The0ne says:

Yep, exactly my thoughts. He’s got money to spend. Ain’t gong to happen to the regular Joe.

stopher2475 says:

Depends on the location.

bobbo says:

#5–zorkor==that was pretty weak. You need to word your complaints more generally so that you specifically don’t sound like an idiot.

You’ve done much better. Please regain your balance.

soundwash says:

(warning, a soundwash rehash-moment ahead)

bah..if he had a clue, he wouldnt
waste money on a billboard.

while waiting for recovery
policies designed to crush private
industry and expand government
banking industries, yadayadayada,

-work your local crowd.

(this applies more to people who
fix material things, not paper
pushers, -though it can easily be
modified accordingly with a little
imagination, -i avoid paper
trails, myself)

(second note/afterthought: unemployed
CPA’s -it’s tax time, you could make some *cash* offering house call services. many tax-abiding people who have PC’s don’t know how to do the online tax thing, or are scared they might screw up. (i hear this often) you could offer to do this for them while teaching them at the same time for a decent discount. chances are they’ll buy you lunch too.
-just a thought

NYC “independent contractor”
(ie freelancer)advert rule #2987.2
in a series..(or, how to acquire
new clients in a pinch)

if you need to increase (or create)
your client base, wish to stay below
the radar and stay local.. (esp if
officially unemployed..)

..print up a few flyers with pre-cut
phone number tabs a touch of humour and
post them on bulletin boards mainly
in laundromats within a 5-10 block radius.
i’ve found laundromat people to be
the most fun to work with overall.
(work towards referral only clients
in the long run though)

if you know anyone in the neighborhood
living in a high-end city-within-a-city
doorman building, give them a few flyers
to post in their laundromat and community
bulletin boards. dont forget the pool
and gym boards if they have’em as well.

depending on the building, within a
few weeks to two months, just one of
these buildings can produce leads to
all the work you’ll ever need.

if your lucky enough to live within 5
blocks of a hospital, go put two flyers
on each bulletin board in the cafeteria.

think volume. -do not charge by the hour
unless you love having people hovering over your shoulder. work out a few baseline flat rates with a +- $30-$60 variable depending
on the task and at hand.

-start using public transportation if
it’s conducive to do so and you do not
already. working for “peanuts” means
cutting all overhead to a bare minimum.
-shouldnt cost your more than $10 for
your whole days travels.

even better, if your not lazy, get a
durable bike and a bike messenger’s
“body bag” -the best way to enjoy
traveling in the city is on a 10 speed
or better. this will keep you in shape
and prepared for anything, both
physically and mentally.

(of course, a real man will travel the city
in custom sneaker-skates with a set of red Krypto’s and fat stoppers. (maybe while waring pink underwear?) -but that’s just my opinion.) :p

drop your Starbucks habit and find a deli
that serves good Columbian coffee for a buck
or less and that’s $100 or more a month
you save right there..better: pack your
own thermos and stick it in the bike bag.

water people, pack some NYC Tap run
through a britta filter for sh*ts&giggles

24oz spring water in the bronx is $1, in the city, it’s typically $2 now. -add up
how much you spend on street water each
month..you might be surprised.

Major water tip: if your a normal NYorker
you probably walk alot. there are literally
hunreds of drinkable water faucets all the
over the city. -you know when you see a
Super or doorman hosing down the sidewalks
in the warmer months? 9 out of 10 times
he’s plugged into a faucet on the side of the building. these require a special key or wrench to operate.

most “family owned” hardware stores carry this key. its a star shaped “wrench” -each side has a different size square or hexagonal hole and they usually cost $4-$6. these are big money savers in the summertime, esp if your chilling
in central park. -most all the buildings in the 70’s and 80’s along 5th and central park west have them.

it would prudent to get one of these. i’ve carried one with me since i was 14.
(i’m 45 now) fwiw: S&V Hardware on 75th and 1st carries them for a fact. -ask for a water
key.

(this is NYC based guide, remember)

if you usually work for 150/hr, think
along the lines of $150 flat.

just remember, times like these, many
people will have hard time spending
even $100 for repairs. -keep this in
mind.

do not dismiss partial or full barter
for your services. if you get a decent
vibe from the client, find out what they do
for a living and/or what skills they have.
they may be able to provide needful things,
contacts or information worth far more than what your charging for your services.

-don’t turn down home cooked meals or
takeout if you haven’t eaten yet. -that’s
one less meal you have to worry about for
the day. if your a picky eater, grow up.

find a balance between cash and barter.

barter always pays off once you understand
the concept..another offbeat way to think
of it is to figure or (re)define what *currency* is and how you wish to conserve, create or work with (it) that day or in general. currency can be time, cash, work(physical), food or even (spare)parts for whatever. -currency is highly relative.

one crucial requirement in all this is that
at your core, your are confident, open minded, sharp, friendly, honest -and with honor.

you also dont give a rats ass whether someone is gay, straight, white, black, plaid, a
religious nut or bleeding heart liberal, -or that they have a spare bedroom/dungeon painted dark flat grey with a hand-rubbed cherrywood bondage rack with burnt edges loaded with rubber batman masks, whips, chains, clothespins, nippleclamps, ball gags, a swing-down wood cross with strategically placed holes & straps, eyebolts in the ceiling and a box of both, latex and vinyl powder-free exam gloves sitting atop a flat black mini-fridge in the corner.

-you would treat all as equals and as you would want to be treated yourself.

you will end up with a client base of people from all walks of life of which some would probably disown you if they knew you were associating the other. -the rewards of such
a base is without compare. once you get a
taste of it..

part of the endgame philosophy in all this is to develop symbiotic relationships and support systems using your clients (of who most will become cherished friends in short time) as a spring board.

facebook is all fine and dandy, but nothing can
compare to having a *real* social network in NYC.

-oh, lastly, most important. my best
clients-turned-friends are those
who most would consider poor. -welfare
class if you will. always take work from people who are struggling when you can.
the pay is less, sometimes pay offered
is just their wife or mother’s home
cooking. what is important is that these
people are typically the lifeblood machinery
of the city.

they maintain, service or keep stocked, all the stuff most other people want nothing to do with, but which without, the city would grind to a halt in short order should the whole lot
of’em decide not to show up to work for some reason.

these are the people with best survival skills
and best contacts for acquiring goods of necessity. (food, toilet paper etc) -run
across someone in this industry who is compatible, fun, honorable and would make a good friend and you will have rounded out
your social network. -and found a new source
for work.

-in hard times, a friend who works at a supermarket or butcher is an extremely valuable resource.

the people from which you chose to
surround yourself with, very much
embody the essence of your “wealth”.
the people that matter in your life

to me, it seems the universe somehow
senses this and rewards one accordingly.
-both materially and spiritually.

keep that karma wheel greased and the
rest will take care of itself.

pick your friends wisely. for when
the times comes when you need a hand,
not one, but many will reach out to you.

for me, this is how to truly “Live” in the city, -especially, when one is unemployed.

well that’s it for now..i need to rest.

hope this gives someone a few ideas.
-it’s worked for me since 1993.

-hey, if i, -a somewhat conservative
leaning, oldschool type who grew up
in one of the most liberal cities in the
US can do it, anyone can.
(bittersweet torture comes to mind though)

..respectfully question authority.
down with taxes! viva la capitalism!

-s

—-
some may consider all this a bunch
of happy horseshit. -i say to you,
don’t knock it ’till you’ve tried it.