Freelancing

[frog_a_lot]

I know this has been asked to death but i have searched threads and couldn't find many answers, maybe i'm just not looking hard enough, but anyway here we go.

 

Who works freelance?

 

How did you get started? Did you work in a firm first and then go about making your own business?

 

How did you approach clients, where they previous clients from previous firm, or did you email/phone potential clients and tell them about your new company?

 

I am looking at starting work as freelance, so im looking for advice on how people got started, what sort of things they looked out for and had trouble with etc..

 

Thanks guys for the help.

[ihabkal]

In Lebanon the big guys who do renderings pay architects in large firms under the table so that they would steer work their way. I freelance for my ex-US employer so it started with me being honest at work and after I left they didn't forget it.

[mondex]

I started freelancing 12 years ago, but in the first 5 - 6 years I had to take on a regular job to pay the bills, because it's very very tough in the begining: you always need to keep a plan B for the times when you don't get enough work and money. But it really is worth it, if you like to be FREE, and not working for some other jerk exploiting you. If you have no kids or loan to pay, go ahead and take the jump! You have to be confident you can attract customers. The not so pleasant part is having to be a good business man, to attract customers. You also need to be a good accountant - if not, I recommend you hire one, once a month (it's not that expensive and can help keep your boat afloat - very worth it). There's all the administrative part which is very boring, about which status your company will have, the taxes, your social security, etc...). The WORST is having to run after your money! Large companies can take a while to pay, and when you want to enquire about your payments you often stumble upon accountants who don't know or remember you! Smaller firms are much more pleasant to work for.

If you have the PASSION, then you will have the strength to do all of the above!

The key to get some regular work, is to set up a network of professionals you can collaborate with, briging them some work and vice-versa. You have to be multitask, and propose customers a wide range of graphic services. If for example an architect asks you 3D viz, you can also propose brochures of the project, a website, or any other kind of marketing materials - if you cannot do everything, that's where your network of colleagues comes in handy.

 

For one part, I consider every designers and artists as colleagues and partners, not competitors. I despise any form of competition, or any form of organisation or structure helping to divide people and cultures. We are all in the same boat!

 

You will have to spend a lot of time and work hard finding customers, but if you are ready to do it, then go ahead, enjoy, and good luck!

[mondex]

Oh and to attract customers, the best way is a direct contact: personalized email with a link to your work, send a brochure, and follow up with a couple phone calls.

[BVI]

In Lebanon the big guys who do renderings pay architects in large firms under the table so that they would steer work their way. I freelance for my ex-US employer so it started with me being honest at work and after I left they didn't forget it.

 

Lebabon seems like a tough place to do business!

[Grohu]

Lebabon seems like a tough place to do business!

 

I'm quite certain that this isn't a "location specific" thing. Everywhere you will find those that like "bonuses" and those that like to go "extra mile" to get what they want

It's a human nature.

[frog_a_lot]

Just bringing this up again for another question...

 

How many of you guys have either in the past, or currently, work a normal 5 day job and then freelance as well on the side.

 

Like do many of you work at say an architecture or visualisation firm 9-5 during the week, and then on the side do some freelance visualisation work.

Is it hard to find time for the freelance work?

Is the extra freelance work very profitable and worth doing?

[Justin Hunt]

in answer to your question, yes and no

 

Yes I do 9 to 5 and freelance, and no there is no time to do it all. I have been working on average till 10:30 ,11:00 every night for the past 5 years. It exhausting but very satisfying.

 

I am between a rock and a hard place, too much work to get sleep but not enough to go full time. Its also very scary going it alone.

 

All my work comes from word of mouth, and almost all of it is repeat clients, some of whom have been with me for almost 8 years now.

 

The extra money is paying for my kids school and alot of the extras, like holidays , computers and cars and since the GFC, food.

 

jhv

[oligophant]

i was working on an architectural company 5 days a week, 9 to 6 doing arch viz and i must say , if i not leave that company and work as a freelance i never be able to progress ,make enough money to buy licences and save the rest for future investments, what do i've learnt while being in a company?, to be able to manage large progects, many tricks and the knowlegde to be part of a team and lead them. my work comes only by mouth to mouth referencials, not by brochure or website. Theres always ups and downs, i was literally doing nothing in a month and a half, but lucky again im working again. its hard but im always happy that i get paid for what i love to do.

[EddieLeon]

Freelancing is like riding a bike. You just get on it and go!

The road might get bumpy every once in a while and you might blow a tire, but it is fun and rewarding.

 

I got my first real freelance project when I was working at a large firm in Miami. One of the architects at the firm had a developer friend that needed a rendering. He refereed me to him and I got the job pretty easily. His referral and my work samples made the negotiation easy. Getting paid at the end though was a little tricky, but it all worked out fine. The rendering I produced was published in a local paper which felt very rewarding to me. This all helped to motivate me to share my success with my friends. They then began to refer work to me also from the firms they worked at. One thing always leads to another so you just need to start somewhere. Work hard, be honest, and your success will be guaranteed. Good luck!