My transition to freelance - advice & anecdotes
Today I’m writing an honest depiction of my two years spent freelancing.
Not too long after graduating from Falmouth University in 2017, I managed to successfully wiggle my way into a midlands-based production house, beginning as a motion graphics intern, then progressing into the in-house animator.
This time two years ago, myself, and every other employee in the studio, were made redundant at the drop of a hat. Although it was more like the drop of a boulder. Onto our big toes. Without shoes. Or even slippers. It hurt.
So, as my toe was wrapped up by understanding parents, I hunted for more jobs, but to no avail.
The story of how I got that first job is an interesting one, so let me quickly fill you in, then we’ll move onto the main bit.
I’d accumulated months, like every other post-grad searching for a job in an increasingly competitive field, and had essentially thrown in the sweat-ridden towel. My brother was (and still is) living in China, and I’d felt quite compelled to embrace a similar cultural shift, only if it was between that and working a non-creative job I disliked in England. So, I’d been interviewed for a TEFL (Teaching English in a Foreign Language) program in China, and was accepted in; I just had to sign the contract and I’d be away. I deliberately held back from signing the contract until I’d heard back from all of my interviews. My last interview went badly, I had done work experience with them four years before and I was scalded for not cooking enough bacon in the George Forman grill during a shoot… So, naturally, I assumed this to be a dead end from the get-go. The dress code in the office was also very casual, and I’d turned up in a shirt and trousers like a ruddy accountant. Anyway, the life-changing moment in which my hope was re-instated transpired through means of a phone-call, arriving 10 minutes before my trial shift at a local fish and chip restaurant. The studio were giving me a chance. I instantly called the fish and chip place and said “Sorry boys, I’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
Ok, so I didn’t say that last bit, but how I wish I had.
I was with that production company for 7-months before the hat was dropped and/or the carrots were chopped.
It seemed bleak at first; I’d barely got out of the overdraft I’d maxed out whilst studying, and I’d exhausted the application cycle for every local creative job. I was also living in a shed in the back garden of my dad’s place, which was a cracking place to hang out in summer, but an abysmal place to sleep in winter.
Fortunately, I wasn’t out of work for long at all. My freelancing career was officially ignited with a music video for Portuguese musician “Cristóvam”, I’d animated for Cristóvam before, back during university, but had no idea how to price my time. I’d definitely undervalued my rate when I first started, but I also don’t regret that. I think it’s important to know your worth, but it’s equally important to make financial sacrifices when you’re first building your portfolio, in the knowledge that you’re learning on the job, and attracting more potential clients each time your product is released.
I’d like to note here that I studied film at Falmouth, within which there was minimal animation training; so I was self-taught for the main-part, and my 7-months working at the studio did accelerate my skills ten-fold.
Work trickled in slowly, and I was still undercharging, but I found my client base was growing. I’ve been fortunate to have animated for Brian May, before I had any professional animation experience - this job was sourced through a passion project for Roo Panes I’d uploaded to YouTube before starting university. The same PR, who’d commissioned the lyric video for Brian, then got back in touch with a series of jobs that propelled my freelance career. This was a series of animations for over ten different language variations for the song “New York City” by Electric Pyramid. This was the first time I was beginning to make as much money pro rata as I did during employment at the studio.
The more work I did, the more of an understanding I got for the hours it takes to create a lyric video, an animated logo, kinetic type sequence etc.
I then decided on a day rate, and began to take myself a little more seriously, which came hand in hand with my progression as a visual artist.
Just over a year later, I had the opportunity to work with Queen again on multiple levels, I was charging a rate that was allowing me to live the lifestyle I wanted, and, ultimately, I was able to save and invest money, whilst setting up my own pension.
Skip forward to now - It’s been two years, my freelancing workload has become increasingly consistent (except December - Blame Santa), and it’s given me immense freedom. I’ve been able to travel with my work a lot, it’s improved my professionalism, and has been an overall incredible twist of fate in my life.
The moral of the story here is:
Life is unpredictable. So is freelancing. But SO. IS. LIFE. Embrace the unpredictable, and work hard. The rest comes naturally.
To round off this blog, I’m going to list qualities that I believe will allow you to flourish as a freelancer, which are easy to overlook from the outside.
You should be…
Self-motivated. To the MAX CORE.
Time-disciplined. To hit those deadlines, and ensure you’re still working sustainable hours every day. You must also be willing to work unsociable hours.
Pro-active. You need to be searching for work regularly, especially during your current commissions.
Business-minded. You’ve got to know your worth, yet be open to compromising and wiggling your pricing to maintain good client relationships and secure jobs. This characteristic also feeds into professional writing; which plays a huge part in securing work, especially if your only point of contact is written.
Omni-creative. I believe it’s important to be creative for yourself in your leisure time. For example, in my breaks, I often go for a walk and take photographs, play guitar or listen to music that inspires me. Retaining a creative mindset will strengthen your ideas, inspire more avenues of thought, and positively alter your approach to any problems and obstacles in your work-life.
I realised the first 4 points were all hyphenated, so I added the word “omni” before “creative” on point 5, solely to fit the theme.
The harder-stuff-to-chew, let-alone-digest section
Whilst freelancing is great, it’s no secret that it’s observed through rose-tinted glasses. There are many disadvantages too, and I’m going to be real with you… These include, but are not limited to…:
Lack of job security
Tax responsibilities
Software/equipment costs
Insurance/accountant costs
Inconsistent earnings
Lack of social environment
Unsociable hours are often required
No pension scheme
Arguably more pressure on the quality of work you produce
Time/money spent on self-promotion
Having to source work entirely by yourself
I realise now I’ve ended this post on the negatives of freelancing, but it’s crucial that all the information is available for you. Maybe I should have dispersed the negatives amidst the positives earlier in the post, though… Do I edit that? Nah, you can handle it.
So, that’s what I have for you today! I don’t know how much of that information will serve you, but I’m happy that this post will at least have the potential to inform or inspire.
Catch you on the flippy. Any questions, hit the contact page and send me your words.