Is it me or is LA dead right now for Freelancers? (London: unemployed, contractors)

[Miss Pip]

Or is it just craigslist? Have all the good companies stopped posting on there because of all the scams? It just feels like there's way too many companies not wanting to pay anyone and then you get these idiotic freelancers working for nothing! Encouraging it all! Seems like it's changed A LOT since 2007 (well for me it has). My friends in NYC are having better luck. I guess we all have our own experiences but it seems like out here my friends and I are not having it so good. We're graphic/web designers and photographers.

What do you guys think?

[bhcompy]

I've seen no reduction in graphic design work as far as freelance goes, but freelance webdesign has turned into small business instead simply because there are too many skills and too much work to go it alone anymore.

For IT/Networking/Network Security, it still seems pretty viable.

[Miss Pip]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

I've seen no reduction in graphic design work as far as freelance goes, but freelance webdesign has turned into small business instead simply because there are too many skills and too much work to go it alone anymore.

For IT/Networking/Network Security, it still seems pretty viable.

Oh the work is there but the companies don't want to pay much or anything and they don't know the difference between Graphic/Web Designers and Web Developers. They try to get 2 for the price of 1.

[bhcompy]

It's sad, but it's the nature of things. Contractors of all sorts are hurt hard right now. I got laid off from what I would consider a fair wage, but the market is hiring at 15k less for my talent set right now. I'm going to have to bite the bullet somehow, or move out of state(most likely)

[Miss Pip]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

It's sad, but it's the nature of things. Contractors of all sorts are hurt hard right now. I got laid off from what I would consider a fair wage, but the market is hiring at 15k less for my talent set right now. I'm going to have to bite the bullet somehow, or move out of state(most likely)

Yeah you are right but there are some companies that are not suffering really and they use this because they know people will work for anything right now. Some companies are really taking the pish. Maybe i'll "go back to where you came from!" but London is too expensive

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Supply and demand. If someone is paying less today than yesterday I can only guess that the supply of those willing to perform the work has increased and the amount of work has decreased. I would assume with the economy you have plenty of people that are now unemployed and have decided to hang a web shingle out there offering to do the work. Another thought is that with the down turn in the economy there may be fewer companies looking for web based services. As has been said some companies are still going strong. They also realize that plenty of people are out there that offer the services that you offer.

[ToadB]

LA is very bad right now for creative professionals. All the big entertainment companies laid off a bunch of people, have hiring freezes, budget restrictions.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Miss Pip

Or is it just craigslist? Have all the good companies stopped posting on there because of all the scams? It just feels like there's way too many companies not wanting to pay anyone and then you get these idiotic freelancers working for nothing! Encouraging it all! Seems like it's changed A LOT since 2007 (well for me it has). My friends in NYC are having better luck. I guess we all have our own experiences but it seems like out here my friends and I are not having it so good. We're graphic/web designers and photographers.

What do you guys think?

our experience with Craigslist has been the same: scam, big time and my husband also does freelancing, but he is a writer.

Nita:

[greggd]

Craigslist seems to have turned into a way for mass marketing/spamm companies to obtain email address lists for various categories.

I think they respond to original ads stricktly to compile the email addresses, then sell or use the lists for clients that want to advertise via email.

Too bad because its a great site to advertise anything from jobs/employment to used cars, parts etc.

[Miss Pip]

Originally Posted by greggd

Craigslist seems to have turned into a way for mass marketing/spamm companies to obtain email address lists for various categories.

I think they respond to original ads stricktly to compile the email addresses, then sell or use the lists for clients that want to advertise via email.

Too bad because its a great site to advertise anything from jobs/employment to used cars, parts etc.

Yep I agree