The video below explains the phenomenon of asking trained, artistic professionals to work on spec -- meaning free, in the hopes of gaining the client's business -- and the absurdity of asking non-artistic professionals to do the same. Frequently, artists of all specialties are offered work for no pay. "Oh, we'll pay you in experience," is something I've already heard a few times as an artist. But honestly, "experience" is not enough for any professional in their trade, especially those of us who are already taken less seriously by society than our non-creative counterparts.
"Do you do what you do for free?"
"No."
"So why do you want me to?"
Artists are just as important to our society's well-being as any other professional, and as you would probably expect, we're going to demand payment for our work just like any other professional would.
Think of it this way: Not everyone is medically trained, so we pay surgeons to save the lives of those we love. Not everyone can build a house, so we pay a construction company to do it for us. Not everyone can do graphic design, act, sing, or create costumes or sets or lighting, so what's the logical thing to do? Apparently, the answer is "pay them in "experience," not "pay the trained professional money in exchange for their service."
There's clearly a problem here, a lapse in the pattern. It should be pretty obvious by now why that's unacceptable, I think. But hey, that's just me, one of the people who has to live with the system as it is.
It is extremely insulting that people have the audacity to ask us to work for no money when they'd be more than willing to pay any other professional for their work. It's even more insulting to me, a young person in my field, that people seem to think that just because someone is just breaking into the field, they can be manipulated into working 40-60 hours a week (at least) for free under the guise of "experience." We are not free labor, we are artists.
It's time for things to finally change. I don't know anyone who would walk into a restaurant, eat, and then not pay, claiming "Oh, that was my spec sample, I may come back and pay for more later if I decide I liked it." And yet, people feel like it's fine to go on Craigslist and say they'll "allow" someone to take photos of their wedding events with only the promise of "social media exposure." Why?
There is literally no difference between the two circumstances except the type of work being done. You're still asking a professional to do something for you, and you should expect to pay them, regardless of their profession. If it's not OK to ask a construction company to build an add-on to your house for free, and it's not OK to ask for the unpaid services of a photographer or any other creative professional either. If you want us to do something for you involving our craft, you should be willing to pay us. It's as simple as that.
