Expert: Jan Hayner - 4/23/2010

Question
I am working as a set designer in an event agency. I daily travel 45 km one side from my home to office. my office is 6 days a week and daily i spend 10 hrs in office and 3 to 4 hours in commuting. I give time only on Sundays to my wife and 3 year old son. On Sunday there is lot of house pending work i need to do. Please. advice me. Also i want to start some business how i can do this.....

Answer
Hi Suneel;
I did a little researching for you to see what is available and you are open to lots of opportunities. After having 9 years of experience, you have knowledge that others only wish they had. Why not go into a business of your own that is based out of your home?

I did a search using these keywords:
Theatrical set design
Design exhibits for corporations and tradeshows
Design commercials
set design jobs
movie set design jobs
TV set design jobs
set designer jobs in (the place you live)
There are so many opportunities for freelance work that you may be ahead by working for yourself. However, I wouldn't give up my 'bread and butter' job just yet. Use this time for working towards your goal. Invest in a good computer, drafting material and whatever you need to complete your job. Make contacts using some of the information that you find on the Internet. You have a good contact list with the people that you already work with too. See what and who they know. There may be people that would rather work through a freelancer than to have someone on salary all of the time.

Your time is too filled with work and not enough time for leisure which makes the body get over- whelmed and burned out. I don't see how you can cut back on your hours at work and the only way to cut driving time is to move.

I think that if you see that you are working to a goal of independence that you will be able to get through this easier. Set a goal and a time frame that you would like to achieve your goal. Get your wife to help you to achieve it. A mom is really organized and she may be able to become your right-hand helper for this project.

Start making contacts, look for jobs available on the Internet and the prices that it pays and what they offer.

Let a few of the things that are 'have-to' things go for a few Sundays #your wife will understand# and use this time to relax and enjoy your family and let your brain rest and reboot itself. Watch your son grow up and learn from it. It would give you some ideas for 'kid friendly rooms' etc. Get the idea? Life is full of teaching tools that will benefit you in your new job, don't miss any of them.

I am sorry that I couldn't be of more help, but I really think that this would be the best for you and your family. You already have the brains and the talent, now you just need the push to go out and grab life and make some changes.

Good Luck and do your own set design on your new office #in your own home#.
Jan Hayner