Volunteer work sucks ass

Ya'll are funny!! Here's some background on me, I am THE designer for Alaska's largest church - that is my full time job (I also freelance - to keep sane). We run 2000 on Sundays, and have just about completed a 9M addition ourselves! I feel your pain!!

Because of my position I encounter a ton of "volunteer" work that drives me batty - here's a different take:

I have a habit of accepting more favors than I should - favors people offer to pay me for. However, I will not take their money - why, because if it is volunteer it is on my terms - like it or lump it.

Almost all volunteer jobs suck, and the clients are all indecisive and vague (what would like your ________ to like like? I don't know; whatever.) AAAAAAAAAAHH!

BUT people tend to understand, that I am helping them and deal with my terms. . .

I hope that makes sense, Deker, be honest with them - tell them that you will have to do your paying work first - than you'd be happy to help them out. Whether it meets their deadline or not.

I hear ya..

My case wasn't a church.. It was for a irc channel site..

They posted on their site stating that they were looking for a designer to design their site. I emailed and agreed to do it for free since they don't make any money from a channel..

Now the bad part.. I did a prototype site and showed him online.
What i didn't know was he just needed me to do the layout and he'll edit the whole thing to his liking.. and no longer look like mine

The next day after showing him the site was up and it was UGLY!
and he had my name in the about page and i wasn't informed that the layout was to be used.. Basically he RIPPED me but with a link back. BUT, i didn't want to have anything to do with a site that's completely out of my type of work...
(wonders if any one understands what i'm typing)

Even after some arguements with him, he had the nuts to ask me to design is personal page.. WORST of all, he calls himself a web designer!

Anyways here are the sites ...
His site - www.bryanchung.per.sg
Channel's site - www.teens.com.sg
(i'm mentioning names and sites :D)

But even paid jobs has their drawbacks, i had a client that drags the site for 3 months before i can actually finish and publish it.
Still, the website is now incomplete....

Lesson learnt.. Don't do free websites for people you don't know
I'm currently doing two... :p

psnewb - I'll get ur layout soon..

Hmm.. I'm still wondering here if what i've typed above makes sense :p

Yeah I'll probably just have to tell them I won't be able to get everything up right away. I think they already announced the site at church last week. Funny thing is... I haven't been back to that church since I visited that first time... I don't like it much.

I did have them buy a copy of Web Edit Pro, so at least they'll be able to update their own site. Maybe I could just do the template and tell them they'll have to put in their own content.

I haven't really regret it. I did 2 versions for my borthers band, I did a site about a fps game for a friend, and the site and posters/flyers for schoolrock (organized by the students or our school). I've always taken my time for it.

But if you suffer a lack of inspiration, and people are nagging it's pretty stupid