I'm Fired..
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- gramme0
I'm a member of a collective that's in its very small, nascent stages. So far there's a videographer, a photographer/designer, an illustration-driven designer, and me (designer/ typographer/ strategist). We're all designers of sorts, with varied overlapping skill sets. As far as I know, we don't have a web developer. The guy who started it all is traveling around the country right now. He's been working on drumming up leads on the west coast.
I'm not sure if it's going to go anywhere, but I would really love to see things take off with this group.
To me, it seems finding a good sales/lead generator is the hardest part of your scheme, besides the potential monetary pitfalls others have pointed out. There are plenty of talented designers and meticulous developers out there. A good salesperson who really understands the value of good, sensible design is a mythological creature I would love to encounter.
- nthkl0
The pros are the fun part. Anyone care to expose the cons?
The "collective" concept has always been tempting for me btw.
- doesnotexist0
i'm trying to do this now actually - and I'm almost at that point. I have a few freelancers I work with consistently and they have their own work and I have mine. what'd I'd love to do is bring everyone together and share the work split the hrs accordingly.
- are they open-minded to the idea? has it been brought up yet?SteveJobs
- nope not quiiiite there yet, just an idea now that we've been working together.doesnotexist
- got a good group though of 2/3 peeps.doesnotexist
- inkpink0
I haven't read all the replies but my reaction to the initial post is that you possibly consider things too carefully and getting into freelance could be consequently disastrous.
More do, less think.
- hmm, i kind of agree, but leaping before you look could be equally disastrous. don't you think?SteveJobs
- SteveJobs0
I'd like this thread to keep going if possible. I'll bump it early tomorrow for the west coast crowd, but in the meantime, I'm going to go ahead an leave my email here.
If you like the idea, have any further feedback/questions or just wish to express interest, drop me a line. It's early, so I have no idea how I'm going to proceed, but if there's enough interest I might move on this. You can reach me at mark at thedesignersbureau dot com
(And pardon the stagnent site, it and it's corresponding email are just a placeholder for this very sort of thing.)
- that would be east coastversion3
- the EAST coast, even!SteveJobs
- incl. NJ.akrokdesign
- :-)akrokdesign
- doesnotexist0
i would find a quality person or 2 first, work with them for a bit. then bring it up.
- right, but you might consider this discussion a form of market research.SteveJobs
- plash0
the best place i have found for sales.
them crowdspring people.
they always get the design done but 90% of the time never get it built.
- ukit0
The biggest issue is sales. Who brings in the clients?
I'm sure you'll find plenty of designers looking for work, but where does the work come from?
- that's the sole responsibility of the lead finder. however, any member can produce leads.SteveJobs
- I guess that's what I'm thinking, finding a Lead Finder could be tough;)ukit
- i has lead finder, need cms guruversion3
- Expression Engine guru here, show me the moneysukit
- hmmm, i've seen that stuff, looks convoluted, how's it for client editing? i like it EZversion3
- I guess WP is best for a super simple site. EE is difficult to learn but once you do you'll be gold.ukit
- i think even the word press content admin panel is too much to show clients :/ i can do that nowversion3
- luckyorphan0
Quick thought:
If you had a real email address available, you might benefit by hearing from people on QBN that would be interested.
- fair point, but I'm just getting some general feedback at this stage. so far, the general interest is slightly underwhelming.SteveJobs
- underwhelming.SteveJobs
- I wouldn't be so sure of that. Don't assume that QBN is a good sampling of what is out there.luckyorphan
- or that people don't want to leave incriminating messages on here that their boss can search... people are out there...identity
- < Yep. Good point.luckyorphan
- Of course, one could always...not leave incriminating messages.luckyorphan
- indeedidentity
- SteveJobs0
@johndiggity
I have my own LLC here in Los Angeles, so I've been down that road. But to be honest, that's not the role I want to play. If it comes to that (starting a bonafide business), I'd prefer to leave that to someone else who's motivations are in line with that sort of thing.
- that is motivations, and more importantly, experience.SteveJobs
- johndiggity0
some resources you may want to check out. i would also look at the website of your state's comptroller or dept of business affairs and taxation and find out what's required to start a business in your state. unfortunately you usually need the help of a lawyer at some point so you might want to check out pro bono services available to new or small business owners.
http://www.score.org/index.html
http://business-law.freeadvice.c…
- plash0
the money issue can be solved with a limited liability partnership.(LLP) terms of the partnership and roles. agreed upon before the business starts. therefor the company need to be paid first; and so each would get paid by the company. its how will it be split.
fyi. there is no such thing as a 50/50 split.
taxes, expenses and incidentals need to be acknowledged- llp can be formed with 200 bucks and a week for filing.plash
- SteveJobs0
I realize money is an important factor here, but in my opinion, this should suade only the person looking for the leads, as it would make sense that such a position would be straight commission.
Also, I think a lot of potential problems would be worked out if the relationships were per-project-based at first. This is a period to test the waters and see what everyone is made of and whether there is any cohesion amongst members. Not too much opportunity for hostility or hurt feelings taking that approach.
- How is this different from starting your own firm/company?luckyorphan
- luckyorphan0
While I may have been one of the detractors above (and I still am), if you find someone with whom you believe this would work, go for it. Marriage isn't avoided simply because you'll have a lot of fights over stupid shit (and important shit).
Just do your homework, don't be unethical, and cover your ass.
- akrokdesign0
even if you have a partner, and you both say it's 50/50. it won't be. some has to draw the line etc. so it probably more like 60/40 or so.
- the owner gets more + everybody gets paid per projectbrodster
- SteveJobs0
@fyoucher1
This kind of opportunity wouldn't be of any interest to those who are already established.
The type of person this kind of offer attracts are those who've worked corporate for years and are looking for independence. I've worked along side several talented individuals in my years, as I'm sure many of you have, who weren't being used to their full potential. They were smart, had creative ideas, but were oppressed working in a beaurocratic environment, where rank was the final word, not talent.
Some people get tired of that oppression and would happily give up a little security (which these days, such a thing is a myth) for the ability to really put themselves to the test and do something a little more significant with their lives. It's basically an entrepreneurs mentality.
- akrokdesign0
i think the thing is...
who even you're working with. use them at what they are best at. if they seams to be handle the project with no problem. no need to babysit then. etc.i work with other designer (onsite or offsite). as they are the one who ask or give me the project(s). i see them as the boss / client.
- rusty_ace0
Its sort of funny, this is what an associate of mine is attempting to do...at least on a similar line. What he set up, Essentially it is a social network specifically for motion graphics arts, If you get over loaded you can search for people by skill set, location, check out their reels, build a database of help. Granted you would still have to work out the money issue on a project by project bases. http://www.themotionexchange.com… check it out for some inspiration, maybe you could set up one specifically for developers...or print designers