adamd1 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 (edited) If you are starting out and have a small (about 20 different projects) but representative portfolio of work, do you believe that offering pro bono work to a firm will result in paid work coming in? I have read the threads that mention cold emails are not very useful (and this has been my personal experience) and also that your best bet are people whom you've already known / worked with. This hasn't helped me either as most of my college friends did not lands jobs within the architecture industry after graduating, etc. I have also read that once you get one client, the rest come falling in (obviously if they are happy with the work) ... So, would it be a good idea for me to contact some firms that I feel may be a benefit to having as a contact and offer a pro bono job to them? Assuming the job was done well, and the client happy, would doing so have a -good- possibility of landing me other jobs/interest or do you think I will just be letting myself get taken advantage of? I can always just continue making portfolio of personal designs but then there are no references... Input is appreciated! Thanks Edited March 20, 2013 by adamd1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M V Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 READ THIS BOOK TONIGHT!!! http://www.abookapart.com/products/design-is-a-job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Schroeder Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I guess I have to share this again...... [video=youtube;mj5IV23g-fE] To paraphrase the great man Harlan Ellison, "The problem is there are so God-damn many writers (artists) who have no idea that they are supposed to be paid when they do something, they do it for nothing. Oh boy, they are going to look at me....... It's the amateurs that make it tough for the professionals. Because when you act professional, these people (clients) are so used to getting it for nothing and for mooching.." Can you pay your bills working for free? Please, do not undervalue yourself or this profession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dollus Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 it really only takes a few images. From 20 projects, you should have enough to demonstrate your capabilities sufficiently. Clients (or potential clients) don't value free services at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic H Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 what everyone else said - once you have worked for free you are worthless and wont be able to put the price up the people will take your free work for what it is then go elsewhere and get a professional when they need more work done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamd1 Posted March 20, 2013 Author Share Posted March 20, 2013 Thanks for the replies everyone! You confirmed what I had already been feeling regarding the matter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fooch Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 2011/03 Mike Monteiro | F*ck You. Pay Me. Best to watch this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Matthews Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I may offend some people with this so please forgive me. It is easy to look at the work as a client and say yes the work is good or no the work isn't good. The real challenge is the customer service and how easy you are to work with. Let me explain what I mean. About oh say 4-5 years ago, many companies looked to oversees rendering companies in China and India (to list the main countries) because they could get a high quality rendering for next to nothing, in their eyes. I am not bashing our friends in these other countries when I say this, I am just re-stating what was said to me. "Working with some of these companies was so painful and such a bad experience that we had to come back and work with companies in our country". It turns out that many clients spent so much time reviewing renderings and communicating changes that it cost them a lot of money not to mention headaches. The reason for this is that there are many rendering companies out there, but knowledge is limited. Anyone with knowledge of the software and a computer can start their own rendering company, but those with knowledge of the profession and the profession of the client they wish to serve is not as common. It was those amateur companies that left a bad taste in the mouth of the clients, thus promoting the shift back to professional artists. Moral of the story is this, professionals do not offer free or undervalued services. They know their value and expect to be paid for the quality service and product that they provide. Clients looking for cheap or free renderings are not worth having as clients because those are the people who will try to exploit you and take advantage of your generosity. They understand that you are starting out and they have not problems taking advantage of that. Not all clients are like this, but they do exist and there are plenty of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy L Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 The comment about not being valued after working for free or discounted rates is very true. I'd also add that discounting on the basis of "this will be a lower quality than I usually do as the budget is low" is a precarious path to walk also. Always quote assuming you'll deliver your best work. An agreement of lower quality for less money is soon forgotten in review, not to mention anyone else related to the project who sees the work and asks who did it, they'll not likely consider what the fee was. The first job you do for a client is the first impression. Thats how you will be judged. Hell, even if you dont get the job, you will be judged on the quote. On the next job (with a budget) when they look back and think about who to use, do you want the client to think: "Lets use that chump that worked for free/cheap" or "lets use that guy we couldn't afford last time" I know which I'd like to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Schroeder Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 A nice and easy to read flow chart for anyone considering the question http://shouldiworkforfree.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Matthews Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Awesome! Jason Matthews Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M V Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 I worked with a client ONCE that I discounted the renderings to meet their budget and I reduced some of my services / scope. I did this when the recession was hitting hard and I needed the work. Then this client told another individual that I was a budget artist and even told him what he paid. Then this person calls me and says, "Hey I heard you do renderings for $X". I will NEVER do that again. Once you get the reputation, it will be hard to shake. Mike Monteiro will tell you all you need in his book. I seriously recommend this book to everyone on these forums. If you want to do pro-bono work to beef up your portfolio, just do something for yourself. Make a pretend project, model and render it, put it in your portfolio. Great artists do this all the time. Alex Roman created the Third and Seventh as a personal project over many years. You will learn a lot, have some great show pieces, and you will keep your soul in tact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heni30 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 (edited) An exception to this my be doing work for a project that is not for profit. Like my daughter goes to a high school where a entirely new school is being built and they have to attend classes in trailers right now. The exterior walls are being finished up and I'm sure the parents would like to see what the interior spaces are going to look like - classrooms, auditorium, public spaces, etc. (architectural firm only provided some SketchUp exteriors). But this would be a perfect case of volunteering to do some renderings for the school and community pro bono. You would be working on a real project and it would be for the community - not the architect. The architect would see finished renderings of their project and it might be a good way to get your foot in the door. You can also do renderings of work that is done by people who design low cost, not for profit housing - like Habitat for Humanity. Edited March 28, 2013 by heni30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unrinoceronte Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 I agree with George,... you can do some pro bono work depending on the case.. at least i think that way... those cases are wxactly what i had in mind... Also (thinking of small clients) if they are somehow friends, and struggling in their own business. and you have the "spare time", you can help them this once... and be very clear about not disclosing your fees...He will know and appreciate that you are giving a hand, because he know s you charge a lot more... and if he starts doing well, he might keep hiring you, and for your normal fees... But this is just with "close" clients or friends... If not, you hurt the industry, and you hurt your own business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Homeless Guy Posted April 12, 2013 Share Posted April 12, 2013 First we should get the definition of Pro Bono work right... Pro Bono = Doing work with no fee or reduced payment as a service to the public or for the public good. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro_bono An example of a Pro Bono project would be rendering a house for a non-profit like HUD. Rendering projects for clients who are making money or at least getting paid is not Pro Bono. If you are doing this you are simply giving away your work for free. If you are just starting out then you need to join a studio of some type to gain experience and understanding of how projects work from execution to clients needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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