Streetlife

Hi Pete,

I work from home selling phone solutions to sole traders and small businesses. I will happily help with proposals as I am quite adept at helping fine tune what other people have written. 

I look forward to seeing you on the 13th.

Tim O.

Hi there

I'm a freelance trainer and consultant working in the Social Care sector and experiencing a little of the famine side of work at present.  Although I do get out and about to meet people (largely as an associate trainer these days) it would be great to link up with others experiencing the highs and lows of freelancing.  I can't make the meet up at the Leather Bottle as I do have a training arrangement on that day, but will register on the freelancers page and let's see what happens!

Regards

Antonia

Hello Pete,

Sounds a good idea. I do graphic design, publishing and marketing and have been working from home for many years. Look forward to meeting everyone on the 13th.

Cheers

Kieran

i'm adding this comment about our first meet up next week because i don't know if everyone who has been on this thread has signed up to the group on Streetlife too.  so apologies if you are seeing it twice.

we will definitely be looking at ways to make this work both on and offline & to have flexibility in meet up times because we all know what freelancing is like ... it would help to know if there are specific times which work or don't work for face to face get togethers, for instance, to fit in with school time.

Wed 13 June 3 - 6 pm The Leather Bottle, Garratt Lane

those who've said they'll come are:

1.  Ian Freeman - commercial artist/illustrator & graphic design

2.  Chris G - advertising, marketing, communications

3.  Tracey R - web site design and development

4.  Taina P - 

5.  Stephen F - copywriter

6.  Michael L - web developer

7. Tim O - phone solutions

8.  Kieran - graphic design, publishing and marketing

9.  Colin S - business advisor for SMEs

10 Stephen F -

11. Lucy Saunders (me) - PR, copywriting, event organising, primarily B2B,  also artists model, arts event organiser and Utilities Warehouse distributor (you know how it is) 

Meeting outline

1.  quick 1 min intro for each of us - and passing round business cards

2.  review of Pete's original list of possibilities, maybe working out how those could be realised both on and offline

3.  ways of building our general knowledge about each other, whether this can be done on Streetlife or maybe our own site, where we can see everyone's profile, have their contact info, inc LinkedIn details, know what they've been working on

4.  possible joint marketing activity - tho' this might be better in future, when we know each other a bit better

5.  AOB

i'll also post this on the freelancer thread, because i can see that messages on here don't automatically go on the original thread.  

any suggestions for a more rigorous agenda are welcome.  or even a less rigorous agenda, i don't mind - i just want some people to share some of those 'no one knows the trouble i see' moments of being a freelancer.  

Lucy

You've got me down twice - probably my fault!

I'll be there.

Savill

I have mixed my dates up I'm afraid. I am away next week so won't be able to make this meeting but definitely want to be involved.

Kieran

I won't be able to attend the 13th, but if there's another meeting 2 weeks later I'll be there. Might be helpful to not always schedule meetings during the day. 

Hi Pete,

I've an appointment on 13th at 3 in Parsons Green so I won't be able to attend the first meeting. Please refer to my original post for skillset. and add that to your terms of reference. 

Can you let me know the outcome of your group meeting and when you plan to hold your next meeting?

Thanks, Angie. 

angiewhitelondon@hotmail.com

Sounds good Lucy, just to let you know what I (attendee no.4) do for a living...I am an artist, portraits mostly (web address: www.tainapearson.co.uk)

Looking forward to Wed!

Taina

Hi, just seen this thread. Do count me in too. I'm a graphic designer with over 20 years experience. Since having children (6yr old and 4yr old) I'm working from home. Work has been very up and down lately. I specialise in visual identity, campaigns, graphic design, print, naming, website look and feel. 

Sorry, my iPhone wouldn't let me sign off so apologies for the abrupt end to my previous post...due to school and nursery pick up times I am unable to meet on the 13th but if there is another one late mornings are preferable. Also, Wednesday and Thursdays are best for me as my youngest is at nursery all day on those days. I also forgot to add I have started designing and producing a home and lifestyle brand - mookakids

Keen to know how Wednesday goes!

Thanks, Kate.

emamooden@btinternet.com

Hi Pete  - great initiative - count me in businessman/entrepreneur and civil engineer. 

Is there a meet lined up?

Naz

I hope to be there on Wednesday but it depends on whether I meet a looming deadline!! May I make a suggestion? Would it be possible to alternate times so that every other meeting is in the evening? This may allow more people to attend. 

Mary

Hi Mary,

Good idea. I think it will be easier for people to attend if they have an evening and daytime option.

Hope you can make it on wednesday.

Can I also make a suggestion to have some meetings in the mornings, perhaps, so as us Mums and Dads who do the school run could attend? Evenings may be ok but my husband doesn't get back til late so I won't be able to attend unless it is nearby and from 8.30pm...

Kate

hi.  I'd like to come along too.  I'm a Pilates Teacher and Nutrition Specialist and have recently set up my business called Nutripilates and still have lots to learn. I also have a couple of businesses in aloe vera, nutrition, skin care and anti-aging products. 

I can't be there for 3 but should be there between 3.30 and 4pm.

Sarah 

http://www.nutripilates.co.uk/

Hi,

I'd like to pop in to listen if that's all right by you all.

Cheers.

Sorry folks, I've been scuppered by sudden work. It's really annoying but c'est la vie. I hope someone outlines what happens tomorrow so those unable to attend can post a contribution or two and fully join in next time. I think the enterprise is a fine idea and I very much want to be part of it.

Stephen F, wonderful to have the work - go to it, quite understand.  its not like we are writing the Declaration of Independence tomorrow, plenty of time to contribute, we are still feeling our way to create online and offline forums to support us all.   yes, i will be taking notes, writing minutes - the organiser in me can't help it - and will put a summary up here & anyone who wants actual minutes can give me their email address.  i somehow don't think that a Streetlife post is really the place to put minutes?  and/or if we have a LinkedIn Group or some kind of online presence, minutes can easily go there.

for future, will be proposing a schedule of oppties - probably fortnightly - of opportunities for face to face meetings moving time of day and day each time to accommodate everyone's variable schedules.  think monthly is a bit too long, weekly a bit too much.  not at all thinking that all will get together all the time, tomorrow, we've got 15 or so, certainly there are another 10 who liked the idea of a face to face but can't do the day or the time.  

Hey Pete

Sorry but I'm not going to be able to attend after all - I broke my leg on Monday evening. Currently confined to the sofa as don't have a wheelchair and very wobbly on crutches. It's a real pain in the proverbial (and of course my leg)! It also scuppers my work possibilities as I normally go to people's offices so if any Streetlifers know of any writing/editing work that can be done from home/online I would be very grateful.

Sharon - sorry to hear about the leg, we will miss you this afternoon.  is there a particular sector or type of work you do?  will private message you with some ideas about where to find work online.

Pete's away this week, which is why i am responding rather than him.  

First freelancer group meeting - i've posted this twice again, on group listing and this thread - because am not sure whether people are joined up to the group.  

weather’s good today, so maybe we can sit in the shaded bit of the garden?  I’ll be wearing something green on top & will have a copy of the Financial Times with me – its ghastly pink is pretty unmistakable.   Otherwise, my mobile is 0777 55 66 074, email: lucy.saunders@mahseer.co.uk.  Looking forward to meeting you all later.  

those who've said they'll come are:

1.  Ian Freeman – journo, copywriter, PR

2.  Chris G - advertising, marketing, communications

3.  Tracey R - web site design and development - http://thesimplewebcompany.com/

4.  Taina P – artist, mainly portraits - www.tainapearson.co.uk

5.  Michael L - web developer

6. Tim O - phone solutions

7.  Kieran - graphic design, publishing and marketing – CAN’T MAKE IT THIS TIME

8.  Colin S - business advisor for SMEs

9.  Sharon G – journo, copywriter, editor - broke a leg Monday, can't make it

10. Lucy Saunders (me) - PR, copywriting, event organising, primarily B2B,  also artists model, arts event organiser and also Utilities Warehouse distributor (you know how it is) 

11.  Sarah C – pilates, nutritionist - http://www.nutripilates.co.uk/

12.  Jonathan Priest – brand and marketing communications

13.  Ian Bull – commercial artist - http://www.precisionartwork.com/ - I'm planning to be there. My problem is that I spent too long, years, on just a couple of lucrative contracts. The result is that I've lost contacts and am generally 'out of the loop'. I'm told that my work as a commercial artist isn't bad though and a few examples are here...

14.  Mythili – social & artistic entrepreneur, architect

15.  Savill Young – lead generation, sales training

16.  Mary A – journo, editor, mainly health and medical, also local magazines

Meeting outline

1. quick 1 min intro for each of us - and passing round business cards

2. review of Pete's original list of possibilities, maybe working out how those could be realised both on and offline

3. ways of building our general knowledge about each other, whether this can be done on Streetlife or maybe our own site, where we can see everyone's profile, have their contact info, inc LinkedIn details, know what they've been working on

4. possible joint marketing activity - tho' this might be better in future, when we know each other a bit better

5. AOB 

Would love to attend but can't do Wednesdays, would love to attend a future meeting if its on a Friday.
Hope it goes well today!

thanks Pippa - am sure we will be arranging future meets on other days and at other times, we just had to start somewhere.  if you'd like the minutes, please PM me yr email address - think they will be a little long for posting as a Streetlife thread.  BTW, what do you do?  what's yr speciality?