a question for the freelancers

Derick if you haven't already I suggest getting a domain, and putting up a website. It's amazing how fast you start getting traffic and generate interest if you do it well. And it gives the impression that you are serious about your freelance work.

There are also sites like Guru.com . Where you can fill out a profile and leave a resume. I gotten some invitations to bid on projects there. You might start there.

I do a lot web design and identity/branding type stuff. I basically started hanging out at web forums that cater to the new web entrepeneurs. They usually have graphics forums that cater to this market. I started out by answering requests for small projects and slowly built up a client base from there. You have to go where the market is. I have a few local clients, but in the rural area I am in the usual attitude is that they have a niece or nephew with frontpage that can put something together for them on the cheap.

I do maintain a couple non-profit sites for free just to get my name out there locally, like the local museum, and a couple pet rescues.

I'm in the same boat as Phracker. I do a lot of web design and animation but also help out with displays at museums and the like. There are also other non-standard animation tracks that I do to pay the bills like forensic aniamtion (which pays far better than the museum displays!). Then there's making yourself known to publishers--writing as well as multimedia cds. Or working with schools, churches, and professional organizations. Never underestimate the interest in someone who can produce good DVD menus. :) There's also television studios and commercials and game design studios. If you're financially solvent, maybe you could take the time to learn a foreign language and spend some time overseas in China, Korea, Japan, or India working in their animation studios. I'm not in the "hollywood" industry, but I would think that someone who has first hand experiences with animation studios overseas AND can speak the language would be invaluable to a studio that outsources part of their animation work. But, I'm starting to speak out of my arse since I have no firsthand knowledge of these practices. The long and short of it is, if you're going to just specialize in film and broadcast animation, then you're cutting yourself off from a wide range of opportunities. I'd love to work for Pixar, but it ain't gonna happen. So it pays to stay flexible about the animation you are willing to do and for whom.

Hope this helps.

The long and short of it is, if you're going to just specialize in film and broadcast animation, then you're cutting yourself off from a wide range of opportunities...So it pays to stay flexible about the animation you are willing to do and for whom.

Couldn't agree more. When I started out the goal was to work for one of the "bigs" - which I have. But along the way (and since) I've done work for all kinds of projects that never saw a movie screen. E-learning, interactive documentation, games, location-based entertainment, etc. It's all animation, and my pay from these projects spends exactly the same as my pay from the big studio did.

Now this might not be the time nor the place for something like this, but you can chalk it up to me being a noob.

One of the reasons I hang around forums like this (besides just enjoying people talking about animation and the hope that I might have something to contribute) is to learn about the business from experienced people.

I'm still working on my skills and learning the craft, but I'm always on the lookout for information dealing with actually making money doing the things that I enjoy.

I've always thought (hoped, wished) that there were many other possibilities for income other than film and tv, and now there are successful animators here not only confirming that, but saying that you'd be stupid to ignore them.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I think a lot of people could really benefit from your experiences in fields other than entertainment. What they're like. Where to look. How to market yourself, etc.

I really don't know what I'm talking about. I just remembered a thread asking how these forums could be improved, and when I read some of the above replies I couldn't help but think how interesting and helpful that type of information could be.

eh... If nothing else maybe it'll give one of you a good idea for a book. I'd certainly buy it.

The long and short of it is, if you're going to just specialize in film and broadcast animation, then you're cutting yourself off from a wide range of opportunities. I'd love to work for Pixar, but it ain't gonna happen. So it pays to stay flexible about the animation you are willing to do and for whom.

Y'know, just as an aside here, I'm admittedly a "direct and to the point" kind of guy (you could say abrasive and be somewhat justified). So, I'd like to point out that if you're working in the film/television industry, you have my respect. I'd love to do that kind of work, but I don't feel that I'm good enough nor do I wish to relocate to the parts of the world that are doing said work (my grandparents aren't going to be around much longer so would like to stick close to them while I have the chance). Add to that, my interests are more in line with forensic work, multimedia, and independant short animations.

So, I don't want to give the impression that I'm down on anyone who works at a Disney/Blue Sky/Pixar or Nickelodeon/Klasky-Csupo style studio. I'm just using the skills that I do have to be a part of my profession and part of the animation community as a whole.

But, being where I am (figuratively), I'm seeing a lot of work that you freelancers can do in the downtime between films and television shows that could pay the bills and keep your skills sharp. That's all I'm getting at. :)

wow, that's great. i didn't even know sites like that existed! i've a lot to learn. i'm currently working on a short film and hope to get started on a website as soon as that's out of the way in a couple of months. thanks to everyone for all the advice

Its a good site and the best place for freelancers. I'm a member in this. Its a good place we can trust.

I think we can use guru in a better way if we become a GURU VENDOR, actually i'm not a vendor. If my assumption is correct, most of the chances of bidding goes to Vendors.

Hope u have joined guru.. al the best wishes.