One of the joys of freelance is knowing when and how to follow the money. Like a decent street walker you know. In fact, the word "freelancer" in the original Hittite IS "prostitute".
You're not in a cushy office anymore; you're not doing the random act of freelance WHILE at said cushy office. This isn't about supplementing your income, this IS your income. And at times it's wonderful. You get a new project, throw yourself into it, get paid... move on. minimal stress. This is provided that the client has scruples or accepts your fee to begin with (or doesn't say - yes! we need you but send the quote and then miraculously disappears weeks later).
So here i was prepping a project for a client when i get an email to go play dress up for one of my favourite brands. Instant cash. I jump at it, because let's face it, bills do not stop because your main stay has. All was well (as well as can be for what its worth) when i heard an audible voice say, "Hustler". That word flashed through my mind with a fierceness. I.... I'm not a hustler. I... I just know where to go where the money is. I mean i KNOW of (perceived) hustlers and i'm not anything like that... right? I'm a freelancer.
Ina philosophical sense, we're all hustlers - rushing into traffic, putting up with crap just to take home an after tax bogus cheque to pay bogus bills. We are all hustlers, they'd say. But i never thought... never associated myself with that life.
The word "Hustler" is obscene to me. Like the word MONEY. In that (referencing the latter), i much rather dive in head first into a potentially creative and life changing campaign; I'd rather work the brief than be bothered by payments. But i'm not that much of a hippie (okay well maybe). One must be practical. You must be paid.
Is this my life; rush to the corners of the island, be at the Earth's beck and call to "make that paper"? And lest you say, "why not go back and work full time?", thanks genius.... i really didn't think of that. But more importantly... I don't trust a damn corporation anymore. Still, I take on the world. I do it all because i'm not fond of losing. I'm a freelancer. I'm good. I'm not a hustler.
Addendum: Several days later, Tracy's everlasting Nokia fell again. that night he decided to finally get a new one because "you can come between me and my love life, but not my freelance [money]". ....
I am NOT a hustler.
Pax
Tracy j H
You're not in a cushy office anymore; you're not doing the random act of freelance WHILE at said cushy office. This isn't about supplementing your income, this IS your income. And at times it's wonderful. You get a new project, throw yourself into it, get paid... move on. minimal stress. This is provided that the client has scruples or accepts your fee to begin with (or doesn't say - yes! we need you but send the quote and then miraculously disappears weeks later).
So here i was prepping a project for a client when i get an email to go play dress up for one of my favourite brands. Instant cash. I jump at it, because let's face it, bills do not stop because your main stay has. All was well (as well as can be for what its worth) when i heard an audible voice say, "Hustler". That word flashed through my mind with a fierceness. I.... I'm not a hustler. I... I just know where to go where the money is. I mean i KNOW of (perceived) hustlers and i'm not anything like that... right? I'm a freelancer.
Ina philosophical sense, we're all hustlers - rushing into traffic, putting up with crap just to take home an after tax bogus cheque to pay bogus bills. We are all hustlers, they'd say. But i never thought... never associated myself with that life.
The word "Hustler" is obscene to me. Like the word MONEY. In that (referencing the latter), i much rather dive in head first into a potentially creative and life changing campaign; I'd rather work the brief than be bothered by payments. But i'm not that much of a hippie (okay well maybe). One must be practical. You must be paid.
"If you're good at something, don't do it for free." - The Joker
Is this my life; rush to the corners of the island, be at the Earth's beck and call to "make that paper"? And lest you say, "why not go back and work full time?", thanks genius.... i really didn't think of that. But more importantly... I don't trust a damn corporation anymore. Still, I take on the world. I do it all because i'm not fond of losing. I'm a freelancer. I'm good. I'm not a hustler.
Addendum: Several days later, Tracy's everlasting Nokia fell again. that night he decided to finally get a new one because "you can come between me and my love life, but not my freelance [money]". ....
I am NOT a hustler.
Pax
Tracy j H
Luke the boy from Lifebuoy - one of my FAV brands. Had real fun that Saturday.
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