Oh, the humanity!
07:01 Jul 27 2007
Times Read: 598
I put a simple post up on craiglist...
"I wrote a book and I am copyrighted and self-publishing.
I need a decent cover for it and I don't have a lot of cash.
I'm thinking $50 plus illustration credit on the book?
With this book I hope to open new doors for homeless advocacy.
The link is here: http://rebekahfaith.com/Journey.htm
Call me if you want to discuss.
Thanks,
-Rebekah"
I got slammed:
Gee thanks for the great opportunity to work for you for next to nothing. Fifty dollars for a book cover? Why not just do it yourself and save that whopping fifty bucks for yourself?
If my mortgage company, utility companies and bank offered me everything I have for almost nothing, I could actually AFFORD to work for you for $50. That doesn't even pay my phone bill for the month.
Do you have ANY clue how long it takes to do a piece of art? No? I didn't think so. That's not even two hours worth of my time. Do you actually ask your accountant to work for less? How about when you go to get your haircut? Do you try to weasel out of paying full price? Your haircut is almost $50 I bet, but you'll try to get a piece of art for that.
Oh, but I forgot, you'll be giving the artist "exposure". Do you know what that's worth? Exactly what you're paying for it, next to nothing.
I went to school for art, have a degree, and many many years of experience, and you insult artists everywhere by trying to discount our skills and what we do.
Since you're self publishing, I assume you've been turned down by the big houses for your little book, or else you think you're going to hit it big and want to keep all your profits for yourself. Yet you want to pay someone a lousy fifty bucks to do a book illustration.
You people trying to get something for nothing, crying lack of cash, make me SICK. If you can't afford it, then you can't get it, simple as that.
When I go to buy my art supplies, I don't tell them I'm strapped for cash and expect to get my brushes for free or deeply discounted. No. I have to actually PAY for them. What a concept!
So, when I start getting stuff for free or next to nothing, I'll be happy to work for you for free or next to nothing. Does that sound fair to you?
Location: Cheapskateville
I responded:
In response to your post on Craigslist:
1. I regularly cut my own hair.
2. I drew the art that is already in the book, so yes, I have an idea of how long it takes. (The grade-school quality drawings in the books --one of which is shown below-- took me weeks.)
3. I am self-publishing because there is no money to be made offering inspiration and resource links to the homeless.
4. I'm not in this for the money, I'm in this to help people.
5. I gave you the courtesy of a return email without making any assumptions about who you are.
Thank you,
-Rebekah Faith
http://www.RebekahFaith.com/Journey.htm
*image here*
and others rallied to my aid:
RESPONSE 1:
Dear Ms. Faith,
Please don't let a rotten apple spoil your project. I think what you are doing is wonderful. There needs to be more people doing projects for the benefit of others in need. There are a few people in the world who are angry, jaded, and jealous of the work of other people, so they make themselves feel important by putting others down. You have handled yourself with class, I and others know this from what we have read. Artists really need to continue to support each other in their endeavors no matter how big or small.
Please pay no attention to mean words of this person, they only want to pull you down with them.
RESPONSE 2:
I think you are okay. a little hostile, but okay. I want you to know that there is no scarcity of creativity. you could create until you are blue in the face, and no one could stop you from creating even more. someone taught me this...instead of thinking "I need more" think, "I have more then enough" it worked for me. I relate on a barter system, and it's very freeing (no pun intended) you can come and go, the person who wrote the book did it about homelessness, and thanked someone in her dedication for helping her to survive. I think that she probably couldn't even comprehend that you were being hostile. What kind of art do you do? I guess you are coming from a place of needing money more then creating and letting the ripples flow outward, so, show us your art, put it out there and let it speak for itself. peace.
Location: everywhere
There was a third response to my aid, where the poster was called a dick, a prat, and a pompus bastard, but to the benefit of all... that was deleted.
Still... all of this support around what I am trying to do. Especially the part where someone said I handled myself with class.
Isn't that cool?!?
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