What is Digg?359 Comments
- calebb, on 10/25/2007, -25/+708Every day, there are more and more Craigs List posts seeking “artists” for everything from auto graphics to comic books to corporate logo designs. More people are finding themselves in need of some form of illustrative service.
But what they’re NOT doing, unfortunately, is realizing how rare someone with these particular talents can be.
To those who are “seeking artists”, let me ask you; How many people do you know, personally, with the talent and skill to perform the services you need? A dozen? Five? One? …none?
More than likely, you don’t know any. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be posting on craigslist to find them.
And this is not really a surprise.
In this country, there are almost twice as many neurosurgeons as there are professional illustrators. There are eleven times as many certified mechanics. There are SEVENTY times as many people in the IT field.
So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand, would it make sense to ask your mechanic to work on your car for free? Would you look him in the eye, with a straight face, and tell him that his compensation would be the ability to have his work shown to others as you drive down the street?
Would you offer a neurosurgeon the “opportunity” to add your name to his resume as payment for removing that pesky tumor? (Maybe you could offer him “a few bucks” for “materials”. What a deal!)
Would you be able to seriously even CONSIDER offering your web hosting service the chance to have people see their work, by viewing your website, as their payment for hosting you?
If you answered “yes” to ANY of the above, you’re obviously insane. If you answered “no”, then kudos to you for living in the real world.
But then tell me… why would you think it is okay to live out the same, delusional, ridiculous fantasy when seeking someone whose abilities are even less in supply than these folks?
Graphic artists, illustrators, painters, etc., are skilled tradesmen. As such, to consider them as, or deal with them as, anything less than professionals fully deserving of your respect is both insulting and a bad reflection on you as a sane, reasonable person. In short, it makes you look like a twit.
A few things you need to know;
1. It is not a “great opportunity” for an artist to have his work seen on your car/’zine/website/bedroom wall, etc. It IS a “great opportunity” for YOU to have their work there.
2. It is not clever to seek a “student” or “beginner” in an attempt to get work for free. It’s ignorant and insulting. They may be “students”, but that does not mean they don’t deserve to be paid for their hard work. You were a “student” once, too. Would you have taken that job at McDonalds with no pay, because you were learning essential job skills for the real world? Yes, your proposition it JUST as stupid.
3. The chance to have their name on something that is going to be seen by other people, whether it’s one or one million, is NOT a valid enticement. Neither is the right to add that work to their “portfolio”. They get to do those things ANYWAY, after being paid as they should. It’s not compensation. It’s their right, and it’s a given.
4. Stop thinking that you’re giving them some great chance to work. Once they skip over your silly ad, as they should, the next ad is usually for someone who lives in the real world, and as such, will pay them. There are far more jobs needing these skills than there are people who possess these skills.
5. Students DO need “experience”. But they do NOT need to get it by giving their work away. In fact, this does not even offer them the experience they need. Anyone who will not/can not pay them is obviously the type of person or business they should be ashamed to have on their resume anyway. Do you think professional contractors list the “experience” they got while nailing down a loose step at their grandmother’s house when they were seventeen?
If you your company or gig was worth listing as desired experience, it would be able to pay for the services it received. The only experience they will get doing free work for you is a lesson learned in what kinds of scrubs they should not lower themselves to deal with.
6. (This one is FOR the artists out there, please pay attention.) Some will ask you to “submit work for consideration”. They may even be posing as some sort of “contest”. These are almost always scams. They will take the work submitted by many artists seeking to win the “contest”, or be “chosen” for the gig, and find what they like most. They will then usually have someone who works for them, or someone who works incredibly cheap because they have no originality or talent of their own, reproduce that same work, or even just make slight modifications to it, and claim it as their own. You will NOT be paid, you will NOT win the contest. The only people who win, here, are the underhanded folks who run these ads. This is speculative, or “spec”, work. It’s risky at best, and a complete scam at worst. I urge you to avoid it, completely. For more information on this subject, please visit www.no-spec.com.
So to artists/designers/illustrators looking for work, do everyone a favor, ESPECIALLY yourselves, and avoid people who do not intend to pay you. Whether they are “spec” gigs, or just some guy who wants a free mural on his living room walls. They need you. You do NOT need them.
And for those who are looking for someone to do work for free… please wake up and join the real world. The only thing you’re accomplishing is to insult those with the skills you need. Get a clue. - intense321, on 10/12/2007, -8/+190I just wanted to comment on the "Neurosurgeon" example. As a physician, I can tell you that many neurosurgeons do MANY uncompensated cases. It's just part of life. Just because someone can't pay you doesn't mean they don't deserve medical care. We work on LOTS of people who never pay us a dime. It's a fact of life. Maybe if everybody out there was willing to volunteer a certain percentage of their work hours to charity, this world would be a better place.
This will probably get dugg down, but oh well.. - dclowd9901, on 10/12/2007, -8/+140"Dude no one is putting a gun to your head, they are just offering you a deal. If you don't like it, don't take it. If you do like it, take it. It's really not that hard.
In either event, stop whining."
You're right. And what he's trying to do is form solidarity amongst the design community, something we desperately need. With skills and abilities all over the board, it's become commonplace for businesses to believe they are doing designers "a favor" by giving them pro-bono work. ***** that.
And that's what he's saying. He's saying that the only way we'll be able to fight back is by having the REAL designers out there not giving away their very legitimate services for free. - popstalin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+76Fortunately for everyone, someone actually saved the post on their blog. http://positionrelative.wordpress.com/2007/01/23/craigs-pissed/
I think a lot of the low-balling designers' need to see this as well. - popstalin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+59I'mm guessing 'cause the rant hit too close to home for many folks on craigslist.
- aldente, on 10/12/2007, -0/+54Why on earth was this flagged?
- appetite, on 10/12/2007, -4/+57The title should be "...Tells off Craigslisters". I thought it was going to be a diatribe against the site itself.
- atarix64, on 10/12/2007, -5/+54Mirror:
http://www.gnull.com/sites/1169793861_126868/ - Fordi, on 10/12/2007, -28/+75@calebb:
In the computer industry, there are support personnel and there are developers. Guess which ones often work for free.
In the automotive industry, there are mechanics and there are engineers. Guess which ones often work for free.
In the graphic industry, there are production artists, and there are graphic designers/illustrators. Guess which ones often work for free.
I'll tell you a secret. Half of the people I mentioned above can be considered technicians.
It's not a matter of how 'good' you are - anyone can beat out a masterpiece, once - it's a matter of how consistent and high quality your work is. A graphic designer, illustrator, etc, gets a good job because they have a portfolio of /consistent quality pieces/ - in which case, one would be a fool to take a no-pay job for the 'experience'.
As a web developer, I'll often take on free jobs just for the sake of building up my portfolio - because otherwise, I'm not at all inspired to do so. I'm a talented flowing-media and UI designer, and I speak fluent browser quirks, but without that stack of evidence speaking to how well I can pull ***** off, no one will be willing to pay me the big bucks.
So you can go on your tirade about how so many craigslist postings don't constitute a valid excuse for working for free, and how it's exploiting the rare and beautiful illustrator. Of course they aren't valid - if you've already done all those jobs and have the portfolio to back it up. If you don't, and you're not one to just create commercial art for the hell of it, you might want one of those jobs.
As for exploiting those they can (ie: the students), sorry, but that's how things work in a free market; you're expected to know what you're worth. Not everyone does, of course, but it's in your best interests to find out. You're incentivized towards disallowing people to exploit you. - dupswapdrop, on 10/12/2007, -0/+36This is the sad state of things lately that someone who is skilled is worth zero, while some talking head that sits in his office all day coming up with ways to rip people off is worth millions? It's time to find the reset button for the whole world!
- franksands, on 10/12/2007, -5/+39@AlwaysDuggDown:
Do you mean that you will work for free? Do you mean that you will accept being hired by a company and receive nothing because they will show your work? - YanSan, on 10/12/2007, -18/+52as an artist in a school full of artists, well said, we all feel the same
- Eleo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+27Man... Perfectly valid posts disappearing because a large group of people merely dislike them... Where have I seen that before...
- quetranza, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27I ***** hate it when Craigslist users flag down posts for no good reason. This post, for instance: perfectly valid and it should still be on the site. Craigslist is a lot less useful than it used to be, because of these people with no life who sit there and flag posts all day. Get a hobby, for Christ's sake.
/there's your diatribe - canewediggit, on 10/12/2007, -2/+25Posting flagged down by craigslist users
(The title on the listings page will be removed in just a few minutes.)
damn, i was hoping for a good laugh. side note- if i need a web designer but don't know any, where would you folks recommend looking? - seattle98104, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21same rings true for composer ads on cragslist, they're all "I need music for my film, but we spent our budget so we can't pay you!"
idiots - quetranza, on 10/12/2007, -0/+19At least here you can click "show comment"...
- CameronHigh, on 10/12/2007, -15/+33from http://www.paintercreativity.com/articles/top-10-lies.html
1 "Do this one cheap (or free) and we'll make it up on the next one."
No reputable business person would first give away their work and time or merchandise on the hope of making it up later. Can you imagine what a plumber would say if you said "come in, provide and install the sink for free and next time we'll make it up when we need a sink." You would be laughed at! Also the likelyhood is that if something important came along, they wouldn't use you.
2 "We never pay a cent until we see the final product."
This is a croc, unless the person is leaving the door open to cheat you out of your pay. Virtually every profession requres a deposit or incremental payment during anything but the smallest project. Once you have a working relationship, you may work out another arrangement with a client. But a new client should not ask you to go beyond an initial meeting and, perhaps some preliminary sketches without pay on the job!
3 "Do this for us and you'll get great exposure! The jobs will just pour in!"
Baloney. Tell a plumber "Install this sink and my friend will see and you'll get lots of business!" Our plumber friend would say "You mean even if I do a good job I have to give my work away to get noticed? Then it isn't worth the notice." Also the guy would likely brag to everyone he knows about how this would normally cost (X) dollars, but brilliant businessman that he is he got if for free! If anyone calls, they'll expect the same or better deal.
4 On looking at sketches or concepts: "Well, we aren't sure if we want to use you yet, but leave your material here so I can talk to my partner/investor/wife/clergy."
You can be sure that 15 minutes after you leave he will be on the phone to other designers, now with concepts in hand, asking for price quotes. When you call back you will be informed that your prices were too high and Joe Blow Design/Illustration will be doing the job. Why shouldn't they be cheaper? You just gave them hours of free consulting work! Until you have a deal, LEAVE NOTHING CREATIVE at the clients office.
5 "Well, the job isn't CANCELLED, just delayed. Keep the account open and we'll continue in a month or two."
Ummm, probably not. If something is hot, then not, it could be dead. It would be a mistake to *not* bill for work performed at this point and then let the chips fall where they may! Call in two months and someone else may be in that job. And guess what? They don't know you at all.....
6 "Contract? We don't need no stinking contact! Aren't we friends?"
Yes, we are, until something goes wrong or is misunderstood, then you are the jerk in the suit and I am that idiot designer, then the contract is essential. That is, unless one doesn't care about being paid. Any reputable business uses paperwork to define relationships and you should too.
7 "Send me a bill after the work goes to press."
Why wait for an irrelevant deadline to send an invoice? You stand behind your work, right? You are honest, right? Why would you feel bound to this deadline? Once you deliver the work and it is accepted, BILL IT. This point may just be a delaying tactic so the job goes through the printer prior to any question of your being paid. If the guy waits for the job to be printed, and you do changes as necessary, then he can stiff you and not take a chance that he'll have to pay someone else for changes.
8 "The last guy did it for XXX dollars."
That is irrelevant. If the last guy was so good they wouldn't be talking to you, now would they? And what that guy charged means nothing to you, really. People who charge too little for their time go out of business (or self-destruct financially, or change occupations) and then someone else has to step in. Set a fair price and stick to it.
9 "Our budget is XXX dollars, firm."
Amazing, isn't it? This guy goes out to buy a car, and what, knows exactly what he is going to spend before even looking or researching? Not likely. A certain amount of work costs a certain amount of money. If they have less money (and you *can*) do less work and still take the job. But make sure they understand that you are doing less work if you take less money that you originally estimated. Give fewer comps, simplify, let them go elsewhere for services (like films) etc.
10 "We are having financial problems. Give us the work, we'll make some money and we'll pay you. Simple."
Yeah, except when the money comes, you can expect that you will be pretty low on the list to be paid. If someone reaches the point where they admit that the company is in trouble, then they are probably much worse off than they are admitting to. Even then, are you a bank? Are you qualified to check out their financials? If the company is strapped to the point where credit is a problem through credit agencies, banks etc. what business would you have extending credit to them. You have exactly ZERO pull once they have the work. Noble intentions or not, this is probably a losing bet. But if you are going to roll the dice, AT LEAST you should be getting additional money for waiting. The bank gets interest and so should you. That is probably why the person is approaching you; to get six months worth of free interest instead of paying bank rates for credit and then paying you with that money. Don't give away money.
Now, this list wasn't meant to make anyone crazy or paranoid, but is designed to inject some reality into the fantasy.
You are GOING to be dealing with people who are unlike yourself. Their motivations are their own and their attitudes are probably different than yours. There are going to be demands, problems, issues and all the hassles that go with practically ANY work/job/money situation. Too many times I see the sad example of someone walking in to a situation with noble intentions and then getting royally screwed, because what they see as an opportunity and a labor of love, the other party sees as something else entirely, not at all romantic or idealized, but raw and simple.
How can you deal with this stuff and still do good creative work? Good question. THIS is why an education is important. You learn, out of the line of fire, how to deal with the art at it's own level and also how to deal with the crap that surrounds it. You may have tough teachers and think that it can't be worse, but wait until a business person has a hundred grand riding on your art! Then you will know what "demanding" means. You will then thank all those tough teachers for building up the calluses that enable you to enjoy the job rather than just feeling like it is all a big waste of time!
In the end, working commercially, being a terrific artist is about 25% of the task. If that is the only part of the task that you are interested in, do yourself a favor. Don't turn "pro." - JoeDonH, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17@ wonboodoo: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with that statement. I felt like that at one point sort of, but a little less than a year ago I found myself unemployed after getting sacked in a corporate shutdown and losing my job of 5 years. I went through all of the "normal" channels - Newspaper ads, Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, placement agencies, etc.... I work in what would be considered a creative field, and these channels just do not have the supply of jobs to suit the demands of people in certain fields.
One day I was browsing Craigslist and came across an ad for what would end up being the job I am in right now. Trust me, my company does not have any cash flow issues, and I am in a great job.
While your statement might be true of some postings on Craigslist, I think that Craigslist is still an invaluable source for many, many things - including job postings. Sure, there are going to be scammers and bad companies out there, but they are just as likely to show up in "normal" channels as well. A couple of bucks on a newspaper classified is going to get them a lot more exposure than a free posting on craigslist, and in my eyes the difference is negligible. - Jeveran, on 10/12/2007, -0/+15Substitute any creative trade for artist, and all that the professional illustrator posted is true.
- undeRliRcs, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14I think the "rant" mentioned someone just like you, except you're also a bigot...so I guess that makes you a really, really big moron.
- zclip, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17As a graphic designer (and student technically, one class away from my bachelor's) I have to agree with him one million percent. I have said what he stated above, in essence anyway, to all of my teachers and everyone else who buys into this ***** that artists should give their work away for free because it's good exposure.
I can't tell you how many places offer FREE internships, as if they are doing you a favor by letting you work your ass of for them. I find it appalling.
As he points out, talented graphic artists are quite rare, but the emergence of desktop publishing and personal computers has made everyone believe that they have some talent for creating graphics. I look some of ***** secretaries at my work do and I have to constantly repeat myself: Dragging and dropping clipart onto a word document does NOT make you a graphic deigner, nor does it look good by even the most modest standards.
And don't get me started on the lost art of typography which begins with the word FONT which actually almost always is referring to TYPEFACE (which is a family of similar characters, like Times New Roman) which is created in A FONT (method or rather language used for creating a typeface, like Postscript or True Type or Opentype). So if you happen to read this, please help me in my fight against ignorance and never ever call it a font again.
As for the article, I will try hard to memorize all of that and rant it off next time I hear someone blathering on about the chance to show you work for the amazing amount of FREE dollars.
Wish I could digg this more than once! - SteelChicken, on 10/12/2007, -5/+18RTFA, noob
- Niffer, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15@intense321
You are absolutely right about the comparrison. It's very noble of a neurosurgeon to offer their services for free to those who cannot afford it and are desperately in need. It is, however, not noble of an artist to offer their work for free for a corporation to make money off of. They don't NEED the artwork, and if they don't want to pay for it, then tough *****.
Overall, just a bad analogy. - cockmaster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11you can go "lol" yourself back to your moms basement. when you get out in the real world, you come back and tell us what its like.
- UltimaNut, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11@my10cent
Artists contribute more to the human race than sports stars **ever** will.
You get the digg down....loser. - fotodevil, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10An internship is a slightly different case. Many internships are unpaid, regardless of the field. I can't say that I disagree with you that it sucks to work for free. Just because you are a college student doesn't mean you shouldn't be paid for your work. But just remember that an internship is usually with a larger, more reputable company. You may even get hired by them if you do a good job. What this guy is talking about is people who are trying to scam you out of your work.
- kivimaki, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13I can understand digging something without reading it, but commenting on it?
- uther, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10This isn't specific to Graphic Design or *any* industry, really.
I was a professional photographer for many,many years. I can't tell you how many times I got burned in my early years shooting weddings, family reunions, charity events after being approached with the same logic (and results) the author outlined.
I finally realized I couldn't support my family and got out of professional photography and entered IT. Guess what? Same problem, different approach. Everybody has a computer problem or wants help with a website.
Bottom line, everybody wants something for free. If you have a marketable skill, or work in area that has a good that people desire, they will try to fleece you. It varies in degrees if you are a lawyer, doctor, vet, writer, artist, photographer, computer geek, professional cheerleader, sporting venue coordinator, radio DJ...the list goes on. - bfaulk04, on 10/12/2007, -8/+17i feel like i should put a permalink to this on my portfolio website right beside my resume.
definitely needs to be seen by more people. Dugg! - szembek, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9It works.
- bbqplate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9yup so true. i didnt fully understand how difficult art can be, till i gave it a try. im a coder, and i thought creating some graphics takes a few minutes. how wrong was I!. to me, its just like coding, the more time you spend on it, the faster and easier the simple things become. i dont think id sell my code for pennies now even though it would take me a few minutes to write something that used to take me hours. the graphic artist should feel the same way.
- franksands, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12at willcode4beer:
I am completely against DRM yes. There is a BIG difference between being against DRM and wanting music to be free, as in beer. It is stupid and naive to think that the artists will give music for free. Heck, that's the whole point of the rant, but he complaining about design and not music. I have no problem what so ever paying for the music I listen, as long as:
a)It's a reasonable price
b)I can hear it on the device of my choosing. - mindgraffiti, on 10/12/2007, -3/+11kudos to the designer who wrote this. I feel the same way.
- Jerim, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8That is the worst thing of all. At the end of the day, there is always someone desperate for work, and they take these types of jobs. Either someone new to the field, who honestly thinks getting his name out there is more important than getting paid, or some father of three who hasn't had a client in months and is hoping to drum up some business. It is always the millions who suffer at the hands of a few.
- ExSlashdotter, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10@kjay
Graphic artists aren't in demand?
Do this for me: get in your car and drive to the nearest store. On the way, how many storefronts, billboards, logos and advertisements did you see on the way? My guess is a sh!tload. Now go in the store. Look at every single item on every single shelf. Every one of them has artwork on it.
Marketing **relies** on graphic arts.
You're delusional. - hackwrench, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9While the post makes some good points, on this one phrase he doesn't understand economics:
"So, given that they are less rare, and therefore less in demand,"
No things that are less rare are usually more in demand simply because being more in demand usually ecurages people to pursue those endeavors. When something is scarce it it usually because nobody wants it. Historically, the arts have had less demand due to more pressing matters like food and shelter. In more recent times, it's experienced a damper from the RIAA and MPAA wanting to keep earlier works in narrow channels which makes them harder to practice from.
It also doesn't address the concept of internships and why it is successful. - honus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9Looks almost like the way some business majors or med students get abused during internship.
- flukierdonut, on 10/12/2007, -4/+11brave soul...deserves a digg
- mvdude, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Free Market: Hello Disgruntled Artist, how may I help you?
Disgruntled Artist: I think my services are worth a lot more than what you say. So from this day forward, I'll be the one controlling what the clients are willing to pay.
Free Market: How are you going to do that?
Disgruntled Artist: The artists of the world are going to unite and refuse to work unless our demands are met.
Free Market: I'm sorry. I'll increase your pay immediately.
Disgruntled Artist: Thanks. I'm glad you came to your senses.
Free Market: No problem, but I was wondering if you could give me some free help with this logo... - GaffleSnipe, on 10/12/2007, -5/+12Right on. I hope every designer on the planet reads this.
- LittleDanzig, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Really, this is a problem of the market, and it starts with the ARTIST, not the person 'commissioning' the work. I used to teach entry-level design classes at a college for aspiring 'new media' types and the thing that would continually amaze me was how frequently my recent graduates would essentially drive the going rate for their work in our area down by working for peanuts, or for free, in the name of "exposure." Realistically, people advertise for 'free artists' because there are tons of neophant artists out there who are more than willing to comply because they don't grasp the basic economic concept that WORKING FOR FREE DEVALUES YOUR WORK.
It's a simple fix. If you're a designer, don't work for free. If your friends are working for free, give them hell about it. It's one thing to pursue a personal project, or something you're passionate about, for the love of the craft, but if you're building websites for chiropractors for the sole reimbursement of "professional experience" or "exposure", you're not just screwing yourself over, you're systematically reducing the worth of everybody else who shares your career path in your immediate region. STOP DOING IT. I've noticed that cities with a strong union presence for artists and media professionals tend to have quite a smaller concentration of these "work for free" advertisements, and far less takers -- I'm not suggesting that uninonization is the key here, but it's important to view your actions within the macrocosm of your local economy and how it will affect you in the long run -- not just "holy *****, people will see my stuff on the web." - intense321, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I just wanted to comment on the "Neurosurgeon" example. As a physician, I can tell you that many neurosurgeons do MANY uncompensated cases. It's just part of life. Just because someone can't pay you doesn't mean they don't deserve medical care. We work on LOTS of people who never pay us a dime. It's a fact of life. Maybe if everybody out there was willing to volunteer a certain percentage of their work hours to charity, this world would be a better place.
- SuckMyDigg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Awesomeness. I worked in graphics for a photo studio designing templates, creating actions, designing the workflow, doing the retouching and repairing of photos and the like all for $7 an hour because I had no background in any of it. Nonetheless the studio uses all my work to this day in their everyday activity... and to top it off they wanted to re-hire me when I was back in town visiting for $8 an hour, but I would also have to run the front of the store as well. I wish I had read this article before that last offer... I would've at least been able to vocalize why I was so inclined to reject the offer without feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
The guy that wrote this is my hero. - mbthompson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Well said. I'm not an illustrator, but I do work with motion graphics and audio/video production and its often the same case. I'm going to print this out and post it on the board in the art department of my university.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6its the second comment on here.
- BigLou, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6As a fellow graphic designer, I too am offended when people feel like they are doing me a favor if I work on their projects. Design isn't cheap...
New computer for startup design business: $2,000
Adobe CS2: On sale for $600
Add onto that physical materials for non digital work, opportunity cost for not working at my "actual" job, and other odds and ends, and you've got yourself a pretty expensive operation. - TheSkinsFactory, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7What aggravates me the most are Net 60 day payment terms. How many artists out there get a client that waited too long and then wants you to rush through the project only to make you wait 60 days to get paid?
I always laugh when i get a potential client and they want to trade advertising on their website to offset some costs. Hey, if you're Microsoft or Disney you got it, but if you're some start-up who's ranking on Alexa is a number closer to the population of India than an IQ... don't waste your breath.
Artists need to do the following:
1. Make sure you sign contracts. Hire a lawyer. As nice as the potential client sounds on the phone, you never know what you're getting yourself into until you're all ready in it.
2. Get a 50% retainer - up front. Do not turn over your deliverables or source files until you get your final payment. Once you give the client the work, you have no bargaining position.
3. Put a clause in the agreement that stipulates that any type of project scope creep will be billed. I always make sure that the deliverable we're responsible for handing over are listed in an Exhibit of the agreement. This way if functionality or new work is introduce after you sign the agreement, you'll get paid for it.
Just a few things to think about.
Jeff - princessangry, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6that's how I feel. I have had 6 clients this year pull crap on me like that. I would give them a [watermarked] low res comp, email it to them, and no reply. (well not all 6 did that but i know 2 of that did) and I told them that I wanted to know what they thought of it, and they never replied. I will not deal with people like that again, one of the actually did reply, and he said "send us a higher res comp for us to 'evaluate'" and I knew they were wanting to steal it. Glad i backed out of that deal because they went through 10 designers and they all quit.
- marinist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Some thoughts: everyone in business wants to be seen as an "innovator", but the creative people make it happen.
That said, a lot of freshly-minted creatives don't know how to sell their skills, or apply their creativity towards business-related goals. Many design schools don't teach business skills, and as a designer who has gone through a lot of crap, I now understand the need for satisfying my own creative drive, while selling my skills to businesses on their own terms. They won't care about "your terms," so you need to get past that. I've interviewed many designers who present their work like it's an art show, versus their showing contribution to business-related goals--something to think about.
I've met some execs who think all good ideas emanate from the top down, and they tend to dismiss designers as mere "artists" who bring little value to their business. These guys are often a waste of time to work for, and have poisoned the perceptions of designers in the business world. This is why agencies use account execs to talk to these bozos, often sheltering the creatives from the direct line of confrontation.
So, if you're going to work for big corporate accounts, you need to sell your work on their terms. This isn't always a pleasant experience, so sometimes working for a design firm/agency that believes in your work is a far better option. Never undersell your work, and conversely: don't sell yourself out to a big corp for $$, but doesn't value your ideas. I wasted a few years of my life doing that. -
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