As seen on #AskGaryVee Episode 12 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x-Qu19KVVg
Q: As a freelancer, should you ever work for 'exposure' only?
A:
Gary Vaynerchuk is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author, self-taught wine expert, and innovative entrepreneur. Find more at http://garyvaynerchuk.com
Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook is now available on Amazon! http://bit.ly/jjjrhamazon

14 thoughts on “Should freelancers work for free?”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hola! Jaron Martin says:

    Nice click-bait he just got more money for crap advice. Will you mentor us for free? No its your free time will you? And I know that question will not be answered, thank you for inspiring people trying to learn to get ripped off by small businesses. He just made everyone's value in the IT industry that much less desirable, you get what you pay for. Am I wrong?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ex-Divestor Lounge says:

    Work for free? Yeah, right. The only person I would work for free is me, writing pieces for my own portfolio. I’ve spend a lot of money going to school and traveling across the country for my valued training and expertise that separates me from the masses in freelancing. I’ve worked very hard at obtaining the skills I had, which I had to pay for. Writing for exposure is for the birds and I know my self worth. This doesn’t always work in every industry. So, I’m going to tell a cashier to give me groceries for free? How about a realtor to let me have the mansion for free and I will ensure they have great exposure?Let me tell my hairstylist to dye my hair for free and I will show it off for exposure for them. They need MONEY to buy the hair dye in the first place, not exposure dollars. All of this is nonsense. I have a family to feed and a life to live. I’m a successful freelancer WITHOUT working for free. Something of value has a dollar sign on it. My skills and knowledge have value. When something doesn’t have a dollar sign, it has no value. Gary Vee needs to work for free (he’s not, he’s getting paid millions for his speeches and ads so he needs to take his own advice).

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Madness says:

    2019

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ChristineLeakeyMusic says:

    You just haven't figured out yet how to land the work AND get paid if you think you have to do it for free. Stop it. It's devaluing to the rest. I also know what I am talking about. I've been in the biz twice as long as you.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Θωμάς Μουτσίδης says:

    why the fuckk i work for free ? just ask your life .

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chris Swafford says:

    NO.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Conquer Forward says:

    Ask a doctor or plumber to work for free them. To answer your question: No. Working for free for my business profits nothing. It was when I was charging for my services, I was able to have a successful business. People do not value free. Free led to exhaustion, stress, and feeling devalued.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Frazer Blaxland says:

    What if you are an actor? Who's trained? Isn't there a culture being created that working for free is ok? I think it's a personal choice and you should do it for for friends, but I don't see how the exposure leads to better and greater paid work. Love you though VEE!

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Christine N says:

    Interesting perspective, I’ve mostly been hearing from creative community’s perspective on this issue. Could you elaborate more on situations or give case studies where people have worked for free and gotten paid referrals? How to judge when working for exposure would be beneficial for our career in an uncertain future? When would you start charging for your work, or do you just wait until someone offers to pay you? Should creatives still try to negotiate better deals?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars MeloCat says:

    YES!!! At the beginning of their career, and when you're the beggar and not the chooser~~ In my humble opinion…. Exposure is just as good~

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alejandro Reyes says:

    This may apply to several other businesses but not in film and video. More specifically, in my department, location audio and post production audio. For there is no way I can have the luxury of working for free, no way. I charge a standard fee for my service and rental of my equipment which I pay insurance for. When ever I get a client that can't afford me I advise them to find a student they are always looking for the opportunity to work on a feature, or commercial. Plus you can waive a rental by using a college or universities equipment. On that note, there is a story Salvador Dali, a famous painter. Who was once eating at a café in Paris, France and drawing on a napkin. His server a female asked him if he draw a sketch for her, he said sure that it would cost $20,000 US. Outraged she said the drawing had no meaning, that anybody could have drawn that. He response was perhaps but it's taken my whole life to be able to do this. On that note those of that work for free stop, and know your self worth. For those of you, hiring people for free look for a student instead.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joseph Sy says:

    Well said. Thanks Gary, will sub

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars EXPOSED says:

    It really depends on the situation. Last year I was offered a subcontracting assignment to do a project for a person that had been previously been contracted by a larger company to do the work. I was offered "exposure" as my payment (I'd be handling the design of the product). It turned out the contractor lied and intended to take all the payment for my work after I delivered it, all while claiming he wasn't getting paid for the project. Be careful and always trust your gut instincts. Carefully think about what you have to gain from the arrangement–any project requiring an inordinate amount of time should be billed accordingly and be backed up by a solid contract where each party has their wants and needs accounted for.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sara Conrad says:

    Have something in writing that says they will promote you and/or give you multiple public props, otherwise… They take and take and take and don't say thanks.

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