For Pay or Not For Pay?

I'll keep this short and brief, but it's very important to say and I don't think anyone has said it as succinctly than Harlan Ellison...



Since graduating from Uni and trying to find my first step on the ladder to my career, I am constantly (and not alone with this struggle) faced by people who want me to work for free (this equates to the amount of time spent learning the craft, my time creating the work and the huge amount of money I have invested in both). I have so far had three people; two film-makers and a writer, come to me (not the other way round) asking for animation work to be done for free with the INCENTIVE of great publicity or money later on when investors take interest and capital begins to grow.

Now, I have just read this rule of thumb blog post by Arnie Fenner (via David Martinez), which gives some good advice to artists across the board. The last paragraph though, really stands out for me and relates to the issues artists today face with amateur, young, students doing work for free.

"Don't Work On Spec
That's not the same as doing pro-bono or charity work, both of which can and should be done as you deem appropriate. No, what I'm talking about is when someone has a simply TERRIFIC idea—but no money—and wants the artist to work some magic for them so the entrepreneur will have something to show prospective suckers...er...investors to make the project a reality. These sorts of pie-in-the-sky projects almost never come to fruition or, if they—miracle-of-miracles—do, they virtually never turn into a paycheck for the artist. Work for pay, get everything in writing, and don't fall prey to the shysters. Likewise, if someone wants to use your art, demand compensation of some sort. Harlan Ellison, in an absolutely magnificent outburst in Dreams With Sharp Teeth, talks about paying the writer: it goes the same for artists."

At times, I know it can be very difficult to make that decision; to work for free or not. But even if that free work is going to look good in the showreel or on a portfolio, we have to remember that in the long run it harms the industry for the people at the top, which I hope will one day be me!