So you want to be a freelance climber do you?

[Wolfie]

Great thread Adam.

 

Another point: if brad wants repeat work, he's unlikely to refuse any tree unless it's a certain widow-maker, whereas the employee can phone the boss saying "too dodgy" at the slightest hangover.

[Mick Dempsey]

Why not? Not that I am a rock star by any stretch, but I do alright I am hired help. I only run a top handle and my climbing kit everything else is supplied so my kit costs are fairly low and everything related to being freelance is offset against tax.

 

Been doing this a while and have really enjoyed everything I have done, being a freelance isn't exclusively being a rock star climber, I turn my hand to anything I can, and the more varied my work other than being a rock star climber means I have a skill set and experience which is valued (I hope!) for those I work for.

I am not a beast worker I am not the guy who is going to day in day out do an epic day it's not sustainable, I am in it for the long haul.

 

I am a freelance worker with absoloutly no intention of starting my own business, to me starting my own business is not sustainable over the years I have seen many a small outfit form and fizzle out.

 

Basically I feel freelancers are an important part of this industry as experience is king.

I'll address your first point, "why not?" Because it's a dead end, there's no moving forward in your career/provision for your old age. Mid 40s or earlier things are going to start aching a lot, you will be a lot more reluctant to go out in the rain and deadwood a line of spready oaks. Plus on 150 a day you'll struggle to raise a family and pay the mortgage etc. Also the spectre of the younger cheaper climber who is always phoning up your clients asking for work looms large

So with nothing to show for it except a topper and some old ropes you'll have to think of a new plan.

Not going to be everyone's experience but it's a real world scenario.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Mick Dempsey

[Pete Mctree]

Living the life!!

 

Well written insight into the real world

[edwood]

Good post Adam and a Poignant topic for myself. I've got a pregnant girlfriend asleep upstairs and I've just been told today's jobs off due to the rain. It's the fith day I've been dropped last minute this year, that might not seem much but it's a week of money I've got to make back with weekend work or night shifts to be able to afford time off for when the sprog drops in July.

 

As a subbie I find I start work half an hour earlier than everyone else with having to load up all my gear before going to their yard to load up theirs. Then finish half an hour later with unpacking it all in the evening.

[Paul Cleaver]

as said the nineties - golden years - I lived the life of riley

[skyhuck]

as said the nineties - golden years - I lived the life of riley

 

Things were bloody good right up to 2008 in my opinion, been very tough since then, but things are now improving I believe

[Adam Bourne]

Things were bloody good right up to 2008 in my opinion, been very tough since then, but things are now improving I believe

 

 

I agree Dave, the past 3 years of work have been pretty solid with out a long drop of point. I'm quite steady now and probably the lowest it's been in those 3 years but the break is welcome but only for a short while.. I hope haha

[atree]

first 30 seconds kinda sum's it all up..

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tree-work-tutorials-by-Jonny-Quick/219117898283334?fref=ts

 

PAYE v Self employed...

[skyhuck]

I'll address your first point, "why not?" Because it's a dead end, there's no moving forward in your career/provision for your old age. Mid 40s or earlier things are going to start aching a lot, you will be a lot more reluctant to go out in the rain and deadwood a line of spready oaks. Plus on 150 a day you'll struggle to raise a family and pay the mortgage etc. Also the spectre of the younger cheaper climber who is always phoning up your clients asking for work looms large

So with nothing to show for it except a topper and some old ropes you'll have to think of a new plan.

Not going to be everyone's experience but it's a real world scenario.

 

Presumably you feel employed climbers are in the same boat? So you see running your own firm is the only option??

 

I've not been employed since I was 19, I like self-employment.(well I guess I'm technically employed now by my limited Co, but you know what I mean )

 

I had an interesting discussion with a customer this week regarding age, he's 72, just been treated for very aggressive prostate cancer, he's never stopped and is greatly saddened to see all his contemporaries adopt your attitude towards life and getting older, they mostly eat and drink to much, do to little and then blame the failure of their bodies on age, its ridiculous.

 

There is no reason why a freelance climber cannot make a good living and they can also diversify into other work not just climbing, its a very real career choice IMO and one I sometimes wonder if I should have stuck with.

Edited May 29, 2015 by skyhuck

[Mick Dempsey]

I'll just qualify it a bit.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a freelance climber but it shouldn't be a end in itself, it should be a step towards owning your own business or getting experience to go abroad for a while.

Edit, just seen your post Huck.

Running your own firm is certainly the best and easiest option if you want to make anything more than a living wage.

Edited May 29, 2015 by Mick Dempsey