Bigger clients aren’t always better clients, business resources, and buying back your soul.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- How do you get bigger clients that gave you more job security?
- What are the best resources for getting started with the business side of freelancing?
- Did the money you make buy back your soul?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

016 - Be You

Progressing your career, splitting your time, and promoting yourself.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- I have a full schedule, I'm booked for a few months in advance with regular clients, and I enjoy my work. Now what? What should be my next step to progress my career?
- What's a rough estimate of how you split your time promoting yourself, following leads, interacting with clients, and doing billable work?
- How do you increase sales and engagement?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

015 - Accept Help

Promoting, rights & usage, and building up client work with a full-time job.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- Do art directors still expect illustrators to snail mail them postcards or do they prefer to see digital work now?
- I was approached by an agency to do some illustration work for a 2-month project on-site and they asked me for my day-rate. I think they want a work-for-hire situation, which seems a bit odd for me. Aren’t there rights, usage, etc., which need to be factored into the cost even if I work on-site?
- How do you build up enough client work to freelance full-time while working a full-time job?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

014 - Take The Plunge

Balancing workloads, passion projects versus paying the bills, and maintaining social health.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- How do you strike the balance between too little work and too much work?
- How do you balance doing work that you’re passionate about versus work that pays the bills?
- As an extrovert, the hardest part of freelancing for me is the lack of human contact. In particular, I miss those consistent relationships you build over time with people on your team or in the office. What are your strategies for maintaining your social health?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

013 - Strike the Ultimate Balance

The ups and downs, entering new markets, and switching to retainers.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- What did your first year look like? How long did it take before you realized you made the right choice?
- How do you enter new markets when your existing clients are in a different market?
- How do you transition from per-project pricing to retainers with larger clients?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

012 - The First Year

Calming your nerves, freelancing 10 years in, and landing big clients.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- What do you do to calm your nerves about all the things that can go wrong while you’re trying to become a freelancer?
- What does freelancing look like 10 years in?
- How do you land big clients?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

011 - Go Your Own Way

Saying “no” to say “yes”, increasing your rates, and dealing with difficult clients—with special guest, Will Bryant!

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- How do you say “no” and protect your brand from potential backlash?
- How do you know when it’s time to increase your rates?
- How do you deal with a difficult client?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Guest Question by Will Bryant
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

010 - Downhill From Here

Scaling your pricing with your workload, personal versus professional brand, and handling clients who change their mind—with special guest, Danielle Evans of Marmalade Bleue!

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- How do you best scale your pricing and your workload?
- Personal brand or professional brand?
- How do you handle clients who change their mind and ask everyone what they think of your illustrations?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Guest Question by Danielle Evans of Marmalade Bleue
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

009 - Don’t Be Chicken

Value-based pricing for small budgets, staying creatively relevant, and freelancing vs full-time.—with special guest, Dan Mall of Super Friendly!

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- Have you always freelanced?
- Do you think freelancing full-time helps or hurts you in staying creatively relevant?
- Everyone's talking about value-based pricing, but how can you apply that thinking to clients with smaller budgets?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Guest Question by Dan Mall of Super Friendly
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

008 - Next Stop: Freelance

Project management workflow and growing your solo business—with special guest, Meg Lewis of Ghostly Ferns!

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where experienced freelancers answer questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- What does your project management workflow look like?
- If you were to grow your solo business, what role would you hire as your first employee?
- How do you actively grow your business without overselling?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Guest Question by Meg Lewis of Ghostly Ferns
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

007 - Find Your Rhythm

Determining your pricing, sacrificing to get the work you want, and clients who don't want a discovery phase—with surprise guest, Laura Bohill!

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- What sacrifices do you make to get the work you want?
- How do you work when clients aren't interested in a discovery phase?
- How do you determine your pricing for each project?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Guest Question by Laura Bohill
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

006 - Why Rent Your Time When You Could Own It

Pay vs exposure, less than professional clients, and diplomatically firing a client

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- Is it smart or stupid to do a job without pay for experience/exposure?
- How do you handle payment and contracts with less than professional clients?
- How do you diplomatically fire a client?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

005 - If You Want to be Treated Like a Pro, Act Like One

Convincing your spouse on freelancing, creative fulfillment vs paying the bills, and client lists without well-known clients.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- How do you get your partner on your side when going freelance?
- How do you scratch your creative itch when it's not the work that pays the bills?
- If you don't have well-known clients, should you include a client list on your website?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

004 - Show The Work You Want to Get

Freelancing instead of full-time, keeping a routine, and staying fulfilled over time.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- Why would I freelance when I could have a full-time job?
- What do you do to consistently keep a daily routine and not work unsociable hours?
- How do you stay fulfilled over an extended period of time?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

003 - Freelancing is a Journey

Overcoming the stress of freelancing and dealing with slow periods throughout the year.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion podcast where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- What do you do when freelancing slows down?
- Does freelancing ever get less stressful?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

002 - Always Be Planting

Acquiring your first client, getting new projects, and transitioning from full-time to freelance.

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Ask a Freelancer is a new Cushion audio series where an experienced freelancer answers questions about freelancing.

This episode's questions include:
- What's the key to getting your first client?
- How do you get new projects?
- What's the best way to transition from full-time to freelance?

Hosted by Andy J Miller
Music by Metavari
Brought to you by cushionapp.com

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