A brief talk on doing ronin in the animation business.

1. Animation Business Basics
or
Notes from The Freelance Life

2. Animation Business Basics
or
Notes from The (Independant Contractor) Life
paladin
free agent
condottiere
ronin
solo act
mercenary

3. “No one’s job is secure. Some freelancers contend
they're safer working for themselves rather than
depending on one employer. If one client
disappears, freelancers can fall back on several
others.” Qtd. Daniel Pink,
Welcome to the Age of the Freelancer
Gary M. Stern
November 27, 2012
Fortune.com

4. read/think
about
business

5. It’s not that hard,
but it’s constant.

6. It’s Show BUSINESS
not
Show ART

7. Think of yourself as a business person
not just as an artist.
PROFESSIONAL / Entrepreneur / SBO

8. Business Structure
Taxes
Contracts
Finding Work
Rembrandt

9. Business Structure
Sole Proprietor
Partnership
Incorporation

10. Business Structure
Sole Proprietor

11. Business Structure
Partnership

12. Business Structure
Partnership

13. Business Structure
Partnership

14. Business Structure
Incorporation

15. Business Structure
Sole Proprietor
**DISCLAIMER**

16. Business Structure
Sole Proprietor
Register a name
Current Account
HST #
CAVCO#

17. TAXES

18. TAXES Pre Pay
or save to pay at least
20%

19. TAXES

20. TAXES
CCRA
Audit

22. TAXES
Paperwork
READ tax prep articles
Listen to the budgets
Get an accountant

23. TAXES
Deductions or Write offs
self-employment expenses
must be documented

24. TAXES
Deductions or Write offs
Not Free Money
You have spend it
to write a portion off of next yearʼs taxes
Why I bought an iPad on December 31

25. Business Expenses
100%
Supplies
Website creation
Business stationary
Computer software
Convention expenses (2 per year)
Travel for work
Entertainment (%)
Student loan interest

26. Business Expenses
Capital Assets
CCA
capital cost allowance
30% per year
(Hardware, monitors, Cintiqs, tablets,
scanners, printers, cars, etc.)

27. Home Based Business Expenses
%
Rent
Mortgage
Mortgage interest
Home/Apartment Insurance
Power/Hydro Bills
Gas Bills
Property Tax Assessment
Water/Sewer Bills

29. loss
against
income

30. Financial Literacy
You need a plan to
deal with your debt.

32. CONTRACTS
aka:
Deal memo
Purchase Order/PO
Production Agreement
etc.

33. CONTRACTS
The Going Rate:
20 bucks
an hour
benefits after 6 months.

34. CONTRACTS
For production companies,
little negotiation in price.
Where did you pay last yearʼs taxes?

35. CONTRACTS
Uneducated clients
Your job is to educate them
through your deal memo.

36. CONTRACTS
Know thy time
How long will it take to do the work?
What’s their deadline?
Is it enough?

37. CONTRACTS
Know thy time
Build deadlines into the schedule
Link payments to these stages
e.g.: 1/3 to start, 1/3 roughs,1/3 final
DUE ON DELIVERY

38. CONTRACTS
Know thy time
Your monthly expenses X 3 = your price

39. CONTRACTS
Know thy RIGHTS
Define these in your deal memo.
Further use of your work
should mean more money for you.
BARTER/get something else if moneyʼs tight

40. CONTRACTS
Know thy RIGHTS
“Copyright protection is at the heart of our sustanance
as graphic artists. Keeping current and informed on
copyright issues enables artists to sell and clients to
purchase, only the rights necessary for their specific
needs. Copyright knowledge makes for better contracts,
fewer misunderstandings, and better business
experiences for all.”
Hayden S. Adams, President Graphic Artists Guild.

41. CONTRACTS
After you finish the job,
INVOICE for it.
Put terms on it.

42. CONTRACTS
“Ya gotta be ready to die.”
You have to be able to walk away
if the client wants more
than you are willing to give.
Know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em.

43. CONTRACTS
Look at examples from
graphic design or illustration business sites
and adapt them.

44. Finding Work
CONNECTIONS
Animation is a team sport

45. Finding Work
Learn from your peers
Share information

46. Finding Work

47. Finding Work
Don’t look for a JOB
Find Clients
strategic vs. tactical
long term vs. short term

48. Finding Work
Forget the blog
Build a website
presentation is everything.

49. Finding Work
Find your niche
then market the hell out of it
NEVER compete on price alone

50. Finding Work
Know How Business Runs
how accounting departments work
how shows are bought and sold
who selects freelancers

51. Finding Work
“Luck affects everything.
Let your hook always be cast.
In the stream where you least expect it,
there will be fish.”
Ovid

52. Finding Work
GOOD work vs. good work

53. Finding Work
How to get a job at Pixar?

54. Finding Work
How to get a job at Pixar?
Have them call you.

55. read/think
about
business

56. Read Emerson’s
“Self Reliance”

57. “The reward of a thing well
done, is to have done it.”
“Skill to do comes of doing.”

58. It’s not that hard
but it’s constant.

59. Faith will be rewarded
perseverance

60. “Courage is being scared to death,
but saddling up anyway.”
John Wayne

61. http://doingronin.blogspot.ca/

62. zen

63. ?