Yesterday I needed some work done. Basically, I'm making a video that has a ton of people in it, and I wanted a graphic for each person that has their name, YouTube channel, and twitter handle in it.

I designed the graphic, but then I needed to put in 30 different names and YouTube channels and twitter handles and I've got a lot of work to do this week, so I figured I'd pay someone else to do it. I whipped up a quick Google form and posted it on my Twitter with the headline "I have some $15 per hour, tedious graphic design work I need done quickly."

I got about 30 applicants, I picked one who seemed qualified and sent her an email. She agreed and began working on the thing.

Here's why I didn't immediately realize that $15 an hour was a shit rate.

1. I was thinking about this project mostly as research and data entry because that's mostly what it is.
2. I was thinking that my reach allowed me to find someone who might have a few free hours in the next two days who would be happy to have some work.
3. I was thinking that it was OK to pay someone a low rate for Vlogbrothers work because Vlogbrothers doesn't make me any money (all of the channel's revenues go to non-profits and creator grants.)

But here are the reasons why $15 an hour was a shitty wage, and why I'm glad that @cyarine called me out on it.

1. Though the job is mostly data entry, it requires specialized skills. Both knowing the software and knowing about online culture.
2. While I'm not making any money with the thing I'm paying this person to do, I am making money with the time she's saving me by doing it (working on other projects that need me, and saving that time is worth far more than $15 per hour to me.)
3. A lack of appreciation for the time of creative professionals is not only a real issue, it's a real issue that I struggled with when I was a freelance designer, and here I am contributing to that!

So thanks to @Cyarine for calling me out, and thanks to the designer working on this project. I will be bumping your pay up to $60 per hour to reflect the skills necessary to do the work I need done.

Hank

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