If your just starting out free work is not the worst. Once you feel comfortable that you have done a solid job an something to show people charge SOMETHING.

Normally I brush off the free music posts but some people are clearly good enough to be paid and that bothers me.

I score film as well an see a disturbing trend for that as well. One company and aquaintence I have done paid work for before stated in an email "we did not set aside a budget for music" after raises decent money on a crowdraising site. They followed that up with I am sure we can make sure you feel valued with something and I trust them absolutley but still. That phrase no budget for music sets a scary precedent everytime I see it.