Hey there mi familia, how the hell are ya? It’s been a while.  Just shy of 2 months ago…I was in a pretty different mindset and this last Freelancer Club piece came pouring out of me.  I was pissed, I was done, I was over it. I had an axe to grind with the bullsh*t us highly-skilled, hardworking freelancers deal with on a daily basis from the snobbery in society that looks down upon us from its ivory-tower. Like a loyal boxing coach, I stood proudly by the freelancer’s corner for yet another fight.  Actually, oh contraire…I put the gloves on and entered the ring myself. This was my fight, and I felt indomitable.

In the world of advertising, we are often surrounded by faceless bodies trying to sell us the hottest new thing. But have you ever stopped to consider the people behind the pictures? While you’d be forgiven for thinking that body part modelling is only for people with pretty feet, well-manicured nails or a face for radio; in reality, there is a wide range of opportunities available for any body part that you’re feeling particularly proud of. If your eyes are the perfect shape for winged eyeliner or you can do a hair flick worthy of a L’Oréal commercial, you’ll likely be snapped up by the beauty industry for their latest advertising campaigns in an instant. From bald heads and belly buttons to eyelashes and earlobes; if you can pose with it, you can model with it.

I’m currently writing this on a stunning Saturday afternoon at a local beer garden — like a true, stereotypical freelancer. Where I go, my laptop comes with me. I'm practically married to it. It simply comes with the territory.  The sun is shining, the birds chirping, the music playing, Mums and Dads keeping their kids in check while discussing mortgages and refinancing of their homes in the current market — all of it, completely out their control and in the hands of the government, banks, and corporate interests. Sure, it's a friendly affair and they are enjoying their 48 hour break from being accountable to their bosses, but there is a certain aura of concern surrounding them. It's as if they are not in control of their own destinies — and they know it.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a freelancer working at home in a heatwave must be in want of air conditioning. But alas, the majority of us in the UK do not have that luxury.  Temperatures in the UK have reached 40 degrees and do not seem to be dropping any time soon. Since these extreme temperatures will soon be commonplace in this country thanks to climate change, it’s important to know how to avoid heatstroke while you try to complete your to-do list.

Creative Network 101. While independence is what inspires many freelance creatives to pursue a self-employed career, having a supportive, creative network of fellow like-minded freelancers is essential. However, for freelancers, forming those types of tribes, communities, and connections can be difficult. Welcome to the awkward-free way of networking.

Loneliness is not reserved for freelancers. There's an epidemic of lonely people in a time when one can connect with thousands of people instantly online. The feeling of loneliness can be debilitating. It can prevent us from going out, pursuing our goals, following our passion. You may even be questioning if freelancing is right for you. It can be a dark time for some and, although it can be difficult to admit, we could all do with a little help from time to time. Freelancing is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling career paths you can take but finding stability and success doesn't come easily. So, we'd like to talk about community and how you can build one! We've compiled a few tips to get you on the right track. 

We’re all vastly familiar with the overused adage—“I’m still stuck at work.” It can be used for anything pertaining to family and friends—dinners, parties, meetups, your 7-a-side midweek footy team where everyone in the Whatsapp group starts dropping like flies the closer it gets to kickoff...where you have a sneaking suspicion it’s all BS because they have decided they can’t simply be arsed playing in torrential rain.

It’s been said that you can find a coffee shop on every single corner in New York City. While I may not have been there myself to know if this really is true, it seems undeniable that communal caffeine intake is a huge part of the city’s culture.  However, no matter how many cafés you may come across, it can be difficult for freelancers to find one with the right amount of space and plug sockets, that doesn’t want you to leave the second you’ve collected your drink, let alone one that is happy for you to plop down your laptop for a few hours!