Profile for silverqe - Do you guys get spec work e-mails like this?

silverqe aka Alice X. Zhang aka alicexz is a 23.55 year old girl, has been a member since August 19, 2007, has scored 4,313 submissions, giving an average score of 3.09, helping 299 designs get printed.

URL: http://alicexz.deviantart.com

Nov 05 '11 by silverqe
96 Comments
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Do you guys get spec work e-mails like this?

Maybe I'm overreacting, but I am sick of getting e-mails from people wanting art and design and whatnot from me and not even offering to pay for it. I usually don't reply to proposals I'm not interested in, but I decided to today for some reason.

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As a professional artist or designer, what do you guys think? Was he being reasonable, would you have worked for him? Or is he a big tool? What would you have said?

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silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 4:28pm

d3d on Nov 05 '11 at 4:43pm

i get them but i never handled one like that. will you be my agent?

citizen rifferson on Nov 05 '11 at 4:58pm

I don't really get mad about people asking me for free stuff (although if I hear the phrase "it'll be good exposure" one more time I'll kindly ask them to eat a dick) if they mention its not a paid job from the get go then I know what I'm dealing with, and i let them know I'm not in the position to do that, the people that get me mad are the ones that take forever to pay me for a freelance job..

silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 4:58pm

he thinks hes doing me like this huge favor b/c HE likes my work? he thinks he's Oprah or something hurrrrrr

xiv on Nov 05 '11 at 4:59pm

I just delete them or request more information, get a response then delete them.

silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 4:59pm

he didn't mention it wasn't a paid job though. i garnered that myself.

I just couldn't believe his second reply and all the backtracking and not-being-upfront that he did

silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 5:01pm

Like I said, I usually don't reply at all if it doesn't initially interest me. Maybe I was in a bad mood today lol

ivejustquitsmoking on Nov 05 '11 at 5:02pm

that's annoying, you did spent too much time/energy on him hah

but yeah it's good to vent

silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 5:04pm

Don't forget he essentially blamed the rejection on my "youth" and said I was too immature to understand "how things work" HURRRRR

The Paper Crane on Nov 05 '11 at 5:07pm

Wow! it did not take much to rattle his cage.

Farnell on Nov 05 '11 at 5:08pm

he was a right cock - you sorted him out well.

Thomas Orrow on Nov 05 '11 at 5:14pm

He deserved that! Good for you.

Torakamikaze on Nov 05 '11 at 5:16pm

that guy's a big pile of fuck

Thomas Orrow on Nov 05 '11 at 5:18pm

You should ask him to compose and record a melody as you are contacting 4-5 other guitarists in the hope of making a soundtrack. The final song will have to be decided upon.

Chengui on Nov 05 '11 at 5:19pm

If you aren't going to take the job, maybe I'll email him and see if I can get a job interview...

...can you put in a good word for me?

stubby43 on Nov 05 '11 at 5:24pm

I think part of the problem with certain areas of the media, like music and acting is that you do have to audition to get work and I think some people do get stuck in that mentality, that and they think their project amazing.

That guy was a dick, he didnt get the message and wouldnt back down.

Noh_Body on Nov 05 '11 at 5:24pm

dang, dudes thick

Naolito on Nov 05 '11 at 5:25pm

Well done Alice. I never reply this kid of emails, but you did it in a great way

citizen rifferson on Nov 05 '11 at 5:28pm

I'm gonna e-mail him a drawing of a stickman for the hell of it.

jet approves on Nov 05 '11 at 5:36pm

he sounds like a condescending idiot.

martiandrivein on Nov 05 '11 at 5:46pm

I've had to warn people going on interviews and such to be wary, because believe it or not, companies are actually having people do "sample projects" before they hire them. It would be different if it was just a creative exercise, but most of them are like, design a logo for us, or design a brochure, here is the content.

If designers look out for themselves this sort of thing won't happen as often, so good for you!! Keep doing what you're doing, says I

jeffreyg on Nov 05 '11 at 5:58pm

lmao you're so young so it makes sense

best.

[+duracell-] on Nov 05 '11 at 6:03pm

Wow you get 1000 requests daily. Just delete it and go to the next one then.

jeffreyg on Nov 05 '11 at 6:14pm

i think youre missing the point ._.

nathanwpyle at gmail.com on Nov 05 '11 at 6:37pm

You are after all 22.99 years old so it makes sense-

maybe when you're 23.00?

martiandrivein on Nov 05 '11 at 6:40pm

lol @ nathan. Age shouldn't matter...even if you were Doogie Howser, no one would ask a doctor to work for free.

nathanwpyle at gmail.com on Nov 05 '11 at 6:47pm

haha NPH would never take that from anyone!

Just like Alice! (And I was referencing the line 'you're young so it makes sense')

martiandrivein on Nov 05 '11 at 6:53pm

yeah, I was laughing at your sarcasm, not you.

YaaH on Nov 05 '11 at 6:56pm

Forget Ryuki, he's not a good man ^^

nathanwpyle at gmail.com on Nov 05 '11 at 6:56pm

haha! I know, I was just makign sure Alice knew, incaseitwasambiguous

cuz she is after all 22.99

jeffreyg on Nov 05 '11 at 8:46pm

wow, yaah actually spoke in words for you

bcrider on Nov 05 '11 at 9:01pm

Wow.

That's a whole 'nother level of stupid right there. And while my craft IS only a hobby (knitting), I get requests for all sorts of knitted items. On MY dime. Because, you know; it's what I like to do, so I should be GRATEFUL to have the opportunity to knit for someone else.

o.O

silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 9:33pm

@bcrider UGH YES it is exactly that kind of attitude that drives me up a wall. The constant "you should be grateful I like your work" attitude, I even get it constantly from people in real LIFE - from friends, acquaintances, roommates, co-workers, friends of friends - "hey draw me something, you like to do that don't you?" it's like they don't even offer to pay, not out of any sort of maliciousness, but because the idea of it literally DOESN'T EVEN CROSS THEIR MINDS.

alksdjlaksjfklasgagggadlkjslkgdjfkgjdjkldh;kfhl;k

Chengui on Nov 05 '11 at 9:42pm

This reminds me of

THIS AWESOME EXCHANGE :)

silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 9:50pm

@Chengui rofl at that link. Also yes, let me put in a good word for you for Ryuki, since you're older and less short-sighted than me and see the massive potential in the brilliant opportunity he is giving you, he'd probably like your "attitude" much better.

ivejustquitsmoking on Nov 05 '11 at 10:36pm

omg that's hilarious Brian! (gonna share now)

Haragos on Nov 05 '11 at 11:11pm

Listen. I need to commission you for some art. I got no money but I might be able to gather a bag of walnuts for you. You have to apply for the job though and their is a $50 transaction fee.

agrimony on Nov 06 '11 at 12:51am

you should just set an auto reply email that says something like that

Ryder Revolution on Nov 06 '11 at 12:54am

The "Missing Missy" thing on that page Brian posted is so hilarious

Ryder Revolution on Nov 06 '11 at 12:54am

Missing Missy

Goldendust on Nov 06 '11 at 2:35am

Yeah, I don't understand how so many people think spec work and crowdsourcing is acceptable. Even one of my tutors at my design course encouraged it... and so my next project, which was a magazine spread, ended up being an illustrated article about why spec work is bad.

She probably didn't even read it. But at least I tried.

Thomas Orrow on Nov 06 '11 at 3:16am

lol @ Missing Missy

gumbolimbo on Nov 06 '11 at 3:34am

Hi Silverque,
I get loads of these mails. They used to piss me off, but now I either delete them or mail them back pretending I didn't notice they didn't offer a fee and make it clear they have to expect to pay a fee.

Something like:
"(blah blah) Would it work for you if I send you my quote for this project by friday?"

Always funny to see the reaction. And, sometimes, people DO continue the project and actually pay me for my time.

gumbolimbo on Nov 06 '11 at 3:38am

Anyway Ryuki Akira exposed himself as quite an unpleasant arse for all the internetzs to see.
I hope this topic comes up first page on Google for people who google his name.

gumbolimbo on Nov 06 '11 at 3:46am

Mr Bingo´s reaction to the omnipresent request to work for free is hilarious.

applesforjonah on Nov 06 '11 at 6:10am

Flickr is blocked here at work, so I'm excited to see the conversation above when I get home.

Spec work can choke on a bag of dongs.

The Paper Crane on Nov 06 '11 at 4:05pm

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SEO^

CazKing on Nov 06 '11 at 4:45pm

I love the way you responded Alice. That guy was a tool.
I totally agree - it's so frustrating that some people think we will do "freebies' coz we "like to draw"
It's one thing to get it from friends and family etc. but to get it from professional organisations (not that this guy was a professional)
It just goes to show what a lot of people who know nothing of the art/design industry think and thats sad.

reags on Nov 06 '11 at 5:06pm

Way to school the tool Alice!

kayceislost on Nov 06 '11 at 7:52pm

Oh jeez. I get emails like this from time to time, but have never responded.

silverqe on Nov 05 '11 at 9:33pm
@bcrider UGH YES it is exactly that kind of attitude that drives me up a wall. The constant "you should be grateful I like your work" attitude, I even get it constantly from people in real LIFE - from friends, acquaintances, roommates, co-workers, friends of friends - "hey draw me something, you like to do that don't you?" it's like they don't even offer to pay, not out of any sort of maliciousness, but because the idea of it literally DOESN'T EVEN CROSS THEIR MINDS.

alksdjlaksjfklasgagggadlkjslkgdjfkgjdjkldh;kfhl;k

Completely agreed.

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