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Creative Jobs: A Vague Fantasy.

Last post 21 Nov 2007 by

meredith

Page 1 of 1

meredith

I have been noticing more and more of these sarcastic "response type" ads. toward Commission, Part Time and Full Time Creative Job Ads, evidently by individuals in the field who are being effected by the compensated offered or paid.

I am wondering why the uproar now (i have always noticed this problem), and is this issue everywhere for anyone trying to find work, get into, or who might already be in any digitally creative field.

http://tampa.craigslist.org/web/482396518.html
&
http://tampa.craigslist.org/web/481322224.html

I like to respond to some of the ads sometimes, just too see what people truly have in mind that they want to compensate the artist..

For instance: A Few weeks ago I responded to an ad where a company was on their "last moments" with a logo, and really needed a "fresh look" and already "spent too much time". Which implied to me that they already have people at their disposal with programs who can imitate/duplicate etc.

In my response I asked for a more detailed description for the job and the budgeted commission... The response was vague with a couple of images in a word file, still with no payment information, expressing that all they wanted were your "comps/ideas" and "if" you fit what they were looking for you would be contacted for the job. lol. Sure, I will just give you my ideas. Truly Insulting.

Is a creative job a vague fantasy that doesn't actually exist?

Reply 19 Nov 2007

carly

Creative in itself is quite vague, fantasy, flaky...etc, it's just the nature. People have a hard time justifying the cost of it as it's not exactly tangible. Which is fine, I can understand that. Though they obviously feel that it is worth some value if they feel they need it.

As for spec work, if people didn't believe they could get away with it then they wouldn't do it. Plain and simple. If designers stopped offering it, then people would stop asking for it. As creatives we have to initiate this for them, not expect them to just stop expecting it! Is it really their fault?

Quote 19 Nov 2007

meredith

carly said:

Creative in itself is quite vague, fantasy, flaky...etc, it's just the nature. People have a hard time justifying the cost of it as it's not exactly tangible. Which is fine, I can understand that. Though they obviously feel that it is worth some value if they feel they need it.

As for spec work, if people didn't believe they could get away with it then they wouldn't do it. Plain and simple. If designers stopped offering it, then people would stop asking for it. As creatives we have to initiate this for them, not expect them to just stop expecting it! Is it really their fault?

Thanks for your perspective, Carly. It clears up some of my confusion. I have issues still with the unclear terms in most ads lately. A lot of these will say Commission so you contact and then later you discover it is Spec, like the ad i responded to. which should've just been clear in the beginning.

It is hard to believe that it is mostly artists that do this. I think usually its craftsmen/women and con-men/women.. operating programs etc.. seeing something and just duplicating it. and hustling it out for work because it means nothing to them emotionally/morally. It's all operational/mechanical/ & scheming. Which evidently isn't doing the job anymore because they are in need of something fresh and new.

I suppose it's not their "fault" if they see that people work this way, but it does seem if they are so desperate for something, they would be willing to pay a deserved amount to someone more-so considering they cannot do it themselves.

I suppose that is why people are posting these response ads. So that will make employers/clients aware that designers/artists are no longer going to settle for this and that they'd rather go without work or pay than be insulted.

Quote 19 Nov 2007

carly

If you are concerned on a personal level, and want to do more freelance work yourself, then I would suggest promoting yourself more rather than responding to ads.

Personally I'd be quite wary of people posting ads requiring a design job to be done. To me it almost gives the impression that you are going to them...begging for a job, under any circumstance, rather than them needing you. For me, any respectable business would approach a designer/design agency themselves. Just my opinion though that's how I see it..

Quote 19 Nov 2007

meredith

This is true too! I am still preparing myself for promotion. I want to have all ends covered before i just throw myself out there. I am still more just lurking around. And seeing what i see.. Plus i think ultimately i don't think i can work for anyone again like Full Time work. I need to be my own boss, and when i am ready will definitely be promoting myself.

Quote 19 Nov 2007

mydeadpony

Hey Meredith,

From my small experience at being a freelance I came to the conclusion that without promoting yourself VERY actively, it's quite difficult to get commissions.
Serious commissions I might add.

Here are a few tips I've gathered from professional Illustrators who are working freelance.

To have a website or a blog is obviously the first step.
Contacting AD of magazines, advertising or books publishing is one of the major thing to do. Either by mail or postcards.
There are databases or books that are giving this info but they are expensive. Or browse through magazines and take the email or phone from the AD.
To suscribe to websites that promote Illustrators (for example theispot) is a hit or miss, they can be very expensive but it seems to be working for most.
Getting an agent can work too, or not. They don't take everyone and they take around 30% of your commission.

All in all it's not easy to be freelance from the get go.
It's better to work part-time and keep doing your illustration job started I'd say. Because you never know at the beginning if it's going to work or not and you'd better have a back up solution if nothing comes your way.
I know this can be pretty hard, I took the opportunity of being fired from a job to decide to be freelance and well...uhm

Quote 21 Nov 2007

meredith

Hey Raphael...

"and Well Uhm............" Fill in the dotted lines ;]

but, Yeah i believe i will never be able to work in another company as their "designer slash broker slash customer service" whatever you need me to be" like i am now, full time.

..And i believe i will never have an agent.. i am tired of paying a "middle man". I hate seeing that i make the same $ regardless of my margins.

I don't want to starve.. (though i could spare a few pounds), But I'm so sick of slaving for this company I am with. It takes all of my energy that i need in order to promote myself (properly). So the past few months i have been in this transition, trying to manage my time more efficiently. And trying to eliminate any and all excuses toward failure.

I just want to will reality to be the way i want it... so that when i wake up tomorrow it will be a totally new world professionally.

Because that isn't a vague fantasy or anything ;b...

Quote 21 Nov 2007

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