For those who work for free

[goforphoto]

Here is a utube video that sums up how to deal with those who ask you to work for free.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

[Sp00ks]

It's already been posted here somewhere. I love it. He is definitely vocal about it. :)

[Barb42]

Thanks for posting, I haven't seen it before and he makes some great points. Free work, donations, get you nowhere. I read something some time ago that was written to artists. the author said that even too many donations of work to charity by an artist will actually decrease their earning power. Portential clients/buyers are put off by it. The point is - if you don't value your work highly, why should they.

[splitfyre]

It's good to give back, but there comes a point when it becomes too much.

[Perry Ge]

He makes a lot of great points, and made me laugh too!

In no other industry does this happen, nobody offers to build your house for free to get recognition, or to do your accounting. The ONLY time people in other industries work for free or next to nothing to get experience and exposure is when they do an internship or work alongside a professional in some kind of mentorship, even then, they usually get paid! Heck, even in academics (my 'field'), one of the fields in which getting recognised is of vital importance, grad students and TAs get paid! Heck, at least writing for movies and photography brings in the bucks, who the heck are philosophers (some self-deprecation here :P) making money for (excuse the slight hyperbole)? And thy still get paid!

I don't know what deludes people into thinking creative work is free. Either they think it's not really work, or because the market is so full of people who are willing to do it for free that the market price becomes $0, or both! Grrr.

[Big WIll]

ha thats classic, he reminds me of a friend. cheers

[P51Mstg]

I saw it posted somewhere in the last few days. I wasn't sure if it was here or not. But its worth its own Thread.

Mark H