Join in if you are self-employed and work from home

Amatheya81

Hello All, how are you doing this rather revolting September day?

I've finally got my but into gear and started doing some work again. I spent the weekend with my friends, one of which is a archiological illustrator and the other is a photographer. there's nothing like spending time with other freelance artists to get you motivated and I've deffinately lacked that over the past couple of months. Since then it seems that the universe is conspiring to get me working. At the bootsale I saw a woman advertising herself as a portrait artist, she had examples of her work on the table and they were absolutely awful! Then I had a friend send me a link to People Per Hour freelance site, I had a enquirey out of the blue when I posted a picture and the forum I visit regularely and yesterday on MSE another artist was asking questions on the small business board and I relised that I've not really been trying that hard to get freelance work... In other words, I know exactly how to find commissions and generate work I've just been a little on the indecisive side about putting my all into it.

My "day job" is hecktic at the moment and I'm finding more and more that I'm having to take work home for no extra pay which is really eating into my personal time but hopefully that will calm down soon and I'll be able to concentrate on my art more.

So, my plans for september are...
-List some of my cards on folksey
-Create some portraits to display on my website
-Re-design my website (again )

I've already signed up on people per hour as they get a lot of freelance design work. Mostly logos but I could do that at a pinch, Listed a print for sale on Deviant Art and started the first portrait. I'm planning on doing 2 in each medium that I use regularely, one from a bad photo and one from a good to show the type of results clients can expect. Finishing all of them in my spare time will probably take me into October but with a little luck the time and effort will pay off.

:beer:

Horace

The two jobs I had interviews for I didnt get and yesterday I was told by an agency that my CV was rubbish and that I didnt stand a snowball in hell's chance of getting PA work because I had been out of that business for too long:mad: I havent forgotten how type, use the phone, make bookings, look after diaries or do filing since I ceased being a PA in 2007 - do they thing that running your own business is easy and that you instantly become a brain dead moron who is incapable of work:mad:

Hearing that garbage yesterday gave me a kick up the pants, one networking group is being restarted and I spotted an opportunity last month via LinkedIn, I had retweeted a message from a coffee shop in Brum who were offering their shop out of hours for workshops/meetings so someone I know sent me a message via linkedin asking if the venue would be willing to go to them (I don't think they quite understood the message) that gave me an idea. I have formed some alliances with people now and can offer workshops of my own some of these are on a 50/50 profit share some are at cost and some are being done purely by me so I get all the money (rubs hands with glee). I was blogging about it yesterday. I already include mini workshops in my networking group meets anyway but these would be half day or even residential events.

I have a job to apply for - the closing date is tomorrow and I have already got some insider information about it. It is a job that is dead easy to do. They can only say no, I have also applied for another job with MG Motors. Both jobs are marketing jobs and both involve events.

What is galling about the situation at the moment is that I have possible work in November and certainly have work next year but none now..still I have a plan.:D

I know that I have been feeling pretty low lately and went to see my GP who diagnosed depression and I am now seeing a counsellor, I have self esteem issues which were deeprooted in childhood so I have a fair bit to work through but I am getting there and starting to get my mojo back.

Amatheya81

Sounds like you've been through the mills recently Horace but at least you've got a way forward planned and by the sound of it the future's looking up

Horace

The future is bright, the future is Horace:D

I picked up some work this evening - it will be ongoing and it was referred to me by my web geek. One of his clients wants someone to look after her blog full time because she cannot spare the time to look after it herself and my web geek doesnt have the time either as he is too busy with other clients, I was referred because I am considered an expert:D

I have also been approached by a women only networking company from up north asking about my running their women only events here, however, I am treading carefully because they want to grow too quickly and I don't want to damage my reputation by getting myself embroiled, sure I will talk but whether I join up is a different matter.

Amatheya81

Morning

Horace - How's the talks with the women only events thingie going?

My weekend of work didn't quite go the way I planned. I was supposed to spend Sunday working on some new illustrations and researching a new way to print cards for half the price. Unfortunately I droped into a friends for a cup of tea on the way to the craft shop and didn't leave until 10pm (Oops!)
Oh well, I did find a job on PPH to bid on. It's a mind numbingly boring one but it will be £120 for a couple of hours work if I get it and I desperately need to get some money in my business account so that I can update my design software which is now becoming a real problem as I can't compete with people using the modurn stuff because they can do things 100 times faster and it comes out looking 100 times slicker. I should mention that my pathetic software is now over 10 years old and I've never upgraded before so I suppose it has served me well. Unfortunately replacing it and getting the supplementary programme I need will cost me about £600 and there's no guarentee that my current computer will run it so I may still need to upgrade that. There goes any chance I had of making a profit this year!!

Horace

Afternoon all.

I think the women only events thing was a time waster - so far zip. I hate people who waste my time:mad:

Still I am now offering my services as a blog writer which will earn me some money. I cannot get on with People Per Hour at all although I am trying other things such as Working-Bees but as yet that hasn't produced anything either.

I spent the whole weekend doing nothing, I didnt switch the computer on at all. When I say I did nothing, that is a fib because I started drawing up an auction list ready for a charity auction next month but I did this with pen and paper in front of the telly so that doesnt count.

I was due to have a breakfast meeting tomorrow but no-one has booked and no-one has had the courtesy to let me know if they are going so I have told the venue that I will leave it this week - I shall head off to Biscotti instead as it is a free/cheap event. Did go out today and put £30.01 of petrol in the car, the petrol price has gone up again back to £1.35 a ltr from the £1.32 it was a fortnight ago:mad: I shall make sure that I drive like Miss Daisy:cool:

Amatheya81

Well, didn't get the job on PPH. I did have a quick look at the employer advice and saw that they specifically advise people not to use freelancers who have no feedback :mad: How the heck are new users supposed to get work?

Oh well, I still need to save up for a new copy of Illustrator and Photoshop so I guess I'll just have to pull my finger out and sell some cards.

Eltee12

Morning All

Hope everyone OK.

Wordsmith wrote: »

As I'm here, Eltee - how's that course going???

Sent off my first assignment last week!

mizmir

Hi all

I have 7 months to make a very part time business (dog training) into a full time reasonable income generating one. Have ideas for online stuff - and have some other strings (in the coaching area) to add. Anyway thought would join in here and share the ups and downs.

Horace

Hello Mizmir

Must admit that I have posted on here in a goodly while. Have felt a bit fraudulent doing so as I am now claiming dole money, I just couldnt get enough money coming in. The person who wanted me to update her blog wanted a whole lot more and there was no way that I could do it and referred them back to webgeek (they were taking the piddle to be honest). I have managed to get my business account out of the over overdraft limit but it is still overdrawn, if I can get more money coming in then I can start the networking events again. They can be profitable because now I know what I was doing wrong and have vowed not to listen to the person who has been advising me.

I am constantly on the look out for work - I don't care what it is to be truthful as long as I get something. After a week on the dole I took my evidence book to my first signing on session and the book was nearly filled. My event planner friend who is in the same boat now manages a pawn shop down south.

I have a few irons in the fire but none of them have produced anything yet - I didnt get the other job re the music festival either because I hadn't organised a festival before still they have the person they deserve.