Should You Work for Free?

Maybe you already are…

Most people who enter the entertainment business have to make an actual living doing something else… whether it’s waiting tables, driving for Uber, working in a law office (that’s what I did a lot) before they are able to support themselves with their chosen career. And because we all pretty much started our careers coming from another industry, we have the prototype of “climbing the ladder” of the business or corporate world in order to become successful. So, the idea of working for free is often an anathema to us. We just don’t like that idea at all.

However, I’m pretty sure we’ve all done a lot of “work for free” and may still be doing it. So maybe we need to reconsider the “idea” of it and rethink what we are really doing as we “work for free.”

Consider the actor who goes on auditions. All the time, effort and creativity expended in preparation for that audition and, nowadays, the time spent doing the self-tapes (since many auditions are done that way these days) for the possibility of getting a job. Not the actual job itself, but just the possibility. Until you’re getting “offer only” you’re probably going on auditions. That’s, in essence, working for free. But if you really, really want that job, then I bet you don’t mind putting in all that time, effort, energy… all that work. Because the potential payoff is a nice addition to your resume (and your reel).

As a director I do it, too. I know for those who don’t pursue directing as a career it can be a bit of a mystery how we get our jobs, particularly those of us who are pursuing directing in films.

Let me enlighten you.

I don’t get hired off of my resume, my reel, or my website. No. I don’t get hired from referrals, either, although I have been considered for jobs from all of those things.

Once someone has become aware of me as a director, either by way of my reel, my website, my resume or by referral, then we generally have an interview of sorts where they get to know me a little bit. This doesn’t always happen, but it has happened this way. However, I’m always sent a script for the project they want me to direct. My job, at that stage, is to read the script and prepare “my take” on it or “my pitch” for it. Meaning, when I have my formal meeting with the producer (and it’s generally the producer who’s hiring me) they want to hear how I would approach the material – the tone, the style, the way in which I would direct that film. I’m basically giving them “the keys to the kingdom” of how Kathi’s movie would turn out – what assets I would bring (whether in crew or casting) and what I have to offer in terms of my directorial vision. Basically, I’m putting the whole movie together, on paper or in a pitch, if you will, for free.

Could they take my vision for the movie and give it to someone else to direct? I suppose they could. That person wouldn’t necessarily be able to bring it to fruition the way I would so I don’t worry about that because if they want my vision they should really want to hire me. If they want someone else’s vision they should hire them.

But, as you can see, that’s a lot of work for free on a project I may or may not get.

And I imagine that most creative people who are not yet at the stage where they’re well known enough to be hired because of who they are have to do this type of “free” work in order to get hired.

I’m not going to debate whether we should or shouldn’t have to do this. It’s the nature of being a creative person, as far as I can tell.

I tried to explain it the other day to a “suit” in a completely different business and he just didn’t understand. “You mean you do all this free work and you still might not get the job?” he asked. He was dumbfounded. “Why?” I shrugged and told him it’s just how things work in my business. He shook his head, completely mystified.

I don’t think people who are not artists really understand that being an artist isn’t something that you choose… it’s something that you just are. I could no sooner spend the rest of my life sitting behind a desk in an office 9-5 than fly to the moon. Have I done that to make a living while pursuing my career? Yes. Could I do it for my life’s work? No.

So, back to my original question: should you work for free? I think the answer is: it depends. Only if you really, really want the job that is at the other end of that. If you’re a creative person, the answer is probably a resounding “yes.” If you’re not… it may well be: “no.”

What do you think?

If you like my work and would like to support me in my creative endeavors, please consider buying me a COFFEE.