fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2284 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2284 ⌋

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So, I received three notes (two deviantart and one on tumblr) this week asking would I be interested in drawing comics and doing fliers/advertisements for "an exciting project" only the people asking added afterward, "We can't pay you now." (READ: Or ever.) Again, these aren't thumbnail sketches but a full day work load.

And I know I am not first person who can sketch a pretty descent stick figure to be asked this. And I know that I won't be the last.

But why does this always happen to artists? What other group gets this? "Hey, dentist, I have an interesting cavity on the left side of my mouth. Can you fill it in for free?" "Hey, chef, I've been told I have unique palate. Can you cook something for me for free?"

Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? How did you/they deal with it?

You'll want to read this: http://www.27bslash6.com/p2p2.html

that is amazing and beautiful.

That is just a thing of beauty.

I love David Thorne. He is a cruel and unusual genius.

I guess there's a sense that artists do art because they love it and don't require payment. Despite the fact that doing art requires artists to set aside time during which they could be either a) engaged in paid work b) resting from said work, and that in itself is a cost no matter how much they love it. It just doesn't enter some people's minds.

Yeah I get notes like that about daily, I usually just say I'm too busy (because I constantly am busy) and leave it at that.

People just don't always value artists and aren't aware of what goes into a project. Even those that do still sometimes try to get free work out of us, either as a way to cost cut or as a way to start a project they don't have the funds for.

Like as cool as kickstarter is I am sick of people approaching me saying that they'll pay me after we get the kickstarter funds, no, I do not work on a "promise" to be paid.

That's been bugging me like hell lately. I've been looking for internships--something that I could learn from and use as a springboard to a paying job--but all I'm seeing is "Here, manage my social media accounts by yourself for free." Thanks, but no.

That's basically what internships are like, unfortunately. You don't actually learn anything; you just play gopher for a few months and are paid only with the knowledge that you now have something Relevant to add to your resume.

If it were just a few hours a week I'd agree with you, but these are full-time jobs that they're trying to pass off as unpaid "experience."

My SO is an artist (airbrush, drawing, digital) and a tattoo artist for a living and yeah, he gets asked this ALL THE TIME. Like - oh you artists live for art-making so you won't mind making my AWESOME FLYING TURKEY-BEAR picture for free, would you? It'll be so fun! It'll be great exposure!!!

Yeah, no. He doesn't get nasty or anything, but he's pretty firm about saying no, he has plenty of paying work to keep him busy.

Edited 2013-04-05 01:11 (UTC)

When I was a teenager, people from my church used to ask me to draw things for them for work... like, this librarian asked me to draw a poster of a frog reading a book, and things like that. I think they thought of it as a compliment. To be fair it's not like my art is professional-quality, and they've done time-consuming things to help me, too, so I didn't mind.

I've also gotten really annoying strangers on Youtube demanding that I make AMV's for them. I said yes a few times if I actually liked their ideas, but some of them were sooo entitled about it. There was this one really obnoxious boy who asked me to make a video for him, and I said yes and got almost done with it but didn't get to finish it due to a bunch of computer problems, plus not having much time for video editing, plus losing interest... so when I sent him the half I had finished he was like, "Oh. Okay. Well, since you didn't finish this one, you should do something else to make up for it!" and he sent me his ideas for two other videos. Like, excuse me, since when do I have to "make up" for it?? And then when he watched the video he complained because I didn't make it the way he wanted it.

Anyway. I think personal trainers get this, too; my mom is one.

It's not an artist thing, it's an "associating with entitled people" thing. The people who badger artists are the same ones who badger everyone else, I've found.

Everytime I get those notes on DA, I delete them and don't even deign a response. Because, rude for asking full free stuff from an artist. Sorry, we're not here to be your supplier for this crap.

Writers get it, too. Harlan Ellison has a famous rant about this that boils down to "Fuck you, pay me!" It's pretty sweet.

The most logical reasoning I've heard is that if someone has an exciting new project, you ask yourself (or them if you're feeling brave) are you making any money off this project? If so, than there's no damn reason in the world why they ought to expect people to chip in for free, unless this is a bona fide charity or a favor for a friend. Promises of "exposure" count for shit, because if they were big and famous enough to give you a decent amount of exposure to the relevant people, they'd be big and famous enough to pay you.

99% of the time, it's just some asshole trying to scam free stuff.

Graphic designer and video editor here. It's my 9-5 job.

Short answer? All the time.

Long answer? It happens all the fucking time.

I always end up doing "favors" for the boss's kids for free, though. Sigh.

Writers and musicians get it, too. And anyone who sews, actually. And anyone who does hair or can work on cars. People used to expect my mom to cut/perm/dye their hair for free all the time when I was growing up, and my stepdad gets bugged constantly to change people's oil or fix their cars for free. It seems like people are more willing to bug complete strangers about doing things for free when they're artists/musicians/writers, but a lot of people are just cheap and entitled.

Delete them, it's just some dumbass spamming everyone in the hopes someone will do free art for them.

Yeah it's happened to me a few times. Depending on who they are/how they requested it I'll give either a polite "Commissions are closed right now" or a "lololol you're kidding right? fuck off"
Or if tired, delete it

[ SECRET POST #2284 ]

Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)

Re: Hey, artist, work for me...FOR FREE!!!! (rant)