Hi Cindy - If we are going to try to give more coverage to things like
price
negotiation  perhaps it would be appropriate to physically put the
examples of our
annual "price guessing exhibit" in the room along with that particular
panel of
speakers.  Sometimes I think that that very informative exhibit gets lost
in all the
activities that go on - and it would be nice to have some concrete
examples of what
our panelist are talking about. Jane

Cindy Shaw wrote:

> A complaint often heard, regardless of the profession - is that the
> schools don't actually train people how to go about making a living at
> what their students have learned. Certainly, if the schools don't do
> this, it is up to the professional organizations, such as ours, to do so
> - either as separate seminars, or as part of annual meetings, etc.
>
> Joan, are these freelancing issues to be included in the panel on studio
> issues for the meeting? If not, then we will have a linked panel. There
> was at the Santa Cruz a very helpful panel comprised of successful
> freelancers who shared what worked, what didn't, in terms of
> advertising, how they deal with their clients, etc. Paul Mirocha
> suggested in Ames that there should be more coverage of issues such as
> price negotiation with clients...and in general that of trying to make a
> living at this profession, which no doubt often requires a creative
> approach.
>
> The business panel in Ames that had the lawyer, insurance guy,
> accountant, and illustrators was very good, but there wasn't enough time
> to hear from the illustrators. We should be sure that in whatever format
> we end up with in Richland, there is time for panels to cover the issues
> of concern.
>
> Willow, I'm always at a loss as to how much meeting information people
> on this list want - if they tire of constant bombardment of information,
> whatever. I am, with the very generous help of Emil, going to have a
> page on my website devoted to meeting information - reprints of
> newsletter articles, course schedules, links, etc. - this information
> should be up in the next couple of weeks, and Emil and I will try to
> keep it updated. I was disappointed to see that the info I provided
> months ago for the GNSI web site still was not up as of a couple of
> weeks ago - but we are all busy people, and GNSI business is all
> volunteer. In the meantime, the article slated for October's newsletter
> did appear during the last few weeks, and I will be happy to repost it
> on the list - or send you a copy of it if no-one else needs it.
>
> Happy New Year! And may all who love me prosper! ;)
>
> Cindy
>
> Joan H. Lee wrote:
> >
> > ...and a good New Year to all.  Some random, not particularly helpful
thoughts
> > on freelancing.
> > 1. Why don't schools offer a course,  or even a non-credit seminar on
the
> > business of getting work for graduating students? Portfolio
preparation and
> > critique, making contacts, nature of free-lancing, taxes, business
structures,
> > etc.
> > 2. How laid back or aggressive you are in making contacts and trying
to
> > develop business might depend on what part of the country you're from.
New
> > York style assertiveness might look really pushy in Des Moines.
Getting silly
> > about it,  at one time some of us developed a geographical typical
response to
> > the statement, "I am an artist." Some responses: from New York--how
good are
> > you?  New Jersey--another one!  Chicago--yeah, right, and I'm the
pope.
> > Farther west--someone PAYS you to do that?!
> > For all of you, my mom's favorite New Year's Eve toast, "May all who
love me
> > prosper."  Sorry about that; I promise it is the last silly thing I
put on the
> > list. Nothing but high seriousness next year.  Joan