where do you guys get your freelance jobs?

Air Rick · 11-14-2013, 05:01 PM

Forget craigslist, sites like Elance and Freelancer.com are the worst. You actually have to pay money for the opportunity to get yourself noticed.

I understand the concept, but having to spend money on stuff like that defeats the purpose for me. Are there any sites out there where you can sign up for freelance stuff that don't suck as much as the two I listed above?

Evil Ash · 11-14-2013, 08:26 PM

Word of mouth works best for me.

OmniromX · 11-14-2013, 08:39 PM

Go to Universities and check out the flyers posted on billboards, or post your own. Art, writing, etc. freelance jobs are available.

Bravoie · 11-15-2013, 02:32 AM

A lot of freelancers underestimate craigslist. I've gotten a few pretty decent gigs from there mostly because it's localized so you can actually meet your clients and you're not bidding against people in India who are desperate for work. Plus it's free advertising so you really have nothing to lose. But yeah, elance/odesk/etc is a waste time because you're dealing with bottom of the barrel employers who just want extremely cheap labor.

John Coffee · 11-15-2013, 04:01 AM

As a musician: craigslist, playing as many gigs as possible whether or not they're paid, and just talking to people at shows. If you consistently do good work, people will notice you.

Gorosaurus · 11-15-2013, 05:28 PM

I'll also vouch for craigslist- but only because it's free. So you decide if jobs are worth your time and effort, because people will inevitably try to take advantage of you.

I try and do as many projects as I can, most of them free at this point. Word should get around. The goal of freelance, in my mind, is to do it long enough until you finally find a good, dependable, and consistent suitor. Perhaps they hire you full time or just provide consistent work. Either way, that's what I'm hoping materializes.

Evil Ash · 11-15-2013, 05:32 PM

I hate working for free. If I'm going to do free work, I do it for things I want to work on (my own projects, with friends) to build a portfolio or demo reel.

I'm not saying I won't work for little - but never free. It's just such an insult. The world things content creators can work for free because "it's good exposure and you can use it on your reel!"

I find a good way to do things (for me anyways) is invoice them your usual, full rate - but then discount it with a "community discount" to some lowball number.

But keep in mind I do videograpby and editing, so this may not carry over into other realms - but really I don't think anybody should work for FREE that isn't being done as a favour owed.

Evil Ash · 11-15-2013, 05:35 PM

That came off kind of dicky, like I think I'm better or something - I'm just venting.

Bobby Swisha · 11-15-2013, 06:07 PM

Nah, you're 100% right.

Slime · 11-15-2013, 07:26 PM

Gorosaurus · 11-16-2013, 03:09 PM

Yeah I would never work for free off of an internet ad or something. I'll do that for friends' businesses and things. But I suppose the days of working for beer need to wind down as well..

John Coffee · 11-17-2013, 01:42 AM

I'm not saying I would do it now, unless I was playing with friends or something, but yeah starting out I was just playing as much as possible and that did lead to paid gigse. it's different for musicians

Dominator Dan · 11-17-2013, 12:29 PM

haha this reminds me of a twitter account i follow, which is basically just real quotes from people asking for artists to do stuff for them for free https://twitter.com/forexposure_txt some of them are really annoying.

Quote:

If you truly get enjoyment out of painting then what does it matter if you get paid, getting any amount should just be icing.

eurgh

John Coffee · 11-18-2013, 07:56 PM

i hate the whole "why would i pay for something i could do myself if i put my mind to it?' or whatever. sure you could learn how to draw, you could also learn how to cook, learn to grow your own produce, learn how to fix your car, learn how to flip burgers, learn how to cut your own hair, learn how to defend yourself in court, or learn how to build a fuckin' house so i guess you shouldn't have to pay for anything since potentially, given enough time, you can learn to do fucking everything.

Evil Ash · 11-18-2013, 09:00 PM

Actors get it really bad. They're the bread and butter of any production but get paid nothing. I understand small projects don't have budgets - but you can't fucking ask some chick to go topless and act in a rape scene FOR FREE because it'll be "GREAT EXPERIENCE AND DEMO WORTH MATERIAL SUBMITTED TO LOTS OF FESTIVALS"

Fuck...

Bravoie · 11-18-2013, 10:17 PM

John Coffee · 11-28-2013, 03:00 AM

i just got told off for turning down an unpaid gig. told them i had prior plans to get drunk and meet a floozie that night. they said i was "unprofessional" and that they'd "never work with me in the future." did i take it too far

Gorosaurus · 11-28-2013, 03:11 AM

..yes. But points for honesty!!

Marko Polo · 11-28-2013, 07:08 PM

I wouldn't worry too much if they're not going to pay you.
They can't exactly call you unprofessional for turning down unpaid work because...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dictionary.com

professional - adjective
1. Following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain

They can't have it both ways.

Sorry stuff like that bugs me.

11-14-2013, 05:01 PM	#1
Air Rick Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,733	where do you guys get your freelance jobs? Forget craigslist, sites like Elance and Freelancer.com are the worst. You actually have to pay money for the opportunity to get yourself noticed. I understand the concept, but having to spend money on stuff like that defeats the purpose for me. Are there any sites out there where you can sign up for freelance stuff that don't suck as much as the two I listed above?
Air Rick Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 6,733

11-14-2013, 08:26 PM	#2
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534	Word of mouth works best for me.
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534

11-14-2013, 08:39 PM	#3
OmniromX Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 824	Go to Universities and check out the flyers posted on billboards, or post your own. Art, writing, etc. freelance jobs are available.
OmniromX Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 824

11-15-2013, 02:32 AM	#4
Bravoie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 4,713	A lot of freelancers underestimate craigslist. I've gotten a few pretty decent gigs from there mostly because it's localized so you can actually meet your clients and you're not bidding against people in India who are desperate for work. Plus it's free advertising so you really have nothing to lose. But yeah, elance/odesk/etc is a waste time because you're dealing with bottom of the barrel employers who just want extremely cheap labor.
Bravoie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 4,713

11-15-2013, 05:32 PM	#7
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534	I hate working for free. If I'm going to do free work, I do it for things I want to work on (my own projects, with friends) to build a portfolio or demo reel. I'm not saying I won't work for little - but never free. It's just such an insult. The world things content creators can work for free because "it's good exposure and you can use it on your reel!" I find a good way to do things (for me anyways) is invoice them your usual, full rate - but then discount it with a "community discount" to some lowball number. But keep in mind I do videograpby and editing, so this may not carry over into other realms - but really I don't think anybody should work for FREE that isn't being done as a favour owed.
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534

11-15-2013, 04:01 AM	#5
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	As a musician: craigslist, playing as many gigs as possible whether or not they're paid, and just talking to people at shows. If you consistently do good work, people will notice you.

11-15-2013, 05:28 PM	#6
Gorosaurus Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 16,146	I'll also vouch for craigslist- but only because it's free. So you decide if jobs are worth your time and effort, because people will inevitably try to take advantage of you. I try and do as many projects as I can, most of them free at this point. Word should get around. The goal of freelance, in my mind, is to do it long enough until you finally find a good, dependable, and consistent suitor. Perhaps they hire you full time or just provide consistent work. Either way, that's what I'm hoping materializes.

11-15-2013, 05:35 PM	#8
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534	That came off kind of dicky, like I think I'm better or something - I'm just venting.
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534

11-15-2013, 06:07 PM	#9
Bobby Swisha Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 46,012	Nah, you're 100% right.

11-15-2013, 07:26 PM	#10
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891	yeah
Slime Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 24,891

11-16-2013, 03:09 PM	#11
Gorosaurus Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 16,146	Yeah I would never work for free off of an internet ad or something. I'll do that for friends' businesses and things. But I suppose the days of working for beer need to wind down as well..

11-17-2013, 01:42 AM	#12
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	I'm not saying I would do it now, unless I was playing with friends or something, but yeah starting out I was just playing as much as possible and that did lead to paid gigse. it's different for musicians

11-18-2013, 07:56 PM	#14
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	i hate the whole "why would i pay for something i could do myself if i put my mind to it?' or whatever. sure you could learn how to draw, you could also learn how to cook, learn to grow your own produce, learn how to fix your car, learn how to flip burgers, learn how to cut your own hair, learn how to defend yourself in court, or learn how to build a fuckin' house so i guess you shouldn't have to pay for anything since potentially, given enough time, you can learn to do fucking everything.

11-18-2013, 09:00 PM	#15
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534	Actors get it really bad. They're the bread and butter of any production but get paid nothing. I understand small projects don't have budgets - but you can't fucking ask some chick to go topless and act in a rape scene FOR FREE because it'll be "GREAT EXPERIENCE AND DEMO WORTH MATERIAL SUBMITTED TO LOTS OF FESTIVALS" Fuck...
Evil Ash Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 15,534

11-18-2013, 10:17 PM	#16
Bravoie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 4,713
Bravoie Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 4,713

11-28-2013, 03:00 AM	#17
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	i just got told off for turning down an unpaid gig. told them i had prior plans to get drunk and meet a floozie that night. they said i was "unprofessional" and that they'd "never work with me in the future." did i take it too far

11-28-2013, 03:11 AM	#18
Gorosaurus Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 16,146	..yes. But points for honesty!!