Flexible Working Life

Photo byJason Pratt

Before I start this post about how to benefit from the  ‘work do’ I just thought I’d start by pointing out that ‘work do’ might not be the right phrase.  However, it’s what I’ve always heard office parties and such being called and when said in a really low, depressing voice it makes me giggle for some reason. 

The only thing worse than having to go to a work do, is having to organise a work do.
It’s around this time when the panic sets in for the person who has to prepare the dreaded, miserable Christmas work do.  Have pity for this poor soul who has to prepare an evening of festive fun for people who would never, ever,  see each other socially under normal circumstances.

Think kindly for this victim of office politics and party planning, who has to do work, and then, sort out the work do.
They are the one person who can’t get out of it, and they are the one person totally responsible for the success or failure of the work do.
Then have a smile, because as a freelancer know that:

1.  You don’t have to go to the ‘work do’

and

2. You could get some work from this sorry little state of ‘work do’ affairs.

‘How?’  I hear you ask, well, you get work from the sheer desperation of the poor soul sat at the desk, obsessively Googling ‘Great Ideas for Office Parties.’

Obviously this depends on what kind of freelance job you do.
You may be reading this thinking ‘I’m a web designer, what’s that got to do with office parties?’

Well lets say that the office party was for a  big company.
So big, that they where looking for really original ideas this year because every year the work do consisted of a ball-room, a ‘theme’ and a DJ.
And let’s say that the person organising the work do wanted to do a great job because they knew that all the big cheese type people from the company would be there and they wanted credit for organising such a fantastic event.

Would it be worth pitching a special little event website to that company?  One small site where employees could log on, get directions, time, date, place and all that stuff?  A site that showed a load of local hotels where they could stay?  A site that promoted the work do in a way that only the Internet can?

You could offer a small forum where people could chat about the work do and let the excitement build.  Or perhaps, run some kind of work do competition.

There’s always some sort of raffle going on at a work do, why not make it a internet one?

And then afterwards, the special little site could show  all the photographs that were taken at the work do, either by a professional photographer or by giving  people the option to post up their own.

And that’s just off the top of my head, but I know that there are companies big enough and companies who want to create a buzz around the work do, who would really go for this.  I’m thinking sales companeis in particular.

I’m hoping that from that little example you might now be thinking about ways in which you can incorporate a little creativity into your freelance work, and generate some holiday gigs from the dreaded work do.

I know that freelance photographers, writers,  illustrators, marketing and pr professionals can benefit from thinking about the work do and how to offer a much needed service.

Start small - think about how frustrating the job of organising the work do is and how you could make it eaiser.

The person in charge of the work do has a budget that needs spending, it’s your job to tailor your service so you can help change the dreaded work do,  into a do that works.  And who knows?  This could be your next speciality.