Talking, teaching, documenting. Using mobile tools, consulting & running workshops on digital storytelling..
Whenever talking about social stuff I’m often delivered the same statement when it comes to micro-blogging platforms. “I haven’t got time for that. It’s just people tweeting their food.” There is often a tone of distain in the voice. As if the complainant logged into Twitter, was tied to a chair and forced to look […]
There’s 26 years of design and innovation between these two laptops. The Toshiba T1200, my first ever laptop (need I say on the bottom) and the latest 11″ Apple Macbook air on the top. Both still work, but I am finding that the Macbook air has a habit of needing a hard restart once in […]
DISCLAIMER: This is a simple procedure of dragging and dropping files to your origional Kindle Paperwhite while in USB mode. This is not a hack and does not require you to jailbreak your Kindle. That said, I take no responsibility for what may happen to your device in the unlikely event anything goes wrong. Recently […]
I’m revisiting Syria. But only in this blog post. I made that trip in April, six months ago. I wouldn’t be able to do it today. Blog post one (26th April 2013) Blog post two (28th April 2013) Blog post three (29th April 2013) Blog post four (30th April 2013) Blog post five (1st May […]
The PirateBox has come a long way since it’s inception in 2011 by David Darts. After reading about it’s existence I first got to interact with one at the Elevate Festival in Austria. I remember downloading a book by Cory Doctorow and uploading an Mp3 from a band I used to be in. It felt […]
I’m not much for editing audio. Those that know me and my workflow will see that for the last few years I have mainly used the classic Audioboo app. Recording straight into my phone with a standard mic windshield over one end. I subscribe to my own Audioboo podcast feed in iTunes to grab the […]
I first got to have a play with the Autographer in March 2013. listen to ‘Seeing the unseen with @Autographer’ on Audioboo I had previously heard of Oxfords Metrics Group and their earlier sense cam designed to assist Alzheimer sufferers, but on this occasion I was specifically there to see the prototype device destined to […]
What do I want with yet another cloud back-up and syncing service? Well free space for a start. Storage space for sharing my media, be it books, images, music and films etc. And then there is the ability to sync data across my apps and devices. My main workhorse is Dropbox but I get a little […]
How do you feel about the world we are creating right now? What were your thoughts when the #PRISM news hit the headlines and Edward Snowden appeared in your browser saying these words?.. “If living unfreely but comfortably is something you’re willing to accept, and I think many of us are, it’s the human nature, you can […]
I have been using the Solarmonkey Adventurer for around six months now. It normally sits in my office window charging and is often grabbed to take out with me to top up the battery on my iPhone 5 and iPad Mini. I have also been known to hang it in the window on a long haul flight […]
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I had the fortune to be working in Cornwall this week. It’s rare that i get the chance to visit such beautiful coastline.
After mentioning my upcoming visit online, I was invited to stay at the home of Jen and Neil Dixon.
Apart from being the best hosts you could wish for, they’re both artists & makers. Great ones.
Please take the time to check out the work of @RegularJen at http://jendixon.com and @NeilDixon at http://about.me/neildixon
Working for nothing.
It’s not all bad. I think that at the beginning of every transition into a new business model I worked 50/50 for money and for free. That said for free was at least for expenses. When I decided to go freelance as a photographer it was more like 70/30 free verses paid.
Nowadays I’ll normally accept one in three offers to do something for nothing. That’s where serendipity lives. Those chance encounters that lead to great opportunities. I accept more if it’s someone I’ve had social contact with.
I would never use that as a selling point though. If you are asking someone to work for free please don’t promise them all kinds of serendipitous riches.. “Our speakers agree to do it as they benefit from the exposure and they people they meet.” Serendipity doesn’t work like that.
I occationally climb mountains. Do Bushcraft. The promise of ‘Exposure’ makes me think of being unprotected, open to damage, danger or risk.
Somewhere just before or after the “Think of the exposure” plea I hear the words ‘not for profit’.
I’m going to ask next time, after paying all the wages from the tea-boy to the director, what was last years surplus? I’ll be happy with that thanks. It should at least cover the £50 return to London you are expecting me to pay so i can speak at your event.
It’s not that I don’t appreciate you thinking of me. I’d be bothered if people weren’t contacting me offering me opportunities for ‘exposure’.
It’s just that this month i’ve got bills to pay, a family to feed. Same as last month. Same as the next one. And just like you would not ask a plasterer to pop around and plaster your walls because lots of people will see his handy work.. Please don’t expect me to prep, travel, talk and hopefully inspire because someone there might pay me to do it again.
This year there will be at least 15 occasions where you can see me talk for free. Many are workshops kindly sponsored by the Open University.
I don’t want you to stop asking me to do stuff for free. I’ll say yes to one in three.
I just want you to think about whether or not you can pay for my time, my travel, or something towards the cost of living in a world that still demands cash for goods. Both my family and I would really appreciate that.
