Anybody got experience hiring long term freelancers?
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- madirish0
i too, charge an eye-candy fee....
- Jaline0
It's true, I've had to pay madirish a few times already just to hang out with him.
- fransgaard0
Great stuff, thanks for all your input.
I agree that the designers (and their agencies) should be paid, but as pointed out a long term contract means less work to find jobs for the agency and gives the designer some stability so my logic tells me rates should come down.
However I take in all comments on this. One of the luxuries I definetly do not have in this case is time. Time to negotiate much further or time to find a new freelancer.
I'll see how it goes this week and take it from there Monday.
- fransgaard0
"...good luck btw."
Thanks :)
Yes, I know logic does not always apply to the interactive industry ... *cough* IE *cough*
But seriously, I do understand there are several sides to this as I have worked as freelance web designer myself but that was almost 10 years ago so I don't think my experiences are that relevant anymore
- -sputnik-0
i completely understand your logic, but it doesn't really work that way...at least it doesn't over here. the agency charges their fee so the freelancer's hourly has already been cut to compensate for that - hence they're already getting paid a bit less per hour for a steadier gig. the agency provides you with a service they should be paid for...otherwise they figure you can interview and test your own freelancers.
there's always room for negotiation though, especially if there might be more than one position or the prospect of future placement.
- Daro0
yes, avoid agencies, they're just the middle man that does nothing but take more of your money for the same job.
- babaganush0
Have you thought about super-talented graduates. Most freelancers worth their salt are very good - you kind of need to be as you are essentially your own small business that sub-contracts. So I see your logic but to be honest if you're pretty good the work is there. I actually turn down work that I think will waste my time of see me thought of as a slave. I think you need to reassess how desperate you think the feelancer is for work - and if they are, WHY are they so desperate. I see your predicament as I ran my own agency and it's hard to get good people- you end up getting ones you think are ok but need to let them go as they make more work for you. That's why a good freelancer will sticjk to their guns. Most people are negotiable so I think you should think like that as opposed to seeing freelancers as desperate for longer term gigs.
- babaganush0
...good luck btw.
- madirish0
that is not true and you know it.
the fee is purely for 'services rendered'.....
- Jaline0
That's true. It's worth it.
Once I finish school I'll be rich anyway :P
- momento0
I avoid agencies at all costs. Normally if you talk to the designer directly (if possible) you can work out an agreement. But now that the agency know of you and your desire to work with one of their designers you might not be able to get away with it.
My advice, avoid agents like the plague.
- fransgaard0
Personally I've had good experiences with agencies both looking for job and for people.
In this case it is a designer we've already worked so he knows us and we know him.
but I just think it is odd their long-term fee is app. the same as the short-term one, I would have thought it was a lot less.
But maybe that is normal?
- Bottlerocket0
It really depends on the agency and for a contract that long, I think you do have a justifiable position to negotiate a smaller fee.
I mean, there is no 'rules board' for this so you can try and negotiate a 'zero fee' for this job if you want.
However, if you are having problem i would let the designer know, as you have worked with him in the past, that although you want him for the job, the agency fees are just too high for you for that period of time.
He can always sack his own agency and come to work for you direct.
- fransgaard0
right, thanks for that.
i'll certainly keep that option in mind, cheers
- babaganush0
I agree that most freelancers may come down over longer term jobs. the flipside is good people will know that in that time there'll be a few jobs that they can do over concentrated periods and get the same money. Plus once they get in their stride over a long period they'll probably exponentially get more done for you without holiday and benefits. I for one don't really 'drastically' alter my rate over a long period. depends how good you expect the person to be I guess. The peanuts/monkeys expression is a cliche but true...
- Rand0
I get the eye candy fee, but don't get paid for work
- Dancer0
I am a freelancer and I charge less for longerterm work usually more than 3 weeks. It's a case of negotiation and how much work I have on at the time and what the job enrtails/if I like em
Also as Sputnik said if I get kick back of more work I tend to give them a better rate.
I have simplified my pricing structure recently as I found I could not remember what I charged different clients and always had to check back which took time
- barbtastic0
find yr own freelancers if you don't wanna pay the fee... vs has been paying me and a fee for over a year and a half... some people are just worth it :D
- paraselene0
i'm with barb on this one. i'm on a three-month placement and still get my day rate. them's the breaks.
- -sputnik-0
we regularly hire long term freelancers from agencies. sometimes we can talk down the rate, but usually they get paid their rate and that's that.
i guess they figure that if you want a better deal, you'll actually hire them