Full time freelancers

[glorybound]

Hey! What is your busiest time of the year? I had a crazy last 9 month, however, in my experience late Fall and Winter is even busier. How about you other full time freelancers?

[AndresAhumada]

In Chile most of the work is focused in winter and autumn.
In the spring down requests fairly and summer nothing happens.

[glorybound]

What do you do in the Summer?

In Chile most of the work is focused in winter and autumn.
In the spring down requests fairly and summer nothing happens.

[AndresAhumada]

Studying the early summer. All it related to CGI and the arts.
Moreover the holiday with my daughter and wife disconnected from the world.

Although the first part of summer use to promote myself more ontacts and between offices.


Why that question?

[glorybound]

I have only been full time for the last 10 months, so I want to know what to expect. I have freelanced for 20 + years, but finally went full time 10 months ago. Currently, I have a couple months of work lined up and smaller jobs show up all the time; 3-4 a month. I don't have enough full time experience to know how much I should be putting aside for the slow times.

[AndresAhumada]

if you are passionate about this CGI then you have to learn to appreciate your free time. Rest and digest all the work of a year is important to advance.

[glorybound]

About 8 months ago I woke up on a Monday with no work. I worked non stop for 2 months and then, bam, no work. It only lasted 3 days and I have been busy since. One, I wish I took the 3 days to relax and 2, it put a little fear in me.

[flino2004]

November, December and part of January are the lowest months....I have been on my own for the past 5 years.... beside those months there are not rules, in one month you can make a lot money and the next one zero..... when you are in these low days, look around and remember that you have freedom and enjoy the time with your family.... anytime you would be super busy again with no time at all and circle continues.

[glorybound]

So, do you accumulate several months of bill money for those down times? Or, do you draw unemployment? I have paid in for 25+ years and I have never been unemployed. I know, around here in the Winter, the construction guys simply draw unemployemnt for a couple months.

[flino2004]

save your money and see your income yearly not monthly.....other wise you could stress you out when you don't have much work....It will pick it up again, even if you talk to a client today about a project they can come with the project few weeks later.

[glorybound]

I have noticed that. I send a quote, which goes silents for weeks or even months, and then they'll be ready to pull the trigger, eventually.

save your money and see your income yearly not monthly.....other wise you could stress you out when you don't have much work....It will pick it up again, even if you talk to a client today about a project they can come with the project few weeks later.

[prateekvishwa]

save your money and see your income yearly not monthly.....other wise you could stress you out when you don't have much work....it will pick it up again, even if you talk to a client today about a project they can come with the project few weeks later.

exactly!..

[AndresAhumada]

YEP!!! thats it!

[AJ Jefferies]

save your money and see your income yearly not monthly

I cannot agree more with this.

I've been exceptionally quiet the last 5-6 weeks. Plenty of quotes, pitches and a couple of small jobs but quiet enough to start getting a little nervous. But then I realised that I've been working like a lunatic for 6 months solid and if I don't get another job through the door until 2016, things will still be ok (well, financially speaking at least!)

[AndresAhumada]

I cannot agree more with this.

I've been exceptionally quiet the last 5-6 weeks. Plenty of quotes, pitches and a couple of small jobs but quiet enough to start getting a little nervous. But then I realised that I've been working like a lunatic for 6 months solid and if I don't get another job through the door until 2016, things will still be ok (well, financially speaking at least!)

Therefore it is important to take time (loose months) to go looking new customers and business opportunities.

Change perspective.