Freelancing is an exciting opportunity for many people, but with that excitement comes quite a bit of fear and uncertainty. Many of the leading designers and developers I learn from have been freelancing for a number of years, and they love every minute of it. Others tried to have a go at freelancing, and while things worked out, a different work environment was preferred.
Personally, I’ve never made the jump into full time freelancing, and I really don’t plan on doing so any time soon. While I’ve got a decent grasp on the technological details of the job, I plan on continuing to research the business side of things for a while until that comfort level is on par with the work itself.
There are a number of sources to pick up information & advice on freelancing. Recently, Freelance Switch has really taken the blog side of sources by storm, posting really informative and helpful articles on a consistent basis. One medium I haven’t had an opportunity to explore fully is that of books on freelancing. Luckily, I was able to obtain a review copy of Being a Starving Graphic Artist Sucks by Jeremy Tuber. From the book cover:
The only resource a new or struggling designer will ever need to build their business into a six figure power house.
It takes most artists years, learning the hard way, to become a successful freelance graphic designer. Now you can learn what it takes in just one week.
I must admit; this book is huge. Weighing in at 500+ pages, there is a ton of information to absorb. What struck me first about the book was the way it’s written. Have you ever had a friend, colleague, or co-worker who seems to explain things clearly and simply in easy-to-understand language? That’s how BASGAS conveys itself.
As it would be pretty tough to go through and give my insight on each and every chapter, I’ll simply provide a section outline of the book:
- Mastering Client Interactions
- Running an Effective Design Business
- Marketing & Promoting Your Design Business
- Negotiating, Pricing & Protecting Your Work
- Real Stories, Real Clients and Some Really Hard Lessons
- Workbook Exercises for the Success-Driven Designer
- Managing Client Relations
- Running an Effective, Money-Making Business
- Marketing and Promotion
- Money, Pricing, and More Money
- Additional Resources and Information
The amount of information provided in this book can be daunting at first, but it’s put together in a way that is very easy to read and learn from. The Workbook Exercises are a great way to put the material you’ve been reading about to the test. Ratings are provided which can guide you to read a bit more on an area you may be unclear about.
I think Being a Starving Graphic Artist Sucks by Jeremy Tuber is a fantastic resource for both new as well as seasoned graphic artists. There are many lessons taught which can really save you from having to learn them the hard way; which can be devastating to a new freelancer and his or her career.
