Starting off - getting work

[karldavies]

Hi, i am nearly finished getting a few work examples to show to potential clients.

 

I just wanted to hear your views about how you mnaged to get work (hopefully regular)

 

Is it best to call up building developers and tell them what you do, or did you personally go round with a folio.

 

Also how much work were you actually getting initially. Were you struggling to get new clients

 

I Better mention - i live in the UK.

 

Thanks in advance

[aaron-cds]

When I started out on my own, which will be two years ago on the 16th of November, I spent the first year under contract to do renderings for an architecture firm that I used to work for. They basically gave me a salary and in turn I gave them 40 - 50 hours a week. This allowed me to build a portfolio of work to show around. When the year was up I thanked them and refused to renew the contract.

 

Between the contract work and personal work I put together a brochure and sent out approximately 400 of them. After sending the brochures I made tons of cold calls. I would say 1 out of every 15 calls was a "sure, we'll keep your brochure on file". Be prepared for rejection and don't take in personal. I've had a few jobs because of the brochures. So they weren't a total waste.

 

I also have gained a couple of clients by joining the American Society of Architectural Illustrators. If there are similar organizations in the UK it can be a very cheap form of advertising. If you click on the "Conceptual Design Studio" at the end of my name you can see what my ASAI page looks like.

 

Another way I've gotten clients is through on-line galleries. Try to get your work visible as much as possible.

 

Very recently, I placed an ad in the AIA magazine for the Chicago area. It goes out to 5000 architects and some developers.

 

I also went to a local architectural convention as an exhibitor. I rented an 8 foot wide table for the day and put out large framed prints of some of my best work along with two small portfolios with the rest of my work. I had a sign up of my business name with no description of what I do. I was flattered when some people came up and wanted to know what it is I do. They first asked if I did photography. Several people couldn't believe it when I told them they were renderings. Hopefully they'll be calling me up for there next project. I had a lot of face to face interactions. The brochures and business cards were taken by a countless amount of people. I'm hoping that was a good sign.

 

I can't complain because even though I had no work at all for the first five weeks after ending my contract, I've been consistintly busy for the past year. For the past 8 months I've been booked 1 to 3 weeks in advance. I've had some days now and then with no work. I try to look at those times as getting a break, not being out of work.

 

Lastly, make sure you've got your website up, business cards made and an email address that doesn't end in @yahoo.com

 

1and1 is a great place to set your website up. It's very affordable, you can set up your email address with your domain name and they have several prebuilt website designs you can use to show your work.

 

http://order.1and1.co.uk/xml/order/Home;jsessionid=73FB132471D57E3AF6BB93C55A2D69B9.TC32b?__reuse=1194012527817

 

Good luck.

[Billabong]

I'm trying to break into the Archi-side of 3D myself. I honestly have to say, After seeing your work Aaron,which is fantastic by the way, and seeing how much of a hard time you had trying to break into it. It's a little discouraging, but at the same time. I guess it really boils down to how bad you really want it. Thanks for these tips.

 

One other thing. this may be irrelevant, but I think a lot of it may depend on your location. I don't think there are a lot of 3D guys down here in the south, so I may not have much competition, but then again, if that is the case, developers may not be ready to spend the extra money, for 3D renderings yet. I have no idea, but I'm gonna find out