Got this email, i think its probably fake or scam? Billabong is looking to supplement the Men's T shirt collection with fresh freelance art by new designers. You have been selected and invited to be part of the freelance submission process. Take a look at the attached .PDF and let me know if I can answer any questions. Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing some great work. We review new submissions every week, so the deadline is on going. However, we do have a limited number of designs we can include each season, so sooner rather than later is better. 2009-08-24T11:31:13-04:00 61 2009-08-13T01:39:13-04:00 true 0 64791 false false 9775 6279 1 2009-11-21T15:54:55-05:00 1580 if this is real, it is a horrifying glimpse of how these companies may actually treat designers in the future. say it aint so. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T01:41:24-04:00 2007461 1106 2009-08-13T01:41:24-04:00 I got that same email, I think its for real but its like an invitation to do Spec work. It looks like they are hosting a contest to pick designs submitted by actual artists so its like an invite only contest or someshit. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T01:41:44-04:00 2007471 13026 2009-08-13T01:41:44-04:00 looks legit, i got it too. i really DON'T want to do spec work, but the client is great. but yeah, swh is correct because there isn't really a personal level to this. it's either a contest, or not. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T01:42:35-04:00 2007481 13245 2009-08-13T01:43:21-04:00 Yeah maybe its a big client(if its real) and i dont get plenty of clients. But i am not doing spec work for no one. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T01:49:40-04:00 2007551 6279 2009-08-13T01:49:40-04:00 i got this as well. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T01:58:45-04:00 2007601 9208 2009-08-13T01:58:45-04:00 i got nothing. why doesn't bollabang want me? 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:10:16-04:00 2007651 5707 2009-08-13T02:10:16-04:00 * offended i didn't receive said spec solicitation email. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:19:16-04:00 2007721 1106 2009-08-13T02:19:46-04:00 <blockquote><cite>skull with hair said:</cite> * offended i didn't receive said spec solicitation email.</blockquote> I know right!? I was thinking the same shit. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:20:16-04:00 2007731 2314 2009-08-13T02:20:16-04:00 <blockquote><cite>Kolby said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>skull with hair said:</cite> * offended i didn't receive said spec solicitation email.</blockquote> I know right!? I was thinking the same shit.</blockquote> 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:26:08-04:00 2007771 10233 2009-08-13T02:26:08-04:00 "I don't do spec. -Reilly" /me dusts off hands 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:26:35-04:00 2007791 40 2009-08-13T02:26:35-04:00 I got it aswell...and I haven't really posted anything on emptees. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:28:15-04:00 2007811 5501 2009-08-13T02:31:20-04:00 I got it too. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:36:19-04:00 2007891 12918 2009-08-13T02:36:19-04:00 <blockquote><cite>skull with hair said:</cite> * offended i didn't receive said spec solicitation email.</blockquote> 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:36:58-04:00 2007901 5745 2009-08-13T02:36:58-04:00 what is the email address? you can usually tell how legitimate things are by the address 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:37:51-04:00 2007911 33601 2009-08-13T02:37:51-04:00 <blockquote><cite>Sunday said:</cite> what is the email address? you can usually tell how legitimate things are by the address</blockquote> Aaron Hennings aaron@billabong-usa.com Billabong is looking to supplement the Men's T shirt collection with fresh freelance art by new designers. You have been selected and invited to be part of the freelance submission process. Take a look at the attached .PDF and let me know if I can answer any questions. Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing some great work. We review new submissions every week, so the deadline is on going. However, we do have a limited number of designs we can include each season, so sooner rather than later is better. Regards, Aaron Aaron Hennings ------------------------ Art Director Billabong USA 117 Waterworks Way Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 753 7222 tel. x3292 64791 Post 2009-08-13T02:51:53-04:00 2008001 32631 2009-08-13T02:52:20-04:00 seems legit. maybe give them a call 64791 Post 2009-08-13T03:01:16-04:00 2008031 33601 2009-08-13T03:01:16-04:00 So they just gathered a bunch of random email addresses off of Emptees. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T03:03:35-04:00 2008051 5501 2009-08-13T03:03:35-04:00 <blockquote><cite>Sunday said:</cite> seems legit. maybe give them a call</blockquote> because you're an asshole. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T03:06:57-04:00 2008061 1106 2009-08-13T03:06:57-04:00 <a href="http://www.billabong.com/girls/us/product-cat/3/tees">Not impressed.</a> 64791 Post 2009-08-13T03:16:37-04:00 2008161 506 2009-08-13T03:16:37-04:00 Double fuck those assholes! Not only they request spec but they also exclude me, fuckers!! 64791 Post 2009-08-13T03:17:22-04:00 2008171 9179 2009-08-13T03:17:22-04:00 I just got this as well. Feeling rather indifferent about it. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T03:31:41-04:00 2008251 1827 2009-08-13T03:31:41-04:00 Got it yesterday as well. Seems someone is culling emptees threads for email addresses as this is the only design-related place I post. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T05:12:30-04:00 2008691 32291 2009-08-13T05:12:30-04:00 <blockquote><cite>mikedot said:</cite> Got it yesterday as well. Seems someone is culling emptees threads for email addresses as this is the only design-related place I post.</blockquote> Same here: "You have been selected and invited..." What an honour, me and 20.000 others? :( 64791 Post 2009-08-13T05:17:56-04:00 2008721 519 2009-08-13T05:17:56-04:00 It's not fake, but it is spec. Please don't anyone touch this with a shitty stick. Though I suspect many will… 64791 Post 2009-08-13T05:19:34-04:00 2008731 71 2009-08-13T05:19:34-04:00 i work as a graphic designer for a company very similar to billabong and i see how a lot of freelance artists/designers get treated sometimes and its frustrating, but thats just how they work. spec work really depreciates the value of the industry and work that a lot of you guys do so well, when we research, find an artist we want to commission and put a bit of work into the project we really se the results on our side. as long as creative communities keep educating each other about what they're worth and how they should go about the business end of their work. if you don't act professional no one will treat you professionally. don't do it 64791 Post 2009-08-13T05:27:42-04:00 2008781 8690 2009-08-13T05:27:42-04:00 <blockquote><cite>skull with hair said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>Sunday said:</cite> seems legit. maybe give them a call</blockquote> because you're an asshole.</blockquote> why am i an asshole? i didn't mean give them a call for the job, i know how this place feels about spec work. i meant call the number at the bottom of the email to check if it is legit. p.s. you're a douche, not really but you called me an asshole i felt i needed to retort 64791 Post 2009-08-13T06:51:58-04:00 2009421 33601 2009-08-13T06:51:58-04:00 I got it and intend to make a big stink about it. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T08:11:33-04:00 2009901 5738 2009-08-13T08:11:33-04:00 ... the only question I have is what makes this different than clothing competition sites? They accept all entries, once a week its a new deadline, and you get paid if it gets chosen. Only difference is that "if" your shirt wins you get your name next to it? Granted getting the exposure from it is cool by winning a contest and all, not to mention the pay is quite nice, but in essence aren't they both one in the same? 64791 Post 2009-08-13T08:21:01-04:00 2009971 1140 2009-08-13T08:22:15-04:00 AKW, good luck selling Billabong branded designs elsewhere. Most tee contest sites are more open ended than this. My thoughts from <a href="http://frenden.com/billabong-billawrong/">my blog</a>: I've said before that it's become increasingly difficult to make an honest living as an illustrator. Print is dead, taking a large swath of possible clients with it. The tubes move too quickly making custom illustration for articles an unlikely occurrence. Prices have been driven into the ground by a sea of amateurs gleefully accepting spec work and companies eager to exploit them. It's on that latter point that I want to provide a new example to back-up my statements. I get a lot of emails from large companies looking for spec work. Most of the time, there is an implied confidentiality. A smattering of text on the bottom of the email indicates that it's for my, and 300 other illustrators mass emailed, eyes only. Posting the contents of the email to, say, my blog, would only get me sued. Billabong's Art Director, Aaron Hennings, included no such text. I am free to relay the ugly truth. Large companies are exploiting illustrators. They use the lure of working with an established brand to engage in unethical business practices. But don't take my word for it, take Aaron's: <blockquote>Billabong is looking to supplement the Men's T shirt collection with fresh freelance art by new designers. You have been selected and invited to be part of the freelance submission process. Take a look at the attached .PDF and let me know if I can answer any questions. Looking forward to hearing from you and seeing some great work. We review new submissions every week, so the deadline is on going. However, we do have a limited number of designs we can include each season, so sooner rather than later is better. Regards, Aaron Aaron Hennings ------------------------ Art Director Billabong USA 117 Waterworks Way Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 753 7222 tel. x3292 </blockquote> <a href="http://frenden.com/downloads/Billabong_submission_guidelines.pdf">Here's the attached PDF</a>. I'd suggest you take a look at it. They even provide a nice tee template for forking over your multitude of Billabong branded, spec generated designs. I know a half dozen or so other illustrators who got this email. Luckily, most agree that doing spec is bad. Some don't. Please, don't be one of those illustrators. Your decision affects us all. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T08:35:10-04:00 2010161 5738 2009-08-13T08:35:10-04:00 Yup, i got that one. As has been mentioned before, i would urge everyone to avoid it. It is spec work, and as long as companies get responses from artists this way, they will continue to opperate in this manner. This is a very different set up to competition sites. They are asking for work, spacifically tailored to their company and brief. The correct way to go about this sort of thing is to contact the artists they are interested in and comission work from them. They can see the work they have created and see the style the artist has, if they feel like the work they have seen is a 'good fit' with the company, they should have no problem in comissioning work from them. This way you could potentially spend hours/days/weeks creating work for them that that have obligation to use, and you are not compensated in any way. Practices like this shoudl really be avoided at all costs. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T10:08:46-04:00 2011021 11258 2009-08-13T10:08:46-04:00 <blockquote><cite>drewmillward said:</cite> Yup, i got that one. As has been mentioned before, i would urge everyone to avoid it. It is spec work, and as long as companies get responses from artists this way, they will continue to opperate in this manner. This is a very different set up to competition sites. They are asking for work, spacifically tailored to their company and brief. The correct way to go about this sort of thing is to contact the artists they are interested in and comission work from them. They can see the work they have created and see the style the artist has, if they feel like the work they have seen is a 'good fit' with the company, they should have no problem in comissioning work from them. This way you could potentially spend hours/days/weeks creating work for them that that have obligation to use, and you are not compensated in any way. Practices like this shoudl really be avoided at all costs.</blockquote> It´s difficult got the same mail .. But sometimes I work for Bands also spec but charge a Kill Fee .. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T10:11:30-04:00 2011041 563 2009-08-13T10:11:30-04:00 Yeah, if there is a kill fee involved, then they are basically compensating you for your time that you have spent producing the work. That is good practice. It means they don't have to pay out vast amounts for designs they aren't happy with, and you can still earn money for doing work. This mass emailing and leads me to believe that they will not be working in that way. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T10:20:29-04:00 2011091 11258 2009-08-13T10:20:29-04:00 <blockquote><cite>drewmillward said:</cite> Yeah, if there is a kill fee involved, then they are basically compensating you for your time that you have spent producing the work. That is good practice. It means they don't have to pay out vast amounts for designs they aren't happy with, and you can still earn money for doing work. This mass emailing and leads me to believe that they will not be working in that way.</blockquote> But also without a Killfee and let´s say you did something for billabong then you can raise up your prices couse of your referenz 64791 Post 2009-08-13T10:30:10-04:00 2011121 563 2009-08-13T10:30:10-04:00 I wouldn't really say that's how it works. Personally if i found myself with time on my hands, i'd prefer to work for a low fee with a band i liked, or spend time working on a painting rather than pandering to a big company that doesn't even seem to be able to opperate in the correct manner. But that's just me. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T10:37:52-04:00 2011161 11258 2009-08-13T10:37:52-04:00 i think all of you who received this joyful little email should send this as a reply... <img src="http://www.grabup.com/uploads/e94f67b9c0e92387301fad04d537567d.png" /> along with Angrays "no spec work!" mean face. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:02:04-04:00 2011371 598 2009-08-13T11:02:04-04:00 <blockquote><cite>sockmonkee said:</cite> i think all of you who received this joyful little email should send this as a reply... <img src="http://www.grabup.com/uploads/e94f67b9c0e92387301fad04d537567d.png" /> along with Angrays "no spec work!" mean face.</blockquote> how did they not get sued? 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:05:19-04:00 2011401 33601 2009-08-13T11:05:19-04:00 <blockquote><cite>againstbound said:</cite> Double fuck those assholes! Not only they request spec but they also exclude me, fuckers!!</blockquote> You are too good for them dude, they cant handle it 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:05:51-04:00 2011411 18421 2009-08-13T11:05:51-04:00 <blockquote><cite>Sunday said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>skull with hair said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>Sunday said:</cite> seems legit. maybe give them a call</blockquote> because you're an asshole.</blockquote> p.s. you're a douche, not really but you called me an asshole i felt i needed to retort</blockquote> fair enough. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:20:16-04:00 2011481 1106 2009-08-13T11:20:16-04:00 Damnit, after reading the title of this thread I totally was expecting to see some boobies. I feel let down. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:43:15-04:00 2011621 11937 2009-08-13T11:43:15-04:00 There, there Jud: <nsfw>MUTANT MARS BOOBIES!!! <img src="http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3271/s320x2408420422.jpg"></nsfw> 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:47:45-04:00 2011681 8948 2009-08-13T11:48:36-04:00 <blockquote><cite>8-bit ZOMBIE said:</cite> There, there Jud: <nsfw><img src="http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/3271/s320x2408420422.jpg"></nsfw></blockquote> phwoar, she can "Start My Reactor" anytime! 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:48:44-04:00 2011711 11937 2009-08-13T11:48:44-04:00 Hahaha. And I'm saying real, real, fake. (That's going left to right) 64791 Post 2009-08-13T11:50:00-04:00 2011721 8948 2009-08-13T11:50:00-04:00 i got the email, and then the trashbin did. even though, i have the time, to do spec, it's not worth it, and it does nothing good in the long run 64791 Post 2009-08-13T12:01:31-04:00 2011911 324 2009-08-13T12:01:31-04:00 <blockquote><cite>drewmillward said:</cite> As has been mentioned before, i would urge everyone to avoid it. It is spec work, and as long as companies get responses from artists this way, they will continue to opperate in this manner.</blockquote> agreed, drew 64791 Post 2009-08-13T12:10:25-04:00 2011981 9208 2009-08-13T12:10:25-04:00 didn't a similar company (vonzipper) did a competition through DBH? and everyone seemed happy to participate... and I don't remember anyone complaining about it... wasn't that spec work too? 64791 Post 2009-08-13T12:16:23-04:00 2012091 1114 2009-08-13T12:16:23-04:00 I got an email from them but it was different. I don't want to look like an asshole for working with them but mine wasn't spec work. Not sure what to do now. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T12:49:06-04:00 2012361 2991 2009-08-13T12:49:06-04:00 If it's not spec, do it. I got an email back saying they would bear me in mind for future projects that were more spacific. I would have no hesitation about working with them under those circumstances, but i won't work for anyone when it comes to spec work. I can think of a million and one other things i could happilly fill my time with rather than doing work that may or may not be used. Do it! I'm sure they are a decent company to work with under the right conditions. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T13:02:55-04:00 2012521 11258 2009-08-13T13:02:55-04:00 <blockquote><cite>sockmonkee said:</cite> i think all of you who received this joyful little email should send this as a reply... <img src="http://www.grabup.com/uploads/e94f67b9c0e92387301fad04d537567d.png" /> along with Angrays "no spec work!" mean face.</blockquote> Wow, I never saw that. Impressive rip! 64791 Post 2009-08-13T13:12:55-04:00 2012661 1368 2009-08-13T13:12:55-04:00 <blockquote><cite>Benjamin Lande said:</cite> <blockquote><cite>sockmonkee said:</cite> i think all of you who received this joyful little email should send this as a reply... <img src="http://www.grabup.com/uploads/e94f67b9c0e92387301fad04d537567d.png" /> along with Angrays "no spec work!" mean face.</blockquote> Wow, I never saw that. Impressive rip!</blockquote> 64791 Post 2009-08-13T13:20:16-04:00 2012741 25581 2009-08-13T13:20:16-04:00 <blockquote><cite>wotto said:</cite> I got an email from them but it was different. I don't want to look like an asshole for working with them but mine wasn't spec work. Not sure what to do now.</blockquote> if they offered you money, then take it. If they gave you the spec email spam then ignore it. I got it too! 64791 Post 2009-08-13T22:00:56-04:00 2018651 9930 2009-08-13T22:00:56-04:00 Yeah if they are willing to pay for a design with some terms established by both of you, why not. But spec work no way. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T23:22:22-04:00 2019331 6279 2009-08-13T23:22:50-04:00 Get is posted on http://www.no-spec.com/ It would be great if this got more notice and people would email Billabong telling them what they're doing is wrong. 64791 Post 2009-08-13T23:29:25-04:00 2019401 1219 2009-08-13T23:29:25-04:00 It seems like everyone else but me got the email. ha! So I'm emailing the dude and sending this for consideration in their next line: <img src="http://cache0.emptees.com/images/54583/quiksilverart01emptees.jpg" /> 64791 Post 2009-08-14T00:38:13-04:00 2020221 1259 2009-08-14T00:38:13-04:00 Also got it. Btw nice type work collision! 64791 Post 2009-08-14T01:07:09-04:00 2020591 4032 2009-08-14T01:07:36-04:00 <blockquote><cite>againstbound said:</cite> Double fuck those assholes! Not only they request spec but they also exclude me, fuckers!!</blockquote> 64791 Post 2009-08-14T03:53:18-04:00 2021741 3643 2009-08-14T03:53:18-04:00 got it too....... 64791 Post 2009-08-16T11:14:10-04:00 2043381 13226 2009-08-16T11:14:10-04:00 <blockquote><cite>quakerninja said:</cite> <a href="http://www.billabong.com/girls/us/product-cat/3/tees">Not impressed.</a></blockquote> i like that stuff i also got the email, but i honestly hope no one here falls for this. Its all a scheme to get cheap/free work done. They have the name "billabong" backing them up which turns a lot of new artists on 64791 Post 2009-08-16T12:05:26-04:00 2043711 9706 2009-08-16T12:09:39-04:00 Lame. I got the email too, I was super excited when I first got it because of the brand name on it, which I'm sure was their goal. This site has been a great resource for me, I'm sure six months ago I would have busted my ass doing stupid spec work like this. 64791 Post 2009-08-16T14:31:25-04:00 2044721 21331 2009-08-16T14:31:25-04:00 Damn it!, and I thought I was special, I even told my parents about it...makes me wanna squeeze those surfboards into pieces lol... 64791 Post 2009-08-21T06:20:33-04:00 2110331 11676 2009-08-21T06:20:33-04:00 got one too...emailed Aaron back haven't heard back from him I wonder how much they pay for designs? 64791 Post 2009-08-24T10:53:11-04:00 2145571 8199 2009-08-24T10:53:11-04:00 <blockquote><cite>WinterArtwork said:</cite> got one too...emailed Aaron back haven't heard back from him I wonder how much they pay for designs?</blockquote> $400 64791 Post 2009-08-24T11:31:13-04:00 2146181 9775 2009-08-24T11:31:13-04:00