Tell Congress: Don’t Forget Self-Employed American Workers

I HAVE BEEN A FREELANCER FOR NEARLY 16 YEARS. For two of those, I was on the board of Freelancers Union. I survived 9/11 in NYC, the layoff that started my independent career in 2004, the Great Recession of 2008, and cancer in 2013. Now, along with my fellow self-employed workers and all Americans, I am facing what may be the greatest challenge of our lives as we fight the Corona Virus. Congress is working on a massive economic relief package to keep the get the United States back to work and the financial systems moving. As it stands now, the relief package won’t help some small business owners and independent workers like me, and we need to tell Congress not to forget us.

A recent article in Fortune magazine commented that pandemic relief packages are leaving out 57 million self-employed Americans. The author writes, “[T]here is a large swath of independent workers… whose businesses are too small to even qualify as a ‘small business.’” 

Find your Congressperson’s info at House.gov and your Senators’ at Senate.gov, then please call them right away to ask that they include all self-employed Americans in the relief efforts. Here’s a sample script that you can use:

Good afternoon, my name is [First-name Last-name, a constituent from [your state], in zip code [00000]. I don’t need a response. I am self-employed and am concerned that the economic relief plan being worked on by Congress leaves out workers like me. I emphatically ask that [Congressperson’s Name; Senator’s Name] please fight to include us in any legislation that will provide support during this unprecedented crisis. Thank you for your work, and please stay safe and healthy!

If you’re not self-employed, you can help us by calling on our behalf. Use the same script altered slightly:

Good afternoon, my name is [First-name Last-name, a constituent from [your state], in zip code [00000]. I don’t need a response. I know and care about people who are self-employed and am concerned that the economic relief plan being worked on by Congress leaves them out. I emphatically ask that [Congressperson’s Name; Senator’s Name] please fight to include all self-employed Americans in any legislation that will provide support during this unprecedented crisis. Thank you for your work, and please stay safe and healthy!

I called this afternoon and left messages for Representative Yvette Clarke and Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, all three of my Representatives in Congress. It may take you a few tries to get through, and it’s likely that you’ll need to leave a voicemail. Many Representatives are asking staff to work remotely.

The relief package Congress is trying to pass won’t help the economy if it excludes millions of my fellow self-employed workers and me. Please join me in getting Congress to recognize that American independent workers need their help, too.

 

SPD-U: Five Questions for Ronnie Weil, Photo Editor

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Ronnie Weil, Photo Editor

The latest post in my Five Questions for… blog series for SPD-U, profiles Photo Editor, Ronnie Weil. Ronnie has some advice for aspiring photo editors.

“Our visual world is constantly moving forward: Keep pace with it.”—Ronnie Weil

SPD-U: Five Questions for Bethany Brill, Hair and Makeup Artist

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Bethany Brill, Hair and Makeup Artist

The latest post in my Five Questions for… blog series for SPD-U, profiles Hair and Makeup Artist, Bethany Brill. Bethany got her big break assisting photographer Odile Gilbert.

“I worked my butt off and can honestly say she taught me everything I know about hair.”—Bethany Brill

SPD-U: Five Questions for Jason Sfetko, Deputy Art Director, The New York Times Magazine

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The latest post in my Five Questions for… blog series for SPD-U, profiles Deputy Art Director of The New York Times Magazine, Jason Sfetko. Jason is, an RIT grad, who has worked at some of the top magazines in the industry.

“Make sure you are passionate about what you do.”—Jason Sfetko

SPD-U: Five Questions for…

Just what do magazine makers do, and why do people want to make magazines? I’ve been editing a blog series on careers in publication design for SPD-U, the Student Outreach arm of the Society of Publication Designers, where you can find the answers. We’re building a diverse group of pros who, by answering the same set of five questions, shed light on many of the potential careers in the industry. In their own words, some of the top creatives in the business, like Andrea Dunham of People, and Don Kinsella of Men’s Health, explain why they do what they do, and give advice to anyone who wants to do it, too. Check out Five Questions for… to get invaluable advice, from them, and others, and to see some of their excellent work.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The Series to Date

Todd Weinberger
Creative Director

John Walker
UX Professional

Stanley Collado
Art Production Aide

Nicole Zigmont
Designer

Gabrielle Revere
Photographer

James Reyman
Principal/
Creative Director

Cara Reynoso
Associate Art Director

Sue Swenson
Production Director

Edel Rodriguez
Illustrator

Linda Tran Tutovan
Deputy Art Director – Digital

Pete Sucheski
Deputy Art Director and
Freelance Illustrator

Tracey Woods
Associate
Photo Editor

Glen J. Karpowich
Senior Designer

Andrea Dunham
Creative Director

Randi Brookman Harris
Prop Stylist/
Creative Director

Heather Jones
Information Graphics Designer

Don Kinsella
Deputy Director of Photography

Victor Williams
Art Director

My Podcast Debut: The Inside the Phoenix Interview

Drawing this card in 1988 as a sophomore at Pratt changed my life. Eleven years earlier, as a third grader at Milton Elementary, I made the ornament behind it.

In October, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Warren Wade Anderson for Inside the Phoenix, a podcast created by him and John Carluccio, who are both fellow Pratt Institute alumni. During this busy but wonderful time of year, I hope you’ll find some time to join us for episode 67, It All Started with a Holiday Card, in which we talk about my career, the role that creativity plays in my life when I’m off the clock, and much more.

The transformative card is above, photographed on my Mom’s tree, next to an ornament that I made in grade school. (If you subscribe to Joe’s News, my monthly email newsletter, you read some of my thoughts on creativity and the holidays in the December 2013 edition.) In my conversation with Warren, I mention my parents, brother, and family, as well as mentors, colleagues, and influences who include Charles Goslin, Robert Newman, and Christoph Niemann.

Listen to our chat for a break from your Christmas week celebrations, or to occupy your time during what’s hopefully a calm work week. Whatever holidays you celebrate, I hope that you and yours are having a happy and safe season.

Join the iPad and Tablet Revolution

It’s hard to believe that the iPad has only been around since 2010. In a subway car a year ago, one or two people had an iPad or Android tablet, but now it seems like every fifth person has one. I’ve heard, “Print is dead,” several times during my career, but I don’t see that happening anytime, soon. I know that how we access books and magazines has changed forever. Publication designers need digital and interactive skills to stay competitive and marketable. If you’re ready to enter this exciting new world, I can help.

Take iPad Digital Design at NYU SCPS Department of Design Digital Arts and Film, where I’m an Adjunct Assistant Professor. While working with clients on tablet publications, I realized that people were hungry for help. That made sense: no one had really done much of it before. I approached my department, and was excited when they decided to offer the course and appointed me to teach it. My students learn how to plan and produce a user-friendly digital product for clients and the intended audience, and expand their design skills by solving problems within the limits of the emerging technology. We use Adobe InDesign and Digital Publishing Suite (DPS) to produce content for the iPad and Tablet. Find out more and register here.

Subscribe to my online course, iPad and Tablet Design Essentials, at Udemy.com. This is an online cousin to the classroom course. You’ll find over five hours of downloadable content, mostly in the form of video demos that show exactly what you’ll see on your screen. Learn the essentials of interactive tablet design, and producing interactive PDFs, eMagazines, and eBooks using InDesign CS6, and CS5.5. Nearly half of the course is devoted to producing publications with the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite (DPS). There’s also a brief overview of Apps, three pages of resources, and downloadable templates and images used in the video lectures for students who want to follow along. Sign up here and get it for only $89 through June 30, 2012, over 30% off the regular price of $129. 

Do you work better with individual instruction? I can bring my experience to you with a customized curriculum to meet your goals, over one session or multiple ones that fit your schedule. Please contact me at Joseph[at]JosephCaserto[dot]com for rates and more details.

Which option should you choose? Online is great for students on a budget who want to work at their own pace. The NYU course is the best option for those in the New York City area, who like the structure of meeting once a week and working in a group. Individual sessions are for you if you want one-on-one attention and need to learn specific techniques. Regardless, if you’re working in the world of print publishing, digital and interactive skills are fast becoming mandatory. Successful designers and producers will start expanding their knowledge today, in order to deliver to the readers of tomorrow. So, what are you waiting for? Join me in the revolution!

Advantage: Freelancers

Freelancers’ Stock Rises on Madison Avenue, by Rupal Parekh, Agency Editor of Advertising Age, affirms a trend that I’ve been seeing as the economy improves: if you’re a good freelancer, you’re in demand. She observes, “With clients’ marketing budgets rallying after a recession that led to the layoff of thousands of full-time staffers, freelancers are shouldering much of the workload.” I have two pieces of advice for anyone freelancing right now: don’t be afraid to let your capitalist flag fly, and ride the wave while it lasts.

After desperately looking for a freelancer to help with a big print project, [a colleague] told me, ‘it feels like it’s 1996, again: everyone good is booked.'”

Freelancers are valuable right now. Many businesses that let staff go during the recession aren’t re-hiring workers as we emerge from it. Instead, they’re using a rotating pool of temps who are almost always sent packing and replaced before they work enough hours to earn benefits and overtime pay. Sure, this gives the freelance market a nice shot in the arm, but it also gives companies a source of labor that doesn’t come with the overhead of having a full-time staff.

As the recovery builds, corporations are facing the reality that they can no longer have their cake and eat it, too, and are conceding that talent costs money. This is certainly true in my industry, publishing. During the recession, freelance rates were low because work was scarce and employers had the upper hand in terms of compensation. Salaries were slashed for the staff jobs that still existed, and independent workers were accepting rates that people turned down when I first began my career, twenty years ago. Now, with tablet publishing creating a market that needs a new set of skills, supply and demand are giving independents much more leverage. One manager at a major national consumer magazine pays good freelancers $60-$75/hour to work on the iPad and tablet editions. After desperately looking for a freelancer to help with a big print project, another told me, “it feels like it’s 1996, again: everyone good is booked.”

Mind you, what goes up must come down, and the recent economic crisis certainly won’t be the last. So, while the going is good, smart freelancers will work on paying down debt, and stashing some cash for the next rainy day. Some options for doing this are a business savings account and a retirement plan. ING Direct, which pays higher interest rates than many other institutions, offers business and retirement products, and Freelancers Union, where I sit on the Board of Directors, has a 401k plan for qualified members.

Indy workers always have value, but the high demand for freelancers in the current economy empowers us to earn more and invest in our futures. It’s a perfect time to proudly take a seat at the table as a skilled professional, and avoid the “I’m just a freelancer” trap.

Update: Freelance Isn’t Free

Last spring I posted about lobbying in Albany with the Freelancers Union for the Freelancer Payment Protection Act (S4129). The great news is that it passed in the Assembly last fall, with a vote of 84 to 58, where it was introduced by Speaker Silver (D) and Senators Golden (R), Lanza (R), and Squadron (D). Why is this important? In 2010, research showed that New York State’s self-employed lost $4.7 billion due to client nonpayment, not to mention that recovery and payment of unpaid wages would generate $323 million in tax revenue for New York State. In order to pass this landmark bill in the New York State Senate so it becomes law, we need your help. Here’s what you can do to help Empire State independent workers get paid:

• Sign the petition in support of the Freelancer Payment Protection Act.
• Email or phone your State Senator in support of the Freelancer Payment Protection Act. You can find their contact information at http://www.nysenate.gov/. Copy and paste the following text, or use it as a script for your call:
  

  Pass the Freelancer Payment Protection Act (S4129)

  As a resident of your district, and the (parent/sibling/relative/friend) of a New York freelancer, I know that Freelancers often struggle to collect owed wages from clients. Yet unlike traditional employees, Freelancers lack any labor protections to ensure that they get paid for the work they do. A recent study by Rutgers University economist William Rodgers shows that 42% of independent workers in New York State had trouble collecting payment in 2010, totaling an estimated $4.7 billion in lost wages.

  The bipartisan Freelancer Payment Protection Act (S4129) was introduced to provide the same wage protection to independent contractors that New York has provided to employees for decades. Rather than having independent contractors waste time and money pursuing owed wages on their own—through small claims court or by hiring an attorney—this bill would allow them to file a claim through the New York State Department of Labor. This solution not only helps the individual but also could help New York State recoup millions in state tax revenue that is lost every year due to client nonpayment.

  As your constituent, I ask that you please co-sponsor S4129 to ensure that my (child/sibling/relative/friend)—and every worker—can collect the money that they have rightfully earned.

  Sincerely,

  (Your Name)

• Donate to the Freelancers Union Political Action Committee.
• If you are an independent worker, join Freelancers Union.
• Spread the word to your friends & family, and ask them to join you. Download and attach the flyer at the top of this post, which you can also print, and hang up or distribute.

You’re Not the Boss of Me! 10 Ways to Help Start a Freelance Career

College seniors, the unemployed, and even some employed workersare job hunting, with resumes in hand, shoes shined, and answers prepared for the HR generalist’s favorite question, “tell me why I should hire you.” Some seekers, however, may not have—or want—the option of getting a staff position, and instead, will pursue a freelance career. Over 30 percent of the American workforce is independent, and today’s workers need to be prepared for the possibility of being their own boss. So, how can you prepare for this new world? Here are some tips to help you get your freelance on.

1. Understand that you won’t get a steady paycheck. Money in the bank—yes, you can put it in, too, not just take it out—will give you a lot of peace of mind. The magic number is to have at least 3-6 months of expenses in cash. Especially for students, who have loan payments looming, that may be a tall order, but be honest with yourself as to what you can really afford. If you’re already in the workforce, try to put money in the bank every paycheck: set up automatic transfers through your bank, and you won’t have to worry about it. To find that extra cash, consider roommates, learn to cook for yourself, and go easy on the lattes and credit cards.

2. Realize that there’s a lot of opportunity in freelancing. An employer has to invest time and money into hiring a full-time staffer, but by bringing in a temporary freelancer with good references and skills, each side can try out the other, with fewer risks involved. Part company on good terms, and you’ll go to the top of the list to be invited back if another project comes up. If one doesn’t, you’ve still got new contacts for your network.

3. Which brings me to the biggie: network, network, network! If in school, your professors are the first opportunity for doing this. Impress them, talk to them, and ask them if they can give you contacts for informational interviews while you’re still a student. Working pros should start with managers and colleagues that they collaborate well with, not to mention alumni, friends, and family. A last-minute project will likely go to a known quantity, so get to know potential clients before you ask them for work, and take the initiative to stay in touch. LinkedIn is a great tool for this.

4. Join Freelancers Union. It’s free, you’ll get discounts, find support resources, and be part of a national advocacy group for indy workers. (Full disclosure: I’m on the Board of Directors.) Members in NY who qualify can get Health & Dental insurance. (We love the other 49 States, but only NY Law permits this, right now.) The good news is that under the Affordable Care Act, you can remain on your parents’ plan until you’re 26.

5. Don’t wait until you need work to look for it. Keep in touch with your network, let them know what you’re up to, and when you’ll be available to take on new projects. Social media is perfect for this. Update your Facebook status with the results of a project you’re happy with, use Twitter to follow and tweet about your latest great client, and blog about the process you went through to land a gig. Just be careful: don’t share anything negative, or confidential. As tempting as it may be, I guarantee it’ll come back to bite you on the behind.

6. Think like a business owner: what you earn is income, not salary. Look at the big picture, and review your finances quarterly, when you’ll owe estimated income tax. This part is not for the faint of heart, so get a good accountant who’s familiar with the needs of a freelancer.  A financial advisor who can help you meet investment goals and plan for retirement (yes, freelancers need to save for that, too) is also a good idea. Fees for these services will be well worth the money, and are likely to be tax-deductible.

7. Speaking of tax deductions, don’t leave money on the table. Keep your receipts for everything: if you buy supplies, attend work-related events, and especially if you meet for a bite to talk shop (see tips #3 & #8). Note that for business meals, you’ll need to have careful documentation: the person’s name and title, and the meeting’s time and location and purpose. (John Doe, President, XYZ Corp: 12:00 pm, Max’s Café to discuss Fall Catalog). For more info, see IRS Publication 334: Tax Guide for Small Business.

8. Give, don’t just take. Sure, it’s fine to ask your network for advice and help, but make sure to return the favor, or at the very least, thank them. Everyone loves a free lunch, so scheduling one & picking up the tab is sure to go over well. Definitely send a note saying how much you appreciate their time and advice (see tip #9). You’ll get much more out of your network by making sure it’s on a two-way street.

9. Communicate well, and respond quickly. Follow up on meetings and respond to e-mails within a day, and no typos, please. As my colleague Angela Riechers always says, “use spell check, it’s free.” If you really want to impress, send hand-written notes, whenever you can. I never fully appreciated their power until I received them, myself. It’s a good idea to write them electronically in a word processor, which you can use to check for spelling and grammar mistakes, and then copy them by hand on nice stationery.

10. You’ve got a gig! Show up, act like a grown-up, and do the work. Believe it or not, this will set you apart from the pack. Just because you’re not a staffer, you can’t slack off. Be professional, easy to work with, and skilled: they’ll love you, and re-hire you.

Use these pointers and your freelance career will be off to a strong start. Working independently is an important option for job seekers to consider. Doing it right is all about making a good impression, seeing the big picture, and staying connected. Welcome to the new work world, and good luck!