In this episode we talk to Jeanefer Jean-Charles and Lou Cope about money matters.
Money is always an awkward thing to talk about and when what we do is what we love it can feel even harder. But as we navigate our way within a business where we are constantly having to put a price tag on either ourselves – consultancy or advice perhaps – or the artistic work we make, we have to get better at talking about and asking for money.
Jeanefer and Lou talk us through the way they think about themselves, the values they hold and express through their work and art as well as the value they place on themselves. Both share their secrets for pricing up their time – including useful tools and techniques from imaginary assistants to the use of real ones – day rates to annual budgeting. They talk about the benefits of having a portfolio freelance career with financial resilience in mind but also in the loneliness and isolation that comes when working alone or as a temporary guest in an established team.
Together we pondered value in its broader sense: in crediting, having our voices heard and being included. And of course in the drive to do an excellent job as, in a freelance world, we are only ever as good as the last one…
