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I was a human rights worker, specialising in gender and conflict in West Africa, when my first book was published. The freelance life appealed to my sense of adventure, so I tendered in my resignation.
Here, in no particular order, are the lessons I’ve learnt in my journey as a freelance writer.
Years back it was said that creative people that chose to go freelance were either too old to be considered for full-time employment or simply not good enough to cut it in a top agency. In those days, I’m going back to the 80’s here, the freelancer was a rather put upon individual whose career was stuck in a creative cul-de-sac.
From YouTube, some of the finest female minds in the creative business provide us with a bit of insight into their working lives.
On the face of it, baked beans and condoms have little in common. Which is handy, because a mix-up plays havoc with your bedsheets, believe me. However, a couple of weeks ago, I expressed my enthusiasm for the Heinz ‘Jack and the Magic Beans TV work, thoroughly expecting to wait years for another ad so alive with creative ideas.
Happily, I was wrong.
As you might have noticed, it was the Brit Awards last night. It’s the nation’s favourite awards ceremony which never passes us by without some drama unfolding, last night proved no exception with Adele flipping the bird at the music suits after her acceptance speech was cut short by a reluctantly interruptive James Corden.
Those of you who weren’t completely distracted by Rhianna’s pants and George Michael’s slurring might have noticed that the infamous Brit trophy has had a makeover.
Jeremy
You know the Honey Monster? Big, funny, cuddly, kooky old rug? Cold-blooded, careerist vampire more like. Because those of us in our forties know he usurped Jeremy Bear, casting him out of his proud role as the face of Sugar Puffs; condemning him to life of miserable obscurity. Apparently, he can now be seen dancing for pennies at Salford Quays tram stop. But, Jeremy, we remember.
From YouTube, leading advertising creatives explain what they do, why they do it and what excites them.
You’ve been working on a nightmare brief for the last four days. It’s been a dog and so far you’ve come up with zero. You’re staring out of your office window and slowly but surely the panic begins to set in. It’s getting dark, down below you on the street outside people are going home. The meeting with your CD is booked in for 9am tomorrow and you know it’s going to be a long, long night.
This week Channel 4 has attracted considerable attention. Its high-profile, much discussed ‘documentary’ strand Big Fat Gypsy Weddings has returned to a big fat viewing audience and water-cooler debate over the style merits of pineapple themed dresses. But the marketing campaign for the series has also brought the channel to the notice of the Advertising Standards Authority, which has received just under a hundred complaints.
When busking meets big business
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012In the eighties and nineties I lived in London and throughout that time, London Underground put buskers on a par with the small, grey, dusty mice running between the rails. That is, vermin ripe for extermination. Okay, maybe not extermination, but certainly eviction. Signs and notices festooned every station, threatening fines, arrests and stern words for anyone who tuned up within earshot of passengers.
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Tags: blog, busking, CBS Outdoor, guitar, London, Magnus Shaw, music, musician, musicians, Underground
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