Sounds like you have a nice job, animating isn't my thing though.
Still playing way too many games. Still doesn't care.
Stuart Hart
@Stuart-Hart
Age 40, Male
Gfx Animator/Design
UK
Joined on 10/2/00
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Comments
You forgot a 'w' on 'here' on the 5th paragraph and you should replace 'so' with 'as' on the 6th paragraph. Sorry, I just had to, and that was good, gave a really good look inside and not a bias opinion on how the work place is like for animators out there. What's your yearly or monthly wage?
Fixed - cheers! I did try and proof read it before, but that text window is so small... big posts get hard to read.
That's my excuse anyway - thanks again.
Sorry, I really don't wish to discuss my wage. Other people in my office may read this, causing unnecessary tension.
Interesting.
No one cares jewmonkey
i think that its also a matter of finding your work personality in the scene.
I originally entered the scene wanting to work from my house and be very entrepeneural etc, and i lasted about a year and wound up hating it. It was cool to 'be on your own' but i found that most of my time was spent talking to clients and doing other tasks that while vital to my business, were not things i personally enjoyed doing. I just want to freakin animate/design shit so after a year of that i decided to go into working under a company and I've been happy about that since then. I find that doing my 9-5 keeps me focused about leaving my work behind after a set amount of time and being able to enjoy other things... like the forced nature of a 9-5 actually was a benefit because unlike freelancing where id have a very loose schedule and often worked at unusual times, i found that in the long run i actually made poor use of my day and i was working to the bone and not allowing myself time to just do unflash related things.
HOWEVER, theres some people that really thrive in being their own cheerleader and getting out there selling themselves, doing the work etc. I found that it just didnt fit my personality.
I do see myself maybe returning to fulltime freelance later on in my life. When i have the experience to have people work under me and be able to handle not only the technical challenges of the business but also the administrative ones.
Great post. I think i'd be interested to see how the professional scene in england is perhaps similar or different than that of the us. It opens up a whole new can of worms.
:)
I've not done it myself, but I think I'd be really bad at keeping myself motivated and being my own boss, talking to the clients etc. Thinking about it now, I can't see how I'd find time to do all the required stuff and have any free time to myself. But perhaps that's just how it is, especially when you're starting out perhaps, maybe you're sacrificing your free time to aim for something potentially very lucrative. I'm sure there's a lot of luck in that form of work though...
I have a friend that's trying to go solo now. He got fed up being forced to work long hours (some days he had to work until about 10pm - that's starting at 9am the same day). He's not so much an animator than he is a coder and actual artist. The way he's gonna try and pave his way is simply pitch his games at sponsors and get cash that way. This way, he really has little interaction with any clients at all, save for getting in contact with the interested sponser and working out a deal.
We'll see how things go for him though. We're good friends; he's been chiming me on the situation and his highest offer for his first game is very intriguing.
Wow, that sounds like the perfect life to me... I really want to be an animator for my career. What kind of work do you do / where is your work featured?
Also, HILLBILLIES 4!
Unfortunately my work is not massively exciting - I mostly do advertising banners that go on Hotmail, Facebook, MSN, Yahoo, among other places. I think only UK residents will see them though.
I do get to do some character animation from time to time, which I love of course. That's all on the actual website that I work for though, and again it's all just promotional content.
I won't link the website/company I work as it's an online gambling organization which is now illegal in the US last I heard!
when are you going to do flash again?
He is working with Flash... just, professionally.
Sounds fun.
Currently about to start my 3 years of HNC/D Animation.
Already do part-time graphics/photo restoration but I've always wanted to be an Animator or a Graphic Novelist.
All I can say is well done! And hopefully I'll get that far.
-VA
ngfan14
It sounds like a fun job. Do you have to work on weekends? And about how much a day to you work? And how much do you get paid? And talk more about the free alcohol. :P
Stuart-Hart (Updated )
I don't have to work weekends. If I did I would definately be looking for another job! I work 8.5 hours a day, including an hour for lunch. Sorry, I don't think it's right to say how much I get paid... cheeky! I will say that it's not enough to afford a house here in London yet.
The free alcohol works like this - every Friday, at about 5pm, a department is chosen to take £100 (about $200) to spend on alcohol and snacks. All the £100 must be spent. If any cash is left over it's handed back to the company. Of course, a receipt must be produced to prove that the cash was all put towards the good cause!