Hi everyone. I'm looking at making a career move that may seem a little backwards. I'm looking at quitting a full time production job that pays around 45k per year with benefits (not great benefits, but better than nothing) and going freelance. The money may be right, but the situation is all wrong. I'm 27, not married, no kids. I want to work a different style of show that my company specializes in and tour. It seems like if I don't do this soon I never will.
What sort of things does one need to consider when going freelance? I know most people have a few years of freelance experience under their belt before getting hired full time, but I didn't. I went to college, got a degree in theatrical lighting design, bummed around for a couple of years (read as, "welcome to Radio Shack, can I help you find anything today?") and then this company hired me full time after I worked one job for them. So freelance is new territory for me.
I know there are things like health insurance to consider (do any Chicago area freelancers have any good recommendations?), and of course finding enough work to continue paying the bills. Some people have suggested registering myself as an LLC, getting liability insurance and so forth. Is that necessary or excessive?
What else should I consider? Contracts, rates, other things that aren't surfacing in my mind? Any and all advice is welcome!
What sort of things does one need to consider when going freelance? I know most people have a few years of freelance experience under their belt before getting hired full time, but I didn't. I went to college, got a degree in theatrical lighting design, bummed around for a couple of years (read as, "welcome to Radio Shack, can I help you find anything today?") and then this company hired me full time after I worked one job for them. So freelance is new territory for me.
I know there are things like health insurance to consider (do any Chicago area freelancers have any good recommendations?), and of course finding enough work to continue paying the bills. Some people have suggested registering myself as an LLC, getting liability insurance and so forth. Is that necessary or excessive?
What else should I consider? Contracts, rates, other things that aren't surfacing in my mind? Any and all advice is welcome!