Why You Should Demand to Be Paid For Your Creative Work

The job boards are saturated with internships, work experience and even freelance opportunities that offer what seems to be a dream job until you read that the position isn't paid. Warning words tend to be 'temporary', 'volunteer' and 'start-up'. They present you with a screaming liberator in the sea of boring office jobs. You're looking for a creative individual? That's me! With a years experience? I have that! An adaptable, free-thinking, flexible person with endless room to grow? Where do I sign? Unfortunately after the initial sucking in you read the last line and everything is thrown out of the window. The dreaded 'you'll receive exposure from an incredibly reputable brand' whom you've never heard of or will be 'paid when the company becomes a success' which is akin to a high-school pinky promise. 

It's not just the lesser known companies though. Fair enough if a start-up needs people to help... well start the company. However bloggers are approached on a regular basis by well-off companies in hopes of a collaboration but regret to inform them that 'due to our budget we are unable to pay you at this time but can provide exposure'. Or possibly even worse think that giving you some of their products will help you pay the bills. We're not talking about smashing out a painting for fun one night, but established businesses giving you a brief and expecting you to not mind not being paid due to the unforgiving stereotype of the starving artist. 

The problem is no one sees an alternative when starting out, or even when they have a strong portfolio of work behind them, and give in to this 'free' publicity while putting what would be paid creatives out of a job. Imagine it as a cycle. You're a new creative trying to break into the big wide world of self-employment with your amazing skills and the only way you can even begin to produce work for a company is by doing it in a volunteer capacity. So you do this. Just for a little while, just to gain exposure. The company is obviously thrilled that it doesn't have to pay a professional, no matter how professionally you act. Then they continue to give out unpaid jobs, because they know someone somewhere will do it. Less paid jobs are created and it becomes and endless downward spiral.

Creatives have it tough enough as it is. You're not spoon-fed the formula to be successful. You don't climb a designated career ladder curated entirely to your dream. It's messy and inconsistent. If you have a bad day you're instantly out of pocket. If you run out of creative ideas you're forced to take a break or churn out uninspired gunk. It's hard enough without putting in the hours and creating amazing work for nothing more than a mention. Nothing more than a pair of earrings or some laxative laden tea.

Let me be clear. If a brand send you something, be it clothing, food, or stationary of their own accord asking for nothing in return then that is entirely fine. Also a great marketing ploy on their part. That makes it entirely in the bloggers hands to decide if they like the product enough to write about it, or even if they dislike it enough to write a scathing review. This is the company giving the blogger ultimate freedom. It's not pushy or demanding (that is unless you're bombarded with ten e-mails asking you if you've received the product because there has been no mention on your social media and/or blog).

The message we should be spreading is that of defiance. No, we won't accept your volunteer role to edit your blog. Write an article on your new collection for some free clothing? Stuff it. Want an inspirational take on today's youth for a two word mention less than a 12 font size? Fuck off. Don't stand for it. Work with people you're inspired by, work with friends, be a freelancer not a volunteer. Once companies know that they can't milk us for cheap chalk that's when creatives will be paid what they're deserved.

But as with everything, it starts with you.