starting your freelance career

[tou]

Hello, I'm in the process of beginning my career as a freelance illustrator. Can anyone give me any information on what I might need to start things off. For example, do I need to obtain a tax id number? do I have to register as a small business? I'm sorta clueless in this aspect of illustration so any information will be helpful. Thank you.

tou

[Elwell]

For example, do I need to obtain a tax id number?
No, your SS# is fine. (I assume you are in the US?)
do I have to register as a small business?
No.

[tou]

Thanks Elwell. :D

[FinbarReilly]

Any advice for burgeoning free-lancers? Like, good sites to check out, that sort of thing?

Thanks!
FR

[jfwalls]

Spend at least 1 to 2 hours a day looking for work. That includes searching for places and people to send work to, making contacts in the business that can give you advice or hints on who's hiring, and sending out portfolio samples. Always follow up your submissions, and stay in touch with AD's that are interested, even if they don't have work for you right away.

And remember, don't get discouraged, listen to others who know, and out of 20 submissions you might get one job.

good luck

[DavePalumbo]

Spend at least 1 to 2 hours a day looking for work

sadly, time spent on CA doesn't really count

[Jason Embury]

sadly, time spent on CA doesn't really count

depends. I've gotten work from people contacting me through CA before, so I think it works.

My advice would for you to be good in a lot of areas, but GREAT in one. Versatility is a great thing to have as a freelance illustrator, but you need to be really great at one thing if you want to make a living doing this. Figure out what it is (cartoons, spot illustration, painting, sculpting, design etc....) and create a demand for your work. If people are looking for an illustrator your work alone isn't going to get you the job. You have to take direction well, you have to FOLLOW directions, be easy to work with, flexible in your style, adapt to changing work environments, and be professional. You can have all the talent in the world, but the first time you flake out on a client, they're probably not going to give you more work. Don't miss your deadlines. Keep your overhead down to start, yet give yourself the tools you need to succeed. Get your own website (not a free one, you want to show potential employers that you're serious enough to invest in yourself) Be a quick learner. Don't make the same mistake over and over again. hmmm.....I'm leaving out a ton, but those are some good pointers to start with. and have fun doing your work. It shows if you're just cranking stuff out to crank it out, or if you're letting your enthusiasm for a project come through in your work. People notice that. :D

[jfwalls]

I've actually gotten some decent work off of here. I've also met other professionals who have pointed me towards clients that are hiring. The trick is to be smart, and keep an eye open for the schmucks trying to get cheap or free art. However, spending 2 hours in the lounge talking about movies and other stuff doesn't count.

[atomic-james]

Great to see everyone pitching in with their vast experiences. I think you're wise to ask what it takes, better to learn from somone else's mistakes rather than your own!

On that note, all of the above that has been written is solid advice. I've been doing this for about 10 years, and persistence surely pays off. One tip I can offer is to separate yourself from the crowd as much as possible. There is alot of stiff competition here at CA as far as getting gigs, which keeps us all on our toes, but don't afraid to try different websites that are out there as well.

One good way to get noticed is to enter a competition. If you win, that means lots of exposure for yourself, plus prizes (ching ching!) Eatpoo.com is one that does them as well as here. Also, don't be afraid to cold call companies. Some of my longest term clients I've had are the ones that don't do any advertising at all! Go after them, don't wait to be called.

Definitely get yourself a real website, and update it as often as possible. Some people don't like agents, but the way I look at it: Better to have work coming in with a percentage taken out, than no work at all! Sign up with as many as you can, but be careful about signing exclusive contracts.

Lastly, get some business cards made. -Not printed out of your printer. You want to show people that you are serious. And hand them out as often as you can to everyone you meet wherever you go. Network, network!

There is a great Podcast available on iTunes, called Media Artist Secrets. GREAT tips on runing a small business. (also on MediaArtist.com).

Good luck, and remember nothing can inspire you more than putting a stack of bills infront of your computer!

-James
portfolio: http://jamesdonvitodesign.com:^^:

[atomic-james]

Don't forget the 50/50 rule of payment:

If you do business over the internet ALWAYS ask for 50% upfront before you start anything. Just make sure before you do anything make it clear to them that you need 50% of payment upfront, and 50% BEFORE you deliver the final product. Open a Paypal account, and have them pay you through there 1st.

This is a sure-fire way of weeding out the shady characters.

Good luck!

James
portfolio: http://jamesdonvitodesign.com

[yousir]

Best of Luck, Tou.

I'm basically where you are right now, but a little further along. I've been at this for just about two years now. In my first year, I had some savings to fall back on which I think is a big reason I made it through that year.

I'm currently finding myself in an odd position. I seem to be stuck between the lower and upper rungs of the job-hunt. At the start I did a lot of really small jobs - 100$ here, 50$ there, 200$ there - and after getting one or two larger jobs I got pretty sick of the little ones (also I got ripped off a few times). Now, I'm feeling a bit underqualified for a lot of the jobs I want and overqualified for others.

I'm in the process of revising my portfolio; focusing in on what I do best. My portfolio at the moment is a bit scattered. I have to agree with J Embury that having a definite focus is key.

I found a lot of my little jobs at DeviantArt.com. Heed the advice of Atomic-James; ask for half up-front. I've been ripped off several times. Once they've got your artwork there's nothing forcing them to actually pay up.

I'm still struggling in the mud myself, so I can't give you any sage advice, but I thought I'd just drop you some encouragement and let you know that it can be done. Best of luck to you.

[yousir]

actually, i do have a practical piece of advice. if you use Paypal -which you'll probably have to- don't leave the money in your paypal account any longer than you have to. withdraw it to your bank account ASAP! the paypal user agreement makes it very easy for them to 'freeze' your account at any time. they don't actually take your money away, but they can block your access to it. so don't leave a whole lot of cash in there.
cheers