Most ridiculous gigs you've been offered?

11 points·superkinz··9 comments

I've heard of friends being propositioned to build a Groupon clone for $500. And an iPhone app for $600. What's the most ridiculous freelance projects you've been asked to do?

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Build the 'new" Facebook for a 50% equity stake and no cash. Also the "new" facebooks strategy was to get into all of the Greek scenes and use them as a way to spread. I think they literally watched The Social Network and for verbatim copied the growth strategy but tried to pivot it a little. They also wanted me to sign a non-disclosure because they thought the were on to something. :P

In 2002 someone offered me "stock options" to build a remote control web interface to a dentist chair tricked out with dildos.

most awsm post i've ever heard on HN

Agreed. I am still in a bit of shock. I think I saw that chair on HBO Real Sex when I was 16 or so...

You built it, right?

Recently, an iPhone app (which expanded to Android & Blackberry too by the 2nd email - for the same price). I was also required to give guarantees, under penalty of compensation, that Apple would accept it into the app store. I was told the budget was $800 with a possible $200 bonus if it was done within 2 weeks.

I've had worse offers in the past but this one was from someone I understand to be fairly well known on the American morning TV circuit.

I am hearing a lot of this too: "You'll get paid when the app is available for sale in Apple's App Store." So ridiculous.

These gigs don't sound ridiculous, what they wanna pay does. Plus what happens when something breaks in the future?

work for free and get a "stake" in the business (such as stock, etc), I've had some retards on craigslist send me emails offering this, of course I just deleted it

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