Bartering

An exchange of goods or services for other goods or services without using money.

Apart from my day job, I maintain a high level of creative output in my personal life producing various artistic projects. One of my current projects is a custom painted motorcycle helmet. It is important to me that the process be documented in order to share a high-quality reel of my skills to promote future business.

Over the weekend, I enlisted my friend and co-worker who is the videographer to come over and document my process. As an artist, I don’t have the means to afford a professional, but thankfully through the resources of working for another business, I have access to other professionals. Prior to organizing the day, we discussed the logistics of what I was asking of him and was upfront with the dilemma on affordability, which I assumed would have gotten me an immediate ‘no thanks’ as a response. Much to my surprise, he agreed to helping in trade for my services in design.

A trade! It was refreshing to hear! Of course I would be happy to help someone who is willing to help me. It’s easier to give your time to someone then it is to give money. Bartering allows individuals to trade items that they own but are not using for items that they need, while keeping their cash on hand for expenses that cannot be paid through bartering.

-Busy Brain