@dostovel I’ve definitely had my share of lame / draining freelance gigs. Everything you’ve said from sudden shifts in job parameters, rapidly shortened deadlines, and even slow payments (from a previously reliable client at that). I would never say it’s an easy thing to get into and be successful. BUT now that I’m years into it generating some extra spending cash, I end up grateful that my skills make it an option for me.
I think navigating freelance positively is a matter of weathering the initial storm of questionable / bad clients. After the first year an artist knows how to go about freelance (pricing themselves, negotiating, standing their ground, communicating with clients, delivering results) and SHOULD have found few *good* clients along the way. That handful of good clients I keep working with year after year and occasionally pick up a new client if the job (pay) is good enough. In fact it’s common that my good clients refer me to other good clients. The power of networking is real.
It’s not for everyone though. My brother did a couple freelance jobs earlier in his career and he hated it; never tried again.
