Pay the Goddamn artist already

[Beeston]

This video needs to be viral by yesterday. Spread it loud, spread it clear, give it to your students, post it on forums, give it to anyone and everyone you know.

[velderia]

Okay.

[Raoul Duke]

Plus the guys that promise big exposure for no money are not to be taken seriously anyways. It's called the evidence of absence.

[Velocity Kendall]

that guy is pillar of the South Afstralian Amerobrit community.

[Deadlyhazard]

Is there anyone that's actually good that works for free, though? It seems like a cheap way to get some cheap art, which isn't necessarily going to make your company look better...

Anyway, good rant.

[Velocity Kendall]

I have to say, early on just doing stuff for people makes it pretty hard for them to say no to giving you work to do. Do someone a demo website and theres a lot more chance theyll say yes to paying you to do a proper one, type thing..
I still do spec work now to be honest, if only art tests, because they can potentially unlock $$$$s of work..
but yeah approaching professional freelancers and expecting work for free, or sweat equity, is pretty shady. on the other hand, maybe one of those no money now but 14% of the company deals will pay out. i guess its about judging the cut of their gib and figruing out if theyre serious or just idiots.

[Arshes Nei]

Is there anyone that's actually good that works for free, though? It seems like a cheap way to get some cheap art, which isn't necessarily going to make your company look better...

Anyway, good rant.

I guess it depends, it's kinda gotten more sneaky with "promotional materials" some aren't so straight forward. Kind of like that Pay the Writer rant in the "Should I work for Free" sticky in the art forum. Get free interviews or something from an artist to go into the bonus materials of a DVD.

On another note. I really hate it when people make vertical videos D:

[Elwell]

This seems like an opportune time to repost this: http://conceptart.org/forums/showthr...free-read-this

[Izi]

If you want to make artists really angry show them the article where a guy makes a tutorial for web designers on how to get free art out of artists and basically, well...mocks them for being gullible dumbasses.

Here's another good one posted by someone in the comments:

"Fuck You, Pay Me" by Mike Monteiro



edit:

Yes, perhaps the thread should be merged with that one Elwell. I see Ginseng already mentioned this video as a URL.

[Raoul Duke]

Is there anyone that's actually good that works for free, though? It seems like a cheap way to get some cheap art, which isn't necessarily going to make your company look better...

Anyway, good rant.

Actually there are tons of amazing artists that work for free. It's called the comic book industry.

[vineris]

Actually there are tons of amazing artists that work for free. It's called the comic book industry.

Yeah, but we own our shit. Working for yourself "for free" and working for someone else "for free" are different, because if you work for yourself you get to keep everything. Whether you can turn it into money later is a different problem, but at least you have that option.

Now -- comic book artists who do work-for-hire for free are dumb.

[Raoul Duke]

^This is true. I've been approached by writers that say "this is going to be a big hit and you get to work on it". I've learned to respond by asking "How much are you looking to invest?" and that's only if the script isn't a total quagmire. A good script is hard to come by.

I did have one small publisher offer $25 a page with an after cost royalty, I almost went for it until I wised up and asked for half up front So I could get started. He then had a sudden "financial situation"

[Velocity Kendall]

" I almost went for it until I wised up and asked for half up front So I could get started. He then had a sudden "financial situation" "

haha rustled!

[fxEVo]

Oh, about that "this is going to be a big hit and you get to work on it", it's like the news promoted about the guy who painted on the FB's headquarter walls and get paid nothing buy some stocks and now he is rich. It's like a lottery but most of us well need to live by standards not promise, do your parents and teachers tell you "There is a chance of becoming millionaire by winning lottery, dear, stop studying and working, just buy tickets!"?
P.S: buying lottery tickets need money too, as far as I can remember.
Also, about artist working on comic book and artbook themselves for free, there is something called "Kickstarter".

[Raoul Duke]

The Facebook artist's name is David Choe. He's actually a big gambler. He had a million dollars from a lucky weekend in Vegas, so he could afford the risk. Probably the most interesting living artist I know of. He has a really good web show about hitch hiking.

[Harkins]

I want to add that with the advent of Kickstarter, don't fall into the trap of: "Hey, you'll get paid $1000 when the kickstarter gets funded". What they meant to say is "IF" the Kickstarter gets funded. Since there have been so many new Kickstarter games pop up I've had a lot of startups approach me with that statement and I just walk away.

[Eric Lofgren]

Let's see what Harlen Ellison says about it-

[Elwell]

William Stout is cranky as well: http://www.williamstout.com/news/journal/?p=2466

[Izi]

That Ellison interview is so funny.

Here's one to give to people who just cant get it:




Maybe we should like, send big psd's to spec contests with a big FUCK YOU, PAY ME, stamped inside of it.

[BirdBirdBirdX3]

I still do spec work now to be honest, if only art tests, because they can potentially unlock $$$$s of work..
.

I use to feel the same, but be careful and do research. If you do venture to doing art test be sure to compare notes with your friends. Sometimes a company will accept your test sample and say the position is already full. Yet they will continue to keep the free spec work buffet open for months for a phantom position that never intended to be filled. Most reputable studios will pay for your time to do the test, if they respect their applicants.

[hitnrun]

If facebook is going to pay you with stocks, isn't that a reasonably assured gamble though?

Why not accept that as payment? (seriously, I'm not sure why not)

[Raoul Duke]

In facebook's case, sure. It was already a success before they hired anybody and they still paid a reliable wage. But for a start up without a proven market, I'd call it a long shot. Maybe if there was modest base compensation for you to pay bills. I wouldn't trust or take anybody seriously until they put money in my pocket. Hell the original CFO of facebook was even fucked out of all the stocks of the company he funded.

Bottom line. If they don't have the money to pay you, then they don't enough money to be taken seriously. Or worse yet they just don't take you seriously.

I bet these guys were paid in stock. This was announced before the PS3 and 360.

[Velocity Kendall]

"
Bottom line. If they don't have the money to pay you, then they don't enough money to be taken seriously."

exactly. you might as well be working on your own shit, unless theyre really interesting.

[HarbingerofIllRepute]

Stephen is on a role!

[Beeston]

Cool discussion people. Something just occurred to me.

If all these clients have these sure fire ideas that are bound to be a success, why do none of them take out loans to cover their initial expenses to reap their massive profit later?

[Elwell]

Cool discussion people. Something just occurred to me.

If all these clients have these sure fire ideas that are bound to be a success, why do none of them take out loans to cover their initial expenses to reap their massive profit later?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

[Line]

Is there anyone that's actually good that works for free, though? It seems like a cheap way to get some cheap art, which isn't necessarily going to make your company look better...

Anyway, good rant.

Well, when it's come down to the point where companies like Wizards of the Coast, who have major money back up by Hasbro,
are doing "art contests" for stuff they will sell, does it seem to you that they don't have the confidence of actually getting someone
good, who's stupid enough to enter?