There is a big difference between "freebies" and pro bono. Reading newspapers for the blind or even providing your skills as a voice actor for a Public Service Announcement or for an Art Student's project is a way of giving back and staying connected. I wouldn''t consider it practice. If I choose to do a voiceover for the Aids Walk or Breast Cancer, it will be the best performance I can give and I will spend as long as I need to make sure that it is. It is part of being a professional.
I have never done "freebies" nor would I consider it. Consider yourself as a professional. There are tons of producers and would-be producers that troll the internet, Craig's list and/or may be found lifting up rocks to see what crawls out from underneath. They pay nothing or next-to-nothing and often come weilding the largest contracts of all. They underbid projects and then must find talent willing to work for free, so that they may profit. We are in business. They are in business. There are costs of doing business, such as taking acting classes or buying a microphone. The hiring of talent is a COST that must be incurred. It is the obligation of someone who produces to pay for talent.
As for the carrot dangle of "We have no budget now, but if you help us out and do this for free now, we'll definitely remember that when we have money to pay a talent."
This is absolutely true. They will remember that you worked for free and since they could get you for free and they now have money, why in God's name would they hire someone who works for free and pay them? They will go hire someone who doesn't work for free.
Many professionals do pro bono work, but very few do free work. There is a difference and a distinction.
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