Adobe Illustrator - Is it easy to get work in this industry?

Author

Is it easy to get work in this industry?

Anthony Clayton

2005-06-21, 7:15 pm

I have a full time job and am currently doing a bit of graphic/logo design
on the side as a favour for someone. If I wanted to do this to earn money
where would I start or where do clients tender for designs. I have an
average knowledge of Illy and PS and wonder if there is any other major
things you need to be able to get the work etc..

KatWoman

2005-06-21, 7:15 pm

it depends on your contacts, talent and marketing skills.
Like most things in life you get out what you put into it

I would not give up my day job until I was sure I had a few steady clients
and some savings for the lean times.

"Anthony Clayton" <anthonyclayton@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
news:3q6dnfVvxffAGyXfRVnyvA@pipex.net...
>I have a full time job and am currently doing a bit of graphic/logo design
>on the side as a favour for someone. If I wanted to do this to earn money
>where would I start or where do clients tender for designs. I have an
>average knowledge of Illy and PS and wonder if there is any other major
>things you need to be able to get the work etc..
>

steggy

2005-06-21, 7:15 pm

True.

And I think it is a andvantage to be aware of pre press and
press techniques (and web site building). Also a talent for
organizing, project managment helps a lot. Remember there
are a lot of competitors, I believe it is always good to
start and try to find something in the field with a company,
studio or marketing agency. Just to get the feel of it, make
contacts, learn the business and the whole process. It is
not just the design part of it that people ask you for, your
end result must be processed somewhere, so you need to know
the technical demands to prevent flaws..
After that it is like Kat says, try and build your own
network of clients and be sure you are able to make a living
before starting your own business.

I find the graphical sector very instable, when economy goes
down, the demand for graphics and design goes down as an
(almost) immediate result.

Peter

KatWoman wrote:[color=darkred]
>
> it depends on your contacts, talent and marketing skills.
> Like most things in life you get out what you put into it
>
> I would not give up my day job until I was sure I had a few steady clients
> and some savings for the lean times.
>
> "Anthony Clayton" <anthonyclayton@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
> news:3q6dnfVvxffAGyXfRVnyvA@pipex.net...

KatWoman

2005-06-21, 7:15 pm

9/11 almost killed my entire business, almost every client without exception
decided to cut advertising.
It is a bit better, but every summer I look in the want ads thinking this is
the last year I survive as a freelancer.
FWIW I live in Miami which means no matter how talented you are you will not
get any job (even in a 7-Eleven) if you don't speak Spanish. So now in
addition to knowing PS and Illy I am supposed to be experienced in
Dreamweaver, Flash, Quark, Corel. and even then it won't get me any job
without Spanish.

"steggy" <steggy2001@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42B88C57.78F03198@hotmail.com...[color=darkred]
> True.
>
> And I think it is a andvantage to be aware of pre press and
> press techniques (and web site building). Also a talent for
> organizing, project managment helps a lot. Remember there
> are a lot of competitors, I believe it is always good to
> start and try to find something in the field with a company,
> studio or marketing agency. Just to get the feel of it, make
> contacts, learn the business and the whole process. It is
> not just the design part of it that people ask you for, your
> end result must be processed somewhere, so you need to know
> the technical demands to prevent flaws..
> After that it is like Kat says, try and build your own
> network of clients and be sure you are able to make a living
> before starting your own business.
>
> I find the graphical sector very instable, when economy goes
> down, the demand for graphics and design goes down as an
> (almost) immediate result.
>
> Peter
>
>
> KatWoman wrote:

Not Me

2005-06-21, 11:14 pm

"KatWoman"

| 9/11 almost killed my entire business, almost every client without
exception
| decided to cut advertising.

Are any still in business??? (the business that does not advertize is like
a man winking in the dark ... he knows what he is doing but no one else has
a clue)

Not Me

2005-06-21, 11:14 pm

"Anthony Clayton"

| I have a full time job and am currently doing a bit of graphic/logo design
| on the side as a favor for someone. If I wanted to do this to earn money
| where would I start or where do clients tender for designs. I have an
| average knowledge of Illy and PS and wonder if there is any other major
| things you need to be able to get the work etc..

Not to be too critical but it reminds me of the time my dad gave me a 2
cycle tree saw for my birthday. Big ideas of going into the firewood
business ... the end result was only a large pile of saw dust and a ringing
in my ears.

You have the tools what you need to determine: is do you have the talent to
produce professional level work product consistently and the business sense
to make a real living in the 'trade'. Hint the business part is the most
critical.

To paraphrase an old joke.

Q: What's the difference between a graphic artist and a medium pizza?
A: A medium pizza can feed a family of four on any given day.

steggy

2005-06-22, 7:14 pm

KatWoman wrote:
>
> 9/11 almost killed my entire business, almost every client without exception
> decided to cut advertising.
> It is a bit better, but every summer I look in the want ads thinking this is
> the last year I survive as a freelancer.
> FWIW I live in Miami which means no matter how talented you are you will not
> get any job (even in a 7-Eleven) if you don't speak Spanish. So now in
> addition to knowing PS and Illy I am supposed to be experienced in
> Dreamweaver, Flash, Quark, Corel. and even then it won't get me any job
> without Spanish.
>
I recognize that, although being Dutch.
In the airplane from Tucson to Miami, the first language
suddenly changes to Spanish......WTF!
I think they make a big mistake acting like that, it will
hurt the Hispanic people in the end also.

Hey Kat, no worries, hang in there. It will get better, earn
a shit load of money and be out of there before the next recession.

--
steg

KatWoman

2005-06-22, 7:14 pm

unfortunately it is not hurting the Hispanics they are doing extremely well
economically and politically.
This is just the tip of the iceberg too, all the southern states in the USA
will be like this very soon (within 10 years)
Maybe I should move to Holland? (At least I could legally get some weed.)

"steggy" <steggy2001@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42B9A5FB.3EC248CF@hotmail.com...
> KatWoman wrote:
> I recognize that, although being Dutch.
> In the airplane from Tucson to Miami, the first language
> suddenly changes to Spanish......WTF!
> I think they make a big mistake acting like that, it will
> hurt the Hispanic people in the end also.
>
> Hey Kat, no worries, hang in there. It will get better, earn
> a shit load of money and be out of there before the next recession.
>
> --
> steg

Anthony Clayton

2005-06-22, 7:14 pm

Thanks for the honest advice everyone, I live in England and I'm unsure of
the way things work over here, but it gives me a realistic approach and an
indication of just how much better I need to be. I'm not to bad in the
business sense as my current job is very self motivated, but I think I
definitely need to learn more about the full design processes from start to
finish.

Something to keep me occupied with.

Thanks,

Anthony.
"KatWoman" <JolieXPrincessXKatanaXXX@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eK%te.154012$J25.143519@bignews6.bellsouth.net...
> it depends on your contacts, talent and marketing skills.
> Like most things in life you get out what you put into it
>
> I would not give up my day job until I was sure I had a few steady clients
> and some savings for the lean times.
>
>
> "Anthony Clayton" <anthonyclayton@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
> news:3q6dnfVvxffAGyXfRVnyvA@pipex.net...
>
>

steggy

2005-06-23, 7:14 pm

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KatWoman wrote:
>
> unfortunately it is not hurting the Hispanics they are doing extremely well
> economically and politically.
> This is just the tip of the iceberg too, all the southern states in the USA
> will be like this very soon (within 10 years)
> Maybe I should move to Holland? (At least I could legally get some weed.)
>

mmmmmmm the country that is right now, just now and at this
moment struggling with the effects of immigration? Not sure......

also not sure anymore where you come from, but one thing is
true, in two months of work I built up more vacation hours
than in America in one year LOL
There is more than sex and rock and roll over here...that's
for true. Where I work I am not a machine, I get the freedom
to prove myself and take the time I need for myself. And it
seems people are much more ready to learn and teach, and to
acknowledge what you are doing. Just my idea after
experiencing both.
--
steg

KatWoman

2005-06-24, 7:15 pm

"steggy" <steggy2001@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:42BB0246.4445E146@hotmail.com...
> KatWoman wrote:
>
>
> mmmmmmm the country that is right now, just now and at this
> moment struggling with the effects of immigration? Not sure......
>
> also not sure anymore where you come from, but one thing is
> true, in two months of work I built up more vacation hours
> than in America in one year LOL
> There is more than sex and rock and roll over here...that's
> for true. Where I work I am not a machine, I get the freedom
> to prove myself and take the time I need for myself. And it
> seems people are much more ready to learn and teach, and to
> acknowledge what you are doing. Just my idea after
> experiencing both.
> --
> steg

Well I live in Miami Florida, (CUBA NORTE). (whites non Hispanic about 30%,
Black Americans about 20%, 50% Hispanics from Cuba, Central and South
American. We have a small amount of Asians too not sure the statistics.

When Condi Rice was here recently she spoke of flying back to the states,
LOL.

I hear similar stories about Texas and California (Mexico Norté)
A psychic astrologer says I have some karma with England, never been there
except the airports on way to someplace else. I know Europe has a lot of
Middle Eastern immigrants but I hear the Dutch have pretty strict
immigration laws and want to stop it before the whole country changes.

Where were you born? USA? Can you speak Dutch? Most Europeans can speak
several languages well. I know a bit of French and understand a bit of
German and Spanish, but I am not fluent enough in any of them.

Hecate

2005-06-24, 7:15 pm

On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 14:57:23 -0400, "KatWoman"
<JolieXPrincessXKatanaXXX@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Where were you born? USA? Can you speak Dutch? Most Europeans can speak
>several languages well. I know a bit of French and understand a bit of
>German and Spanish, but I am not fluent enough in any of them.
>
The advantage if you came to the UK is that you'd only have to learn
English ;-)

--

Hecate - The Real One
Hecate@newsguy.com
Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

KatWoman

2005-06-25, 7:16 pm

and they usually think my American accent is quite cute like we find the
Brits accent charming!

"Hecate" <hecate@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:8gtob19oldre3cp0d00aqnimkhsdsicrbr@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 14:57:23 -0400, "KatWoman"
> <JolieXPrincessXKatanaXXX@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> The advantage if you came to the UK is that you'd only have to learn
> English ;-)
>
> --
>
> Hecate - The Real One
> Hecate@newsguy.com
> Fashion: Buying things you don't need, with money
> you don't have, to impress people you don't like...

steggy

2005-06-26, 7:14 am

KatWoman wrote:
>
>
> Well I live in Miami Florida, (CUBA NORTE). (whites non Hispanic about 30%,
> Black Americans about 20%, 50% Hispanics from Cuba, Central and South
> American. We have a small amount of Asians too not sure the statistics.
>
> When Condi Rice was here recently she spoke of flying back to the states,
> LOL.
>
> I hear similar stories about Texas and California (Mexico Norté)
> A psychic astrologer says I have some karma with England, never been there
> except the airports on way to someplace else. I know Europe has a lot of
> Middle Eastern immigrants but I hear the Dutch have pretty strict
> immigration laws and want to stop it before the whole country changes.
>
> Where were you born? USA? Can you speak Dutch? Most Europeans can speak
> several languages well. I know a bit of French and understand a bit of
> German and Spanish, but I am not fluent enough in any of them.

Yes have been to Miami several times and it is stunning;) I
lived in Mexico Norté, Arizona, but it never bothered me at
all. Its not as bad tyhere as it seems to be in FL and CA.
You still can find a job even if you do not speak Spanish I mean.

Holland is an immigation country, like the USA. Laws are
getting more strict now, but it all is aimed mainly in
letting new comers speak the Dutch language and adapt to
their new "home country". I am Dutch, lived in AZ for 5
years and now back in Holland. And my French and German suck.
--
steg