I'm sure many of you who work on your own, freelancers would've gone through this or still are going through it. That "Could you do me a favor?", "Can you get this done for me?", "Help me with this project" lines that are so familiar. Almost everyone if not all would have to deal with the "Work For Free" situation at some point.
So did I. For those who have followed me on social media would've seen me posting images and videos regarding this. Well, recently, I have been getting people approaching asking for "favors" a lot. So I decided to share why this began and how I handle it.
Before that, this post has nothing to do with personal "feuds". Just me, sharing my experience and thoughts. And a big THANK YOU to all those who have hired me and kept it an understanding relationship. Salute and Respect!
I have inspired a lot from a video by one my favorite audio engineer Tony Maserati who I learned mostly from about this topic so expect some similar points. (I will link the video Here as a reference as well.)
Why Did This Trend Began?
Like many people, I was a student as well. Between 2012 to 2015, doing my diploma in audio, I tend to find people locally and internationally to work with. My intentions were to gain as much experience as I can before I graduate so that I will have a good set of portfolio to approach companies for jobs later on. I didn't look at who am I approaching. Whether they're just another musician who does music for hobby or someone doing it for a living. In this process, I believe I did way too much and way too long that it became a fixated "trademark" over me. People decided to think I would work for free all the time.
This has been a big anchor for me to drag around and cleaning my position to a proper freelancer took a lot of time. I still am in the process due to my own actions in the past. The lesson here is to know when to stop. Once you've gained enough portfolio at least, put a stop to it. Start building yourself as a professional business. I'll share my 3 Things to consider working for free and also what can you do to stop. With that said, this is not a professional advise to the already professionals in the community. This is me, sharing my experience, lessons, what I've learned in hopes it might be useful to anyone that find it so.
3 Reasons to CONSIDER Working For Free
1. Proper Experience and Exposure
The two main reason that any experienced, professional individual would ask you to gain the most. If you're going to spend your time for free working for another, make sure you get the exposure that is worth your effort. No matter what it is the service you're providing, practice yourself to open up and be more straight forward in asking professional questions to know how much exposure will you be getting from the particular work. It doesn't matter if you're doing for a friend or another person, if you get the right exposure out of the work, that is well worth your time.
Make sure the experience (real-life) gained is at least wroth to give you the "bragging rights" and a professional "tag" that would very much be helpful in landing you on a proper job. You can work for anyone for experience but if it's not up to par to what the industry you're in is expecting, it's not going to do any good at the end. Put a limit to the type of work you're taking. Have it just right to give you enough experience to have it vouch for you and get you further in your career.
2. Heavy Portfolio to Your Résumé
Self-explanatory. This is why entertainment-base freelancers as me, even decide to work for free. To collect a catalogue of portfolio to be attached along to our résumé. It relates to both quality and background. Working for a usual person, and use the project to show how good your quality of work is and if it's a well-known person in your industry, that builds your reputation as a freelancer who have worked for known figures in the industry. Gain enough portfolio to back you up and stop after.
3. Good Cause
I'm sure you've seen this being told by many other blogs or articles. I learned it with age and maturity. If you're doing a job for a legitimate charity event or a company/organization that requires your professional services for something you believe will be a contribution for a good cause, then go for it. Do it with the awareness that it's might not push your career any further, or in other words, "Do good, don't expect anything in return". With that said, limit yourself to charity/volunteer work. Once a while is fine. All the time is a clear indication for reconsideration.
3 Things Can Be Done
1. Trade
This is something I learned from the engineer I mentioned before. It don't always have to be money. If you can get something in return from the client you're being approached, ask for it as a trade for your professional service. Make it a win-win situation for both parties. You get what you want to push your career and the clients gets your professional service. For example, in my case, as stated by Tony, I could ask for the client to purchase me a new equipment, pay my studio fees, revenue percentage out of the project, etc in return for my audio services. If it's for a friend/client who has been supporting you for a long time, split the rate in 2 payments at least. Simple.
2. Bonus/Special Offers
If it's the first time for the clients hiring you, offer them a special rate. Throw in some bonus services on top of it to enlighten them. This is pretty basic right? Make the client know how professional and also reasonable you are so that they know you're a person they can trust and reach out to the next time. Building a network of clients that love you for what you do and how you do it.
3. Say NO (Politely of course...)
Learn to reject. This was so hard for me. As a freelancer the "Take whatever you can" mentality can really be the cause for your own destruction. If the client approaching you can't afford your rates, if they are not up to your offers, just not being able to afford you in the first place, is good enough for you to say no. You can do it by saying you have enough clients at the moment and you're not looking to take anymore for the time being for example. That's also a way of rejecting a client. Similar to how companies say "Sorry, we're not hiring at the moment".
You're Worthy!
Learn to value yourself. Know where you stand in the professional realm and how much you worth as a professional service provider. Stand your professional ground. I repeat the word "Professional" because it's very easy to loose that status. If you're doing things on-the-go without paying attention to how much value is everything rating you, you can easily be looked down at. Companies that you approach for jobs won't take you seriously. (I learned it the hard way.)
Value your time and effort as preciously as you can. All that passion and interest you convert into work in providing the best result for your client is nothing to be taken for granted. They are the product of your TIME and EFFORT. So VALUE them! They don't come free either.
Friends are Friends. Business is Business. One thing that is a big contribution to serious career drawbacks. You can help your friend of course. But you still need to get back what you deserve. Never get both friendship and business in the same page. Devaluating yourself for friends doesn't do you any good either. Make sure there's always a mutual understanding and respect regarding professional business and friendship. Support each other. Not destroy.
Conclusion
Learn to develop yourself as a professional figure. Don't ever get yourself in a position where you're constantly being taken advantage of. You're a human being just like anyone on this planet and you have a life to live as well. That comes with its' own responsibilities that you have to "pay" for. So, have a respectful, understanding, kind and polite relationship with the public who are your clients. Nothing has to be hard and harsh. We all find ways to earn and we use what we're good at as the business. It's how the world works as far as living goes. You don't have to work for free just because that word exists in the word "Freelancer".
Always remember what the Joker said, "If you're good at something, never do it for free".
Thank You for reading. I appreciate each and everyone of you. Until my next post, have a productive day #Steemians!
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Feel free to contact me if you wish for me to work (mix/master) on any of your future projects be it songs or audio for visuals.
