The Only Thing You Have to Fear is the Freelance Fear Itself
BY WNW MEMBER DAVE KUHL
After years of saying you’d do it, you finally did. You went freelance. You’ve been working at your first gig for a few months now and it seems pretty amazing. You love everything about freelance. If you work extra hours, you get paid more. What a novel concept! When faced with the question of working the weekend on a pitch, you now typically utter, “Of course I can!” You never thought those words would leave your mouth with such gusto. You’re even working on some cool projects. Everyday you IM with old coworkers, bragging about the wonders of freelance life.
Then the creative staffing manager comes over and breaks the news. The agency has to cut back on freelance. Your contract is ending on Friday.
“Okay,” you say. “Thanks for the heads up.”
Then it comes. The first time you feel it, and certainly not the last.
The Freelance Fear.
A mental interrogation transpires in your brain. What if I can’t line up a new gig? How long can I last without a paycheck? What will I do everyday? What have I done with my life???
Maybe you didn’t get that emotional, but every freelancer remembers the first time they felt this internal angst. Suddenly, even more rational queries begin to emerge from the left side of your brain: Was freelancing the right decision? Should I have listened to my parents for once? Should I pounce on the next full-time job that materializes?
Here’s what you need to do: Take it easy. Droves of WNW members can enlighten you to this one simple fact: you have nothing to fear but the freelance fear itself. Other than pilfering verbiage from a dead president, this means that the doubts in your head should cease. The imagined, dire scenarios you’ve concocted are far worse than anything that’s actually going to happen.
Feeling the fear is just a part of the freelance lifestyle. But it can be tough. Especially when it happens repeatedly. And it will. Gigs end for all kinds of reasons. This is just the cost of living in the freelance bubble. It’s a risk-taking endeavor, but you know the hazards are worthwhile. The fear is just a reminder that we’re on an exciting path. The best things that happen to us usually start as risks.
Not everyone can handle it though. It’s why freelancing isn’t easy. At times, it can seem completely understandable why people stay at full-time jobs they don’t like anymore. Comfort is a powerful feeling.
To stay freelance, you have to like the hustle—the grind of continually looking for the next gig. It’s all in your hands. That’s what being your own boss entails.
I could spout out a bunch of freelance tips, but you’ve probably heard most. Keep in touch with people constantly; grow your contact list, become a LinkedIn savant. You’ve likely been told all these. But one of the biggest is to have side projects. Be excited when you get time off because it means you get to work on passion projects. Isn’t that a major reason you went freelance?
As time goes by, the fear gets easier to deal with. You’ll develop Arctic ice in your veins. You’ll start to feel as if you were meant for freelance all along.
You’ll line up new gigs, one after the other. Some agencies will become regular clients, calling you back because they need that unique proficiency only you bring.
Keep delivering awesome work. Be someone everyone wants to return because they like having you on their projects and in the office. Be a total pro in every capacity. If you’re valuable to them, they’ll treat you in kind.
You’ll get to work with more awesome people this way, make tons of connections, and broaden your experience. Keep it up and the payoffs will widen exponentially.
Of course, as the WNW folks tell you consistently, keep your profile up to date, and relax. If you get a little time off, enjoy it. You deserve it.
Fear not, freelancers. You will live to bill another day.
DAVE'S WORK
Asics Treadmill Challenge
ASICS is a long-time sponsor of the New York City Marathon and needed a spectacular stunt to engage fans and drive awareness during marathon week. We considered the fact that when watching marathons, it’s difficult to comprehend how fast the top runners are actually going. Our solution was a unique experience where people could step into the shoes of an elite runner, and feel their marathon speed. We created a custom treadmill that only runs at the speed of America’s fastest marathoner, and let people see how long they could last at his pace. Then we put it on a truck that drove around New York City for 10 days before the marathon.
What was your biggest challenge?
How do you give the average person on the street a glimpse into the amazing abilities of elite marathoners?
What was your inspiration?
I figured out the average speed that champion marathoners run (13 MPH) and went to a treadmill at my gym and typed it in. It was insane to watch how fast it went. I knew that if anyone tried to run at that speed, they would barely keep up.
What did you love about doing this project?
After the event, I read the comments section of a Runner’s World article about our treadmill. Reading the positive responses from actual runners who loved it was a great feeling. We have a tendency in our jobs to only care what other creatives and award show judges will think about our creations. To know that the people we were trying to reach actually loved it was really cool to see.
Humana “Covered” Documentary Series
I helped Humana come up with ways to stand out during the 2015/16 open enrollment period. They needed something to capture the hearts and minds of people in need of health insurance, so I creative directed a documentary series for them, called Covered. We traveled the country to film real Humana members, telling their emotional, impactful stories.
What was your biggest challenge?
How do you get the uninsured to realize how impactful health insurance can be to their lives?
What was your inspiration?
I’ve learned how powerful real stories can be from previous documentary films I’ve made for brands. If you want to reach people, you need to show them what others in their shoes have experienced.
What did you love about doing this project?
I love shooting short documentary films for clients. They combine my interests in journalism, advertising, and storytelling. Meeting real people and getting to tell their amazing stories leaves a much more indelible memory than shooting most scripted TV commercials.
ESPN College Gameday
We created more ways to pump fan interest into the top college football pregame show, ESPN College Gameday. We edited together existing footage from their broadcasts into wildly fun TV spots, and created a process to let at-home viewers feel like a part of the show through its trademark crowd signs.
What was your biggest challenge?
How do you ignite even more fan interest into a show like ESPN College Gameday, which is driven to a large degree by the fans in the background of the broadcast?
What was your inspiration?
Simply the fact that I am a huge college football fan myself. When I showed up to 72andSunny for my freelance gig, I didn’t know what I was going to be working on. When we were getting briefed and they put College Gameday on the screen, I told them they had picked the perfect writer for the assignment.
What did you love about doing this project?
I love the vibe that 72andSunny has as an agency. I had a great experience there, working with a bunch of passionate, incredibly creative people that all really love where they work. It’s great to feel that in this business.