Is it okay to ask for compensation when asked to do an art test?

Maned_Wolf

I've done several art tests at this point that were followed by rejections afterwards. So far all of these have been unpayed ones. I don't know about you but for me these tests tend to be time-consuming, stressful and not very fun. Ideally moving forward I would like to be compensated so that my time and efforts would not have been for naught should I be rejected again in these cases. 

I would like to know of you guys' experience with this. Has this request ever been successful? Or is it not a good idea to ask in the first place in case it may put them off completely? 

I have an interview coming up next week and the respondent has already mentioned they have many interviews lined up. For me this means that my chances are actually quite low. I don't know for sure if they'll ask me to do an (unpayed) art test for them but this has always been the case in my prior experiences. 

Thoughts?

Alex_J

employers have more leverage, i don't think sticking up for yourself is any use unless everybody is on the same page, unfortunately.

Maned_Wolf

@Alex Javor

Would it hurt just to ask if it's going to be a payed or unpayed test then? Maybe it'll open up the conversation to the possibility? I dunno... 

Alex_J

i'd just tell them that if it's not paid you won't have time to do it, but then i am not struggling to pay rent. I would consider it a good litmus test that if employer acts offended over you requiring compensation for your time, it's probably not a great place to work. Then again, if that's just the way it is and you need a job, well that's that.

CrackRockSteady

my 2 cents: You should feel free to request compensation for a test (and IMO you should get it), but you should also be prepared to hear "no".  As Alex pointed out, the employer generally has more leverage and many are not willing to pay artists for tests, so unless you have a lot of experience or some exceptional skills they simply can't find elsewhere your bargaining power is limited.

I also agree with Alex with regard to worrying about offending them.  Yeah it is possible that some places are going to get huffy about it but if they do that's a great sign of a place to avoid.

Eric Chadwick

http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Game_Industry#Art_Tests