* Unless it's for friends or family!
Did you ever wonder how a SNOTM would look like if it was drawn in a cheap hotel room in Toronto, without a scanner, a graphic tablet or a mouse...? Wonder no mo!
Let me explain a little bit further on this sensitive subject matter (at least to graphic designers). I think it's great to work for free or be an intern when you are still in school or you just finished college. I don't think it's ok when big magazines or companies that make money don't want to pay you and try to convince you saying that it will give you tons of exposure. Let's make this clear: exposure doesn't pay the rent. I can't pay my groceries with exposure and, even though I didn't try, I can't go to the New Yorker and say that I want to work for them because the last shitty company I freelanced for promised me a lot of exposure.
Edit: I lost a lot of comments that were posted here on thursday... blogger had some trouble. Sorry guys.
33 comentarios:
It sounds like you had some bad experience...
- What kind of pens did you use for that? Lookin good!
Good advice, i've been in this situation a couple of times.
Gotta eat~
I once worked for free for a very disorganized company and it was an incredibly stupid move on my part. Never again.
Good call. I don't care what any company says. Designs/Products take Time. Time is money these days. It's an oft used phrase but that doesn't mean it isn't true.
Makes sense to me.
You're an S.O.B., haha! Love it!
Hm... I think you need a qualifier here. Maybe exposure doesn't pay rent, but this very website gives your work away for free, and I'm sure you welcome the exposure. So this very website contradicts your message.
Maybe it should say "never do commissions for free?"
yes, anonymous, I agree, I only get exposure from this blog, but it's exposure that I managed to get by my own. But I agree with your point... "never do commissions for free" would be a better way of expressing it-
Soy ilustradora independiente, así que supongo que sabes cuantas veces me ha tocado lidiar con este asunto.
Te dejo un link que me pasó otro ilustrador http://shouldiworkforfree.com/espanol.htm
Un abrazo!
pley
As a professional magician, I fully agree. I work for free for hospice, cancer, veterans organizations and for family and friends. I've spent 35 years honing my craft and performing skills. Even when billing $400 an hour, that's $0.35 an hour for the years of practice and learning. Don't ever give it away unless you owe them something or want to get laid!
Nice one!
Lesson learnt the hard way for me :S
I can honestly relate. There are 2-3 friends that i'll do whatever they want for free and have a smile on my face.
But when a certain client didn't like it that they paid more after they called and wanted a second poster of the same, only in a different layout to put in a different place, well... you know...
lesson learned and never forgotten
Thats some good advice..you go alex!
all your readers are your friends right??
Great advice.
Well said. *thumbs up*
this is so true. Have done a lot of work for free for a friend on the understanding that it will result in paid work. but not REALLY working out. So good advice - don't give your talents away!
AX
LOL
wisdum rite thrrr
Interesting! I actually worked for free for a guy seven months ago, and it turned into a quite well paid job (although admittedly it was paid quite poorly for the first few months). Sorry to be the one who disagrees - I think what you're saying is mostly right. I also see lots of people volunteering their way into organisations, too :)
I sometimes work for free (as a professional video editor). I do so for charitable institutions. I have no money to give away, just talent. It works out just fine.
UNFAILINGLY and BRUTALLY accurate. Exactly what I needed to be reminded of today. Thank you.
Volunteering is one thing, but when someone is asking you to make something for free that they want to use to gain money for themselves is another thing.
Very true and nice advice
assino embaixo!
ha ha good one LOL
VERY NICE MAN!!
A HUGH FROM BRAZIL!!
Excellent advice. My amended version: Work for free sparingly, but on your own terms. I work for free more than I should (I'm a magazine writer/editor), but for publications that I love and believe in, and that just can't pay. I'm OK with it. I wouldn't be if their financial circumstances were different. I never accept exposure as currency; my rent is too high.
Also, hi from Toronto! I hope my city was good to you while you were here.
yup...i agree with you...never work for free...
always others take advantage by that...
Ugh, people do this to me all the time! Hello, art costs money you jerks. My time is money. My creativity is money. You don't want to pay? You don't get jack.
Never ever work for free,
Unless its for friends and family.
In which case,
charge double : )
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