Charity Conert Gig

[ishmelly]

So a friend of mine recommends to this woman for a paying gig

"First, let me introduce myself. My name is ____ and _____ gave me your contact information because she told me you guys take great pictures! Anyway, I am the co-founder and president of the Women and Criminal Justice Network (WCJN) at UCI and I wanted to approach you to see if you would be interested in being WCJN's photographer for our 1st Annual Benefit Concert on January, 27, 2010."

I responded with a email with a personal gallery made for them via lightroom and gave them a list of services I could provide. However it turns out this is a free job.

"Unfortunately because we are a small organization and all the proceeds we are currently fundraising for will be going towards the cost of the bus to transport the kids, we will be unable to compensate you for your work. If that is a problem, please let me know. I'm sorry if __ misinformed you. Thank you."

Should I take the job? It my last year in college and I've been working on saying no to doing free jobs. But I'm wondering if this could open up more opportunities and networking. I should also mention I'm not interested in the concert performers I've shot them already at previous venues.

Thanks in advance for your input!

[mikekelley]

If the event is for charity, there is nothing wrong with doing it for free if you agree with that charity's philosophy.

I wouldn't mind doing it, I'd get a free pass to the show and have access to take great pics.

And if you don't do it, you can rest assured that they'll find someone who will.

[tracknut]

I would do this if I was sympathetic with the charity and would have made a donation to it. But I would not expect useful contacts to come from this, other than "I know a photographer that shoots for free" ones.

I note the bus driver was apparently slick enough to get out of the "free service" deal...

Dave

[ishmelly]

Would it be reasonable to negotiate them advertising me in like programs or shoutouts? Like if I gave them my logo and website?

Thanks for all the input from above!

[mikekelley]

It is okay to give without expecting anything in return, but ask if they can mention you with a thanks or something.

[ssim]

I try to do one or two charitable shoots per year with organizations that I agree with their cause. Some of them try to take advantage of you and one must be cautious. The last one that asked me to do it for free was charging 250.00 a plate for a fund raising dinner dance. You can imagine that my answer was no but we did reach a compromise. If your organization is a registered charitable organization ask them if they will give you a tax receipt for the equivalent of what you would normally have charged. It is good if you can get mentioned in any printed material they have for the event but I am not a staunch believer that this does much for anyone beyond that one night. People just don't remember names they have seen. If it makes you feel good to take the job, then do it.

[MJPhotos24]

I try to do one or two charitable shoots per year with organizations that I agree with their cause. Some of them try to take advantage of you and one must be cautious. The last one that asked me to do it for free was charging 250.00 a plate for a fund raising dinner dance. You can imagine that my answer was no but we did reach a compromise. If your organization is a registered charitable organization ask them if they will give you a tax receipt for the equivalent of what you would normally have charged. It is good if you can get mentioned in any printed material they have for the event but I am not a staunch believer that this does much for anyone beyond that one night. People just don't remember names they have seen. If it makes you feel good to take the job, then do it.
ditto