Going solo
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- Concrete
I'm looking into setting up my own studio. Starting small & hopefully growing to take on staff. I don't have as much industry experience as I would like but I am confident in my abilities and too impatient to wait until I've been a whore for a few agencies.
Any advice?
Thank you.
- vespa0
read that book. you know the one i'm talking about. every deziner in the universe read it last year.
- Concrete0
'How to be a graphic designer without losing your soul'
Read it.
- UndoUndo0
save up some fall back cash for quiet times
- milo0
Maybe find a partner to team up with - solo can be a bit lonely + if your going to get staff etc, you'll be able to share the risk.
- paraselene0
can i be your secretary?
- Concrete0
Thanks guys. To start with, I'm planning to take on as much freelance in my spare time, whilst in full-time employment, build up some clients before packing in the day job and then working from home until I need more space...
- Concrete0
can i be your secretary?
paraselene
(Jan 17 07, 04:23)Send me a C.V
Oh, and no slapping!
- wendell0
my chief in 96 takes out a loan above the study loan to him ,saying to the lender." see this you fat bock stop fetting me. you see me in 2 year with a business f------ head!' FFWD 3 year he has a business no study loan to talk about + 7 workers.3 architect/ 2 design 1 event + bread responsible! we have a fine loft studio 5 treppe? over all and say, v.happy and, AND on a monday traffic meeting a new job list with many new clients.
see it works even as she* runs it :)dv.kun
w
*the wife of him :)
- stewart0
"working from home until I need more space"
rent a small cheap studio to start with. it looks more serious (for you ànd clients). plus: back home in the evening you're away from 'work'.
i'd prefer that.
- Stoph0
I went it alone in April 2005, managed to get myself a regular client before I took the plunge and they stayed with me until June last year when they had to downsize their operations... Made the mistake of relying on there work to much and when they left me I was f**k'd... Didn't market myself properly and when I finally did, it was to late.
Make sure you market your self, cleverly and often, network and definately save some money for the slow times.
GO FOR IT!
I plan to go back to it in a year or so...
- madirish0
use lube
- P-A-T0
Make sure you've got a contract set-up with your client if it's a big or long-term project - because if they need to fuck you over with pay, believe me they will!
Part from that just go for it. I went freelance end of summer last year and have been ok, keeping my head above water. I totally agree about marketing yourelf - it's so important. I didn't properly but have pulled my finger out and have had a good few bits of work - even a prospective big project off the back of my little website!
And defo read Sagmeister's book - he's very inspirational.
I'm looking to get a little studio space at the mo in east london round shoreditch/hoxton way - lemme know if you'd be looking too. Would be good to share a space with someone else whose creative. Plus the space would probably be bigger a cheaper...
- Dancer0
THat book is pretty basic if you ask me, I got it for some wise insights and found most of it to be common sense.
You cannot buy experience I was in fulltime for just over 3 years and then was forced into freelance - I had left one (bigger) studio, about to start at another (smaller) and they turned around a week b4 I was meant to start and said they couldn't afford to take me on. I still feel I need more experience (5 more years) but as I am still earning a good income after 1.25yrs I have become far more picky.
What I would say is stay in as long as you can bear it, keep applying for other studios and if you really want to take the leap do it. Remember it is harder to get a (fulltime) job when your out of work than it is when your in.
Ultimtaely you need to be happy, and working for yourself, is sometimes very unhappy, lonely and stressful
;)
- shn0
Just be confident in all your choices. The partner thing is overrated a bit. There are plenty of successful solo ventures, but then again i have partners.
also, if you cannot afford renting another studio just yet? There is no rush as the internet has provided an amazing opportunity for you to run your office out of a Starbucks if you like! :) Location can be overrated as well.
Good Luck!
- Dancer0
having said that I am far happier now than I was at my last job
:Dp.s where will you be located?
- P-A-T0
Can be very lonnely and unhappy at time. I had no work over December, but turned it around and had lots of meetings with potential clients and design agencies...
Plus, the lifestyle is great. It totally suits me to have, say, 2 weeks on work at a clients place then a week off and then working at the studio/home on another project or popping down the cafe with the laptop to catch up on things away from home.
- shn0
and Dancer,
i agree with you on the book. very basic ideas.
- P-A-T0
Basic, but it's gets you thinking. Which I think is the point... Plus it wouldn't be fun if he told you everything!
- UndoUndo0
if you do partner up make sure you partner with someone who has a different skillset to your and who compliments yr skillset. that way you should be able to service and sell more to yr clients....and if thing do get quiet for one of you then you have a better chance of surviving
- Baskerville0
concrete you're a braver man than I.
I always wanted to start my own studio from when I was at college but decided to work in studios for a while to gain experience, things that you can't get from uni, like dealing with clients.
I reckon after maybe 5 or 6 years I might think seriously about starting on my own, but I think freelancing on the side of a fulltime job is the sensible way to start. I'm always working on some side project away from work, that way if work sucks you can go away and do good work in your spare time.
Keep us posted on how it goes when you make the plunge to leave work. I'm intrigued