freelancing after college
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- mantra
i just graduated with a BFA in design. i landed a job with a pretty well known ad agency in my area a month before graduation. i knew i would hate working for an ad agency and i was right.
i've been working with clients for about a year now and started my own company with my girlfriend who is also a designer. (www.22calibredesign.com)
we've been offered start-up money as a grant to begin our business, 5k minimum. we have 4 consistent clients whom we work with regularly and pay well. im scared as fuck. do i bite the bullet and stay at the place i hate or say fuck it and start off on my own?
serious advice is welcomed.
- studderine0
dude, you are young, just do it.
- plus you have some type of client base. i say why not? if you fail you can go back to the office.studderine
- I totally disagree with the idea of being young as the reason to go out on your own.Transit_Broadcast
- uhh...better to take risks while you are younger as you have time to recover. the older you get the less time to bounce back.studderine
- back.studderine
- Do BOTH, wtf is stopping you from keeping your job, get the business going on the sideNONEIS
- ********0
go for it, i almost did
- horton0
just to be the devil's advocate...
there's lots in the office to fail and learn at your employer's expense.
- sublocked0
i'd usually agree with horton, better to fail early at someone else's expense - but it seems like you have a good setup right now.
go for it, you can always get a job working for someone else.
- MLP0
i freelanced for 2 years before settling into something full time.
- mantra0
we are both 23, she is a very talented designer as well. we know alot of people, especially family (not trying to sound conceited) who own their own businesses. we network a ton.
her father is bankrolling the startup money, none of which we have to pay back.
im just scared shitless to quit my job knowing it's up to me to make a living. im scared but im up for the challenge.
i cant stay at an ad agency, its killing me.
- then what more needs to be said... sounds like you're already there, just do it.horton
- Iggyboo0
Been there Mantra. I wish you the best, but dont sound desperate for a change. Make the change for yourself. Quit or make your own. Its never easy to start out on your own. Really I mean it never easy. But once you get rolling it will be fine.
- ukit0
Just go ahead and do it, sounds like you want to. My philosophy is that when you can't decide, it's always better to do something than to not do something.
- doesnotexist0
do it, man!
- horton0
btw... hope you guys are a tight couple, sounds like a potential relationship killer. it's hard enough doing business with friends... living and working with your business partner is about as tough as it gets. even more so at 23.
- hmmm...that's a good pointukit
- on second thought, don't do it. you could be courting disaster.ukit
- exactly what I was thinking. Almost never a good ideacursiveshotgun
- Ya bad idea to start it up with your GF. I wouldn't do it.canuck
- true.Jaline
- i tried it with my gf (although she's not a designer), but it didn't work out. I'm also 23.arseni
- TedUmptious0
Grab your cock and say "we will get through this I swear". It will empower you.
- TedUmptious0
Risks make life interesting.
Stand still - you die.
- nocomply0
Dude it sounds like you have what it takes to be successful. Just remember to charge what you're worth because there are going to be a lot of hours that you work that do not necessarily translate into billable hours to clients. There will also be a lot of unforeseen expenses. Also try not to let your work take over your life.
I only freelance part-time and these are some of the problems I've faced. And I'm still working on solving them.
- horton0
my wife and i sometimes find even find it difficult with me working out of a home studio... she never has time home alone in an empty house... no matter how tight you are, relationships need space.
- _salisae_0
the most successful designer i know started her own company straight out of design school.
- mantra0
thanks guys... im not the type of person who needs re-assurance on much of anything but this is kind of a big deal, especially at 23. we are both talented enough and confident enough in our own abilities to set out on our own.
while still in college we've branded a $1mil + company, done packaging, photography, etc... its not like we don't know what we're doing.
as for the relationship thing, we know when to separate "us" from work which has worked nicely. us as a couple is the last of my worries and she feels the same.
- fyoucher10
Do it. I had the same situation sans startup loot....9 years later still lovin it...
