Some people like to pay. Let them

Absolutely true. When people are shown what their money does, they gladly give more. Gives people a sense of helping others. Thanks Derek!

And sorry, I am not giving you money to read your blogs if that is what this "tweet" was for. :-)

Peace & Light Derek!

Great Blog! "Show them how appreciated it is", has always been my motto!

Thank you for sharing and keep doing what you do, it definitely makes a difference in the universe.

~Soccorro~

Yup me again! Being the good soul I am and the heavy believer of the hear/like/buy principle I have been giving out free CDs of our demo CD for the last two years. Then I put them up on CD baby and some people even buy it! Despite the fact that I would still give all the music to them for free (via our website and live gigs). So cool.

Vote with your dollars. By spending money on the things you like and believe in you keep them going. No use complaining about the economy and lack of jobs if you're still shopping at Wal-mart.

Absolutely! I just got another cheque from CDBaby, all for digital sales....I send many thanks to these folks (wish I could thank them all like I can when they buy CDs and I'm notified as to who they are) who pay for my tunes, often just for *listening* to them, when they could easily find and download 'em for free. There are lots of good people out there (and then there's Derek, one of the GREATS :).

Amen! The more that I know what goes in to making a piece of art happen, the more I want to support my fellow artists. I will often pay more than the price point on items or shows I care about because I want to support what is dear to me. I feel glad that I can be a patron in my own way, and I always appreciate when people do the same for us.

I donate to street performers, who are at least trying, to remember and honor Hook of the Venice Canaligators, who taught me much about performing, music and life.

Thank you Derek for the validation. We all come from a generation of highly creative minds, but are challenged with what to charge others for our products or services? Strategic marketing reveals that there are all types of customers out there, it's just marketing to the one's that realize the importance of ENERGY EXCHANGE.

From my understanding prosperity is the belief in an exchange of energy. Otherwise you doom yourself to behaviors outside of your personal integrity. Which then surrounds and attracts to you people who are also outside of their integrity.

(Birds of a feather).

We often make more profit on donation house concerts than ticketed shows - people really do like to give.

AND we've financed 6 and a half albums worth of recordings via our Adopt-A-Song program. It's a way to be involved in something you support.

It works for us!

This is exactly what I needed to read today as I begin the transition from federal employment to self employment.

ps..you could pay for a download?

Nice thoughts, Derek. It's natural and good for people to express their appreciation. Paying is a way to do that.

I was just talking to a friend about this precise topic last week (see blog), but I think you say it better, Derek. I came to the same realization, roughly, that we all need each other and that money is a renewable resource. If you have a little extra, why not spread it around and reward others in the same way that you were rewarded when you earned your money? We can all help each other through hard times if we're just a little more generous than we are in the good times :)

Online, where free leads to "everyone" - there is much value created by those who provide meaningful filters.

Help people find what/who they want without having to wade and sort through boring, irrelevant, and even offensive content.

Can I get an amen?

Fran

I'm basically the same way.

You are SO good. You are SO good. You make musicians feel SO good. LOVE LOVE LOVE this post! Thank you, Derek!

Much admiration from a music therapist~ Kat

I've been kicked around for offering these 2 options:

1. Free downloads on Reverbnation (mirrored on FB page to spread the word)
2. Music in any format for sale on Bandcamp.

(I should mention that iTunes plays a role here too)

This way there is some more value being offered in terms of format and there's no gigs or bio or such to get in the way. And... both 1 and 2 are free to use to a point.

Great point. I pay for Evernote because I love the product. If the product produced is of high quality and people like you or your company they will pay to support you. The trick is having a great product.

BTW- I'd pay for a book of blog postings by Derek's Sivers (hint hint). :)

Great post, Derek!

The more I put out, the more I get back...keeps the money flowing!

And it makes me feel good to support others

***** Five Stars for this article. Liked it very much.

You've hit the button so well - I probably saw this before, but it's great to be reminded.

The Iguana Fund (hosted by Passim, a music club and non-profit arts organization in Harvard Square, Cambridge - www.passim.org) offers a great resource for those who want to help directly, but need direction in where. Started by a major donation from a couple who just wanted to help, the fund gives grants of $500 to $2000 annually to artists with broad New England ties - for equipment, recordings, visual projects, touring expenses). Anyone can donate and anyone (with New England ties) can apply.

It's just as important to offer that encouragement to any artist whose work you enjoy. Your support, be it by buying a ticket to a show or picking up copies of their new album for friends, means everything and encourages them to keep doing it.

I agree. In all things, one should never deny others the opportunity to be graceful and sharing, including reaching deep into their pockets to share whatever level of remuneration they feel called upon to offer.

Inspiring words. The best part of it is when you feel that you're contributing to the progress of a certain product, company, or artist. And what's good about Magnatune is the transparency, something that seems very unusual when we drop the discussion towards mainstream.

Thanks for such inspiring words.

Be blessed,

Edu Camargo.

Thank you, Derek! This is exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. You are a gem in the crown of life. Thank you for sharing your sparkle.
Peace,
TR

Paul Adams asked me to read this article of yours. It's comforting and an eye opener too for me, for whom money has only ever been a luxury so far, because I always have put music first. Thankyou Derek.

I Like to pay and be paid as well... Hello Derek. Melissa sent me to you. I wrote this in response to a situation I just encountered.

Free is a nicety, but it doesn’t pay the bills.

The new and ever popular climate in the professional world of writing, artistic endeavors and photography is as follows: Give it away, it is a good thing.
With the onslaught of self proclaimed dabblers in these fields, the work we do for a living is completely devalued; and once again it is crossing the line between the professional and the hobbyist.

Publications know that they can get pretty good content and visuals (which draws the reader in) and they do not have to pay a dime. But I am always amazed at the expectations of “free”. Now couple this with “spirituality” and the western yoga mentality and we really have a mess. The old adage of “give until it hurts” is quite appropriate…. and or the famous “karmic wheel” that has been thrown in my face by magazines who like my article but say, “ my donation will be returned 3-fold from the Universe”. OH pulease.

Yes - I have given my words to the wind. I do everyday on Facebook. Yes, I have given my art away but it has been my choice to donate or not - but I have also been paid nicely for the work and it was an honor. It was mutual respect on both sides and just good business.

So here I am, torn because this happened to me again. The article was submitted, they want to run it, but they don’t want to pay an “unsolicited writer”. This particular magazine is not a small one. They have a huge presence along with a ton of advertising. It blew my mind and busted up my ego. Do I shrug my shoulders, hold my line and pull the article, or do I bow to something bigger than I am being in the moment?

I am sitting with this now and drumming up lessons well learned:
1) Notoriety has not found me, so it makes it hard to stomp my feet and demand payment.
2) There is a difference between being gracious and giving. I can be gracious and give as a donation, or I can be gracious and accept one. I like the latter but they both feel good.
3) I would like to ask the architects of this new model… (Write for us for free) Do you work for free? I have a huge suspicion the answer is NO.
4) The general public doesn’t really know the true hours and hours that we put into our work - but the ones who do, who have been there, done that - (HELLO publication owners) know the endless time we spend at the mercy of our craft and the rejection we endure.
5) Good work - artist work, original work, deserves monetary compensation. It is a mater of principal.

So if I stand on my “principal” do I pass on an opportunity? My head says, “drop the ego - this is good for your portfolio”. Then my heart says that is ego talking. Big sigh. I have a few daze to figure it out.

Yay for willingness to receive!!! My personal term for this is "never say no to free money" ;-)

Thanks, Derek!
What a great idea.
I'll add a paying option
to my website
(www.janiktremblayhomeopathy.com)
for what I give for free.
Love your work.
Keep at it.

Janik :)

A donate/pay button? For my blog? Heck, I'd be happy if someone noticed enough say they liked it.

Actually, sometimes people do like a post of mine enough to press the like button, while at the same time they are not moved to comment.

Of course, someone once noted that only one in a thousand readers will comment, so a lack of comments is nothing serious.

So I will skip having a donate button.