STYLIST OPINION

FREE-LANCER OR LIFE AS WE KNOW IT!
The life of a free-lancer is not an easy one, it certainly comes with it's ups and downs.
When you are working constantly everything is fine and life is great, when you are not working there seems to be a grey cloud floating above.
After nearly 10 years working as a free-lance hair and make-up artist that has never seemed to change, and from speaking with other free-lancers it seems to be a universal feeling.
So just why is it such a roller coaster ride being a free-lancer? Sure it is a great feeling being self emplyed and making your own rules. Having days off during the week when every one else is at work never seems to become tiring, especially on a Monday.
Of course having days off is fine, as long as you have earned them, and this is where the problem comes in. Having too much time off!
Usually people who are free-lancers are creative people who work in creative fields, and with creative people comes a need to contribute and produce quality work. Its all about self satisfaction, and when you are not working enough you are not filling those needs.
Creative people also crave respect and admiration from their peers, and  you are not gong to get any of this if you are only working one day a week.
Another problem is money. Sure as free-lancers we seem to get quite good day rates for work, but as soon as you work load is halved, so does the money. I can have great working week one week, and then have no work the next, so straight away that money I earned is halved, making it seem not so lucrative.
But I think the biggest problem of when you are not working is the feeling of not being wanted or needed, resulting in artist depression. This is not a great feeling, but unfortunately seems to come with the turf, and as far as I can observe never seems to go away. But as creatives I don't think we would have it any other way.