Is it a good idea to EVER work for free as a musician?
Every Musician and music professional receives offers to work for free, but is that so-called ‘exposure’ ever worth the effort? Let’s discuss.
A guest post by James Shotwell of Haulix.
Every single person working in music right now has been asked to work for free at some point in their career. Most are asked to work without pay regularly, especially if they’re a musician, and many take low-to-no pay gigs because they believe such opportunities will lead to brighter days down the road.
But does it pay to work for free? In certain cases, yes.
As Music Biz host James Shotwell explains in our latest video, there are times in every phase of your career when it makes sense to work for free. Determining which tasks to take on and which to turn down is as easy as answering three simple questions:
- Does the person hiring want me specifically, or am I just another name on the list?
- Does the offer present an opportunity to further develop my craft OR raise my profile?
- How do I feel about the people asking me to work for free?
You will know if an offer is right for you by answering these questions, but if you’re still unsure, our video provides more advice and details to help make things clear:
James Shotwell is the Director of Customer Engagement at Haulix and host of the company’s podcast, Inside Music. He is also a public speaker known for promoting careers in the entertainment industry, as well as an entertainment journalist with over a decade of experience. His bylines include Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Substream Magazine, Nu Sound, and Under The Gun Review, among other popular outlets.
