Comments on: Giving it Away

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:07:45 +0000

Certainly in the case of charities and other causes you wish to support it is perfectly okay to give away your work or to work for free. I have donated many pieces of art and done work for organizations for nothing many times. That is a different animal. My point is not to allow yourself to give away your work or do it for very cheap with the promise of “possible” remuneration down the road.

By: schwalove

schwalove — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:10:06 +0000

My wife is a tattoo artist and I’m going to school for graphic design, and we both had a laugh at this comic, which kinda goes along with what you and Ellison are saying about publicity:

http://freelanceswitch.com/freelance-freedom/freelance-freedom-43/

By: mg1984

mg1984 — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:11:37 +0000

Great post. I found myself chuckling about your D&D reference, I guess everyone know an artist like that.

By: Tom Richmond: Don’t give it away » The Daily Cartoonist

Tom Richmond: Don’t give it away » The Daily Cartoonist — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:49:12 +0000

[...] Go read the whole thing. [...]

By: meredithd

meredithd — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:16:48 +0000

Let me start with saying I agree with everything you are saying 100%. Now, does this completely rule out charity / pro-bono work? Like for a church or a cause you’re interested in? I know there’s a limit to charity, but how much is reasonable? Is it something one should include in a budget?

I, too, am constantly barraged with requests for free work, and finding a balance is challenging. Occasionally I will do it but mostly I turn it down, making me feel like a big meanie. Most recently I agreed to do some free work in exchange for advertising, but was turned down. Felt like a slap in the face. Needless to say, I rescinded my offer.