Comics Are Great! 84 – Should You do Free Work “for Exposure?”

Thu, 11/07/2013 - 12:06pm

When: November 7, 2013 at Netcasting Studio

Is there anything wrong with agreeing to do some work for free? After all, it might catch on with the Internet, and you can cash in later.

And this is the webcomics model, after all! You put out consistent and professional-quality work for free, hoping to attract an audience, and only begin to sell to them once you’ve got 5,000 fans or more. It’s an investment!

Or you may just be doing your work for “the sake of art.” And if this is so, what’s wrong with others asking you to do the same work, in the same name, for them?

I’m joined by Ryan Estrada, creator of the @forexposure_txt Twitter account and producer of the For Exposure dramatic readings series, for a discussion on the perils and misconceptions of “working on spec.”

Later we’re joined by Sharon Iverson of the Ann Arbor District Library for another round of book recommendations!

Links mentioned in this episode (thanks to Eric Klooster for collecting the links!):

• Comics Are Great! 82 – Funding Your Kickstarter
• Kids’ Comics Revolution! 09 – Kickstarting Your Graphic Novel
• Comics Are Great! 29 – Just Be Interesting!
• Aaron Diaz weighs in on “doing it for the sake of art”
• A comic inspired by a speech by Bill Watterson that sparked some debate amongst cartoonists on the topic of “following one’s dream”
• (and David Willis’ reaction to said comic)
• Rob Stenzinger’s Polytechnicast on “doing what you love”
• Harlan Ellison’s stance on whether or not artists should get paid (NSFW – SWEARS)
• The Submissions Guidelines for Every Comic and Manga Publisher in the Universe
• Lean Into Art Cast 84 – Getting a Reaction and Showcasing Yourself
• My Three Sons

Book Recommendations:

• Astronaut Academy: Re-Entry
• Lunch Lady and the Author Visit Vendetta
• Mal & Chad: Belly Flop!
• Tales of the Brothers Three: Mustaches, Monsters, & Other Hairy Situations!
• Aki Alliance