Wanted: Free labor/time/materials/skills

Posted to Craig's List today:

Here is a great way for you to get exposure and recognition for your specific talents and skills!! I am looking to fill needs in the following areas:

House construction - I need a general contractor and crew to build a house for me. There is no pay, but it is a tremendous opportunity for you to show off your talents and those of your crew. Please provide samples of past houses you have constructed and references.

Auto maintenance - This is an immediate need and I am issuing an open call for mechanics, certified or otherwise, to submit bids to come and change my oil, rotate my tires, and provide any other general maintenance needed. Feel free to slap your name or company's name onto the parts you change, via a sticker.

General labor - This is a pretty broad area and I would expect only someone with true talent and who desires to promote that talent to submit samples of their past work in consideration of becoming my personal laborer. The work will vary widely and will often be intensive and/or difficult. There is no pay, but just imagine the exposure your labor skills will receive! I will even be a reference for you in future, paid positions!




If you have read this far, do any of the above ads strike you as odd? It seems counterintuitive to imagine anyone could expect a house construction crew to work with no pay, but the promise of free promotion of their skills. Work is offered for a price and there are even laws regarding what that minimum price is to be, in most situations. Thus, if you are a construction worker, would you seriously consider working for free just so you can gain some experience or recognition for your talents?

I am willing to bet you would not. In fact, I think most people would laugh derisively at such a notion and simply walk away.

Yet, why is it I see so many ads on Craig's List and other sites seeking writers and photographers to volunteer their skills and time in exchange for nothing more than experience and exposure? What is the logic of asking for labor every bit as specialized and hard won as the average construction worker, but not offering real money in return?

Those who seek such services obviously recognize the talent and time required for the project is beyond their own abilities, else they would simply do it themselves. So why are "creative types" expected to just hand their abilities over for free?

To such people, read this very carefully:

Writers, photographers, and others in related categories need to eat. They need to pay rent, mortgages, utility bills, and even sometimes go out to see a movie. They need to provide for their families. They need to do the same things as everyone else who lives in a free-market society.

Stop asking us to work for free. Stop trying to make it sound as if your latest webzine or other such project is going to suddenly launch us to fame for simply contributing to it. Stop acting as if our talents are free for the asking unless you are willing to freely offer yours in return.

Unless you are willing to build my house for no money...
Unless you are willing to maintain my car for free...
Unless you simply need recognition more than money for any talent you have...

STOP POSTING ADS CALLING FOR FREE LABOR FROM WRITERS!!!

Just because you can't do it yourself, doesn't mean we want to do it for you out of the kindness of our hearts.