Work Load balance

[glorybound]

When you guys talk to clients, how do you handle the workload? Knowing that you will not get all the work you quote, or the projects you quote might not come back to you for months. How do you sound not too desperate, or too cocky? I am swamped and really can't take on any work (cocky), but I don't want to sound like I am sitting and waiting for the phone to ring, either. A couple of months ago I had 17 active projects, missed my family vacation, but I got all the work done and on time. No more missing vacation; I have younger kids, so they are my priority. Currently, I have just enough work to keep my happy for a couple of months, which means I can also have a life. If I take on more work, I'll start working 24/7 again. Do you turn down work when you are already working on a project, hoping the next project comes in the day you complete it? Two weeks ago a guy called with a hot job that he needs right away, it was another one of those mansions, from a different guy. I worked all week double time, but he sat on the gray-scale proof for a week. He changed a bunch of things, I worked another week, double time, and he has had the proofs for another week. I anticipated this, so I kept taking on new projects, and it has all worked out.

Okay, I am babbling; you get my point, hopefully. How do you handle schedules and workloads.

[flino2004]

if you have a lot work and you see that you have more is coming I would hire somebody for sure....I was like you few years ago and long history short I'm divorced now.... Family and memories for your kids first.

[mitviz]

your doing pretty well! tell me when to send my resume-

[glorybound]

There is enough stress worrying about keeping my busy. The thought of having to keep someone else feed and housed, I can't shoulder that. It's getting easier to relax and trust the work is coming, but I am still anxious over the work halting.

[cheerioboy]

Budgeting? I know I've had trouble getting it right so I'm not living month to month - but if the jobs/money are flowing in you can start to budget for future months expenses until you have 6 months into the future covered. Or more. Whatever would ease your mind. I've been using the classic version of YNAB (https://www.youneedabudget.com/) to manually input expenses and manage my spending.

[glorybound]

Nice! Thanks for the share. I try to spend more than I save and that's just to avoid the tax man. Basically, You can't deduct family vacations, but your daughter's iPad is a different story

[glorybound]

I guess the questions is what do you tell that potential client? Do you tell them the truth, which is you are booked for the next 2 months or do you say you have plenty of time for their project? I was thinking about this more. I think telling the potential client that you'll have to look at your schedule might be a good way to handle that questions.

[mitviz]

Have a backup team

[cheerioboy]

Well yeah. Once you have your money in order which would make you less stressful about the future - then it would be easier to push back on clients and not drown in work. That's just my personal thoughts on the matter when I was freelance.

[mitviz]

Well yeah. Once you have your money in order which would make you less stressful about the future - then it would be easier to push back on clients and not drown in work. That's just my personal thoughts on the matter when I was freelance.

i think a friend in the uk told me that once as young artist, he burnt out twice and then after took a break for a few years from 3D

[glorybound]

I am almost at a point that I can survive on my current clients, but is that smart? I will always be where I am, which is comfortable, but I am not driving my dream car, yet. I guess the ultimate goal is your accountant just deposits your money in the bank every day, while you are on the beach.

[AlexP]

Complacency is dangerous as a freelancer, as clients could disappear tomorrow. A salaried employee would work out much cheaper than you think, and allow you to take on more work - more revenue
Alternatively, find some good freelancers that you can negotiate a decent rate with, outsource elements of the project. For example, outsource all the modelling of a project so all you need to do is light and texture, will free up loads of time. In the long run, freelancer will work out much more expensive though.

[glorybound]

That's my biggest fear, which is becoming compliant and wake up one day lost in a haze. I'll have to think about this more.

[Neilg]

We turn down tons of jobs. Better to be quiet than end up overworked and having to make compromises. Just say 'sorry, i'm booked'
If you're finding yourself continuously booked months out at a time then you need to raise your prices.

[glorybound]

Being quiet doesn't pay the bills, so a nice balance would be ideal. I would think that once someone finds someone, they continue to use them, which is why I hate turning down work. I do turn down work, work that I know I can't make deadline. Raising my rate would be good, however, I am told that I am already priced higher than most. I do wish we had some kind of industry average.