Google wants artist to work for free

[DEElekgolo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/15/business/media/15illo.html?_r=2&em

“So for you, I give you a special salute that I hope will keep you away because I don’t need your work,” Mr. Taxali wrote, followed by his own drawing of a hand gesture popular with impatient motorists.

[Con]

uhh, decline and get over it?

[Phopojijo]

Well it seems to me like they wanted the exposure... <point point> ... just with less effort.

Well congrats, we all think you're douches now.

Because you wouldn't work for free? No o.o We understand why you'd want to be compensated.

We think you're douches because you're whining about terms of a contract you didn't even accept.

... just because your real employer cut your profession's wages by half, doesn't mean that you should be a douche to someone offering you publicity.

[RecycleBin]

Hey Modacity, I want you to pay me for each post I'm making because I'm contributing to your site.


What kind of super mega douchebag would do this?
They're pretty much asking to be paid to possibly be discovered.

[Phopojijo]

Nah a lot of them already are discovered. They can't gain from notoriety, they want money.

Google isn't paying.

So part ways... dur o.O

[Llama Juice]

They're worried that this will become a trend.... and they don't want that to happen. That's why they're making such a big deal out of it.

If you have a handful of people that are super upset about being told they wont get paid, and then you have another few dozen people that are willing to do the work for free.... the people who are working for free are hurting everyone in that market.... because other companies will see this and say "Oh, someone will take the chance for the publicity."

The point is, that it's rather rude for google to not pay these people for their services when they could easily afford to. But at the same time, it helps keep the browser free.... so... *shrug*

[MetKiller Joe]

They're worried that this will become a trend.... and they don't want that to happen. That's why they're making such a big deal out of it.

If you have a handful of people that are super upset about being told they wont get paid, and then you have another few dozen people that are willing to do the work for free.... the people who are working for free are hurting everyone in that market.... because other companies will see this and say "Oh, someone will take the chance for the publicity."

The point is, that it's rather rude for google to not pay these people for their services when they could easily afford to. But at the same time, it helps keep the browser free.... so... *shrug*

It doesn't hurt anybody. The people that are willing to get paid nothing in salary but are being paid in publicity are a win situation for themselves, and Google wins by not having to pay.

The other artists who are whining that Google isn't paying them, well, yeah, as Phopo said, it is easier for them to bitch about it than to take a non-paying job.

I mean seriously, this is really stupid. Why would you tell somebody like Google "Piss off" when they might hire you next time for money. Or, if you do a superb job might actually pay you anyway? And what will their current employers think about this stunt? Nothing good I'd imagine.

[Cojafoji]

LOL. If one of the larger companies on earth sets a precedent, you don't think anyone would follow suit? Magazines and news papers are going the way of the Dodo, and if you expect online publications to use the same amount of illustrations as they once did, you'd be wrong. So not only is the artists field of work narrowing, but companies are beginning to ask them to work for free. For an industry that employs millions, wouldn't you be the LEAST concerned? What makes you think that google would pay someone the next time they needed illustrations done? They got fantastic results last time...

At that point, people are out of work, and college kids are saying fuck it, and switching majors. In 50 years, you have no more illustrators. It happens all the time, but usually it happens in industries where something has been replaced i.e. they fertilizer industry when the started using ammonia, nitrates and phosphorus, instead of collecting shit from cows.

[MetKiller Joe]

In 50 years, you have no more illustrators.

If there is a demand great enough they are worth the money, that job market will open (and it has been open). Disney will still be hiring illustrators I'm sure, and they will be paid a king's ransom (relatively speaking) for their work.

Google is trying a new approach. They're testing the grounds to see how much they can get for nothing. They are running a business and they have found a niche. Artists will work for free if they are promised not money but worldwide recognition of their art. That's some damned fine padding for one's resume.

I would love the publicity Google is offering, and as for living on nothing, well, I'd get a job that pays as well.

If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen. If you don't think you can make enough money as an artist to support your living standard, well, then, go back to college or get another job. Artists should know the risks they face in this business. DeviantArt and other sites produce things I would expect out of a professional studio, and they are all licensed under the CC. This industry is damned competitive.

I'm an artist, and I've worked my ass off to get an interview for a volunteer position. If I can put on my resume that out of high school I was able to get a job as an artist, then people will want to hire me more than the other guy that didn't. Same thing applies in this situation.

[Cojafoji]

It's one thing to ask a kid who's barely out of high school to do some illustrations for free, but Google made this pitch to seasoned professionals.

No offense, but I'd venture a guess you're not one of them. I know a couple illustrators who work for google, yay 2003, and they only work freelance. First it's a full time position, then it's freelance, now it's fucking working for only exposure.

Same thing happens with part time workers. One 7-11 could easily be staffed by 5 people, but they higher 15, to get around the mandatory requirement of 40 hours+ health benefits. Get 15 people working 5 hours, instead of 5 working 40+ in a week, and you spend NOTHING on health insurance for your employees. It's a disgusting practice, and Google is only perpetuating it.