Hi, I have been working in NYC with an 8 years of experience specializing in multi-family residential buildings. It has been okay but now I am in my early 30s and the salary of an architect is just not sufficient to start a family in a way that doesn't feel like a struggle. This has taken a toll to my life as my wife is saying she feels insecure with what I am making. She is not wrong, i feels the same way as I see in the past couple years many talented people with over 20 and 30 years of experience got laid off. How do people here get started? How do you find clients? How to get the right consultants with reasonable pricing that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice would be an easier start? I need to do something or I felt like my life will fall into crumbles really soon... I am registered and I just need to find a way to make money with it.
I regret that over the years I haven't build much connections beyond my corporate job and had a hard time getting access to clients. The clients I know from work are mostly developers that would only work with established firms. I have tried to do a 2-family house once for a connection from my wife. I did give them a proposal but didn't charge him upfront and hoping it would trigger something more but the client ran away with my drawings with bs excuses and never heard a word since then. After that I got quite frustrated and hasn't done much.
So here is my question. Even for something small like room renovations, how to go out and advertise yourself and start getting clients? Also, any tips to get the right consultants with reasonable price that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice did all of you start for your side job?
My advice: Leave NYC if you can. My sister is also an architect. She lived and worked in NYC for six years. My sister left NYC and moved to the Midwest where she works less house, makes more money (lower cost of living), and has higher job security.
NYC is certainly a stressful place to live, especially when you are surrounded by people who earn more when they are also working shorter hours. I don't see myself moving anytime soon due to other reasons but I do need to pickup some extra cash to sustain a proper living.
Nov 1, 24 2:55 pm ·
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How to get started to do some side gig - design or non design related
Hi, I have been working in NYC with an 8 years of experience specializing in multi-family residential buildings. It has been okay but now I am in my early 30s and the salary of an architect is just not sufficient to start a family in a way that doesn't feel like a struggle. This has taken a toll to my life as my wife is saying she feels insecure with what I am making. She is not wrong, i feels the same way as I see in the past couple years many talented people with over 20 and 30 years of experience got laid off. How do people here get started? How do you find clients? How to get the right consultants with reasonable pricing that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice would be an easier start? I need to do something or I felt like my life will fall into crumbles really soon... I am registered and I just need to find a way to make money with it.
I regret that over the years I haven't build much connections beyond my corporate job and had a hard time getting access to clients. The clients I know from work are mostly developers that would only work with established firms. I have tried to do a 2-family house once for a connection from my wife. I did give them a proposal but didn't charge him upfront and hoping it would trigger something more but the client ran away with my drawings with bs excuses and never heard a word since then. After that I got quite frustrated and hasn't done much.
So here is my question. Even for something small like room renovations, how to go out and advertise yourself and start getting clients? Also, any tips to get the right consultants with reasonable price that won't scare away the clients? Which field of practice did all of you start for your side job?
Any feedbacks would be greatly appreciated.
My advice: Leave NYC if you can. My sister is also an architect. She lived and worked in NYC for six years. My sister left NYC and moved to the Midwest where she works less house, makes more money (lower cost of living), and has higher job security.
NYC is certainly a stressful place to live, especially when you are surrounded by people who earn more when they are also working shorter hours. I don't see myself moving anytime soon due to other reasons but I do need to pickup some extra cash to sustain a proper living.
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