If you’re like most folks with a steady gig as a full-time employee, the answer to this question is pretty clear: “No way!” You wake up early every morning, commute to work, spend 8 or so hours at the office/firm/agency/store, and you expect to be compensated fairly for your time and effort. Pretty simple, right?
That all changes in the world of freelancing and independent contractors. It seems that as soon as a skilled worker (usually in a creative field like music or graphic design) goes off on his or her own to contract directly with clients, the idea that their time is worth paying for flies right out the window. Perhaps it’s the less tangible nature of artistic work like composing a jingle for a commercial or drafting a killer website layout, or maybe it’s the fact that many freelancers don’t have an “office” in the traditional sense of the word. Whatever the reason, there seems to be a clear tendency for clients to expect free or discounted services from independent contractors that, if from an “actual” company, would unquestionably command a fee.
This is why I was delighted to stumble across this handy flowchart, via the FlowingData blog (colorful-language-free version here.) Designer Jessica Hische knocks it out of the park with a beautiful flowchart that is at once hilarious (for freelancers at least) and accurate.
It pays to be free (sometimes)
Now, I have worked for free many times in the past and will surely do so again in the future. As a young recording engineer in the crowded musical landscape that is Los Angeles, there were many opportunities to make connections, learn a new skill, or just gain experience that offered little or no pay. Fortunately I’ve moved beyond much of that, but there are still times when donating my services or working on spec is entirely appropriate, and even enjoyable. Long-time friends, family, mentors, and of course my old band are all important to me, and thus may not be charged much or anything at all. While I may not get much financial compensation from these gigs, it feels good to help someone close to me or someone who has helped me in a similar manner in the past.
Even though spec work is sometimes appropriate, the vast majority of the time when people ask for free work and promise “exposure” or “great portfolio material” they are just looking to keep more money in their pockets. Why some people expect certain creative workers to spend hours on a project without pay just because they are self-employed is a bit confusing, but it is a reality of the modern world nonetheless. I’ve heard ideas on the Tape Op Message Board of framing the above flowchart and hanging it in the studio for potential clients to read, but that may be a bit much. I think some people are just going to expect free work no matter how illogical it may be, and in each situation it’s up to the freelancer to decide what the right move is. At least now there’s a bit of a roadmap.
What about you?
I’m sure there are plenty of freelancers who work for free all time, just as I’m sure there those that never give away their services. I’d love for you to share your stories here. Perhaps you agreed to help out a close friend with a small spec project that ballooned into a time-consuming giant headache. Or maybe you took a risk and donated time to a new client that turned into a regular provider of paying work. Whatever it is, please share your experiences in the comments below.
