I've been asked to do 6 festivals for nothing this summer (I'm a musician in case you hadn't guessed). I'm talking big festivals here, the sort that pay well into 6 figure sums for their headliners, and make a healthy profit from their business. They've all been turned down.

If I'd done all the gigs I've been offered over the years for 'exposure' I'd be more famous than the Beatles and homeless.

Just because musicians have been exploited in this way for years doesn't make it right.

Amateur musicians are damaging the entire profession by accepting this type of work.

I enjoy my work, but I've also paid togo to music school to learn my craft, practice daily, and generally work hard at what I do.

This is a slippery slope. Where will we end up?

Finally, on the point of voluntary work, when playing for a charity event, I choose whether/how much of my fee to donate to the charity. Why? Because said charity will not pay my rent.