Is Working For Exposure Ever Worth It?

If an employer offers something intangible, unquantifiable, or that he may have no control over, he’s not really offering anything. In essence, he’s creating a one-sided contract where you do all the work and receive none of the benefit. That’s called an “illusory promise” and it makes the contract unenforceable. Exposure in particular is illusory because there's no guarantee that you’ll actually get it (i.e. that anyone will actually see your work) or that the employer must do anything to ensure your work is seen by others. Ultimately, the problem with an offer of exposure is that you end up pinning your hopes on a promise the employer may not be able or willing to fulfill. 

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Writing Contracts: Yes, Emails Are Okay (To A Degree)

Writing Contracts: Yes, Emails Are Okay (To A Degree)

When it comes to writing contracts, there’s always a tension between best practices and doing what’s minimally acceptable to keep your ass covered. If it were up to me, every client would use detailed written agreements for every transaction with every one of their clients. But I’m not an unreasonable person; I know firsthand the pressures of small business ownership (being one myself). I understand that level of diligence can be hard to maintain, especially at the beginning when you’re still figuring out how to put dinner on the table for your loved ones.

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