dealing with the same old "can you do this for free?" bs. exposure doesn't pay the bills, people!

word, got nothing but respect for that. and it's even worse when they try to guilt trip ya into

do you really think exposure is gonna pay for my rent? come on, i got bills to pay too.

sorry, but exposure is literally the start of every hustle out there.

sorry, but what did you expect when you put your work out there for free?

Do people still not understand that data scientists and engineers aren't a free commodity?

im sorry but if you're not making an exception for someone who can showcase value and could literally turn around and build something on their own as a result of your expertise, youre doing it wrong.

same energy, just add "artists wanting me to send nudes too

agreed, exposure is the worst. these freeloaders need to understand that our time and skills have real value.

tell me about it. the audacity of these "clients" wanting professional work for free. like, do they think we do this for fun? exposure doesn't put food on the table.

seriously, and it's even worse when they try to guilt trip you into doing it for free, saying "you're so talented, you should just do it out of passion" or whatever...

exposure can pay the bills if you're a vampire

oh come on, that's just exuding bitterness. if you're charging for value, people will keep wanting

idk about you, but some exposure is better than being broke and unknown.

don't these ppl understand that your time and talent have value or are they just hoping you're desperate?

exposure doesn't pay the rent, it pays the exposure bills

yeah, tell em to pay up or kick rocks. exposure don't feed my family

lmao yeah because nothing says "valuable exposure" like a german shepherd eating dog food on a pedigree commercial

tbh it's like waiting for rain in california - everyone asks but nobody delivers

same. and can we please also talk about how "exposure" is always expected from creatives but never offered in return from the clients?

I feel your pain! Exposure may be great for Instagram models, but the power company doesn't accept "likes" as payment.

um no. i'd rather die than pay out of pocket. werent always like this used to be... partly i blame the structure of our industry.

lol yeah and "exposure" don't even give you a decent wifi signal

do they ask their accountant to do their taxes for "exposure" too?

idk man, exposure is real. my last side project put me on the radar of some big clients.

same here, it's like they think your skills are just a hobby or something. and don't even get me started on the 'we'll give you a shoutout on social media'

wow really? exposure is the best currency these days. stop being so greedy, your work isnt even that good anyway

did you forget that time i did that thing for you for free? what happened to that "exposure" you were gonna hook me up with?

not everything is about making money. Sometimes it's about supporting someone you care about, being helpful or just being kind.

Exposure? That's what I use to get my tan. Maybe they could offer a free sunbed session instead? 🤷‍♀️

that's so annoying. people need to respect the work we do and pay fairly.

Hmm, have you tried explaining to them that your time and skills have real value? Maybe you could offer a discounted rate for new clients to find a compromise.

yeah, i mean, i'll just trade my medical bill payments to the cardiologist for a cup of coffee and a high five

idk, tell your lack of skills to charge their hyena network for consultation hours

um no, giving free stuff just gets you taken for granted and undervalued.

are you a real business or just expecting everyone else to be?

exposure can lead to paid gigs, don't be salty just cuz you ain't getting the right opportunities

exposure sucks, grow up and pay people for their work. no one wants your "experience" bs, gotta give real money if you want it done

totally getting that I feel like people think they deserve free stuff just because you're talented or connected.

lol exposure? so you mean i can't pay my rent with those "follow for follow" dms?

preach! and if you can't pay someone for their work, don't try to guilt trip them into doing it for

idk why you're expecting a free pass just cuz you do what you love, no one owes you a living

Actually, that's a bit harsh - many of us got into the creative field because we want to help and build our portfolio, not necessarily because we're looking for instant financial

do you actually say no to them or just vent about it online

tbh if people offered invisible beans instead of "explosure" i'd totes be their girl

idk what kinda services you're offering but exposure is literally how a lot of ppl get paid nowadays

yeah, i feel u. and it's especially wild when they're making bank off the work they want u to do

tough luck, sis. if you can't negotiate or set boundaries, that's on you, not them

disagree. freelance work often starts with some free projects to build a portfolio. exposure can lead to paying gigs down the line.

exposure, schmexposure - my rent wants cold hard cash, not likes and shares 💸

amen to that. people always assume creativity is infinite and we're just being picky when we want paid work

tell me about it. exposure is so overused these days.

yeah i feel you, people always think their project is the "next big thing" that'll launch your career, but until then, can you actually pay

exposure doesn't pay the bills, but it does give you a great story for the therapist

omg yes, and can we also talk about how "exposure" usually means they're gonna use your work to make $$$ for themselves? ain't no one got time for that

do they ask their plumber to work for exposure too or is that just a favor they ask of artists?

exposure also doesn't cover rent, groceries, or therapy bills

what's the plan for when we can't make ends meet from our integrity and artistic expression? this idea that makers are entitled to a living is really nice, but what's the solution?

same here, it's like they think our skills and time are just floating around waiting to be exploited.

bruh, exposure is totally worth it. get over yourself. Plenty of ppl would love the free publicity.

I don't think that's entirely fair - sometimes people have barely any budget and you'd be surprised how many legit requests you can fulfill for the sake of giving back to a

yeah, i get that, but is it really 'bs'? or just how the game is played nowadays?

imo you're not getting paid cause your work ain't worth paying for

Hmm, so what do you actually offer that's worth paying for? Maybe it's time to rethink your approach and show potential clients the real value you bring to the table.

do you tbh think i can pay my rent w/ 'exposure'? 🙄 how about you pay your workers for their time

you really expect strangers to work for free? what's your deal, fam?

totally feel you on that. Exposure is nice, but it doesn't put food on the table. Gotta stand firm and let people know your time and skills have real value.

i guess i should've just thrown my services in a bucket and given them out at the tsa checkpoint

no, that's not the same thing. clients can't just work for free. Nor should creators. it's a business, not a hobby, and resources cost money.

um, so you refuse to do free favors because exposure doesn't pay the bills, but do you think that's true for everyone?

Do these people ask their plumbers and accountants to work for free too?

omg yessss, and can we also talk about how "exposure" is code for "we don't want to pay you but we

lol fr tho, what do they think this is, a charity? you gotta eat too ya know

girl my exposure check hasn't cleared yet

lmao do these ppl think we can just work for free? how tf are we supposed to eat and pay rent with "exposure"?

people want free tacos too, but nobody delivers

I feel you! Did they also ask you to "expose" your bank account info to help with the rent?

good news is your art is paying for coffee. bad news is the creative compromise you made is still only worth 99c.

yeah, no kidding, that's why my unemployment benefits are called 'award-winning complimentary

yeah, and 'exposure' isn't a recognized tax deduction, either

yes this. some people really think we just do this for fun. like no, i gotta eat too you know? 😒

preach. and it's always the ones who can afford to pay you who ask for free work too

lol no one owes you a paycheck for doing what you love, if you're actually good you'll get noticed and paid eventually, stop whining

tell me about it and these "exposure" people are the worst. like, no i can't do it for free, i have rent to pay and food to buy.

ur fave is out here getting paid for "exposure" every day, tho.

do they even think about how much time and effort goes into doing what you do?

dude, exposure is literally worthless. if you're good at what you do, people should pay you what

do you ever get paid for your "exposure" or is that just something you expect from everyone else?

can't say i've never had to deal with that, fam. just gotta remind people of all the unpaid collaborations i've done in the past, and how those never magically

did they offer to work for free too or is that just a 'favor' they're asking of you?

Yeah, like sending a resume to "exposure only" jobs does too.

tbh, i'm starting to think "exposure" is just a sneaky way of saying "we're broke and hoping you are richer than we are

if exposure doesn't pay the bills, why the hell are you still doing free work? 🤔

fr tho, they act like we don't have bills to pay. like yeah exposure is nice and all but my

lmao yeah no, exposure is just a nice way of saying i'll be paying my landlord in likes and shares

how many of y'all still do this to creatives??

lol yea exposure is great and all but it doesnt cover my avocado toast habit

nah fam, exposure def pays the bills and why would anyone want to work for free?

what do you actually charge then?

lmao yeah exposure is just a fancy word for "we can't afford you

fr, exposure is so played out. like, i get it, you're trying to build a portfolio, but we need to get paid.