Do you work for free?
I’m serious. Regardless of what your profession is, or your level of expertise at same, do you go out to work every day in exchange for nothing more than the grateful thanks of your employer?
No salary. No holiday pay or sick leave. No expenses. Nothing at all.
I’m not talking about those of us, self included, who volunteer for a charity or similar organisation in whatever free time we have.
I’m referring to your job.
Of course you don’t.
The very notion of doing so is completely and utterly out of the question. Not just to ourselves but to whoever we might be fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to work for.
End of story.
At least, that’s what you’d think.
But it isn’t the case. Not where my profession is concerned.
And not just me either. It’s an all too frequent experience for all writers.
Here’s a hypothetical example.
Someone is looking for a writer to create some copy for them.
It might be for their website (web copy) or for leaflets, brochures and other marketing materials.
Or some compelling and original narrative for an advertising campaign. With hyperlinks and photographs/illustrations included.
A days’ work, maybe a day and a bit.
I send over my details and CV.
They reply.
“Thankyou Edward…this is what we need…..”
A long list of said needs and expectations follow. It’s more like two days work. Not a problem. Tell them and advise of my day rate.
A further reply follows.
“Hi Edward. Thanks for getting back to us, this looks great and we’d really like to take it further. However, as a start up company, we don’t currently have a budget to pay for copywriting but will, however, mention you in all of our socials as well as recommend you to all of our colleagues. Hope that’s OK?”
Well sorry, but it’s not ‘OK’. Not in the least.
You have, no doubt, paid the person who designed your website. You are also taking a salary yourself. You’ll also be paying rent on the premises you work from and for the items that you are selling online.
Plus, of course, if you needed any decorating done at your new premises or needed someone to courier your office furniture there, you’ll also be paying for the Wi-Fi that enabled you to e mail me in the first place.
All bills and people that have to be paid.
So why is the writer (and other creative’s) often expected to do their work for free?
I asked this to someone who’d requested this of me a little while ago. Their reply was along the lines of ‘…if you’ve been blessed with an creative talent, you should always be happy to share that gift with people for nothing”.
No doubt people who have been equally blessed with the talent to be, for example, a car mechanic, teacher, electrician, train driver, doctor or chef also have to be happy to do this-or haven’t you asked any of them?
Give it a try.
Book an electrician to come your house for a few days in order to do some rewiring. Then, a few days later and when their invoice for a few thousand pounds arrives in your Inbox, see what they say when you respond by saying, “…oh, we don’t have the budget to pay for an electrician but we will show everyone who comes to our home the lovely work you did as well as mention you on Facebook’.
Rest assured, you’ll end up seeing them again at a small claims court sometime in the near future.
Not being paid or, and this is just as bad, expecting someone in the creative industry-and not only writers, but actors, musicians, dancers and photographers, to name but a few- is something that many of my friends and colleagues have experienced-and often for work that would have taken them a great deal of time and demanded substantial effort.
I am very well aware that start up companies and charities have limited budgets.
But that shouldn’t be used as an excuse to expect people to do a day, two days, maybe three days or more work in exchange for a quick mention on a your social media page or whilst you are gossiping to your chums in Costa.
Food for thought perhaps?
Except, of course, that trolley full of food at M&S doesn’t come for free either!
