WORKING FREELANCE IN THE CREATIVE MEDIA SECTOR

By Kallum Mullen & David Hall

What does freelance mean? Freelance is working for your self using the skills you have

developed by working to a brief given by clients for money in return.

It means that you have chosen to create a name for yourself rather than be just one in a hundred at a developer company for example.

Industries within the freelance sector

Industries within the sector include: Freelance Journalism, Associate Producer (Television) & Freelance Photographer. Etc.

Journalism: Hard work, shop around, pitch your ideas around, need contacts, paid per article or story.

Associate Producer (Television): Work well with a team, raise money for financing, supervise stages of production & act well under time constraints/under pressure.

Freelance Photography: Take pictures and sell for X amount, can sell to tabloids, go to events to take pictures, exclusive photos sell well, need connections & contacts.

Types of Contract Written Contract: Provides certainty for both parties, details are

clear, talks of benefits, timeframe and payments. You also have a copy of this contract as a binding pact.

Verbal: Only good for close relationships with company, this might be something as simple as a handshake, however, there is no proof of this contract existing.

Standard Form Contract: Pre planned and ready to be signed, little input from you, legal fine print may be hard to understand, can negotiate clause in contract.

Contractual Obligations Usually involves having a set amount of work

hours. X amount of hours for X amount of money. Might be X amount per asset. Each party responsible for their respective duties. Each party exchanges something of value.

Finance & Costs One of the biggest and scariest things is the fact of how much you earn and

how much you spend.

In this line of work you can expect to have work draughts, and in this time its good to have some emergency cash or even a site to sell assets you’ve made or at you’ve made for a small fee this will keep you paid during the days were you have no work.

The biggest problem with working as a freelancer is doing admin work having to look after your taxes and charging VAT as well as keeping on top of bills an managing income.

Salary According to salary.com, the median salary

(for employees) ranges from about £48,000 to about £65,000 USD depending on level of experience. While the average income of freelance developers isn't readily available information, I've seen some people claim that you can earn up to £132,000 USD as a freelance web developer.

Health & safety implications Sitting at home doing what you love may seem like

a safe job but it is in fact very dangerous there a many risk such as eye strain or back issues if you become to enveloped in your work you may go hours with about food or drink as well as no brakes it is important to look after yourself and take beaks and go out as well as keep to a schedule for both sleep and work.

Thank you, any questions?