Freelance exposure?
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- mretrum
Hey guys, I'm a young freelancer and I've been able to get some work through a few specific avenues, but other than that I've been having trouble getting new work for myself. I have recently created a new portfolio site - http://mellowestate.com - and I'm wondering if some of you could offer me a few tips to get me headed in the right direction.
- iDp0
hey nice work on your site. It's funny, I feel your pain. I started my career as a flyer designer as well. Honestly I wouldn't trade my beginnings for the world. The only problem is that it's hard for newer (non nightclub) clients sometimes aren't impressed when all you have to show for yourself are super stylish flyers. The upside to starting this way is that you are learning to be creative straight out of the box. You will feel much more comfortable down the road presenting something that pushes the limits to a client than designers who got their start in less creative fields.
But yeah it's tough trying to diversify your clients when you have a portfolio of club flyers. If I were you I would start designing comps that explore other styles and put some of those into your portfolio. Lots of designers will put things into their portfolios that were never really contracted out. Label them comps, proofs or mockups.
I've found that getting new clients either involves sending out comps to companies, or simply being in the right place at the right time. BTW that shirt you have that you plan to send to potential clients, might want to rethink that design. Depends on who you are after as far as clients but my advice is to distance yourself a little from the nightclub industry.
Cheers and good luck
- liquid0
take a major brand name site that you don't like and redesign it... put it in your portfolio as concept work....
- REDWOOD0
Nice work, you've done alreday.
Need to agree with IDp.
Working as a freelancer isn't working on the things you like yourself.I've started freelancing too for about 3 months now. Ad i'm doing work for an other bureau and an advertising bureau.
So maybe you should go to the big advertising and graphic bureaus and show them your portfolio. Its not always wat you want but its a lot of work.Good luck.
- mretrum0
iDP, thanks for the response and kind words... i'm definitely hearing you about the club flyers, but other than the indentity stuff, thats really all i have to show for myself =(. i'm interested in what you mean by mock-ups - are you suggesting i develop "fake" designs (i.e. indentity for a company that does not exist) or develop "fake" designs for actual clients (i.e. print ad for a new apple computer).
also, that shirt was done for a screenprinting company to use for samples - not for me ;)
- mretrum0
thats sounds like a good idea redwood - i'm not exactly into night club music so change wouldn't be a bad thing.
- iDp0
ah haha sorry for the confusion on the t-shirt.
Believe me I totally understand how it is to only have club flyer type stuff in your portfolio. I interviewed with Argent Mortgage a couple years ago and all I had to show was club flyers. It was a little embarassing.
What I did to start breaking the cycle was to pick the clients you want. Take a day and workup a few peices...it gives you practice, if it turns out good it gives you something to put into your portfolio. It also gives you a really good way to approach a new client. Sure you can call them or email them, but nothing says determination like sending a client some samples of work with their logo on it.
I did this for design agencies I wanted to work for. I did a whole package, spent probably 10 hours or so mocking up different pieces for each one(a brochure design, website and even packaged them each differently). I put a lot of work into these and unfortunately it was simply bad timing, it was right after the dotcoms so I didn't get much feedback on them because the industry was saturated. However a little over one year later one of the guys who owns one of the design studios called me and asked if I would be interested in a job as the Art Director for the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas. He said he was impressed with the package I sent him and he kept it next to his desk since he recieved it. I got the job (which ended up being a nightmare) but still it goes to show that the more you put into something the more you get out...ya know?
Hopefully these ramblings make some sort of sense. In short, bust your ass making anything and everything that isn't what you are doing now and get the finished peices into the hands of the people who can hire you. Worst thing to do with your career is to do the same shit over and over again.
- k0na_an0k0
i'd like to see your link background color go all the way across. kewl.
word of mouth is your best bet. leave business cards everywhere. taxis. bathrooms.
it's good though you do stuff for smartbar. talk to those promoters and see if they can help too.