“Can’t you do it for free??” The Wildest Things People Have Been Asked to Do Without Getting Paid

If you have a skill, any skill at all, chances are, someone's tried to get you to do something for them for free. Maybe they phrase it as "whip something ups" or "take a look at this real quick" or "do it for exposure" but unfortunately, that doesn't translate to legal tender. Trust me. I checked.

I asked Lubbock locals to tell me some of the wildest things people have asked them to do for free, and they showed up with bells on. My goodness! Not only do we have a talented buch of folks in town, but we've also got some rather audacious people expecting services, skills, and talents for nada...

Lubbock's Creative “Exposure” Economy

Artists, photographers, and musicans in Lubbock are apparently out here running on good vibes alone. Asking bands to play for "exposure" is ridiculous. Or, going so far as asking them to "pay to play"? Ha! You're not fooling anybody! You are literally asking to profit off of them at that point! That's not how this works...

Established artists being asked to design album art for people, followed by them screaming about the prices they are quoted, or saying "Well, I can get it for free if I just use AI!" just shows we are still living in a world where people don't understand that time equals money, especially when it comes to skills. You want quality? You want real art? You pay for it. Plain and simple.

Read More: How The Texas Election Addresses The Controversial Death Tax

The Favors That Get Out of Hand

Once people find out that you're good at something, they think they can use it to their advantage. If you work for a moving company, you know how hard that job is. Instead of negotiating a price, your pals are calling you up and offering pizza and beer. NOPE.

If you're a doctor, a nurse, or someone in the medical field, think of all the times you've been asked for free advice, or if you can give someone's kid stitches after a ball game. Free help is always at your discretion. Don't forget that.

It’ll Be Quick!” (It Never Is)

Hairstylists point out the number of people asking them to give their kid a "quick trim". Since when is giving a child a haircut something quick? NEVER. They paid for their license and schooling, you pay for the haircut. The end.

The Moral of the Story

The next time someone asks you to do something for free, take a deep breath, smile, and say, "Sure, as soon as rent starts taking exposure."

Because whether you're an artist, a nurse, or the only person in the family who owns a truck, your time and your talent have value. Giving up the goods for free doesn't get you anywhere. Don't let people walk on you, friends. Demand what you're worth and stick to your guns.