STOP SHOWING UP FOR FREE: GRATITUDE IS NOT PAYMENT
- Vivia Barron
- Aug 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 31
"I got tired of watching artists show up full of hope, only to leave unpaid and defeated. I even started a nonprofit to fix it — but realized the system was part of the problem. So I took it on myself. These blogs, guides, and tools are my hard-won lessons, shared so you don’t have to keep walking away empty-handed." - Vivia
This is about one thing: hanging your work on other people’s walls for free under the promise of “exposure.” You’re told it’s an opportunity. You’re told it will “get your name out there.”
Reality?
You’re being used to decorate someone else’s space, complete someone else’s project, or help someone else check a box. Then you walk out with the same work you carried in — the only “payment” is the email telling you when to pick it up.
Exposure doesn’t buy paint.
Exposure doesn’t pay rent.
Exposure doesn’t respect your time, materials, or labor.
WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN REAL LIFE
“We can’t pay, but we’ll tag you.”
“We’re a nonprofit — can you support the community?”
“We’d love your work on our walls during the event.”
“There may be many buyers there.”
"This is great exposure fr your work"
Translation:
Free art to make their space look good, their program look robust, their photos look “cultural.”
You provide the work, deliver it, sometimes hang it yourself, and then remove it when the photo ops are over.
No plan. No sales mechanism. No budget for artists. No actual exposure.
WHAT YOU LOSE EVERY TIME YOU SAY YES
Materials, framing, transportation, and time you can’t get back
Risk of damage or loss (usually with no contract or insurance)
The chance to place that piece where it can actually sell
Your own standard — every “just this once” lowers your bar
💥 And let’s be real: every wasted yes is money lost 💵.
I got tired of watching artists show up on opening night full of energy and hope—only to walk away with nothing but their art and a “thank you, we appreciate it.”
That pain and disappointment pushed me to set boundaries.
These 8 questions saved me, and they’ll save you too. They’re the same questions I learned to ask years ago that changed everything for me.
👉Access is limited. For emerging and professional artists only.
THE RULE I LIVE BY
I will never show up for a show unless I know the purpose and intention of being there.
Is the outcome money? Exposure? Both?
Unless I decide — consciously — to give my time and resources freely, I don’t hand over my art without a value exchange.
Don’t be afraid to ask the questions. They will serve you.
Every time I’ve asked with intention, I’ve either made money 💵, gained real visibility, or walked away knowing it wasn’t the right fit.
That’s not ego. That’s survival. Just like you can’t paint without brushes, you can’t build a career without sales and clarity.
GRATITUDE IS NOT PAYMENT
Let’s call it what it is: we’ve been taught to substitute gratitude for compensation.
We’re told:
“Be grateful we included you. ”
We’re told:
“This is a big opportunity.
We’re told:
“Exposure is the reward.”
But here’s the truth:
Gratitude doesn’t buy canvas.
Gratitude doesn’t pay for paint.
Gratitude doesn’t keep the lights on.
Too often, your work is used to decorate their event, fill their gallery, or give their program credibility — while you cover the costs.
That’s not exposure. That’s not opportunity. That’s free décor at your expense.
Bottomline:
❌ No questions = no protection.
❌ No protection = no sales.
✅ Ask the right questions = sell more art 💵.
👉 Access is limited. For emerging and professional artists only.
THE SHIFT WE NEED
Showing up should mean showing up to be valued. To be compensated. To be supported.
That doesn’t mean you never give. It doesn’t mean you never do community work. But it means the balance shifts back in your favor.
When artists are supported and paid fairly, everyone wins:
Organizers run stronger shows.
Collectors see value reinforced.
The culture grows healthier.
And when artists stop showing up for free, the system has to change.
THE NEXT STEP
Before you say yes to your next show, protect your art and your wallet.
I built something you need in your toolkit — like paint and brushes for your career:
This is your filter, your protection, your survival guide. Without it, you risk walking away empty-handed. With it, you put yourself in position to sell more art 💵.
Stop walking into shows and walking out broke.
The 8 Essential Questions are your lifeline. Fast. Clear. Proven.
💥 Every wrong yes costs you money.
Access is limited. For emerging and professional artists only.
Until next time, stay real. – Vivia
P.S. I built this for us — real artists who need real answers. No gatekeeping. No inflated prices. Just tools that actually work, made accessible now.
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