Several aspects of being a freelance graphic designer that made it irresistible were the constant change of scenery, not having to go to the same place everyday and not having to deal with the same people all the time. It really allowed one to avoid office politics and the monotony of same place, same people, except different day.
Another perk was getting to visit different parts of Manhattan and sometimes being lucky enough to be in an area that was filled with mid-day culture. One might be able to attend the Municipal Art Society’s lunchtime lectures where famous architects and designers gave fascinating presentations. There were the days when a radio station known for playing big band and crooner style music, held lunchtime shows in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Famous celebrities would be present and it would be possible to get close enough to shake their hands.
There were downsides to the New York freelance graphic designer’s life. One had no benefits, no health, life or disability insurance. There was no such thing as a paid vacation, no guarantee of steady work and sometimes, any work at all. Another drawback was that some clients did not want to pay in a timely manner and some seemed like they would not pay at all (if they felt they could get away with it). With one client, in particular, getting paid required that someone’s very large boyfriend went to such a delinquent client’s studio and very nicely demanded payment from the owner as he placed a very large hammer on their desk.
It was possible to receive a phone call to come to a site on the very morning a project needed to be done. No problem, if one was available and if one had an extremely organized tool kit system. But there were clients who were behind in their accounts and still wanted the graphic designer to return with payment outstanding.
One would have to insist that the only condition under which one would return was if a check was waiting at the door upon the arrival of the designer to for requested job. As a result, one would have to turn down the work, as much as one never wanted to refuse any work. But from such a client with a poor payment track record, it was not worth the risk.
Although this did happen rarely, most clients were not like that. They did pay within a reasonable amount of time, were honorable and pleasant.
NEXT: The Paradigms Shift, from paper to pixels
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