, but that is pretty small compared to how bad some designers I have known got screwed. Better to learn a lesson on something small like that first than have it be something you spend weeks working on.