Comments on: Say No To Spec Work on your Demo Reel http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/ Cinema 4D And After Effects Training, Tutorials, and Plugins for Motion Graphic Designers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:01:02 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ali http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-47435 Ali Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:18:44 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-47435 DO you really believe that? A commercial producer told me to make specs if I want to get hired. Known brands. He specifically told me that. DO you really believe that? A commercial producer told me to make specs if I want to get hired. Known brands. He specifically told me that.

]]> By: The Gorilla http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-39672 The Gorilla Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:50:43 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-39672 Not trying to sound important. Just trying to help. I don't have any direct knowledge of "Big 5" ad agencies, but places I worked (Digital Kitchen) scoffed at fake commercials in demo reels. Besides, it always looked cheesy to me. Not trying to sound important. Just trying to help.

I don’t have any direct knowledge of “Big 5″ ad agencies, but places I worked (Digital Kitchen) scoffed at fake commercials in demo reels. Besides, it always looked cheesy to me.

]]> By: Anon http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-39670 Anon Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:15:46 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-39670 I have to ask what qualifications the OP of this article has. "Don't put spec work in your reel because its unprofessional" is the biggest pile of bunk I've ever heard. Who is this Nick Campbell guy? I work with major brands on a regular basis (yes, at the "big 5" ad agencies) and we routinely recruit fresh talent from smoking spec reels. And I've never heard of a Nick Campbell. Methinks this is just bad advice, and it's definitely advice being pulled out of the ass. Anyone with any experience in this industry at all wouldn't say anything like this, except to reduce his competition. He should at least learn what he's talking about because now people are going to go around thinking that this is true. Nick, if you want to sound important, get yourself a CV and experience working with a large agency. Until then, do yourself a favour and stop talking like an expert. I have no problems with opinions, but you clearly don't know what you're talking about here. I have to ask what qualifications the OP of this article has. “Don’t put spec work in your reel because its unprofessional” is the biggest pile of bunk I’ve ever heard. Who is this Nick Campbell guy?

I work with major brands on a regular basis (yes, at the “big 5″ ad agencies) and we routinely recruit fresh talent from smoking spec reels. And I’ve never heard of a Nick Campbell.

Methinks this is just bad advice, and it’s definitely advice being pulled out of the ass. Anyone with any experience in this industry at all wouldn’t say anything like this, except to reduce his competition.

He should at least learn what he’s talking about because now people are going to go around thinking that this is true.

Nick, if you want to sound important, get yourself a CV and experience working with a large agency. Until then, do yourself a favour and stop talking like an expert. I have no problems with opinions, but you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about here.

]]> By: Graphic Tuts | Say No To Spec Work on your Demo Reel | GreyScaleGorilla http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-28632 Graphic Tuts | Say No To Spec Work on your Demo Reel | GreyScaleGorilla Sat, 08 Jan 2011 22:36:14 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-28632 [...] via Say No To Spec Work on your Demo Reel | greyscalegorilla/blog. [...] [...] via Say No To Spec Work on your Demo Reel | greyscalegorilla/blog. [...]

]]> By: Christopher Donaldso http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-28277 Christopher Donaldso Tue, 28 Dec 2010 21:28:03 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-28277 I think spec can be good-- I did this spec last year and it has gained me a number of real decent paying commercial gigs since then. I do agree that you have to really go into doing a spec full force and not half assed. http://vimeo.com/17866322 I think spec can be good– I did this spec last year and it has gained me a number of real decent paying commercial gigs since then. I do agree that you have to really go into doing a spec full force and not half assed.

http://vimeo.com/17866322

]]> By: Sean Coleman http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-21580 Sean Coleman Tue, 31 Aug 2010 21:51:32 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-21580 99 Designs should be called 99% Crap. The prices are low and attractive, but if you're on a budget (e.g. $300 for a logo) there are much better alternatives than doing spec work with inexperienced "designers". I posted a project on www.orangeslyce.com once to get my logo designed. It's all college student designers, so the cost is low like 99Designs/CrowdSpring but I was able to work with one girl over a week with several iterations (she was quite patient with me). I'm all for supporting students starting their careers, and since they are looking to build their portfolios, they'll bend over backwards for your design, and aren't looking for a quick buck. 99 Designs should be called 99% Crap. The prices are low and attractive, but if you’re on a budget (e.g. $300 for a logo) there are much better alternatives than doing spec work with inexperienced “designers”.

I posted a project on http://www.orangeslyce.com once to get my logo designed. It’s all college student designers, so the cost is low like 99Designs/CrowdSpring but I was able to work with one girl over a week with several iterations (she was quite patient with me).

I’m all for supporting students starting their careers, and since they are looking to build their portfolios, they’ll bend over backwards for your design, and aren’t looking for a quick buck.

]]> By: The Gorilla http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-19492 The Gorilla Thu, 08 Jul 2010 15:10:40 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-19492 Gotta start making new work for yourself. I would make a small piece of animation every weekend. Be sure to do a five second project too. Build up your reel bit by bit with all brand new awesome stuff. Then show it to the world and rock your new biz! Good luck! Gotta start making new work for yourself. I would make a small piece of animation every weekend. Be sure to do a five second project too. Build up your reel bit by bit with all brand new awesome stuff. Then show it to the world and rock your new biz! Good luck!

]]> By: Arnold http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-19459 Arnold Wed, 07 Jul 2010 11:59:06 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-19459 Hey Nick, Fantastic eye opener, You said not to use your work from another company if your starting your own? So I am starting my own company, but I would then not have any work to show off could you elaborate on how you would approach this obstacle. Hey Nick, Fantastic eye opener, You said not to use your work from another company if your starting your own? So I am starting my own company, but I would then not have any work to show off could you elaborate on how you would approach this obstacle.

]]> By: Christie http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-18920 Christie Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:58:41 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-18920 I'm glad you posted this- I had one spec piece in my reel I was about to send out. It's nice to hear some advice on this. It is hard not to do specs- but I agree with you that you don't have to use brands. I will keep that in mind next time I make something cool, and want to put an MTV logo on it. :) Thanks! I’m glad you posted this- I had one spec piece in my reel I was about to send out. It’s nice to hear some advice on this. It is hard not to do specs- but I agree with you that you don’t have to use brands. I will keep that in mind next time I make something cool, and want to put an MTV logo on it. :)

Thanks!

]]> By: Atom http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/2009/12/say-no-to-spec-work-on-your-demo-reel/comment-page-1/#comment-15890 Atom Mon, 12 Apr 2010 22:30:06 +0000 http://greyscalegorilla.com/blog/?p=4753#comment-15890 With sites like Vimeo, I find you can have it both ways. Don't put your recreations on your reel, but leave them on Vimeo next to your reel with an explanation about why you did them. You can direct a potential employer/client to your reel. And without even mentioning the other stuff, they will still have the opportunity to view your other work because it is in the list right next to your featured link. With sites like Vimeo, I find you can have it both ways. Don’t put your recreations on your reel, but leave them on Vimeo next to your reel with an explanation about why you did them. You can direct a potential employer/client to your reel. And without even mentioning the other stuff, they will still have the opportunity to view your other work because it is in the list right next to your featured link.

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