Would you ask a plumber, electrician, or any other service provider to work for free? Artists – painters, dancers, comedians, writers, actors, musicians, etc. – work for years at their craft and still are routinely asked to donate or discount their services. I guess it’s because their jobs are obviously creative and seem more like fun than work. Wrong! Not to say that creativity isn’t wonderful, but work is work, folks.

 

In time, artists become so used to this attitude that many come to devalue their own work. Plus, they naturally want to share their work with others who appreciate it, so are often moved to generosity. One of the problems with consistently deflating the price of one’s work is, obviously, that it becomes next to impossible to break out of that cycle.

 

Here’s another strange-but-true reaction: discounting your work, while met with initial appreciation, ultimately results in the perception that it’s worth less. Is it just human nature that we value something more if we pay more for it?

 

I’ve worked with enough artists – and was one myself for 20+ years – to know that people asking for freebies and discounts probably won’t disappear as one gets more well-known (it may be just the opposite!) Therefore, setting boundaries is an absolute necessity, and there’s no reason to feel guilty about nicely turning down a job that offers “great exposure” only.

 

Here’s to a prosperous 2019 for all the artists out there!

Best,