001 - Transitioning to Freelance

Acquiring your first client, getting new projects, and transitioning from full-time to freelance. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion audio series where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What's the key to getting your first client? - How do you get new projects? - What's the best way to transition from full-time to freelance? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:13

002 - Always Be Planting

Overcoming the stress of freelancing and dealing with slow periods throughout the year. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What do you do when freelancing slows down? - Does freelancing ever get less stressful? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

003 - Freelancing is a Journey

Freelancing instead of full-time, keeping a routine, and staying fulfilled over time. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - Why would I freelance when I could have a full-time job? - What do you do to consistently keep a daily routine and not work unsociable hours? - How do you stay fulfilled over an extended period of time? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

004 - Show The Work You Want to Get

Convincing your spouse on freelancing, creative fulfillment vs paying the bills, and client lists without well-known clients. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you get your partner on your side when going freelance? - How do you scratch your creative itch when it's not the work that pays the bills? - If you don't have well-known clients, should you include a client list on your website? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

005 - If You Want to be Treated Like a Pro, Act Like One

Pay vs exposure, less than professional clients, and diplomatically firing a client --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - Is it smart or stupid to do a job without pay for experience/exposure? - How do you handle payment and contracts with less than professional clients? - How do you diplomatically fire a client? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

006 - Why Rent Your Time When You Could Own It

Determining your pricing, sacrificing to get the work you want, and clients who don't want a discovery phase—with surprise guest, Laura Bohill! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What sacrifices do you make to get the work you want? - How do you work when clients aren't interested in a discovery phase? - How do you determine your pricing for each project? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Laura Bohill Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

007 - Find Your Rhythm

Project management workflow and growing your solo business—with special guest, Meg Lewis of Ghostly Ferns! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What does your project management workflow look like? - If you were to grow your solo business, what role would you hire as your first employee? - How do you actively grow your business without overselling? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Meg Lewis of Ghostly Ferns Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

008 - Next Stop: Freelance

Value-based pricing for small budgets, staying creatively relevant, and freelancing vs full-time.—with special guest, Dan Mall of Super Friendly! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - Have you always freelanced? - Do you think freelancing full-time helps or hurts you in staying creatively relevant? - Everyone's talking about value-based pricing, but how can you apply that thinking to clients with smaller budgets? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Dan Mall of Super Friendly Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

009 - Don’t Be Chicken

Scaling your pricing with your workload, personal versus professional brand, and handling clients who change their mind—with special guest, Danielle Evans of Marmalade Bleue! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you best scale your pricing and your workload? - Personal brand or professional brand? - How do you handle clients who change their mind and ask everyone what they think of your illustrations? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Danielle Evans of Marmalade Bleue Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

010 - Downhill From Here

Saying “no” to say “yes”, increasing your rates, and dealing with difficult clients—with special guest, Will Bryant! --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you say “no” and protect your brand from potential backlash? - How do you know when it’s time to increase your rates? - How do you deal with a difficult client? Hosted by Andy J Miller Guest Question by Will Bryant Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

011 - Go Your Own Way

Calming your nerves, freelancing 10 years in, and landing big clients. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What do you do to calm your nerves about all the things that can go wrong while you’re trying to become a freelancer? - What does freelancing look like 10 years in? - How do you land big clients? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

012 - The First Year

The ups and downs, entering new markets, and switching to retainers. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - What did your first year look like? How long did it take before you realized you made the right choice? - How do you enter new markets when your existing clients are in a different market? - How do you transition from per-project pricing to retainers with larger clients? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

013 - Strike the Ultimate Balance

Balancing workloads, passion projects versus paying the bills, and maintaining social health. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you strike the balance between too little work and too much work? - How do you balance doing work that you’re passionate about versus work that pays the bills? - As an extrovert, the hardest part of freelancing for me is the lack of human contact. In particular, I miss those consistent relationships you build over time with people on your team or in the office. What are your strategies for maintaining your social health? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

014 - Take The Plunge

Promoting, rights & usage, and building up client work with a full-time job. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - Do art directors still expect illustrators to snail mail them postcards or do they prefer to see digital work now? - I was approached by an agency to do some illustration work for a 2-month project on-site and they asked me for my day-rate. I think they want a work-for-hire situation, which seems a bit odd for me. Aren’t there rights, usage, etc., which need to be factored into the cost even if I work on-site? - How do you build up enough client work to freelance full-time while working a full-time job? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

015 - Accept Help

Progressing your career, splitting your time, and promoting yourself. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - I have a full schedule, I'm booked for a few months in advance with regular clients, and I enjoy my work. Now what? What should be my next step to progress my career? - What's a rough estimate of how you split your time promoting yourself, following leads, interacting with clients, and doing billable work? - How do you increase sales and engagement? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12

016 - Be You

Bigger clients aren’t always better clients, business resources, and buying back your soul. --- Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing. This episode's questions include: - How do you get bigger clients that gave you more job security? - What are the best resources for getting started with the business side of freelancing? - Did the money you make buy back your soul? Hosted by Andy J Miller Music by Metavari Brought to you by cushionapp.com

11 Mar 08:12