Freelancing // Current TV

Talent Isn’t Everything: 5 Secrets to Freelance Success

So you think you want to be a freelancer? A pro shares some tips for success... more

shaidlekathy
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30 days ago
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digital hobo: Never Have an Optimist for a Client

Dylan's new client is too optimistic for her own good.

TonyDiGerolamo
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6 months ago
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digital hobo: You Know What I Mean

Dylan continues negotiations with his newest client.

TonyDiGerolamo
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7 months ago
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digital hobo #3: The Secret Business

Dylan meets the guy from the Craigslist ad and begins to work.

TonyDiGerolamo
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1 year ago
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100 Innovative Ways to Enhance Your Home Office

Whether you're telecommuting, running your own business, or just working... more

sunnyspeaks
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1 year ago
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2010: Same sh*t, different year? - Real Recovery

It's the first day back at work in the New Year and the question on my mind is... more

afitzgerald
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2 years ago
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Obama lays out plan for jobs; Meeting lawmakers tomorrow

Yesterday we found out that there was going to be some leftover money from TARP and... more

afitzgerald
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2 years ago
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Surviving as a freelancer - Real Recovery

John Henion is a freelance video producer in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was laid off from a staff position in 2008 (full disclosure: at Current) and entered into the freelance world. He blogs about unemployment at Unemploymentality.com. We spoke yesterday for The Real Recovery.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="178" caption="John Henion and Dog"][/caption]

Life for a freelancer can be tough - especially at the beginning. John Henion moved out to California from Michigan where he'd already established himself with freelance work. In California he had none. He said the move made him "take a step back and do things I didn't want to do." For example, John was about 30 when he moved here, had already produced his own independent documentary, but found himself taking a production assistant role on "Wife Swap" just to be working. "I was beyond the point where I wanted to pick up trash on the set and being told to go get lunches," he said. "After that experience I realized I didn't need to lower the bar that much."

The goal as a freelancer is to have steady work. There are some great benefits - like being your own boss and scheduling your own time off - but there are somethings that are definitely not benefits - like not having benefits. John was lucky to have insurance through a domestic partnership with his girlfriend, but he said for many freelancers the decision about whether or not to get insurance is just whether or not you want to take your chances.

After being laid off, John said it took him about 6-8 months before he was getting steady work again. These days, he has about 5-6 return customers and pulls in a lot of one-off projects. He's been able to work himself back up to an income level comparable to having a full-time staff position. But that comes with a lot more work than just the actual time spent working. "The worst part is...I have to deal with chasing down money. Some people wait until the last minute to pay you or wait until you raise a stink. You know, they want to keep that money on their books as long as they can."

The most important thing John has found to remember freelancing is that no matter how much time he spends at an office, no matter how many new friends he makes in a workplace, being a freelancers puts him in a different position. "As a freelancer they can just stop calling. First time that happened I thought I did something wrong....When they stop calling it's not personal....They're not supposed to roll over and kiss you in the morning, just leave some money on the bedstand."

Michael Spafferty's Video Resume from Unemploymentality on Vimeo.

Are you a freelancer? Have a recession story to tell? Post it to The Real Recovery.

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afitzgerald
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2 years ago
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Why 14.6% of America can't afford enough food - Real Recovery

Here's a math problem for you: The national unemployment rate hits its highest... more

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2 years ago
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Real Recovery: This week's about the freelancers

Hey freelance workers, this week The Real Recovery is all about you. We want to hear... more

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2 years ago
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0 comments

2010: Same sh*t, different year? - Real Recovery

It's the first day back at work in the New Year and the question on my mind is... more

afitzgerald
added this
2 years ago
|
5 comments

Obama lays out plan to use TARP money for jobs

Yesterday we found out that there was going to be some leftover money from TARP and... more

afitzgerald
added this
2 years ago
|
1 comment

Surviving as a freelancer - Real Recovery

John Henion is a freelance video producer in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was laid off from a staff position in 2008 (full disclosure: at Current) and entered into the freelance world. He blogs about unemployment at Unemploymentality. We spoke yesterday for The Real Recovery.

Life for a freelancer can be tough - especially at the beginning. John Henion moved out to California from Michigan where he'd already established himself with freelance work. In California he had none. He said the move made him "take a step back and do things I didn't want to do." For example, John was about 30 when he moved here, had already produced his own independent documentary, but found himself taking a production assistant role on "Wife Swap" just to be working. "I was beyond the point where I wanted to pick up trash on the set and being told to go get lunches," he said. "After that experience I realized I didn't need to lower the bar that much."

The goal as a freelancer is to have steady work. There are some great benefits - like being your own boss and scheduling your own time off - but there are somethings that are definitely not benefits - like not having benefits. John was lucky to have insurance through a domestic partnership with his girlfriend, but he said for many freelancers the decision about whether or not to get insurance is just whether or not you want to take your chances.

After being laid off, John said it took him about 6-8 months before he was getting steady work again. These days, he has about 5-6 return customers and pulls in a lot of one-off projects. He's been able to work himself back up to an income level comparable to having a full-time staff position. But that comes with a lot more work than just the actual time spent working. "The worst part is...I have to deal with chasing down money. Some people wait until the last minute to pay you or wait until you raise a stink. You know, they want to keep that money on their books as long as they can."

The most important thing John has found to remember freelancing is that no matter how much time he spends at an office, no matter how many new friends he makes in a workplace, being a freelancers puts him in a different position. "As a freelancer they can just stop calling. First time that happened I thought I did something wrong....When they stop calling it's not personal....They're not supposed to roll over and kiss you in the morning, just leave some money on the bedstand."

Are you a freelancer? Have a recession story to tell? Post it to The Real Recovery.

FROM THE BLOG: http://blogs.current.com/news/2009/11/19/surviving-as-a-freelancer-real-recovery/

John's site: http://unemploymentality.com

The Real Recovery: http://current.com/groups/the-real-recovery/John Henion is a freelance video producer in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was laid... more

afitzgerald
added this
2 years ago
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3 comments

Why 14.6% of America can't afford enough food - Real Recovery

Here's a math problem for you: The national unemployment rate hits its highest... more

afitzgerald
added this
2 years ago
|
70 comments

Real Recovery: This week's about the freelancers

Hey freelance workers, this week The Real Recovery is all about you. We want to hear... more

afitzgerald
added this
2 years ago
|
6 comments

I’m A Writer, Not A Star-Fucker

L.A. is one tough town. This is about our blogger being stabbed in the back on the... more

jrn
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2 years ago
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0 comments

Can Revision Of Work Mean Death Of A Piece? I'm Delivering My Writing In A Hearse!

Writing is one of the toughest crafts in the world. Everyone is a critic and your... more

jrn
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2 years ago
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0 comments

UNBELIEVABLY Lazy Sunday Post: Just Kick-Up-Your-Feet and Chill Blog!

Don’t you just love a lazy Sunday? Well, this blog is all about a lazy Sunday... more

jrn
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2 years ago
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Wanted! Part-Time Freelancers For Full-Time Crap Jobs

Oh dippy Gourmet magazine, with your oxymoronic job ads. There's no such thing as... more

khsing
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4 years ago
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