What do you do if you're a mid-career animator torn between freelancing and full-time employment?

I assume I'm being asked this because I invented Disney's Animation Software. If you are a mid-career animator with full-time employment, KEEP IT! But... you should ALWAYS be searching for side gigs, and keeping your education and CV up to date. Keep an eye on AI, and always... be original. Feel free to ask me anything. And, thank you for your creativity and art, it's not easy being an artist, but you make the world more tolerable.

Freelance gives you ownership of your time. Full time employment offers security. Both ways you are selling your time so make sure you are getting from it what you need.

I'm not an animator. But I have freelanced for half of my advertising career. My three biggest tips are this. 1. When you start freelancing, take every meeting, every call, every inquiry. Be humble. You never know where any of them may lead. 2. Overcommunicate with new teams. Follow up emails with timelines, questions, delegated tasks etc go a long way to making the process smooth till you all know how each other works. 3. Enjoy the time off. Freelancers often come into high stress situations with short deadlines. Then it's over and you think, that's the last job I'll ever do. But it never is. Don't panic when you're not working. Do your personal projects.

Both freelancing and full time employment have it's pros and cons but then it all depends on my career or life goal. Lets look at both. Freelancing Pros: ?? This will give me time flexibility. ?? I can charge as high as I want. ?? I can work from anywhere. ?? I can choose between projects Freelancing Cons: ?? My income is not stable ?? I will do the marketing myself Full time employment Pros: ?? Steady income ?? Learning opportunities Cons: ?? Tasked to be at work ?? No freedom to select Now, to decide: ? I will consider my financial needs at the moment ? I will consider the type of life I want to live, the freedom I get as a freelancer or caged 9-5 worker ? Finally, I may talk to experienced people in the field

'What do you do if you're a mid-career animator torn between freelancing and full-time employment?' This all depends on your current situation, if your financially stable and want to work under your own terms, freelancing is great. However a full time job offers more security in the long run, providing a current fixed income, specially for an animator. I would say being a mid-career animator means your right in the centre, meaning theres always room to grow and take on more exciting challenges to get you to love what you do.

Some general tips on how to overcome challenges in freelance life: 1. Try to create a progressively good and updated portfolio. 2. Develop marketing and sales skills. 3. Important, be organized and disciplined. 4. Comunicate kindly and cleary with customers. 5. Manage time efficiently. 6. Keep up to date with what is happening in the market. Open eyes on it. 7. Networking with other professionals. It is important to maintain contact with all work friends. 8. Setting competitive and fair prices is crucial. Think about how much an hour of your life is worth by calculating your monthly expenses and coming up with an hour denominator and set your price for the work from there. Thank you.

There are several challenges that will arise with freelancing (especially with animation) → Low demand → Takes months to finish a project → Hard to manage deadlines But for every obstacle there is a solution → Low demand ? Focus on crafting a compelling offer → Takes months to finish a project ? Take on smaller projects → Hard to manage deadlines ? Use a animation pipeline, to streamline your work or delegate tasks The solution is out there whatever problem there may be. You just have to find it. that's the challenging part.

One significant challenge is the unpredictable income and workload fluctuations, as projects may be inconsistent or seasonal. This requires careful financial planning and budgeting to weather lean periods. Freelancers are responsible for managing all aspects of their business, including client acquisition, project management, invoicing, and taxes, which can be time-consuming and overwhelming.

Determine whether stability or flexibility is more important to you. Evaluate Financial Implications: Consider the earning potential and financial responsibilities of both options. Assess Work-Life Balance: Think about how each choice aligns with your preferred work-life balance. Consider Industry Trends: Research demand and opportunities in both freelancing and full-time roles. Seek Advice and Test Waters: Connect with others in the field and consider freelancing part-time to see what suits you best. Make a Decision, Stay Flexible: Trust your instincts and be open to adjusting your path based on what works best for you.

Before making a decision, make sure you are open and honest with yourself about your work habits, needs, and ability to prioritize. Are you a people pleaser? Don’t be afraid to say “no” if you don’t have the time, or “not now, but I can in X months.” Things to ask yourself: Can you work with or without a deadline? Do you know how to run a business? Do you sell your art? Does your local city/stare require you to register with them? What alternative methods of income are available to you? Are you a per project, per diem, or an hourly freelancer? How much do you need to make per month & year to cover your expenses and fun times? Be realistic. It’s okay if you’re more comfortable with the stability of a FT job than freelancing.

One of the primary benefits of full-time employment is the security it provides, especially during periods of fluctuating workloads. Unlike freelancing, where income can vary, being a full-time employee ensures a steady paycheck and access to benefits even during slower periods. This stability offers peace of mind and financial security, allowing individuals to focus on their work without worrying about income fluctuations.

It provides a stable and predictable income stream, along with benefits such as healthcare coverage, retirement plans, paid time off, and other employee perks. This can provide a sense of financial security and stability, particularly for those with dependents or significant financial obligations.

Full-time employment offers: - Stability, with a steady salary and benefits - Opportunities for career growth and mentorship - Fulfillment through contributing to a larger vision and being part of a supportive team

Full time employment provides most important thing that is Financial Security which 90% of the population fear about! On top of that it helps with: - Planning expenses - Planning the investments - Living a safe secured life - Being relaxed with money - Better family time due to weekend offs - Structured living - Fulfilment of working on quality projects and becoming a part of something big which is hard to do on individual basis. - Getting exposure to industry experts and build professional connections.

The benefits of a full-time employee are the secure and steady pay. Another benefit is to be able to grow in the company to have a better position and of course better benefits.

In full-time employment, challenges include rigidity in schedules, monotony, and office politics. The fixed structure may lead to feelings of frustration or burnout, limiting creativity and autonomy.

Full-time jobs may limit flexibility, creativity, and autonomy. Employees may encounter office politics and hierarchical structures that hinder their career progression and work satisfaction.

Though there are some great benefits of full time employment but as a coin has two sides, we must also see the other side of it. So here are some major challenges of full time employment. - Highly stressed work environment - No mental peace due to deadlines - Negative thoughts due to Office politics - It affects mental health, adds frustration & burnouts - No family time on weekdays - Long office hours without considering overtime - No festival bonuses - Less freedom to execute our own life - Feeling of lonelyness - No income growth for months - Work 3x to 5x more than the salary we get - Unable to balance personal and professional life - Fixed income leading to stagnancy Don't choose it as good or bad, Choose on the basis of Priorities!

Full time employment has its short coming such as 1. Workplace rules and regulations 2. Workers and client 3. relationship restrictions Monotony.

Some of the challenges of full-time work are the fact that you have to keep your scheduled hours, even when there is no work at times. As well as a stricter control of your work by your superiors.

Deciding between freelancing and full-time employment hinges on personal priorities and capabilities. Consider factors like your career goals, financial needs, work-life balance, stress management, and learning preferences. Reflecting on these questions can illuminate the path that best suits your animation career.

When moving from the freelance life to full-time employment a wise friend said “I’m trading the illusion of freedom for the illusion of stability”.

If an animator has to decide between full time employment and freelancing, One must ask some personal questions to own self. - What do I really like? Animate for Passion or Animate for Money? - Do I like to animate under pressure or prefer choosing projects on own terms? - What are my strengths & weaknesses? - Does my personality support working for someone in Job or it needs fulfilment of impacting & serving more people? - If freelancing then am I ready to learn whatever it takes to grow my freelaning business like branding, marketing, advertising etc. I strongly believe one must make this decision on the basis of what their soul needs. We should choose what makes us feel more happy & fulfilled rather than seeing what makes others happy!

To decide which one to choose. The issue is that both of them are equal when it comes to pros and cons... It all depends on your risk tolerance. → If you have the space to take risk you should definitely pursue freelancing. → If you have a family and your risk tolerance is low. I'd say you stick with your job.

You can make an informed decision based on individual circumstances and goals by following a step-by-step approach. Self-assessment: Reflect on career goals, values, and work preferences. Skills and experience: Evaluate proficiency and independence in animation. Financial considerations: Compare stability, benefits, and tax implications. Work-life balance: Assess flexibility and structure. Market demand: Research opportunities and competition. Networking: Utilize professional connections for support. Risk tolerance: Consider autonomy and stability. Career growth: Evaluate long-term opportunities and development. Personal preferences: Align choices with lifestyle and values. Trial period: Experiment with part-time freelancing or projects.

Prepare for transitioning by building a strong portfolio, establishing a network, and understanding the legal and financial aspects of freelancing. For full-time employment, update your resume, enhance skills, and research potential employers.

1. Assess your financial stability and lifestyle needs. 2. Explore your passion for variety or project focus. 3. Build a strong network in both freelancing and full-time employment circles. 4. Develop strong time management skills crucial for both options. 5. Consider part-time freelancing while still employed. 6. Weigh benefits like health insurance against freelancing's flexibility. 7. Align your decision with long-term career goals. 8. Stay flexible to adapt to changing circumstances and opportunities.

When you've finally made up your mind to transition from one phase to another, also make sure you prepare your mind to adaptations that might discomfort you a little. For instance, if you are transitioning from freelancing to a full-time employment and you like to work as the boss of your own before now, you might have to swallow that pride and adhere to the visions of your employer. This will require some humility and patience and you have to build both. And on the other hand, if you are transitioning into freelancing, you should not to be carried away with the freedom that comes with making decisions on your own, setting market rates and standards and so on! Note: any wrong decision you make now, can easily ruin your business.

This is a bit cliché, but don’t quit your day job! When transitioning, start by being a moonlighter, taking freelance work on the side of your main job. I would do this for a year before committing to it full-time to get a feel for the ups and downs and if it’s fit for you. You might be thinking, I won't have time for anything else – to that I say, welcome to life as a freelancer! There is a good chance you will be working 15+ hour days to make a living, so it doesn’t hurt to start that process with a safety net.

All things aside, one thing that is essential for every animator or artist is to learn how to sell your work If people don't know you. How will they buy from you? Sell your skills Use Social Media → Linkedin → Instagram → Twitter (X) → YouTube On top of that, do cold outreach. If you are a skilled individual. Sooner or later you'll land your first high ticket client.

Stay informed about industry trends, emerging technologies, and market demand. Remain adaptable and open-minded to adjust your career path as needed based on evolving circumstances and personal growth goals.

Consider the importance of work-life balance and personal fulfillment in your decision between freelancing and full-time employment. Reflect on your long-term career goals and how each option aligns with them. Seek advice from mentors or professionals who have experience in both freelancing and full-time roles to gain valuable insights. Ultimately, prioritize what brings you satisfaction and growth in your animation career journey.

Many animation companies use freelancers on various projects. So, it’s possible to assess full time possibilities while freelancing… equally, depending on the full time animation company projects it may be possible to freelance on various projects at the same time. Negotiations are always possible, especially when the level of talent is high. Some, very talented animators have the luxury of choosing which project and which company they want to work with and as such only work on projects that interest them.

If torn between freelancing and full-time employment as a mid-career animator, weigh the pros and cons of each option. Consider factors like stability, flexibility, income potential, and personal fulfillment. Explore freelancing part-time or on project basis while maintaining stability with full-time employment until a clear preference emerges.