After b'fast

[prog]

It was all right.

Here's the card I handed out. Note the changes in font and self-description - thanks to y'all for your suggestions. Actually, this isn't quite the card - after toggling for a while I ended up adding the line "& consultant" from the original design back in. But, eh.

As before, I met a lot of very nice people and had some enjoyable conversations, but didn't walk away with any solid leads. I felt I got my money's worth in exposure and inspiration (see below), but unless I get surprised by the calls flowing in I doubt I'll attend another for a while.

Inspiration: I was one of only two self-described freelancers in a crowd of about 100. (Coincidentally I sat next to the other one, a photographer.) I felt a little exposed, having no company affiliation. I've been toying for a while with the idea of naming my consulting business, even if it is a sole proprietorship. Now I really do want to.

And then park a domain for it, and maybe ping Volity's lawyer and accountant about it. This feels right, to continue following this path, and not just keep what is let's-face-it my actual paying job this weird half-hidden thing. It's what I do to make money, and if I advertise this fact, I can make more of it. Not millions, but good enough for now. And if Volity Games should slyly suggest that it's this new company's largest client, and insinuates itself in some murky "internal billing" column, well, that's just fine.

And I'll tell you what: it beats workin'.

Comments

[radtea.livejournal.com]

after toggling for a while I ended up adding the line "& consultant" from the original design back in.

GOOD! I can't sufficiently emphasize the need to give people familiar words.

With regard to naming/incorporation: I'd recommend it, but I'm speaking from a Canadian perspective where incorporation is dead easy, very cheap, and the government is very business-friendly. I've found the benefits in terms of managing my own time, doing the record-keeping properly, and managing my personal income to the best tax advantage is considerable, to say nothing of the additional legitimacy it gives me in the eyes of clients.

Some clients won't deal with small companies, which means you may still wind up doing contracts as yourself, but even this can have advantages: last year I had a big contract as me, and a bunch of medium contracts as my company. I paid lived off the income from the big contract, and let the other income build up in the company and paid most of it out this year, effectively splitting my income from last year between this year and last, which was a huge advantage tax-wise.

[chocorisu.livejournal.com]

I have no idea about consulting other than it sounds more like a legit operation. I do like the final card design though. :)

System design and consultanting

[taskboy3000.livejournal.com]

That's the title I'll use on my next set of business cards. Nice and open.

Consulting

[taskboy3000.livejournal.com]

I'll even spell check it first!

Re: Consulting

[prog.livejournal.com]

If anyone's allowed to verb the word "consultant", it's you.

Taskboy! The new way to consultant.™