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Can't find a Job? Start your own business!

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Can't find a Job? Start your own business!

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to say this for all the artists out there who are struggling. I was trying to find a job for about a year. Nobody would give me the time of day. I was talking about starting my own business a few years down the road, when I had more experience under my belt, but it just so happened that a good friend of mine encouraged me to do it now. He even helped me get started and gave me a great deal. I paid only $500. I guess it usually costs more like $5000, but don't let this deter you. It sounds like a lot, but I make about 5 grand in a month now.

It's not as hard as you might think. Sure, there's some paper work and you don't have the benefits you would get working for an established company, but it's a ton of fun! I don't even think my stuff is that good, but I'm constantly getting more clients.

Flashpotatoes

Yea, the key thing about doing it this way is you NEED to budget in down-time for yourself. Time in the evenings, weekends.......YOU need to regenerate.
The schmuck that says he can do it in a week, and then knocks himself out working 4 of the 7 days without sleep isn't earning anything.
He'll be in a bind when they ask for a similar job done in less time.
If the client has to wait longer, pay a bit more because of it, then so be it.
Being a professional means responsibly managing all aspects of the profession--and that means its just a job--not a lifestyle.

This is solid, solid advice. All too often in the eagerness of landing a job, it's very easy to overlook scheduling off-time into your production. You think that if you work constantly at insane hours, that you'll get more done and will finish faster. Instead, you just end up burning out, being evil to everyone around you, and living like a zombie. All of this may actually cause the production to take even longer to complete. It's just not worth it.

Sharvonique Studios
www.sharvonique.com

Animated By Sharvonique Blog
http://sharvonique.animationblogspot.com

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Graphic Artist Guild's Handbook

I know how to quote and rate my work, but more on the business side, does anyone know good resources for invoices or creating contracts?

I would highly recommend the Graphic Artist Guild's Handbook. http://www.amazon.com/Graphic-Artists-Guild-Handbook-Guidelines/dp/0932102123/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5182413-5197735?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1176834296&sr=8-1
It has great advice, sample contracts and invoices, billing guidelines, etc. for any type of visual artist.

It would certainly beat people whining on about TV executives and work going overseas.

I second your plan! All those moaning animators out there, start your own business!!

Flashpotatoes,

Not trying to put the fire down, but just 2 cents from someone whose been trying to go 'solo'...
Principally doing ANY business by your own is a gigantic and trying task. I admire those who could just tune in with the constant and increasing pressure, hats off to them. I've experienced doing it both in a western and eastern setting, both has advantages and serious drawbacks.

My personal advice is: try to work in the industry first. Learn the ropes, find out whether it's really something your heart is looking for, build networks and all that.
The thing with creative industry is part of our price structure goes to our actual time *sigh* clients don't give a damn whether you haven't slept for days due to getting marketing tools ready, balancing your check books, chasing freelancers, looking after the baby (or babies!) or even 'dog ate my homework / my computer crashed at the 11th hour' etc -- all they care about is do you deliver?

So again if you're the stronger type who can handle all that again my hats off to you. I'm just speaking from my own experience (okay I lied about the babies -- I wasn't married then) but running your own business makes you really wish that there were 25 hours (or more!) in a day's portion.

People who work on film/animation generally just have this fiery love for the medium, I just don't like to see people working in animation who later turn out hating the medium they so loved in the first place.

Hope I'm making sense -- all the best!

The thing with creative industry is part of our price structure goes to our actual time *sigh* clients don't give a damn whether you haven't slept for days due to getting marketing tools ready, balancing your check books, chasing freelancers, looking after the baby (or babies!) or even 'dog ate my homework / my computer crashed at the 11th hour' etc -- all they care about is do you deliver?

The way to resolve that is to budget that kind of time into the working deadline. If you have to be awake for 4 days straight to get the job done for the "folks that don't care", then its probably not the job to take on anyway.

This is a personal choice each of us has to make.

I used to be the kind of guy that would bend-over backwards to get the work done on time and make the client happy in short order.
Yes, I'd get paid for the work, but that was it. When I'd stagger up to their door, bleary eyed from no sleep, work in hand.......I'd rarely get even a "thanks, well-done" for the extra effort.
Often I'd get no acknowledgement at all, or even get some fussy dickhead asking for more changes.
Along the way, I'd miss out family and friends and things that, gosh darn it, just plain seem to be more IMPORTANT to me than doing something for someone else who doesn't care all that much about me.

That doesn't build a business as much as it builds resentment, and I've had enough of that in my life and career.
Nowadays, I get the work done, and do a good job, but if I blow the deadline.........I blow the deadline. Quality work solves problems for the client, and it can take time. Me being healthy first means I can deliver quality work, but being healthy means getting sleep, having a bit of down-time in the day, a chance to pause and reflect now and then. And sometimes things in life just intervene with the work.

If the client doesn't like that attitude............pfftttt, screw 'em. My life and happiness doesn't revolve around pleasing them, and I do not matter to them--aside from the work--so why break myself on their behalf?If the client wants some young go-getter over slow-poke me, more power too them.
Years of working under a stressful system of crazy deadlines doesn't make anyone younger, healthier or more vibrant.

The best distinction I ever made in my career was that cartooning is my livelihood, NOT my life. I've said this before: how many of us will lie on our deathbeds, and think back upon our lives and wish we spent more time meeting our deadlines? In the big scheme of things, its really not that important, right?

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

Hear! hear!

Thanks Ken
I was just pointing out how it was for me back then.
Now that I'm in a much more settled production setup, I can say it's great to be in animation.

I too will echo what has just been said. It's not always easy dealing with clients. You never really know who you will be dealing with. I've stopped doing custom services altogether and it has released sooo much stress from my life. No more of the insane demands, non-responses to emails, unreasonable changes and requests.

In short, I think the biggest eye-opener for me was that so much more of what I did each day was business/client related. Creating bids, answering tons of questions from potential clients. Sending updates each day, being interrupted by phone calls and having to chat with other clients when I needed to be drawing or animating. Lots of juggling to do. After a while, it really took the fun out of what I was doing. I did do a pretty good job of balancing work with family life though, although I would work frequently each night after the kids went to bed or on Saturdays in order to hit a deadline.

Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com

Client Work

First of all, I'd like to say thanks to all of you who have been putting the time into posting on this thread. It's really helpful to me to hear from seasoned professionals. Right now, I would have to agree that what I'm doing is not easy. It was not my original plan to start my own business so soon. I was hoping that I could work in the industry for several years first. I have to say, though, as difficult as this is, it is much easier than finding a job as a Flash Animator. Fortunately, things have been working out very well and I have several great clients that I love to work with. Kudos to you, BlueHickey;) on the direction you've been able to take your business. I agree with your philosophy and approach. I too am working to build a company that does not rely solely on working for clients. I don't think my string of good fortune can last too long without hiccups. I'm working on some websites that I hope will help to give me more stability and allow me to expand my horizons.

Potatoes

Quoting your business

When you quote on a job, the tendency is to quote to get the job, which usually means quoting low.
That'll eat you.
*snip*
If someone balks at the cost, you need to be clear with them about what you offer.
*snip*
If they think its too high, they can always get their 14 year-old nephew to do some crap drawings to represent their company or product.
THAT is why your services are needed.
*snip*
Obviously, if you and I are in a position to offer professional services in art, we've gone quite a bit furhter than that.

There was a recent article in Creative Cow magazine about dealing with clients. One person's approach was to DOUBLE his rates. He found that he got the high-end clients and made good money at it. Of course, it helps to be an expert and be able to deliver, but instead of "bottom-feeding" he went after big clients, not every job that came by.

I'm a Freelance Editor. I've made some bad deals to get work, but it did give me types of work that I can now include on my resume/reel that can attract more similar work. However, now I'm very careful about itemizing everything that I will do and how much it will cost. e.g. You want extra DVDs burned? You can have all you want for $25 each.

I also provide a flat rate for a set amount of work. Changes over and above what is reasonable (this too is agreed upon prior to starting work) are billed at an hourly rate.

A key aspect of managing your business is managing your clients. You can choose your clients as much as they can choose their vendors.

One person's approach was to DOUBLE his rates. He found that he got the high-end clients and made good money at it. Of course, it helps to be an expert and be able to deliver, but instead of "bottom-feeding" he went after big clients, not every job that came by.

This is a great theory when you are only taking on freelance gigs that you do at night after you come home from you day job. You have the luxury of pushing your price up because it's not a matter of life or death.

BUT! When you go solo and there isn't any other money coming in besides what you bring in from your own efforts, you inevitably will drop your rates and make them affordable to just about everyone in order to keep bread on the table. I am speaking from personal experience here.

It's all a matter of the ebb and flow of the work that you have in. I've been known to double my hourly rate when I have enough work in and am not strapped for money. If they really want me, then they'll have to pay the price I'm asking. But when work is scarce it's hard to tell all the little guys your high rate and still expect to get enough work in to pay the bills.

Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com

rates for freelance work

Obviously your own mileage will vary.

When evaluating bids, many companies throw out the highest and the lowest and evaluate the rest.

If you decide to lower your rates to keep work coming in the door, I'd recommend that you keep your stated rate the same, but offer a discount. This way, if the client comes back with repeat business, you can re-iterate that your rate hasn't gone up, they're just paying full price this time.

If a client tries to browbeat you into lowering your price, ask them if they have the lowest prices in their markets.

You have any guidelines for it? What to avoid? Expect? How could a guy get started? I'll try googling it too.. ;)

What to Avoid

Tod,

I've only been up and running for just over a month. Quite honestly, I have A LOT to learn, both in the animation/art side and the business side. I'm fortunate to have a lot of friends and family that know quite a bit about business. I'm constantly trying to learn more about anything that can help me.

As far as what to avioid. I would avoid working with clients who beat around the bush a lot. Don't work on anything for free (except maybe for family and friends):) , and be very cautious with projects that have very limited budgets. You have to try to establish professionalism and generate profit for your business. Don't let anyone make you believe you have to work for peanuts. Clients who try to avoid talking about cost are usually trying to snake you. They're looking to make money from their project, you deserve a piece of it.

Response to 3D Anim8r... freebies

I found a good site with templates and spread sheets that should be able to help you and can be used for free which is always good..
www.yourresumesucks.biz/ let me know if they help.

When you quote on a job, the tendency is to quote to get the job, which usually means quoting low.
That'll eat you.

Figure out your rate based on the time it'll take to do the job in a standard work week--5 days, 8 hours per day. Quote the time to completion and the cost based on that time.

So if you want a weeky iincome of $1000 a week, factor that its $200 a day--or $25 an hour. If that's going to cover things like taxes, expenses like utilities and rent and EVERY other concievable cost, then raise the rate accordingly. Don't guess at it either--take a figure like that, calculate what it costs you to live where you are, right now, for one day and then figure for a week or month to the duration of the job.
Then its typical to add 10% on top of that.

And stick to those numbers.

If someone balks at the cost, you need to be clear with them about what you offer.
If its a clear-cut design sense, keen problem-solving ability, appealing art style--whatever.....you need to be ready to justify every damn dime you charge for.
If they think its too high, they can always get their 14 year-old nephew to do some crap drawings to represent their company or product.
THAT is why your services are needed.

Remember, no-one questions the service rates of a plumber or electirician, or a doctor. People do it with art because we ALL have an association to art via our schooling ( in the western world)--so the layman often thinks that art is "just like it was in kindergarten".
Obviously, if you and I are in a position to offer professional services in art, we've gone quite a bit furhter than that.

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

I found a good site with templates and spread sheets that should be able to help you and can be used for free which is always good..
www.yourresumesucks.biz/ let me know if they help.

On a side note, that website should really be called: www.OurWebsiteDesignSucks! Those colors are pretty hard on the eyes!:eek:

Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com

Remember, no-one questions the service rates of a plumber or electirician, or a doctor..

Ken, I'm and electrician ( www.completewiring.com ), who wants to grow up to be a animator.

Trust, me they question my rates.. all the time, :p but everything you said is true. I'm not the cheapest electrician in town, but like you said, maybe they can get their brother in-law or what ever to do it, I think most trades are simliar with respect to "you get what you pay for".

Theres a great little program available called numbers cruncher that helps you determain what to charge an hour, it's made for the service industry (plumbers electricians, etc.) but if flash potatoe, or anybody else is interested, email me here or at adam@completewiring.com, and I can tell you how to come up with a simple formula that one could billed in excel that would pretty much do the same thing for free.

Not charging enough is the surest way I know of to go out of business FAST.

JMTC,
Adam

I agree

My goal right now is to attend college in an animation institute in Tokyo and learn anime-quality animation so I can have my dream of creating quality animation. Some people think that all that cartoony "Cartoon Cartoon" stuff can still pass since people are making money of that junk, but I am more into the "early Disney-late Anime" style that's more realistic and seems more expressive.

Now I am only sure that after I attend that institute that I can only be offered a job in Japan or other anime-oriented countries like Korea. Now being an American, it might be difficult to find an American business with the qualities that I was educated in, but maybe not. So I was thinking of starting a studio for westerners who excel in the eastern style. Be it by taxing people for their "would be" animes, or actually starting our own independant ventures.

Animation writer who loves...Animation!

Figure out your rate based on the time it'll take to do the job in a standard work week--5 days, 8 hours per day. Quote the time to completion and the cost based on that time.

I totally agree. To start to get an idea of how long things take to animate or create, whenever you sit down to work on a project keep track of how many hours it takes to work on it. Even if it's not for a client, if its just for fun, keep track. For example, have a piece of paper next to your computer or table and write down the time you start working and then when you take a break or stop for the day, write that time down as well. Doing this will allow you to add up how many hours it's taken to complete a project.

I've done this in the past and it really, really helped me bid things out far more accurately.

Flash Character Packs, Video Tutorials and more: www.CartoonSolutions.com

I totally agree. To start to get an idea of how long things take to animate or create, whenever you sit down to work on a project keep track of how many hours it takes to work on it. Even if it's not for a client, if its just for fun, keep track. For example, have a piece of paper next to your computer or table and write down the time you start working and then when you take a break or stop for the day, write that time down as well. Doing this will allow you to add up how many hours it's taken to complete a project.

I've done this in the past and it really, really helped me bid things out far more accurately.

Yea, the key thing about doing it this way is you NEED to budget in down-time for yourself. Time in the evenings, weekends.......YOU need to regenerate.
The schmuck that says he can do it in a week, and then knocks himself out working 4 of the 7 days without sleep isn't earning anything.
He'll be in a bind when they ask for a similar job done in less time.
If the client has to wait longer, pay a bit more because of it, then so be it.
Being a professional means responsibly managing all aspects of the profession--and that means its just a job--not a lifestyle.

I implore anyone to be sane about taking on and tackling the work. Sure, some other young buck might be able to crank it out in less time, under more stress--but how long will they last doing it that way?

Besides, if for whatever reasons mistakes get made (and they will) then there's a natural buffer built in to accomodate mistakes and add minimal stress--even if it means the job needs to be re-done from scratch. Imo, THAT is how to do the job.

"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)

freelance invoicing

I know how to quote and rate my work, but more on the business side, does anyone know good resources for invoices or creating contracts?

Invoicing

3D Anim8r

I recently purchased QuickBooks Premier and highly recommend it. It not only makes it very easy to keep track of expenditures and billing, it also makes creating invoices very fast and easy. It was only $300 at CostCo.

Pototoes