Any thoughts on this business called ‘not fur long’ who are giving away their services for free using furloughed creatives?
They’re taking away paid work from other creatives who rely on this income to survive!
https://www.notfurlongcreative.co.uk/ineedhelp
Replies15
- @Scott Bentley exactly. Thanks for this. We’ve discovered they are a group of very young furloughed agency staff. As you say, they’re young and naive not realising yours and our life’s work. What they’re doing devalues the industry. Rest assured we’re making progress with this particular group and hope to update you soon. They’ll either change their messaging considerably or stop.
- @Laura Chapman Pleasure! Interesting question and to think on how this lockdown will play out and how we should operate. Yep - I am - both a director and a producer. Will be good to chat when you feel it right to discuss content.
- As someone who has struggled to get clients to see the value or price of a project, this flies in the face of everything I’ve tried to stand for. This kind of thing is very damaging to young creatives who don’t know how to price themselves and more mature companies who are encouraged to just ‘feed the machine’I suggest looking at the 2Bobs podcast and thefutur if you’d like further back up as to why this is a terrible idea
- @Jamie McCormack thanks so much. :) all really valid points. On a side note are you a film producer? We’re looking to increase our content side of the biz and will hopefully need great film people! :)
- @Laura Chapman That is a good point. Free creative work undercuts everyone in the business. And it's a problem generally, as Anna Negrini pointed out: we're always fighting to get the value of what we do recognised. So this doesn't help at all. Maybe I'm just showing my optimistic side - that I see this as some benevolent, charitable gesture by a bunch of creatives in these strange times for the benefit of struggling companies who wouldn't otherwise invest in marketing That's what I hope it is. The reality is probably, sadly, quite different. But then you come to Gavin Kemp's point which is a good one. You've got to have faith in your clients and the client base generally. They're going to approach the whole endeavour thinking, where's the catch? Is this a cynical marketing ploy? And if it is - it'll be spotted and dropped in a flash. I'd feel insulted to be marketed to in this way. If it ain't legit - then it's not going to fly.
- @Gavin Kemp thanks Gavin for your thoughts. And a very valid point. Unfortunately since I’ve found out about this organisation I’ve heard of freelancers being denied work ‘because a furloughed worker can do it for free’. Also they are heavily marketing themselves going quite a bit of support it seems. It’s sad that fellow creatives and industry will are doing this :( thanks again your comment has cheered me up! Take care.
- Typo:-'jump ship based on price'
- In business avoid shiny attractive things, they are only a distraction. This as a business model is exactly that, at face value it does not work - unless it's actually a hook to attract new paying business in tough times, and that is disingenuous.A client who will immediately jump ship on based on price is a client who is always going to go at the next offer. This is just an extreme example because albeit in unusual circumstances the price has dropped to zero.Personally I would have severe doubts about asking anyone who started in business around 20 days ago, with no obvious track record to supply my company based purely on zero price, they have no skin in the game.
- @Anna Negrini exactly. This model is ultimately taking paid work away from those can’t afford it such as small agencies and other freelancers. The people running this and offering their services are already being paid.
- @Laura Chapman I am speaking from the perspective of a creative who doesn’t have enough experience or exposure despite the qualifications and the drive. If a business is offering free services using ‘willing’ creatives during a time as the one we are in, I don’t see the issue. It gives creatives some much needed exposure and in my case experience. However, this is a broad overview; I maybe misguided by my idealistic notion of a company having benevolent intentions being meted out with very little gain apart from attracting customers and more online footfall. It is probably business dependent too and the rights creatives have over the work they give away freely beyond post lockdown and social distancing. Please correct me if I am wrong, I’m very new at all this. My reaction with a ‘I love it’ was more in response to the play on the word ‘furlough’. Strictly from a creative writer point of view, it’s very clever!:)
- I've mixed feelings about it. I'm sure their intentions is doing good and I know the feeling or not being creative/producing anymore so I totally understand that. There are businesses (like hospitality) who can't even afford a freelancer in these times, so it's good to offer help. On the other hand I'm sure there will be some businesses who will see this as an opportunity to have work done for free (even if they have a budget lined up). I've already a client who pulled out because he's found "a designer who's been furloughed who will do it for free" (it's not them, totally unrelated). I don't know...having spent so much time to make people understand the value of the creative work it feels disheartening. Also this is our mainly source of income so the struggle is real. But these are the times we live in now and probably the best time to reinvent ourselves.
- @Sy Matthews May I ask why? :)
- @Jamie McCormack but ultimately it’s still potentially taking paid work from freelancers and smaller agencies. I mean what sme won’t take this offer up over their local freelancer or small agency!? Why not tap in to those who aren’t already being paid and have jobs to return to? The other issue I have is that they do not make it clear what their is eligibility criteria and that they aren’t trying to take longer term clients from this initiative .....
- It’s really all a matter of how it’s managed. Makes sense to tap into this furloughed creative resource if put to good use. Their stated intention is to help small businesses survive / thrive in the midst of this nightmare. So I imagine these aren’t conventional ‘clients’ who’d have a marketing budget anyway. And in the midst of a recession certainly not. As such the result could be a boost to the general health of the economy (good for everyone) and also turning new clients onto the benefits of some marketing spend who’d otherwise not realise the value. All in all - lots of potential positives. Alternatively - badly managed and engaging bigger clients, as a sales ploy to keep em post lock-down/recession, it’s a dastardly thing! I don’t think creatives would engage with this project if it wasn’t for positive outcomes. They’re furloughed. They could just go sit in the sun. Write a poem. Illustrate for their passions. So I’m optimistic.
- Love it!
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