Agency life
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- CyBrain
I've been working at a NY agency as an AD long enough to know that I'll always be putting in 70 hour weeks. I love the projects, but this is no life. How are you other ad agency people doing workload-wise?
- mightyj0
I used to get worked to death as well and now I have found a company that actually supports having a life outside of work. There are always options out there. You'll be missing life too much by working that much. I am fine with working late every once and a while but if becomes prat of a weekly thing then there is no point.
- CyBrain0
I've been designing for 12 years. This is the hardest I've ever had it. It's killing me. I'm leaning towards freelance, taking contracts. I'm getting married next month and I'm more miserable about the job than I am happy about getting married. This obviously has to change.
- tkmeister0
depends on agencies though. i've worked at some that weren't too crazy. but it is different for freelance.
- Seff0
i just came on board to a new agency, they swear they wont work us to death. and i believe them.. i work with 2 other AD's that came from other agencies that were worked like kunta. they are having a hard time leaving at six. it's like they feel guilty, cause they were put in that mind set that they owe the project/deadlines their time
thats fucked up cybrain.
find a better place. this shit is supposed to be fun.
- MSTRPLN0
do you at least get paid for the 70hrs you work there?
- joyride0
MSTRPLN has a good questions. I work with the CTO of my company and he's always working. If he's needed hes there. But he get's paid sick amounts of money to live this lifestyle. It should always be a trade-off. If they expect that, pay for it. If not, find something else. It's not going to get better. And your 1st yr of marriage will need the attention anyway. Should have a happy workplace...
- algorithm0
The best thing I did in my life was to get out of the agency setting.
- 305artist0
production companies are fun
- Seanbot0
i thought it was a good idea taking a salaried position.
boy was i wrong.
- fortified0
I've worked for agencies, freelance and corporate. By far the best hours have been in corporate. I currently work about 6.5 hr days (no shit) and make almost as much as an agency, factor in benefits, and I make as much or more than an agency.
My advice is find an internal ad dept for a company you dont mind hanging your hat on, and work for them.
My time means too much to me to be a wage slave.
- akrok0
I work 9-6 and then I freelance after, how many hours every wk, I am not sure.
either I change firm, someone who pays more or I get a raise. then I would cut down on the freelance.
the firm dont really slave me on overtime. its more about working fast while you there. =oP
- akrok0
cybrain,
I hope you find the joy agian. like they say: it should be fun.
- enfocusmedia0
Fortifed, i've worked in teh corporate scene for a few years in the past and i know what you are saying...
However, after a few years of working within the same brand, it can really kill your creative drive...
- pyeaton0
Totally agreed with your post enfocusmedia!
"Fortifed, i've worked in teh corporate scene for a few years in the past and i know what you are saying...
However, after a few years of working within the same brand, it can really kill your creative drive..."
I am currently in an internal design dept. First, I have had the creativity sucked out of my soul by a bland and lifeless brand. Second, I feel that is kinda effin up my career. The money is ok, but I do not trust this place what so ever. Very "good ole boys" club. I am taking a few web dev classes, and plan on moving on after that. I agree with everyone in this thread, that it is hard to find that happy medium between living a life in which u get paid well, and are fed creative work order after creative work order, only to sign in blood and spend your days and nights pounding on these jobs, or, working for an intellectual sinkhole (like me) to savour less hours and less stress. However, take it from me, I find what I am doing right now v ery stressful. Each day, I feel my creative skills being drained from me and worry about my career.
Good luck in finding your happy place all.
- rafalski0
I'm more miserable about the job than I am happy about getting married. This obviously has to change.
CyBrain
(Aug 14 06, 18:11)They say it does after you get married :)
- blastofv0
I've got a pretty good thing going at a small agency with high expectations, but no stupid hours (with rare exceptions). Every once and a while I think about jumping ship for more exciting projects at a bigger agency, but it's not worth it. And I've got a young family to support as well, so no point rocking the boat.
So I keep my creative soul fed with side projects, both freelance and client-free. Ever since I started up a few design-for-the-sake-of-design projects on the side, I've been a much much happier designer and person. It doesn't all need to come from the salaried work.
- uncle_helv0
I've stopped putting in the long hours...fuck'em. Think about it, your only pretty much designing shit that is gonna end up in the bin or need re-designing in a few months, year. Is it really worth losing your own precious time and getting all stressed over a brochure, website, advert? -It's not like anyone is gonna die and nevermind all this learning curve
it is making me a better designer rubbish, all shit!!I'm married now and any time I get with my wife is so important, it's only a job, it's unhealthy too when I use to work really long days I felt like shit, all grey and on a diet of coffee and fags, now I make sure I'm away for about 7-7:30pm your time is precious, their time is charged.
In short I think I'm dissallusioned with this poxy industry at the moment, clients over controlling the outcome of the work with what appears to be no repect or trust of your judgement, and the unrewarding nature of your own agency to boot.
To have the simple life!!
- sandpipe0
for all you stressed young hypermotivated designers:
when the work is done, the work is done. don't hang around in the agency. don't wait for others, although you have nothing to do anymore. don't have a bad conscience. if you can help somebody out, ok, that's a different thing, but in general you have to show the people around you that you have a private life too. fo me, this behaviour is working fine now. i've learned.
- arohner0
I have been very lucky to work at firms that do respect your life outside of work, but they can be hard to find. I also worked as a designer for a corporation in their internal design department and it was very 'office space.' The same work each week, gray cubicles, UGH. I only worked there a year. Great pay, benefits, and 8-5, but very depressing and certainly not good for my creativity.
I work for an awesome agency now. They do not work us like slaves. If I want to stay late, I do by choice. They are very respectful of my time. (The boss has even told me to leave sometimes - "Get out of here already. It's Friday!" It's great and I am very lucky.
I think one of the main problems with the agencies that over-work people is that their project managers do not properly manage the project timelines and work resources or they promise unreasonable deadlines without talking to the creative team first. That is a serious problem and that is part of what causes some designers to work 70 hours a week - because something unreasonable has been promised and now it's on their shoulders.
No worries. Not all agencies are like that. Life is too short to spend so much of your time working.
- pyeaton0
No kidding arohner! What is it with AE's and PM's that think designers press the F7 key and have an entire layout designed?