Rule 1: Scratch Your Own Damn Back

Rule 1: The First rule of Craigstlist is you don’t talk about Craigslist….oh wait, wrong list.

Rule 1: Favors…if someone is asking you to work for cheap, don’t do it. You’re setting a precedent that you are willing to do work for cheap, and it’s hard, almost impossible to get out of that pigeon hole. You wouldn’t go to a restaurant and tell the cook this.

“hey, I’m really hungry, but I haven’t had your food before, you wanna cook me a steak for half price to see if I like it? If I like it, I’ll come back next time and pay full price!”

No, the client should always pay fair market price. Wow them with your design, not how cheap you are.  Here is a sample Craigslist post I found where they are asking you to “scratch their back, and we’ll scratch yours.”

New Nashville-based publishing company looking for Graphic Designer to partner.

“Partner” does not refer to legal partnership or investment. Partner means you scratch our back, we’ll scratch yours.

This grassroots venture is a great opportunity for the right person(s).

We will consider specialty designers (children’s books, etc.)

This would be perfect for a recently accredited designer who wants to get their foot in the door. You ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY have to have experience properly loading book cover (front and back) designs to publishing houses’ specifications.

Self-publishing exposure preferred
Website-building expertise a plus

DO NOT APPLY if you do not have full confidence in your ability to design and properly tranfer book cover designs in proper layout and format to publishing house.

Contact us for more information

Key words to look out for here;

PARTNER: It’s not a partnership. They are hiring someone for a task, and the designers only investment in the project is their work and a check. They want someone to “buy in” to the project and what that means is do more than they are paying you for.

GRASS ROOTS: They don’t have a budget. They are not going to be able to pay fair market price for the work.

FOOT IN THE DOOR: They are looking for someone with little or no experience willing to work for cheap.

YOU SCRATCH OUR BACK, WE’LL SCRATCH YOURS: I’ve got my scratching handled thank you, all I need from you is a check sir.