Freelance Success has existed in various forms and incarnations since 1994. Here, then, is a brief history of the origins of this organisation, it's
journey to here, and a list of the various creative professions that can access our seminal Freelance Success workshop.
journey to here, and a list of the various creative professions that can access our seminal Freelance Success workshop.
| "I believe this course is essential for anyone who is either considering moving into freelancing or currently working as a freelancer." - Dionne Moskow, publicist, Polkadot PR. |
In the early 1990s Monica Davidson's creative career was beginning to take off. She was making some money as a filmmaker
and writer, and starting to think that she might be able to do it for the rest of her life. She desperately needed a business course
to help her learn more about creative self-employment..
and writer, and starting to think that she might be able to do it for the rest of her life. She desperately needed a business course
to help her learn more about creative self-employment..
Monica went to night school and suffered through a number of so-called “essential” (and boring) business courses that were
helpful in part, but hardly the comprehensive coverage she needed. She found that the style and manner in which the courses
were taught led her closer to sleep than enlightenment. She had no choice but to conduct her own research on creative and
artistic service-based industries. She found a complete dearth of information, and the idea for Freelance Success was born.
helpful in part, but hardly the comprehensive coverage she needed. She found that the style and manner in which the courses
were taught led her closer to sleep than enlightenment. She had no choice but to conduct her own research on creative and
artistic service-based industries. She found a complete dearth of information, and the idea for Freelance Success was born.
It took Monica months to collect the business information that she needed, and by chatting to creative friends she realised it was
relevant to anyone working for themselves in the arts, not just her own situation. Initially Monica tried pitching her idea for a
creative business course to the community colleges where she had studied business, but they weren’t interested in something
so "niche".
relevant to anyone working for themselves in the arts, not just her own situation. Initially Monica tried pitching her idea for a
creative business course to the community colleges where she had studied business, but they weren’t interested in something
so "niche".
Freelance Success - the workshop - remained at the core of Monica's teaching, but she always felt that more was
possible for the concept. In 2006 she made the leap and started Freelance Success - the business. The workshop
was still at the heart of the idea, but in addition Monica added consulting, private speaking, events, written works and
this website. She woite the Australian version of Freelancing for Dummies, which was published in 2008. She is
currently working on her second book, Creative + Business.
possible for the concept. In 2006 she made the leap and started Freelance Success - the business. The workshop
was still at the heart of the idea, but in addition Monica added consulting, private speaking, events, written works and
this website. She woite the Australian version of Freelancing for Dummies, which was published in 2008. She is
currently working on her second book, Creative + Business.
Monica refused to take no for an answer. She hired a run-down hall and devised a workshop program that relied more on her
accumulated research than her actual experience. For that, she invited friends with more professional experience to lecture as
well. She ran an ad in the newspaper, and ten brave punters came along to the first ever “Creative Freelancing” day. At the end of
the workshop they spoke about what they had learned and what more they needed, and Monica realised there was more than
just one day's worth of material here.
accumulated research than her actual experience. For that, she invited friends with more professional experience to lecture as
well. She ran an ad in the newspaper, and ten brave punters came along to the first ever “Creative Freelancing” day. At the end of
the workshop they spoke about what they had learned and what more they needed, and Monica realised there was more than
just one day's worth of material here.
After a few more classes in that mucky hall, Monica took her then two-day course and a handful of testimonials from
previous students back to the community colleges who had initially turned her down. This time, they hired her, and the
workshop became known as Freelance Survival. The course ran successfully at a variety of locations until 2000, when
Monica had some time off for the birth of her twins. In the same year, the new tax system was introduced in Australia,
and the admin situation for both freelancers and small business people was radically altered. Monica returned with a
new and improved three-day version of the workshop in 2001, called Freelance Success. That title, and the revamped
nature of the course, has stuck ever since.
previous students back to the community colleges who had initially turned her down. This time, they hired her, and the
workshop became known as Freelance Survival. The course ran successfully at a variety of locations until 2000, when
Monica had some time off for the birth of her twins. In the same year, the new tax system was introduced in Australia,
and the admin situation for both freelancers and small business people was radically altered. Monica returned with a
new and improved three-day version of the workshop in 2001, called Freelance Success. That title, and the revamped
nature of the course, has stuck ever since.
Since 1994, Freelance Success has kept a list of the various people who have attended our workshops and other events. They include - abstract artists, actors, animators, architects, art
directors, artists, audio engineers, belly dancers, book designers, broadcast producer, cartoonists, ceramic artists, children’s authors, composers, costume designers, digital media
producers, digital video editors, fabric designers, film editors, filmmakers of every type, florists, gaffers, glass blowers, graffiti artists, graphic designers, hip hop dancers, illustrators, interior
designers, interior stylists, jewelry designers, life coaches, mac operators, make-up artists, marketers, media producers, media writers, medical writers, multimedia producers, musicians,
object makers, old-style animators, personal stylists, photo researchers, photographers, print editors, print journalists, producers, proofreader, public relations consultants, radio journalists,
radio producers, rappers, scriptwriters, sculptors, singers, sound engineers, television journalist, web designers and writers.
directors, artists, audio engineers, belly dancers, book designers, broadcast producer, cartoonists, ceramic artists, children’s authors, composers, costume designers, digital media
producers, digital video editors, fabric designers, film editors, filmmakers of every type, florists, gaffers, glass blowers, graffiti artists, graphic designers, hip hop dancers, illustrators, interior
designers, interior stylists, jewelry designers, life coaches, mac operators, make-up artists, marketers, media producers, media writers, medical writers, multimedia producers, musicians,
object makers, old-style animators, personal stylists, photo researchers, photographers, print editors, print journalists, producers, proofreader, public relations consultants, radio journalists,
radio producers, rappers, scriptwriters, sculptors, singers, sound engineers, television journalist, web designers and writers.
Monica has also been fortunate enough to find others to help her spread the Freelance Success word. She has an ongoing relationship with the Australian Centre for Screen Business, and her
workshops entitled Running Your Own Creative Business (and modelled on the Freelance Success workshop) are offered around Australia throughout the year. She also presents a version of
the workshop to the full-time students at the Australia Film Television and Radio School, as well as a number of other organisations. Her previous clients for tailor-made workshops, consulting
and speaking include the National Association for the Visual Arts, the Information Cultural Exchange (ICE), Metro Screen, SAE College in Sydney, the Canberra Institute of Technology, Musica
Viva NSW and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. For more information, click here.
workshops entitled Running Your Own Creative Business (and modelled on the Freelance Success workshop) are offered around Australia throughout the year. She also presents a version of
the workshop to the full-time students at the Australia Film Television and Radio School, as well as a number of other organisations. Her previous clients for tailor-made workshops, consulting
and speaking include the National Association for the Visual Arts, the Information Cultural Exchange (ICE), Metro Screen, SAE College in Sydney, the Canberra Institute of Technology, Musica
Viva NSW and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. For more information, click here.
All text, images and information is © 1994 - 2010
Freelance Success is a registered trademark #1241679.
Freelance Success is another business adventure owned by...
Freelance Success is a registered trademark #1241679.
Freelance Success is another business adventure owned by...
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