Had to choose between a steady client with boring work or a risky project I loved...

About six months ago, I was offered a long-term contract from a local marketing agency. It was safe, paid $45 an hour, and would have covered my bills for a year. At the same time, a startup reached out with a wild idea for a brand video... but their budget was tight and they could only pay half up front. I went with the startup project, even though my friends said I was crazy. It took me three weeks of late nights, and I had to use my own gear because they couldn't afford rentals. The video ended up going a bit viral in their niche, and they've sent two more projects my way since then. But man, those weeks waiting for the final payment were stressful, and I ate a lot of cheap noodles. Has anyone else picked the exciting but shaky job over the safe one? How did you make it work?

3 comments

3 Comments

simonl862mo ago

Nice! But that startup actually paid you pretty well.

haydenp952mo ago

Well, the pay was pretty bad actually.

patriciaellis5d ago

Hold on, @simonl86, are we talking about the same startup? Because I remember haydenp95 mentioning they got paid in "exposure" and leftover kombucha from the office fridge. I'd have to see a pay stub to believe that place was handing out anything close to "pretty well." That's like calling a bag of chips a four-course meal just because it was on a nice plate.