What do you do when you're solo and overloaded?

[heni30]

Recently 3 jobs came in at once (not really typical) and I barely managed to get them out on time. What do you do when you get overloaded? Do you have a render buddy?

 

Problems I see:

 

Reliability - someone might not be available when you need them.

Style - It seems like there's so many individual approaches to lighting, settings, etc. that coordinating things might be a problem.

 

I worked with a Chinese company before and even though they produced something quickly, communication about changes was a BIG hassle.

 

I think if I just stepped into a Re-production Booth when needed and just have the two of me work together when needed would be the ideal solution.

Edited May 18, 2013 by heni30

[Cjmcphail]

Depending on the size of the job, Id be keen to help you out at a pretty cheap rate if your really pushed for time

[luthias42]

I would suggest having someone do the modeling for you so that you can ensure the style is still yours since that is why the clients came to you in the first place. Next time that happens, let me know and I'll see if I can help you out.

[heni30]

I know. I had a guy in California commit to some modeling needed right away but then he emailed that he had a family emergency (or maybe a not to be missed party) and he would have to back out. I found a real good guy in Minn. but his work is always 3 days out - nothing right away. I guess I just have to keep looking for someone who is firmly reliable. I wonder if there's a correlation between age and reliability. I'm just re-doing some renderings for an architect who said his previous renderer was a deadbeat.

 

The Chinese were amazing - I would ask for like an airport restaurant at 6 pm and they would do it overnight - finished. But say, 20 % needed tweaking and that would take days. If someone just needed conceptual stuff it would be perfect.

 

It's just kinda scary depending on an ify freelancer.

Edited May 18, 2013 by heni30

[Fooch]

If it happens a lot, you expand

[ludnid]

The two of you sure will be great with no bridge in communication and still acheive the desired output but as it is its just you. Personally i have formed a habit of declining nicely especially when pressed for time. This reduces the number of jobs but saves your reputation in the end. I also keep a couple of friends who do the same thing should this happen. If the client isnt ok with their portfolio i find most times they are comfortable to wait. As Fooch said though, if it happens frequently you might want to look at expanding.

[heni30]

I think you're right about not taking on too much and being selective. Right now I have a upper and lower tier client base. Maybe it's time to pare down instead of taking everything that comes through the door. I would NOT like to expand. I've heard stories of people who have done that and they spend most of the time on the phone and managing the business. I just haven't spent a lot of time looking for helpers - I'm sure I can find good fit people out there. This is not typical but it made me aware of the problem. Like what happens if you get sick or sprain your mouse hand in the middle of and important job? I guess it's one of the cons in the pros and cons of solo freelancing.

[Nic H]

can you not just hire a local freelancer if possible and get him to work in the studio with you?

 

failing that outsource all your modelling and send a reference file of how you want it done and to what level of detail

i wouldnt trust an unknown with lighting or texturing

 

sounds like you want the impossible to be honest - when you say 'took 3 days - nothing right away'

 

id keep in mind:

fast, skilled and cheap - you can only have 2 of these at any time

[andstef]

I would outsource the modeling, like nicnic said, and get someone to work beside you (so you can supervise) in the studio on texturing and lighting.

[Tommy L]

The two of you sure will be great with no bridge in communication and still acheive the desired output but as it is its just you. Personally i have formed a habit of declining nicely especially when pressed for time. This reduces the number of jobs but saves your reputation in the end. I also keep a couple of friends who do the same thing should this happen. If the client isnt ok with their portfolio i find most times they are comfortable to wait. As Fooch said though, if it happens frequently you might want to look at expanding.

 

A client comfortable to wait? In my experience if you turn down a job you dont hear from that client again. If I have a lot of work on then I just grit my teeth and burn the midnight oil. If I have super-lots of work then I pull in freelancers either on-site or remote, whomever is best suited for the job. I always keep creative control of all projects though, and that usually means outsourcing the 'binary' work, the nuts and bolts modeling.

Helps to have a solid render farm also, nothing is a bigger waste of time than watching buckets.

[heni30]

The problem is that this is not typical at all. If it happened a lot I would spend much more time building up a reliable support system.

Tom's approach seems very practical and workable.

[Francisco Penaloza]

With the year I meet a lot of people in this type of forum, and when need it I contacted some of them to help me in some projects, happily enough it happened the way around too, I think is all about networking and have the vision to meet people that can help you, yes sometimes you'll fall but hey, this is part of the business, if you are a freelancer, the day will come when you have to decide if you want to scale or stay where you are, we need to learn some management, so if we trust some work some some else, is our responsibility to be sure that quality stay, remember you can delegate "functions" not "responsibilities"

I am sure in this forum you can find lot of good artist that can help you when you have over load, I would, just look our portfolios and ask.