Here’s some advice to those giving away their time for free, or “pro-bono.” Be very clear, up front, about how much time you are willing to spend on the project and what they can expect from you. Be willing to walk away from a bad experience. To those getting advice and consulting for free: you are getting a FREE service, you CANNOT expect to be taken care of or prioritized like a paying client. If you want platinum service, you are going to have to pay for it. Furthermore, it doesn’t hurt anyone for you to compensate your service provider in other ways, such as referrals. That is all. Chalk it up to learning.