Do you need someone to do something for you for free?
I get lots of requests to do things for free. Sometimes, I say yes. Sometimes I say no.
Now, while I believe in paying people whenever possible, a lot of things do need free time and labor from people, and we don’t want all those things to go away. For instance, I serve on the Board of the Basel English Panto Group. We are a community theatre and we put on a British Panto every year. We are a non-profit, and we don’t pay anyone because we can’t. When we rent the theatre, pay for music and script rights, rent the sound and lighting equipment, rent our rehearsal space, and build our sets, we have no money left.
It’s just how it is.
I know some of you are running similar things requiring volunteers. Here are some ideas on how to be more successful in getting people to do things for free.
💡 Be upfront. Don’t ask to meet with someone to talk about your event, conference, or whatever without saying up front, “This is an unpaid gig.”
💡Make sure they understand your mission. If you can’t articulate your mission and why it’s worth their free time, re-evaluate your request for free labor.
💡Explain what they will get out of it. This may just be a warm and fuzzy feeling for doing the right thing. Or there may be tangible benefits for them. Or maybe it’s just fun! Whatever it is, explain.
💡They don’t owe you free labor. Don’t act like they do.
💡Don’t do passive aggressive hinting, “boy, we haven’t found a speaker for our conference yet…” People like to feel valued.
And, for goodness’ sake, after someone has done something for you for free, THANK THEM.