He Played Real Good for Free
Remember that Joni Mitchell song? I don't know if that was the title, but it addressed her guilt at listening to a street musician and enjoying his playing "real good for free" while she got well paid for her music. Guilt doesn't make it, Joni - but it's a good song.
So, I've been noticing some sort of backward movement of late, as exemplified by a ton of ads on Craig's List, that ask artists to do work for "no compensation" but for "exposure", or "building your portfolio" , or to share in all those profits that will be coming one of these days. And, I wonder why so many people think artists should work for nothing? Does it play into the "starving artist" cliche? And, why would any artist fall for these lines? I hate to see people get taken advantage of by vague promises and implications that "exposure" will lead to BIG MONEY JOBS! As far as I can tell, exposure leads to frostbite.
So, I wrote a little paragraph in today's Craig's List exhorting other fellow artists to avoid falling into this age-old trap, and not permit themselves and their work to be taken so lightly. I didn't write it to get responses, but more or less to vent, and maybe to change some nieve artist's mind who may be vacillating about whether or not he should do some project for free. If I change but one person's mind, and get them to avoid working for nothing, then I'll be happy with my contribution to the art world.
Yes, I did it too. Years ago, I did some 25 one panel cartoons for some guy who had an idea illustrating puns. Of course, it was a ton of work for me. He said he'd work hard to market them, but he didn't, giving up after a few rejections. It was a waste of time. I've also done enough jobs that had a high enough profile to give me plenty of exsposure, and rarely , if ever, has this exposure lead to anything greater. That's been my experience; maybe it's been different for others.
Hey, artists out there: don't permit yourself and your work to be exploited!
So, I've been noticing some sort of backward movement of late, as exemplified by a ton of ads on Craig's List, that ask artists to do work for "no compensation" but for "exposure", or "building your portfolio" , or to share in all those profits that will be coming one of these days. And, I wonder why so many people think artists should work for nothing? Does it play into the "starving artist" cliche? And, why would any artist fall for these lines? I hate to see people get taken advantage of by vague promises and implications that "exposure" will lead to BIG MONEY JOBS! As far as I can tell, exposure leads to frostbite.
So, I wrote a little paragraph in today's Craig's List exhorting other fellow artists to avoid falling into this age-old trap, and not permit themselves and their work to be taken so lightly. I didn't write it to get responses, but more or less to vent, and maybe to change some nieve artist's mind who may be vacillating about whether or not he should do some project for free. If I change but one person's mind, and get them to avoid working for nothing, then I'll be happy with my contribution to the art world.
Yes, I did it too. Years ago, I did some 25 one panel cartoons for some guy who had an idea illustrating puns. Of course, it was a ton of work for me. He said he'd work hard to market them, but he didn't, giving up after a few rejections. It was a waste of time. I've also done enough jobs that had a high enough profile to give me plenty of exsposure, and rarely , if ever, has this exposure lead to anything greater. That's been my experience; maybe it's been different for others.
Hey, artists out there: don't permit yourself and your work to be exploited!
posted by Rich Sigberman at
6:27 PM
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