Freelance vs. Full time studio gigs

BradMyers82

Hey guys, I wasn’t sure what to title this thread but I am simply asking for some basic advise from the people that likely know best and or first hand. I know there are plenty of articles out there, but I am more interested in what you people have to say.

I am a recent graduate, and with the competitive nature of the game industry (as everyone knows), it’s really difficult to get your foot in the door so to speak. Personally, I don’t think I am ready yet (still working hard on portfolio and learning) so the questions I have following are simply general questions to help myself and others in similar situations.

I was wondering what is easier… to get occasional freelance work (just some cash to help while you work on your portfolio) or a junior position in a studio? Occasionally I hear about recent graduates getting freelance work, but it makes me wonder if they are full of crap because there work is not so hot.

How does one go about getting freelance work? I mean, I see people post adds here that they are available for freelance but I don’t know what happens on the other end. Do they get many responses, are they posting elsewhere, are there other techniques in general?

What are acceptable terms when working freelance starting out? Do people charge hourly or by the model?

How does one find junior postions?

Like I said, these are just some general questions I have so I can start formulating a plan as to how to actually make money doing game art when the time is right. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and if you do know of good articles feel free to link them as well.

Thanks in advance.

PeterK

Freelancing isn't some "side job" you do until you think you can work in-house. It requires you to build a reputation for honestly, and timely delivery. This is a small industry, and making a wreck of someone's project will hurt your chances of getting a job.

best way to get freelance is to work at a studio for several years, and then speak to your contacts once you've left the studio to work for yourself ( When you know you're experienced enough to get it all done right).

Ask some of the better freelancers on this site, like GaviMage, or Dave King, about their experiences.

Josh_Singh

Don't go freelance yet. Make connections on these boards. Work Hard, do competitions and make interesting stuff, You got a ways to go, but it is possible.Internships are great Junior positions would be great for you, snag em if you can. If not get a day job and work on your skills when you get home.
Good luck! I look forward to seeing you progress into a marketable artist.

Gav

I've done both. Honestly, If you personally don't think you are "ready" you shouldn't attempt to make a living off of freelance work. I think a person with no experience other than education, unless the person is some sort of prodigy, will have a hard time bringing in clients and projects that are both rewarding and pays the bills. There are plenty of guys that would be willing to pay you practically nothing to do work for them...but unless you really need THAT sort of motivation, I think it would be more beneficial to just work on your own.

Almost all of my work from freelancing (and I would dare say my current studio job...) came from word of mouth. knowing people, getting your work out there (for myself it was competitions...) and just making yourself known. I charge by the hour..some charge by the week..some by the month..some per asset...it all depends.

As for a junior position...or any position, for that matter...and I think most will echo this, work more on your portfolio. Work work work, show your stuff when ever you can. Constantly improve and apply when you, and others, think you're ready. Look at other artists that have the position you want and strive to match their level.

Gav

ebagg

What Mr. Singh said.

aesir

Im a fairly recent grad and I've been doing freelance while I've been looking for a full time gig I want. I can pretty much break even every month on costs and what not. Usually not quite.

Eric Chadwick

Great advice in here.

Also this book is essential if you're considering freelancing.
http://www.gag.org/pegs/index.php

Mark Dygert

Jr position first, freelance later.

Go freelance after you've mastered the 9-5 gig and you're bored of getting steady paychecks and want to spice things up. If you think you'll have trouble getting an entry level position then you're really going to have trouble convincing people your the Juggernaut that can keep their project on course.

That's not to say you can't find freelance jobs, because you can. But the chances of them paying well or being portfolio worthy are going to be slim.

EarthQuake

Really i think there is a lot to be said for starting out as a contractor, thats what i personally did. And often times it can be very counter productive to say go get a job first, then do some contract! Because you need to have real-world experience before you can get your foot in the door for an on-site position, whereas it can be a bit easier to find some freelance work that will give you that valueable experience.

Sure, this guy may not be ready to get a contract gig for epic doing top of the line stuff, but that doesn't mean there isnt a project out there that would be a good fit for him. A good place to start contracting with no experience is small independent studios, places that don't have much to pay, but also aren't expecting the quality that you would get from a top notched artist with 5+ years of experience or whatever.

So lets be a little more realistic here, everyone seems to be saying, "you dont have enough experience.... so go get an onsite position!"..... whaaaa?

Really, you've got a couple options

#1, Which i would think will be the most productive, find a smallish indy development studios that is willing and happy to work with you, hone your skills and get some development experience.

#2, Join a mod, you can gain a lot of good experience on a mod, but this really isnt the same, as mods are usually filled with wankers and lazy bastards that have no idea what they are doing.... But you can manage to learn in this process, you just have to push yourself and try to find some reasonable people to work with.

#3, Continue to work in your free time, really to me this is the least helpful option. While you will improve as an artist, and you can try and impose some of the same restrictions that you would get in a production environment, nothing makes up for really working with a team, and nothing motivates you more than actually getting paid for your time.

So in conclusion, go out there, have low standards and take whatever work you can get! In the long run this can be a very productive way to start your career off.

aesir

yea, eq said what I meant to say but got distracted and forgot to. Take whatever you can get.

BradMyers82

Thanks for the advice so far! I really admire everyone’s work who posted thus far, so the comments really mean a lot to me.

Everyone has made really good points, but I like what earthquake is saying about finding contracts first; because in a way it validates what I was thinking.

It is sort of a solution to the whole conundrum of needing experience to get a job, but how do you get experience if no one will hire you.

You have to keep in mind at this point, I don’t care if I make shit for money as long as I am working towards getting that dream job in some way or fashion. To be honest, I am living with my father right now and have no actual bills, but the student loans are looming and eventually he will get sick of my shit and kick me out for sure.

But really, the last thing I want to do is divert any of my attention away from doing 3d art (get a day job) because in my mind, it makes it less likely that I will ever find the time to make my goals a reality. So I think the key is to slowly work my way in, like Earthquake said; get what I can take like aesir reiterated, and hopefully get to working in a studio just in time to start paying the bills as needed.

Then again, I do worry about what PeterK said about ruining my chances of getting a job by going freelance too soon.



How does one find these small Indy companies anyways?


Again, please keep comments coming, this is really helping me a lot and I am sure many others in similar positions as me.

PolyHertz

BradMyers82 wrote: »

How does one find these small Indy companies anyways?

This might help:
http://www.gamedevmap.com/

_Gr9yFox_

PolyHertz, thanks for the link! Very helpful.

Ferg

Don't forget to check craigslist, that's where I found my first studio gig as a junior character artist (ended up as the lead a year later, then the company exploded, go figure)

EarthQuake

We have a large section for paid work here, onsite and freelance, you should check through there for starters.

stimpack

I started out as freelance and had the good fortune of being taken under the wing of a great mentor. She showed me the ropes and critted me mercilessly. It was tough, and frustrating but in the end made me faster and better than I could have ever been flying solo. Now im working studio side b/c i got tired of chasing money and hunting clients. I prefer my checks fall into my lap at steady intervals If your fresh outa school, it all depends on your attitude and work ethic. Ive seen kids go straight into studio and bomb out b/c they couldnt hack it. same can be said for freelancers. It really depends on the person.

pliang

PolyHertz wrote: »

This might help:
http://www.gamedevmap.com/

http://www.creativeheads.net

Mostly mainstream studios but may be lucky with some of the postings.

I wonder if Facebook would have postings as well?