You love what you’re doing, right?
“When we get another investor, we’re going to use you a lot more.”
“We went with you even though you cost more, because we thought you would cost less.”
Note to those who are hiring a creative. If you can get someone cheaper, do so. It’s business — though you do tend to get what you pay for in the end. But please don’t complain I cost more than someone else you could have hired after you hire me at my rate. I didn’t hide it.
Please, please, please stop promising me work in the future as an incentive to do something for free or practically free, today. I can’t pay my rent that way, so why should I work that way with you?
And finally, why does it matter if I love what I am doing? Should I work for the creative joy alone, or at a cut rate just to be happy doing what I am doing? Um, that’s my own stuff. When I am working on your stuff, I get paid.
I’m a business which means I am in it to earn money. I want my clients to be happy. But when what you really want is my talent and experience all for the joy of working on your project, in hopes of promised work in the future you’re never going to be happy.
Somehow you recognized the talent, but missed the worth. They go together.
