Topic: Freelance VS Fulltime
With the insurgence of high end affordable computers everyone can be an artist or a designer. I don't know if that's entirely true.
I think you need the creative drive, plenty of imagination and you have to instinctively know what looks good or you've wasted alot of time.
I have seen alot of amateur art, some of it is wonderful, inventful and surprising and most perhaps let's just say not to my taste.
Well that's just it...art is suggestive, personal, and only serves for appreciation, to deliver concepts or ideas and in rare cases can be applied for commercial use if marketed properly.
However design is art with a purpose. Used as a vehicle to transport ideas, illustrate concepts and convey information on a much different level than art in let's say a gallery setting.
You as the manufacturer, retailer or consumer decide if you prefer the mac truck, rolls royce, or the renaud and purchase accordingly.
This is one of the opposing situations that freelancers face today and I personally find it frustrating to see first hand examples like this...Your company needs a new corporate image and product branding. Like most companies trying to save some time and money you hire someone's son or daughter or use someone inhouse who knows how to use a computer and may have done some desktop publishing or perhaps web design. Yes I'm sure they could come up with something that's eye pleasing and inexpensive but ask yourself these questions. Will it be original? Will it be a mass culmination of available free clipart and photos? How many times will you have to go back and forth untill you finally get what you want? Will they do the necessary research? Will they guide you in the right direction if you don't know what you want? Will they be able to offer you alternative choices, options and budjet problem solving solutions? Will the designs grow with the company? Will it apply to all your markets and products? Will it be consistent throughout various types of media applications? Will it be prepared correctly for a commercial printer?
The point I'm trying to make is in the long run you are not really saving time or money nor are you really getting what your company wants. Let's face the facts there will always be someone who will do the job for less and there will always be the professional freelancer or studio that charges way too much. The only thing that anyone can count on is death and taxes.
An established freelancer or studio can really answer these questions and quell these fears. Unfortunately todays inhouse graphic designer(with 1-2 yrs of job experience)may not be able to due to becoming specialized by working in certain fields or for specific companies.
A inhouse graphic designer's shelf life is maybe 3-5 years with limited overall work experience...then what? (I'll talk about building a well rounded portfolio in another blog).
A well established freelancer or studio's shelf life is indefinite and their body of work, knowledge and experience can be insurmountable.

Tips & Tricks
Topic: Marketing Yourself
One of the most common mistakes or problems I see as a business owner and a freelance artist is the first contact stage.
This is one of the most critical points with gaining perspective clients or employers attention(you either get them or loose them in the first sentence). So you've done some basic research on companies you would like to work for or handle and you sent off your standard style c.v. done up with a style wizard and no cover letter.
Sure way to stand out and show your creativity...NOT!
There is a time and place for a standard resume or c.v. this time is not one of them.
Sure you could do a general search, send a general c.v. and waste time by sending it to everyone and their uncle and get no response generally. OR
You could do a more focused search, gear your c.v and carefully planed out coverletter( go to monster.ca for great c.v. and cover letter tips) to the needs of your perspective client or employer.
Remeber honesty is always the best policy...if your looking to change the focus of your previous experience towards something else, then list other qualities or experiences that would apply to them like taking courses and other upgrades on your current skill bank.
The little extra time that you put into a more focused search will reap better more reliable contacts in the long run.
Quantity verses quality it's your choice...I'm sure there's people out there that get lucky and sometimes it's all about being at the right place at the right time...so why not be prepared and make your time the right time.

Topic: Freelance VS Fulltime
One of the best things about working freelance is the variety.
I used to work for a promotional printing company and all I did was logo clean up and placement...creative to a certain degree I guess.
I have friends in the industry that work at full time jobs...but there is seldome the variety or freedom to work with different products and media. For example if you work for a furniture store then you might get to design boxes, labels and flyers but it will always be about furniture. I get to work with textiles, electronics, security systems and restaurants just to name a few and it's not always on the same media...so there's lots of variety and that's exactly how I like it.

Topic: Freelance VS Fulltime
As a freelancer there are all kinds of benefits. You can make your own hours, be your own boss, work in your pj's if you want to(althought I don't recomend it), decide which jobs you want to work on and do it your own way and potentialy make more money than you could working for someone else.
Very often people choose freelance just for these reasons alone without considering the other side....yes there is another side. You may be your own boss but your client's needs are of the utmost importance...because they are your paycheck...For example if your new client is counting on you to get a rush job uploaded to the Orient and you have to sit in front of the computer for 2.5 hrs. waving the mouse to make sure it it goes through, then that's exactly what you need to do to keep your client happy; of course you have to want to do it in the first place.
There is a way to say no to your clients like offer an alternative solution or point them in the right direction. They will remeber how helpful you were even if they can't use your particular service this time around and more often than not they will mention you to others and that's like gold to a freelancer.

Topic: Freelance VS Fulltime
There was a wonderfull article in the Montreal Gazette today illustrating how to market oneself by not only selling your products or services but your philosophy as well.
I can't say that I agree more. That's how you stand out from the crowd and find your niche.
I have found that by giving more(like doing a little extra leg work, providing ideas before a quote etc.) you may run the risk of not getting paid however when it does pay off it's usualy 3 fold. It shows that you have creative passion,it says you can be counted on and you can deliver. This all ='s a good solid ground for building a business realtionship that may result in the communication mutual needed knowledge, or new contacts and or financial compensation. You'll never know unless you take that risk and get out there..what the worst? your out your time...the benefits far outweight that.

Changing Tides
Topic: Freelance VS Fulltime
In my career so far(since 94-95)having worked for other companies, freelanced for the majority of it from my own company I have had the opportunity to view the changing tides of the Industry of Design. From commercial Design and all it encompases to Graphic Design, Illustration, Desk Top Publishing to no artistic abilities needed.
When I first started out as a student, computers were only really available to work on in my second to last year of study. At the time most employers unless they were a Design Studio didn't have thier own Graphic Design or Marketing Divisions on staff. However today this is more and more the common trend.
So what becomes of the "freelancers"?
Do we go the way of the dinosaures?
There's still a niche for us out there....you just have to know where to look...not advisable for the faint of heart or hungry.