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.
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.
| "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. |
All text, images and information is © 1994 - 2007
Freelance Success is another business adventure from...
Freelance Success is another business adventure from...
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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..
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..
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.
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.
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".
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".
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, various writings and this website. By the end of 2006 she
was fortunate enough to win a number of publishing contracts. Her books Freelance Success -
Be Creative, Make Money and Love Your Work and the updated Australian version of
Freelancing for Dummies will both be published in 2008.
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, various writings and this website. By the end of 2006 she
was fortunate enough to win a number of publishing contracts. Her books Freelance Success -
Be Creative, Make Money and Love Your Work and the updated Australian version of
Freelancing for Dummies will both be published in 2008.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 precious clients for tailor-made workshops, consulting and speaking include 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.
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 precious clients for tailor-made workshops, consulting and speaking include 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.