Freelance Friday is for Edinburgh freelancers who’d like to go for a pint on a friday ‘after work’.
It started in my first week as a full time freelancer, I invited a few freelancers for a beer. People seemed to think it was a good idea and since then we’ve hired out a room once a month and it’s been just brilliant getting to know a bunch of creative ‘regulars’ and we’ve met lots of interesting new people too. I wrote a bit more about it here. If you’ve not been please do join us….. because you don’t have an office, it’s the end of the week and it’s good to meet other freelancers.
Expect a warm welcome, good craic and free snacks.
Dates 2011: Friday from 5.30pm
- 23rd Sep: The Brass Monkey, Leith (6 attended)
- 21st Oct: Sofi’s in the Shore, back room (14 attended)
- 25th Nov: The Parlour, Leith, the stage area (19 attended)
- 16th Dec*: Sofi’s in the Shore, back room (15 attended)
Dates 2012: 2nd Friday of the month, from 5.30pm
- 13th Jan: Sofi’s in the Shore, back room (21 attended)
- 10th February: Sofi’s in the Shore, back room (23 attended)
- 9th March: Sofi’s in the Shore, back room (15 attended)
- 13th April: Sofi’s in the Shore, back room (hosted by Clear Minded Creative Milo Mclaughlin)
- 11th May 6pm: Sofi’s in the Shore, back room
- 12th July 5.30pm (THURSDAY!) Sofi’s in the Shore, back room (Thanks to LillyLyle for organising)
Come along, tell your freelance friends
So far we have web developers, jewellery makers, magicians, fashion folks, journalists, PR people, podcast makers, poets, life coaches, illustrators, ghost writers, polar scientists, translators, editors, artists, radio presenters and authors. Whatever you do you’re welcome, full and part time freelancers.
If you’re coming let me know I’ll look out for you. Drop me a comment below or I’m @auntyemily on twitter. The hash tag we’re using when talking about Edinburgh Freelance Friday on twitter is #edff. I’ve also made a twitter list of Edinburgh Freelancers. Just let me know if you want added.
I’d like Freelance Friday it to belong to everyone who comes so please invite friends, share it, blog about it. If you’ve been before then help welcome those newbies, but you’re friendly folks who would do that anyway.
Interviews
I’ve started interviewing some interesting local freelancers to get hints and tips from the masters. I hope you’ll enjoy reading them, I thought we could all learn from each other. I’ll add to this list as it grows:
- Alan McIntosh: Man of Mystery Behind The Broughton Spurtle
- Jolene Cargill: Opted out because she cares
- Jon Melville: Big Person, Big Personality
- Jaimie MacDonald: Three Sided Freelancer
- Fin Wycherley: Freelance Ghost
Why Leith?
Lots of us are Leith based, town is busy on a Friday and there are some lovely pubs in Leith that let us hire out their back room and give us free snacks. They serve food too which is great if you end up staying out late. In October I planned to stay for an hour or so but I had such a good time I was there until gone midnight and ate wasabi peas for tea. Next time, I’ll get proper food.
Glasgow
Freelance Friday starts in Glasgow in December too, hurrah! If you know any Glasgow Freelancers please pass on Christopher Barr’s blog about it.
*Christmas Special: 16th Dec
Because it’s Christmas, every hour on the hour there’ll be a quick (5 mins max) entertainment slot. Magic tricks, that kind of thing provided by freelancers who do entertaining things. I’ve got a few confirmed already but If you are an entertaining type of freelancer please let me know if you can do a wee slot. But not pressure. And no longer than 5 mins, it’s not the X Factor.
Photography Scotland
November 23, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Bah humbug…that’s another date I can’t manage! Thanks for organising these, Emily, I’m determined to get along to one eventually. I hope you have a great night!
Ros
Fin Wycherley (@finwycherley)
December 12, 2011 at 9:36 pm
Do they have a piano? I can razzle up some good ol Xmas tunes for a proper sing-a-long, lol.
auntyemily
December 12, 2011 at 9:40 pm
They do THEY DO! Yes, how fab would that be, go Fin, can’t wait! (:
Julie Arnott
February 9, 2012 at 11:49 am
Hi, I’ve just joined Greener Leith and would love to come along to the Freelancers Friday tomor 10th Feb. See you in Sofi’s. Julie
auntyemily
February 9, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Brilliant Julie, looking forward to meeting you tomorrow (:
Fin Wycherley (@finwycherley)
December 12, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Oops, what have I got myself into now? I was SURE they didn’t have one, lol. Hey ho, better get practising.
auntyemily
December 12, 2011 at 10:05 pm
You’ll be great (:
Agnieszka Mankowska
December 14, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Hello, Emily!
I’d like to join you this Friday for the first time. I’m a freelance translator and reviewer. Enjoy the week!
What a great idea
auntyemily
December 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Wonderful, looking forward to meeting you Angieszka (:
Phil Crothers
February 7, 2012 at 10:54 am
Hi, was hoping it would be okay to come along and say hey. I’m just starting up as a freelance copywriter.
auntyemily
February 7, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Hi Phil, course and that’s great – looking forward to meeting you on Friday (:
Victoria Fifield
February 21, 2012 at 3:34 pm
Hi, I’d like to come to your gatherings! Can’t make the next one but will be in touch again for the April date! Thanks very much, Vicky x
auntyemily
February 21, 2012 at 5:02 pm
Brilliant Vicky, see you in April (:
Karen Howatson
March 6, 2012 at 11:49 am
Hi, I’d like to join you this Friday for the first time – possibly for just a brief time on this occasion but hoping to make it a regular fixture in future! I’m a freelance editor and indexer.
auntyemily
March 6, 2012 at 11:54 am
Brilliant Karen, looking forward to meeting you! (:
kareneditor
March 12, 2012 at 2:59 pm
Hi Emily, Really sorry I didn’t make it along on Friday – not well at all! Hope it was a good night and that I’ll manage to come along another time soon.
auntyemily
March 12, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Hey Karen, that’s ok (: Do hope you feel better soon and hopefully see you next time, it’s always on 2nd Friday of the month (: