Gettin' Your Steady Income On

As young professionals, we're usually (hopefully) placed in supportive roles to start our careers, until we achieve some sort of unique/valuable experience other than guessing your way to a C in Economics, but I've been cast into the project management spotlight.

To start off, I would like to give you a tip from the inside. Given the opportunity, take advantage of the gifts we like to call "contracts" - in this case, retainers. Retainers are God's way of enabling creative freedom in an Advertising realm. Don't worry this isn't a religious blog - this is an Islamic militant site, there's a difference. Just kidding, blogtard.

Here's the scoop: You take $20,000 per month for 267 hours of work (within reason; see ass-saving DISCLAIMER) at a blended rate of $75 an hour. Sure, your normal agency rate is $95 as hour for project work, but this is GUARANTEED money over the course of a year. You won't need that graphing calculator you stored away after highschool, that's $240,000 annually. There is always the 90-day out clause, but do a good job, and the money's all "yizours" -- that's rap for "yours."

Now, here's what you're left with. Not only have you added value to your mid-sized, full service advertising & marketing firm but directly to the client, which means your client can now go back to their boss and say "Wow, I've succesfully negotiated what cost us $24,000 a month (and some times higher) on a per-project basis (basically 252 hours at $95 an hour), to a better deal in terms of hours at a fixed cost." There, budget withheld. Boss happy. Er'body in the club gettin' tipsy.

Let them think they're setting/getting a deal -- much like the commercial deep fryer. Oh yeah, we'll lower our agency rate, possibly give you, "da client," a few more hours of our time -- it's just time, we're a service-based organization, that is all we offer -- and ride the fastest money train all the way back to the bank. I say that, because we still put our money in "$$$" bags delivered by the earliest KC Southern. I joke, but that is the only way that analogy makes sense.

In reality, though, we're able to better manage each project to achieve the best efficiency to garner the most profit -- the agency term "adding value" gets thrown around too often, but will suffice. Yes, the money is guaranteed (assuming the 90-out hasn't kicked in), but smart business people like you and me (you aren't an idiot are you?) will closely manage, better anticipate, keep available resources.. available, and minimize billable hours. That means you graphic designer, you artsy egotist.

You see kind, white-collared friends (not, white collared friends, that would be racist) -- project work doesn't reward your tireless efforts. You will inevitabely stress the company resources and all-the-while waste time, money, and increase the office suicide rate.

Estimates reign in the per-project world. Here's the dilemma: do you shoot for the stars or low-ball the hell out of it? It is a tough decision, because we all know that most "local schmocals" don't have large budgets, and they don't realize the increasing cost of advertising (especially broadcast). Once you set the bar so low that the potential client will immediately jerk-off to such an offer, you are bound by your service "bid" (bidding is for construction companies, and we're in advertising, remember?) So, unbillable time will begin to straight-up accumulate on your punk ass, yaheard? Anyway...

Do you want job security? Do you want to drive home in a luxury sedan or possibly a sporty cross-over? You will be "made fun of" for the latter, so I would recommend against it, unless, of course, you are female, then call me. Point being: get yourself a contract. Maybe even start by getting a job, you lazy bastard.

Add some value.