There are many reasons to take on spec work, but be sure to know what you’ll be gaining and why.

Nobody wants to do work on spec.

Spec work is free work and who wants to work for free?

Even the person asking for spec work would prefer to be paying for it.

If you pay for something, you have more control over it. You have more leverage over schedules, quality, and direction. Not to mention, you won’t owe anyone any favors. But, there are times when working for free can be a great opportunity. Understanding those opportunities, their value and their place, is an important part of anyone’s career, especially a career in animation.

The Value of Spec Work
We’ve all done work on spec. A reel, a résumé, a trailer, a treatment — they’re all speculation, work done in the hope of generating work. Essentially, spec work is marketing but with a specific project attached, a short film or commercial campaign and often, at the request of someone else, an agency or producer.

There are lots of reasons to work on spec and not all of them will be covered here. Whatever your reason, it’s important to have it clearly in mind, to know what you’re gaining and why. Then, you can protect that “alternative payment” along the way.

As animation director Jacquie Trowell explains, she’s “had both good and bad experiences working for free. The best results have come from a clear sense of what I wanted and needed from the project.”

Four of the more common reasons to work on spec are to build a reputation, form relationships, raise awareness for an idea, and to land a paid project.

Reputation
Spec work is of particular use to fresh talent and new groups, looking to build a reputation. It goes without saying; you need to show work to get work. You need a portfolio, a reel, a track record. Whether you’re a new, cutting-edge studio or the star graduate, a track record not only proves your skills; it builds confidence in your ability to deliver.

The right spec job allows aspiring professionals to build that track record. It’s one thing to do something for yourself, on your own time. It’s quite another to be part of a larger project, with other people and other priorities. Choosing the right spec opportunity can be a fast track to the kind of reputation you’ll need to get paid work.

A reel is often not enough, especially if it’s filled with all your own projects and ideas. The good thing about spec work is once it’s done; no one’s going to ask later how much you got paid. As far as anyone is concerned, it was a professional job with professional results.

Find the right project to put your efforts into. Take something you respect, like a great band or a favorite charity and use the opportunity to create what you really want to create.

So, take that reel of personal work and leverage it into the best opportunities, the most exciting projects you can find. If you know a great band, make them a music video. If you have a favorite charity, offer to produce them a PSA. Often, there may need to be more people involved than just yourself, but with the right producer and the right team, it can be done.

“Working on spec if often the best work, the best opportunity to create what you really want to create,” according to stop-motion animator Anthony Silverston.

The key here is to find the right project. Find something you respect. Meet the right people. Get them excited. And make it happen.

Just be sure to keep your reasons in mind. If reputation and experience is your goal, it is essential to define your rights to use work on your reel and to get credit for what you’ve done. It shouldn’t be difficult to make that clear but it’s important to do so. Be specific. Tell your “client” exactly what you expect and write it down.