Podcasts about motion hatch

Want personalised coaching from me? Check out Balanced Business Bootcamp: https://motionhatch.com/workwithme

2024 was a transformative year for motion design - from AI disruption to the evolution of real-time tools, emerging platforms, and a changing economic landscape. In this comprehensive year-end roundup, Joey Korenman, EJ Hassenfratz, and Aharon Rabinowitz break down everything that shaped our industry and peer into what 2025 might bring. We also asked some industry luminaries to weigh in, so you'll hear from the likes of Buck, Scholar, Motion Hatch, Colosseum, Curious Refuge and more! Get ready for candid insights on the state of motion design, software updates that changed the game, the impact of AI, and how artists are adapting to an ever-shifting landscape. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, this conversation covers the trends, tools, and opportunities that matter. Plus, hear our panel's bold predictions for 2025 - from the future of real-time rendering to emerging platforms and where the next big opportunities lie for motion designers.

In this conversation, Matt Vojacek and Shelby Hagerdon discuss the current state of the motion design industry with guest Hayley Akins from Motion Hatch. They explore the challenges faced by freelancers and studios in a competitive market, the impact of economic fluctuations, and the importance of self-reflection and niche marketing. Hayley shares insights on building a business in difficult times, the role of social media, and overcoming fears associated with putting oneself out there. 

This week, Joey sits down with Hayley Akins, the founder of Motion Hatch to uncover smart strategies for building a motion design business! If you're a motion designer or animator struggling with the business side of things—like finding clients, pricing your work, or just keeping your head above water—this episode is a MUST-LISTEN! Get the show notes on our blog: http://www.schoolofmotion.com/blog/motion-design-business-hayley-akins

I have some news for you this week...We are taking a short break from the podcast and YouTube channel until the Autumn (fall). We'll be coming back even bigger and better with the second half of season 2. I hope you have a wonderful summer, and thank you so much for supporting Motion Hatch! Links mentioned:

Sign up for our free training, Balanced Business Masterclass here! https://motionhatch.com/podKwame Christian is an expert in negotiation. He is the Founder and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, host of the world's most popular negotiation podcast and author of two best-selling books. He is also a contributor at Forbes, and his TEDx Talk, Finding Confidence in Conflict, was one of the most popular TED Talks in 2017.In this episode, Kwame shares his negotiation secrets to better discuss rates/budgets with your clients, how to adopt an abundance mindset and setting expectations with clients with better communication.We also share a Q&A with Kwame from a call with our Motion Hatch students in Balanced Business Bootcamp.In this episode, you'll learn:How to negotiate with your clientsHow to raise prices without losing clientsCommon negotiation mistakes and how to avoid themHow to be confident in saying 'no'Maintaining client relationships through the negotiation processNegotiating expectations, not just transactions.Techniques for negotiating with stubborn individualsThe role of likeability and leverage in negotiationsFollow Kwame: Instagram | Linkedin Links: American Negotiation Institute | Negotiate Anything PodcastFree resources to grow your career:

We're back with a brand new season of the Motion Hatch Podcast featuring some incredible guests! Motion Hatch helps motion designers to start and scale their businesses.We dive deep into the challenges freelancers and studio owners come up against and have conversations with a wide range of business and marketing experts through the lens of motion design, as well as designers, animators, and artists who are just a few steps ahead of you.Together, we uncover the exact next steps you can take to a thriving and sustainable motion design business. If you're new to Motion Hatch, you might not know that the podcast already has over 100+ episodes in its back catalogue.This season, we're taking it up a notch, exploring the tough questions freelancers and studio owners face every day.

Dans cet épisode, faites la connaissance de Paul Floc'h et Jérémie Claeys. Paul est un directeur artistique et motion designer freelance. Il a créé Motion Meet il y a 2 ans, un podcast sur le Motion Design mettant qui met en avant ceux qui le font !Jérémie est podcasteur depuis près de 5 ans et est à l'initiative de plusieurs podcasts dont Sens créatif, Hérétique et Protestantes !On parle de ce qui a motivé la création de leur podcast et de tout ce qui en découle. De la communication à l'approche qu'ils ont avec leurs invités.Dans cet épisode, vous entendez Paul et Jérémie parler de :Motion Meet : https://open.spotify.com/show/6Xdijx0CWpoGAlFYg3K2PR?si=0736d21a338048dfSens créatif : https://open.spotify.com/show/1pHlNxuOVJloQqGjHoWhiJ?si=ed8a4a2110dd4716Episode de Sens Créatif avec Jérémie : https://open.spotify.com/episode/3kScNtuwTDIZ3T2O427GIh?si=9894df17eca343a9Hérétiques : https://open.spotify.com/show/6wb3aAMJ388sHN3AC8hBFC?si=94f4dd7f89454a7cProtestantes ! : https://open.spotify.com/show/3uRZGhHgx3dombpmNmm1Gb?si=df83e79174344fd9Podcast School of motion : https://open.spotify.com/show/1BcNxYLdLmkQzPImAlUO60?si=58bf68ac88ae4373Creative Pep Talk : https://open.spotify.com/show/47vLbaJTqqLdeqnvjmyjaf?si=c74b3d3c7be4470dExquises esquisses : https://open.spotify.com/show/4S3lPm5mEIDjRh5Dg2RtgH?si=00da303edc5b49c8Laurent Bazart : https://www.instagram.com/le_boxon_creatif/Patate Club : https://www.patateclub.com/Ugo Bienvenu : https://www.instagram.com/ugobienvenu/Topo Vidéo : https://www.topovideo.com/Nicolas Grandry : https://www.instagram.com/nicolas.grandry/Motion Hatch : https://open.spotify.com/show/45ikx9FuW20l8kmZvKYEQc?si=2805bd0e2718446aFloodcast : https://open.spotify.com/show/0bmWonDp36VG0OpSYJwJHr?si=4937c910d39e44f9TFTC - Tales From The Click : https://www.youtube.com/@TalesFromTheClickToursites avec Maxime Musqua : https://open.spotify.com/show/2XAmuFXEwbzbq3IvXyfSTT?si=c434f278de3a47e9Un bon moment avec Kyan Khojandi : https://open.spotify.com/show/3XqS0jQWCz5mFMUpu857GH?si=63f3799318894f8f---Retrouvez Paul :https://www.instagram.com/polfloc/https://paulfloch.com/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWaiDdA4vMGM1kw_Iaoa_zuAfb9NyZ1ldhttps://www.instagram.com/motionmeet/Retrouvez Jérémie :https://www.instagram.com/jeremieclaeys/https://www.jeremieclaeys.com/https://open.spotify.com/show/1pHlNxuOVJloQqGjHoWhiJ---Le MoDCast est un format de discussion ouverte avec des professionnels du #motiondesign.Au fil de nos discussions, découvrez les parcours, les process, le quotidien de créatifs francophones.

Marketing a business on social media is hard enough. Try adding a personal brand on top of that. How do you make it work?  That's what my guest Hayley Akins, founder of Motion Hatch, the premier online learning hub for motion designers, is sharing in this episode. Hayley has experienced some serious growth on LinkedIn, TikTok, and Instagram, all while managing her business and personal brand. Her secret?  She doesn't do it alone. Listen in to hear how she's working with her social media manager to find success on social and how you can make the decision to add a social media manager to your team.  In this episode of the podcast, we talk about:  Knowing when it's time to ask for help Hayley's Start to Finish YouTube process  Discoverability platforms vs. retention platforms How one reel turned into 100 leads One-person strategy meetings And so much more!   This Episode Was Made Possible By: Social Media Starter Kit Free Course The Social Media Starter Kit is your chance to pull back the curtain and get insights on how to build a social media strategy that works for you, learn how to create (and implement) a simple and effective content plan, convert followers into buyers, and much more. Register for this FREE course and gain the confidence you need to use social media as a tool to grow your business: https://onlinedrea.com/free   About the Guest: Hayley Akins spent the last 15 years working in the motion design industry. For the past 5 years she's been teaching and coaching freelance motion designers and small studios on how to start, run and grow their businesses. Hayley started Motion Hatch in 2017 after being frustrated by the lack of information out there about building a successful motion design business. Since then she's seen the most common challenges that hold many motion designers back. This has given her insight into what works to build a business that's in your control and gives you the freedom to choose how you spend your time. From coaching and teaching motion designers and studio owners to build the business that excites them, Hayley has distilled the best strategies she knows down to create programs and courses and help you to build a motion design business that experiences sustainable growth and feels authentic to you. Website: https://motionhatch.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motionhatch TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@motionhatch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MotionHatch LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/motionhatch/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motionhatch/   Go to the show notes for all the resources mentioned in this episode: https://onlinedrea.com/257

In our ninth episode we will hear from the wonderful founder and CEO of Motion Hatch, Hayley Akins and the brilliant Knifeson Yu, founder of Onion Ghost. This month they'll be chatting about community building, how they originate and grow.Recorded September 2021. Show Notes below.If you'd like to be kept up to date with our latest release you can join our newsletter:eepurl.com/goYUNTShe Drew That:www.shedrewthat.com/Follow us on:Instagram: www.instagram.com/shedrewthat/Vimeo: vimeo.com/shedrewthatLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/she-drew-thatSHOW NOTESMusic designed by Olga WojciechowskaOnion Ghost HKMotion HatchMotion Hatch InstagramMotion Hatch YouTubeClient QuestFreelance Contract BundleMaster MindPanimationDiscordClubhouse Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa & David take their roving microphone around Vegan Camp Out. We hear from vegan entrepreneur and investor Heather Mills, activist Joey Carbstrong, podcasting legend Jim Moore, YouTuber David Ramms and Dave & Steve from The Happy Pear. In this special double-length episode, we also catch up with vegan companies Vausages, Motion Hatch, One Planet Pizza, The Vegan Haberdasher, Vegan Founded, Lilk, Clemmie's Vegan Cakes and feature the music of BFriendly - all while David has a Vegan Business Tribe banner stand strapped to his back! About Vegan Business Tribe Hosted by Vegan Business Tribe co-founder, David Pannell. Lisa & David have worked with some of the largest high-street brands and food manufacturers to help them understand and connect with the vegan marketplace. David is also the official UK agent for The Vegan Society's Vegan Trademark and Lisa writes the monthly business column in Vegan Food & Living - the biggest vegan print publication in the UK. Vegan Business Tribe is where they give back with weekly content, seminars, business clinics, networking events, mentoring and online courses to help you create a successful vegan business. If you want to go beyond the podcast and connect with our community of like-minded vegan entrepreneurs or get support from Lisa & David, then head over to https://veganbusinesstribe.com/ (www.veganbusinesstribe.com) where you will be welcomed with open arms!

Indeed, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving purposeful work in freelancing. However, systems created by individuals who came before us can be an effective tool for guiding us on our journey. In this episode, Luke welcomes Hayley Akins to talk about finding meaningful work. Hayley is the founder of Motion Hatch and a motion designer and animator. She has nine years of motion design expertise and has worked with high-profile clients like Google, the BBC, the United Nations, and the Gates Foundation. Hayley wants to be a part of projects that positively impact the world. As a result, she founded Motion Hatch, an online learning hub for motion designers and animators that provides training materials, resources, community, and podcasts to help them do better business. Highlights Who is Hayley Akins? - 0:01 How do you find impactful work as a freelancer? - 1:42 Three ways to niche down - 3:49 There is no one way to get clients: building systems and testing them out - 5:26 Four A's Freelance Funnel - 8:00 How Hayley got into podcasting, motion design, and Motion Hatch - 12:52 The game plan for launching motion hatch original videos - 22:17 Accountability: getting the work done and making SMART goals - 26:29 SMART goal vs. DUMB goal - 28:50 Keeping things organized: utilizing a project management tool - 31:33 Productivity is a practice - 39:12 Resources from Hayley's website - 41:09 Episode Resources Connect with Luke Thompson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en ActionVFX Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast https://www.actionvfx.com/ Connect with Hayley Akins Free 5-day Course: https://www.motionhatch.com/actionVFX Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/motionhatch Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motionhatch/ https://www.hayleyakins.com/ 

When Motion Hatch first started it was a side hustle, now it's a company! Have you considered starting your own motion design project to help you grow your career? Our founder Hayley Akins explains how and why she started this motion design podcast and what she's learnt along the way. About Hayley Akins Hayley started Motion Hatch with the aim of helping freelance motion designers with the business side of motion design – but she wasn't sure how to achieve this. At the time, Hayley felt she had three choices for a motion design project: a podcast, blog or YouTube channel (she now has all three!). Initially Hayley didn't feel confident filming videos and writing wasn't her passion, so she decided to focus on creating her own motion design podcast. Read the full shownotes.

Our Mastermind Mentors have a wealth of experience behind them. So when we gave our students the opportunity to hop onto Clubhouse and ask for their advice about something they’re struggling with in their careers, they jumped at the chance. About the Mograph Mastermind Mentors  Hayley Akins is the Founder of Motion Hatch. Jess Peterson leads business, operations, and concept development at Mighty Oak, an award-winning creative studio specializing in hand-made animation and design.  Monique is a San Francisco-based, Miami-born, animator, illustrator, and director. Christopher Bernal is a Bay Area Motion Designer with over a decade of experience in the animation industry. And Jason Mallet is an award-winning freelance motion designer and video editor. About the Mograph Mastermind students Gabrielle is a motion designer and illustrator from Philadelphia. She’s a serial Mastermind student who has enjoyed the program so much, she’s returned more than once! She’s joined by student Brent, a freelance motion designer and animator and Ivan, a motion designer from California. In today’s episode, they asked the Mograph Mastermind Mentors to help them to tackle the biggest issue they’re currently facing in their careers.  Read the full shownotes here. Apply for a place on the Mograph Mastermind before registration closes. Download our free Social Media Guide for Motion Designers.

No matter where you are in your career—whether you're just starting out, freelancing like a boss, or running a studio—marketing is a key to your success. It's easy to say, "Have a social media presence," but what does that actually mean? Our dear friends at Motion Hatch have been helping artists and designers find their paths forward, and now they want to share actionable tips on mastering marketing. You don't want to miss this one!

Hayley Akins runs an online education company called Motion Hatch. They help motion designers with their businesses and creative careers. Hayley and Chris discuss her journey from studying film production, working for Google and the transition from full time to freelance to ultimately, starting her own community focused business. Thanks to Gusto for sponsoring this episode - gusto.com/futur Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imposter syndrome sucks. At some point we've all had it, and the sad truth is that young artists are swindled by companies trying to get great work without paying for it. Host Mike Pecci reiterates this message on the show constantly: You need to charge enough for your work. Don't let these assholes take advantage of you. In the motion design world, Hayley Akins is one of the loudest voices promoting that same message. She founded Motion Hatch to focus on the business side of motion design and begin the conversation of what and how to charge fairly for your work. This is an episode where you're going to want to take notes. Your bank account will thank you. Follow Motion Hatch on Instagram: instagram.com/motionhatch Check out Motion Hatch: http://motionhatch.com/ And Client Quest: https://motionhatch.com/client-quest Let Hayley know your thoughts on the episode: hello@motionhatch.com Mike Pecci's IG: instagram.com/mikepecci ILWP's IG: instagram.com/inlovewiththeprocesspod ILWP Subreddit: www.reddit.com/r/inlovewiththeprocess Seth Godin's "The Dip" is available on Amazon. I checked. It costs money, obviously, but it's there. ILWP Episodes mentioned in the episode: https://www.inlovewiththeprocess.com/the-film-crew/ep88-brett-bachman https://www.inlovewiththeprocess.com/chefs/ep81-allthingsbbq The Episode is Sponsored by: Puget Systems: puget.systems/go/inlovewiththeprocess Puget Systems Consultation: www.pugetsystems.com/landing/Puget-…_hsmi=86870814 Quasar Science: www.quasarscience.com/ Industry Jump IG: www.instagram.com/industryjump/ Industry Jump: www.industryjump.com/ Support our show by signing up for a 30 day free trial at www.audibletrial.com/InLoveWithTheProcess ILWP Sponsor Page: www.inlovewiththeprocess.com/sponsors

Virtual reality is one of the newest and most promising fields in motion design. There’s huge potential for growth as well as exciting opportunities to create unique art. But, if you’re like me, you may have more questions than answers about just what’s involved in being an animator in this exciting new field. Today’s episode is going to answer those questions for you and hopefully point you in the right direction to discover how to use VR in motion design.  On today’s show, I chat with two great artists, Collin Leix from Gunner Animation and Illustration Studio and Rosie Summers, a VR painter at XR Games. They’re here to share what their role in virtual reality designs is and how we can use it as motion designers. Collin and Rosie explain how creating in VR is both similar and different from creating other types of motion design pieces. While it may share many of the basic aspects, they are very excited by how much more interactive and performative it can be in practice. There are many programs to use when making VR art and they describe some of these and how they use them as well. If you’re interested in getting started with VR in motion design, Collin and Rosie chat about avenues that you can take advantage of right away. Both Rosie and Collin recommend that you begin by creating storyboards and moving on to animate them in VR. They also share how they use these creations when pitching potential clients.  If you’ve been making 3D art, then you’re ready to move on to creating in the virtual reality space. Collin and Rosie explain how they use their knowledge of 3D when making VR animations and share what you can do to try your hand in it too.   In this episode The performative nature of VR art Useful tools for creating VR animations Tips for using a headset to explore the VR world of your creation How working in 3D is the natural place to start before creating in VR Simple ways to make VR animations right away What the job landscape is in VR right now Hopes and predictions for the future of virtual reality How we can use VR in motion design   Quotes “One of the things I realized really fast about making VR art is how your body makes the artwork. Instantly I saw a performative aspect to this.” [2:30] “People who are making things in 3D are in the first most natural step towards trying to make something in VR because you’re truly working in 3D space.” [15:42] “I really hope that reality isn’t ditched for the virtual. I hope it compliments it. I hope we use these virtual tools to enhance our experience in the real world rather than replace it.” [28:39] “Trust yourself and your creative instincts. It’s early enough in VR that people who jump in still have time to shape it. What you bring to it might be different from anybody else.” [43:18]   Links Find Rosie Summers online Follow Rosie on Twitter | YouTube | Instagram Rosie doing her performative VR painting   Find Collin Leix online Follow Collin on Instagram   Blend Fest Quill Danny Bittman Gora Fujita Nick Ladd Dear Angelica Oculus Story Studio   Join the Motion Hatch community   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a note in the comment section below. Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

Hayley Akins joins us to talk about Motion Hatch, the new Mastermind Program, Freelancing, Goals, To-do Lists, Contracts, Calendars, and Work/Life balance.

Hayley felt trapped working in-house on projects that didn’t inspire her, and although she moved from a sports broadcasting company to work with Google’s internal production team, she didn’t quite find the spark she was looking for. Since going freelance, Hayley’s found a way to attract the kind of projects that matter to her, and she’s produced work for both the Bill Gates Foundation and the United Nations. She’s also found time for her own projects, including Motion Hatch, a podcast and online learning hub for freelance motion designers and animators. “When I was younger, I felt like I didn't have as much control over my own destiny as I do now,” says Hayley. “Now I know that I can do anything I want if I try hard enough.” This episode is supported by FreeAgent - online accounting software that makes managing your business finances a breeze. With an award-winning UK based support team on hand to help out, it’s easy to stay on top of your expenses, invoices, banking and tax. To claim your 1-month free trial, visit FreeAgent.com/beingfreelance Love learning from other freelancers like this? Check out the website beingfreelance.com, be part of the Being Freelance Community! You'll also find useful links for this episode. That's beingfreelance.com Like VIDEO? - Check out the Being Freelance vlog - YouTube.com/SteveFolland Who the hell is Steve Folland? You know how everyone bangs on about how powerful video and audio content can be? Yeah, well Steve helps businesses make it and make the most of it. Find out more at www.stevefolland.com Track him down on Twitter @sfolland or lay a trail of cake and he'll eventually catch you up.

Allison Butler has always had a passion for motion design. Mostly self-taught, she has been creating professional digital content for five years as well as running a monthly meetup of Connecticut based animators, motion designers, and related creatives.  Allison tells her story of how she started her own freelance business as an alternative to full-time but temporary work. While it provides a large amount of freedom, it also requires courage and determination and many hard lessons. Allison shares what she learned by becoming a freelance motion designer.  While it wasn’t always the case, Allison is a master of networking. We chat about the power of networking and how Allison created a local motion design meetup which helps her and others immensely with their freelance careers.   In this episode Lessons learned from chasing one temporary gig after another  Learning the basics of transitioning to a freelance career Tools and tips for overcoming the fear that comes with a career change The power of in-person motion design meetups to support your career How to start your own motion design meetup or event   Quotes “Freelancing is never easy to jump into when you’ve only known full-time work.” [8:43] “I needed networking practice. It’s something people don’t tell you - that you need to practice networking and just talking to people and being human.” [17:47] “Everyone has these online platforms to talk to and chat with people and they’re absolutely wonderful. But people still want that in-person connection. They want to know people in their area. They just want to know who’s around.” [23:52] “If you can find one or two people in your area who are pumped to have a meetup, that’s all you need.” [32:48]   Sponsors Milanote Milanote is a tool for organising your motion graphics projects - everything from the creative brief, mood boards, storyboards - all your pre-production material in one place. Watch Evan's series on pre-production where he uses Milanote and shows you how to organised your motion design projects to get better results. Check out Milanote and sign up for free milanote.com/motionhatch   Links Find Allison Butler online Follow Allison on Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin Connecticut Mograph Meetup The Ultimate Freelance Guide Work_Space, Manchester, CT Can we add the Mograph Mastermind logo like on this page?  https://motionhatch.com/046-masterminding-with-jess-peterson Find out about the upcoming Motion Hatch mastermind   Thanks for Listening! To share your thoughts: Share this show on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest. To help out the show: Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help. Subscribe on iTunes. Podcast music licensed by Big Waves sonosanctus.com dankoch.net Some of the links above are affiliate links. Basically, this means that if you decide to make a purchase through one of these links, we will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. You can be sure that we would recommend these products whether or not we made any commission on them. Please don’t spend your money on them if you don’t think that they will truly help you improve your business, although, in our experience, they will.

Have you ever felt stuck in your motion design career? Maybe you’re feeling like you need to do everything all the time but aren’t sure what is actually helping you move forward in your business or career. If you feel like your to-do list is getting longer all the time and don’t know what to do and you're feeling overwhelmed, this is the episode that you need to listen to. Today I’m talking to Jess Peterson and Christopher Bernal about what to do when you’re feeling stuck and overwhelmed. Jess and Christopher are mentors in our Mograph Mastermind Program. Jess runs Mighty Oak Studios specializing in handmade animation and design. Christopher is a Bay Area motion designer with ten years of experience working with internal production companies, agencies, and studios. In this episode, we’re talking about conquering your feelings of being overwhelmed by work and moving on to the next stages of your career. Jess and Christopher share some of their tried and true tactics for when they feel inundated with work. As my guests explain, a lot of this can be accomplished by prioritizing and categorizing your tasks. We also talk about delegating roles to other people, the proper mindset for not letting the amount of work you have to get out of hand, and knowing when it’s okay to say no to a job. We discuss the benefits of being part of a community like a mastermind and how that support is one of the most valuable things a freelancer or small business owner can have.   In this episode Actionable advice for dealing with having just too much work to do Why taking the time to reflect on your business and work is an important part of moving forward with it Knowing when it’s time to delegate various tasks of your business The mindset needed to help maintain a healthy and sustainable work-life balance The power and payoffs of being part of a community   Quotes  “When I start to do these things, are they interconnected? Are they going to help set off a chain of things that can show me a path going forward? Every once in awhile, there will be lots of interesting things coming up on my radar, but it’s not really an opportunity if it’s just a distraction.” [8:19] “If you can take the other parts of your work that are on your plate an invest in someone who is also naturally good at that to help you, you find that the work goes so much quicker and that it is more cost-efficient, it’s more successful, it allows you to be a better creative or small business owner.” [14:48] “I just have to normalize that not everything that pops up is an opportunity. Just because it’s all happening at once doesn’t mean that it’s going away.” [20:54] “If you don’t know when you’re going to get close to done, then you feel like it’s never going to end. And that’s most often when we burn out. If you can give yourself opportunities, if you can plan projects out, it kind of gives you those markers to know it’s not forever -- there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” [24:24] “Who you know in an authentic way is incredibly valuable to growing your business. You shouldn’t have to be sending out cold emails.”  [32:19]   Links Mograph Mastermind Program Find Jess at Mighty Oak Studios Follow Jess on Instagram | Facebook | Vimeo | YouTube Find Christopher at Designer of Motion Episode 16 with Jess Peterson   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

We were all likely told at some point in our lives that we need a formal education to succeed professionally. But much has changed. Nowadays, there are many highly successful motion designers never went to animation school. Today I’m joined by EJ Hassenfratz, also known as Eyedesyn. EJ is well known for his 3D tutorials, something he started doing to get over his fear of public speaking. He’s been in motion design for over a decade. Even without formal training, EJ has become a fully self-taught expert in this field, teaching others, speaking at conferences, and making some really fun animations.  In this episode, EJ and I talk about how people like you and me can find the majority of their work, the real value of education, and the limits of watching tutorials. EJ explains how to use your experience and promote your skills to find work even when you don’t have an educational background in your field. To that end, we discuss the skills that you need to hone to become a successful freelancer. In this episode The value and limitations of having an education and how to promote yourself without one The best skills you can have for becoming a successful freelancer Finding work through word-of-mouth and email inquiries and how social media plays a role in this How to properly use Instagram Stories to interact with your followers and other motion animators Finding inspiration and appreciation from exploring topics not directly related to motion design What you need to know to negotiate from a position of strength, not weakness Why watching tutorials doesn’t mean that you’re becoming a better artist Quotes “It’s such a rewarding feeling having someone discover something because of one of my videos, or feeling inspired enough to even get into 3D. That really is huge and way better than getting an email with a bunch of client revisions.” [4:43] “You can be amazingly talented, but if you don’t have the confidence to charge what you’re worth and even recognize your own worth, then it doesn’t matter… it doesn’t matter what school you went to.” [9:29] “If you have a client who’s trying to lowball you, put in that little extra effort to educate them on why your rate is what it is and why the value is there.” [41:21] “I think it’s okay to realize that you’ve been doing things the wrong way for most of your career.” [58:12] Related links Find EJ online Follow EJ on YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Vimeo | Behance | Dribbble Already Been Chewed Buffer Books by Austin Kleon Motion Hatch Episode 42 with Andrew and Pete Location Indie Wipster frame.io The Freelance Manifesto by Joey Korenman Hidden Brain - Close Enough: The Lure of Living Through Others Get the Freelance Contract Bundle here!   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Many motion designers have personal projects that we would love to have the time to work on. But with the need to earn an income through paid work it can feel near impossible to find the time to work on them. However, as my guest is about to tell you, passion projects and paid client work have the amazing ability to support each other, providing you with the time and resources to work on both. Sander Van Dijk is an incredible motion designer who teaches Advanced Motion Methods through School of Motion as well as his own freelance course. Sander’s philosophy is centered around creating work that has true meaning for him while helping other motion animators do the same through his projects, tools, and community events. Today, Sander and I dive into how to what it takes to make it as a freelancer in our field. We explore the importance of being part of and contributing to a community of people doing the same work as you. We also discuss mindset and what it means to have our work be a force for good in the world as well as the importance of taking time for ourselves and our own personal projects. In this episode Finding inspiration from your passions and the world around you The importance of community for adding value to each other’s work and lives When to offer products and services for free and when to charge for them How diversifying your revenue streams will give you more time and resources to devote to your passion projects Recognizing your own values and interests when it comes to choosing direct to client work The undeniable importance of taking time for yourself The power of your personal projects to connect you with clients Quotes  “It’s very beneficial and helpful to have some kind of other interest that gives you inspiration on how to approach specific things in your own work.” [3:39]  “I’m driven by creating value for the community but I also know the value of my work and I’m not afraid to charge for it. As a result, I get more revenue so I can actually make more time available for the community.” [17:25]  “You can just see what you can do with the skills you have and your problem solving mentality as an artist -- what story you can help tell.” [24:52] “There’s a lot of different opportunities that can work for our motion design world, especially now that it’s so much more integrated into any type of business.” [47:05]   Related links Find Sander Van Dijk online Follow Sander on Instagram | Twitter | YouTube School of Motion Blend Conference Sana Labs Ultimate Freelance Guide - Sander’s Freelance Course  Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

The possibilities that something like YouTube has for motion designers to help take our careers to the next level are truly amazing. But where do you start? How can you build an audience, find professional opportunities, create great content, and make it all worthwhile? Today’s guest has done all that and is ready to tell you how! Kelsey Brannan, better known as Premiere Gal on YouTube, has helped countless motion designers up their game when it comes to creating amazing content. With over 130,000 YouTube subscribers, Kelsey must know a thing or two about connecting with her audience. Besides having her own amazing career making videos, she has made it her mission to share her expertise with people like you and me. In this interview, Kelsey shares what it takes to start your own successful YouTube channel and make money from it. We also discuss some of the avenues available for making passive income as motion designers. Kelsey breaks down everything from finding the right affiliate programs to selling without “selling out.” Much of her advice is all about making good connections and following your interests. After listening to our chat, I’m sure you’ll feel more empowered and confident to get started on your YouTube channel too! In this episode: Why making your own instructional YouTube channel will help improve your skills too Using YouTube as a way to get exposure and find clients The pros and cons of selling templates as a form of passive income Using affiliate marketing to make money while you sleep Advice for motion designers who want to start their first YouTube channel Why it’s not necessary to publish on any sort of strict schedule Building the right relationships to get great sponsors Quotes: “If you want to up your skills in anything, definitely make a YouTube channel.” [7:25] “While it may seem like you're just promoting template packs, you’ll probably get requests from a lot of different people who are looking for some custom graphics.” [16:51] “It’s not selling out -- it’s just being smart about how you’re presenting your work and working with good companies that believe in your voice.”  [28:45] “The great part about YouTube is once you have your channel and your audience, you can do other things and not have YouTube take over.” [36:36] “When you’re doing YouTube videos, think about how well you can present it uniquely and have fun with it. The last thing you want to do is have it be like a laundry chore.” [40:21] Links: Find Kelsey Brannan online Follow Kelsey on YouTube | Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook | Instagram Premiere Bro Envato Pond5 Social Bluebook Peter McKinnon on YouTube Get your free trial of Wipster   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

As motion designers we create content for our clients. But how can we use the content we create for our own marketing purposes? How can we use it to get clients who don’t even know what motion design is? I’ve brought two guests on today who are going to answer those very questions! Today we have Andrew and Pete on the podcast. They are content marketers who help small businesses grow and find customers through their company Andrew & Pete. These guys are great at explaining the often ignored, but incredibly crucial parts of marketing your skills and your business. Their goal is to help people like you and me succeed without hustling ourselves into the ground. In this interview, we talk about your potential for helping businesses with their content marketing and so much more. We discuss the role that YouTube can play, how you can improve your pricing strategy, and the usefulness of Linkedin. We also talk about discovering the content that you can create that will entertain or help potential customers the most. This episode is packed with great and actionable advice that you can start using today. How have you been marketing your business? Tell me about it in the comments! In this episode: What content marketing is and how motion designers can play a part in it How to use your content to attract your customers by making them feel happier or smarter YouTube’s unique potential to help you attract the right kind of clients for you Why it’s better to post nothing at all on social media than something mediocre Tips for using Linkedin to help find and connect with potential customers How to figure out if you’re charging enough for your work and why it’s probably time to raise your rates Quotes: “The beauty of content is that it reduces the need to be a bit more scrappy to get clients -- having to go to networking events and stuff like that. We haven't been to a networking event for years and years because all of our business comes from our content.” [6:11] “You’re in a content pure industry because your customers do not care about how you do what you do. They don’t want to learn how to create motion graphics themselves.... But you need to remember that content marketing needs to make your customers feel happier or smarter.” [8:12] “I would rather you do an awesome emotional actionable entertaining animation once a month than four average ones once a week.” [27:21] “It’s really easy right now to stand out on Linkedin with good video. Not boring video, but good video. Animation, stop-motion graphics, anything like that would go down as such a storm on there if you did it really well.” [31:42] Links: Find Andrew and Pete online Follow Andrew and Pete on YouTube | Facebook | Instagram Morningfame Keywords Everywhere vidIQ TubeBuddy Kurzesagt Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!  

Are you worried that being a freelancer and a parent are incompatible? It’s not uncommon for freelancers to have concerns about taking care of their kids among all their freelancing commitments. Since questions about this are so common in the Motion Hatch community, I’ve brought in the experts to answer all your burning questions. With their own podcasts and communities for freelance parents, Steve Folland and Frankie Tortora have a heap of knowledge on this topic. They’ve built successful freelance careers while raising their children and now help others like them navigate the same hurdles that they encounter on a regular basis. Steve and Frankie start off this fascinating conversation by explaining some of the parallels between parenting and freelancing and how one can help prepare you for the responsibilities of the other. They go on to share some great ideas about how you can find enough time and energy to be fully present for both your business and your family, such as bringing in more people to work alongside of you and really understanding the value that you provide for your clients. It can be really tough to navigate these issues that can get in between work and family. After speaking with Frankie and Steve, this doesn’t seem nearly as daunting as before. The recurring theme here is that being self-employed actually means that you can be there more for your kids and since it provides significant benefits that traditional employment doesn’t. Even if you’re not a parent, you’ll still find tons of wisdom and great advice in today’s episode which includes some great productivity hacks that we can all take advantage of.   In this episode: How the flexibility offered by freelancing can help you be more present and involved in your child’s life What to consider when raising your rates when you’re starting a family Useful tips for retaining your regular clients when you have to take family leave The pros and cons of starting your freelance business before and after having children Maintaining the stamina necessary to take care of both your business, your children, and yourself How having kids is actually a super-charged productivity hack How to make more time in your schedules while parenting full-time without getting burnt out Quotes: “They just suddenly give you this little human and nobody tells you what to do with it. It’s a bit like freelancing, really. Nobody tells you what to do with that either and you kind of muddle it out by hanging out with other freelancers and you muddle it out by hanging out with other parents.” [4:46] “The only predictable thing about having kids and being self-employed is that life is unpredictable. That is the one thing that you can count on.” [6:41] “I think there is a lot of pressure to try to do all the things, especially when you see people who don’t have kids doing all the things. But I think you just have to keep an eye on how you yourself are coping with that sort of stuff.” [24:11] “Certainly having children doesn’t make you less productive. I think it makes you more time efficient. Then it’s what you choose to do with that time.” [38:46] “Your career might pivot and it might change, but it’s not the end --  it’s the beginning!” [1:00:59] Links: Find Frankie at Doing it for the Kids Follow Frankie on Linkedin | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook Find Steve at Being Freelance Follow Steve on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!  

It’s no secret that having a large social media following can help you share your work with a large audience as well as find more opportunities to work as a freelancer. However, actually gaining and maintaining a following is a tricky pursuit. Fortunately, you’re about to hear two experts who have helped their studio gain tens of thousands of followers share how you can make social media work for you. Tom and Henry Purrington are the twin brothers and studio animation leads at the animation studio Golden Wolf in London. They’re experience as animators and production managers means that they know all the ins and outs of production from managing a social media presence to hiring animators and creating stellar animations. Today, we’re talking all about the benefits of social media can have for your business. Tom and Henry admit that there’s no single formula for success in social media, but they share some of the techniques and tricks that have helped them. The key is creating something that you and your audience both like, so it can be shared and spread as vastly as possible. Henry and Tom go deep into their processes and I know you’ll come away from this interview ready to level up your social media game. In this episode: The work that goes into creating a large and growing social media presence How social media algorithms can work for you or against you Why it’s essential to build an audience that you can respond to directly What studios are looking for when they are searching for freelance talent What freelancers can do on social media in order to get noticed and get hired How to deal (or not deal) with the haters on social media Quotes: “Really by focusing your attention on entertaining people and keeping it relevant to our interests, we’ve built our following that way. As a studio, people follow us because they’ll see really silly shorts, they’ll see really fun unique bold animation.” [8:02] “Building up that audience that you can respond to is really important, because they will then all like it, and then their friends will like it, and then their friends will like it.” [13:24] “Everyone’s their own brand. You are your own brand as a freelancer, as a studio. The more small pieces of work and the more content you can get out, the more likely somebody is going to see it who can employ you.” [20:35] “The stuff we put on TV today will be forgotten tomorrow. You’re only as good as your last piece of work.” [22:00] “Don’t be afraid of it. Just get it out there and don’t be afraid of what people are going to say in six months whether it’s rubbish or not. It doesn’t matter, you just keep making stuff.” [30:09] Links: Find Golden Wolf online Follow Golden Wolf on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Vimeo | Tumblr Follow Henry on Instagram Follow Tom on Instagram Twitch   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!  

Do you find yourself spending too much time on the phone trying to get potential clients instead of doing the work you’re actually passionate about? Have you thought about automating this process but aren’t sure where to start? It’s not as daunting as many might think and my guest on this episode is an expert at getting it done! Greg Hickman runs a company called System.ly, where he helps service-based businesses with marketing funnels, scaling, and qualifying leads. In short, he shows you how to get perfect clients without the need for you to spend your time talking with people who won’t end up using your services anyway. His coaching programs are geared to help service providers scale and grow their business through automation systems and productizing. In this interview we talk about implementing systems to help you save time and get in touch with the right people for your business. There’s a lot of opportunity for automation that all of us can make use of to streamline our marketing and sales process. In the end, automation’s goal is to simplify your business and save you lots of time and energy. Greg shares some of his favorite tips on how to make this happen. We also chat about productizing your services. To do it right takes focusing on just one service so that you can make your systems streamlined and repeatable. This can be a tricky thing to do if you still want to stay true to your creative pursuits, but Greg shares some great ideas on how to pull it off. In this episode: What Infusionsoft is and how it can be a tool to help your business as in marketing automation Automating your marketing and sales processes to save you time and help your potential clients get to know you better Why having your customer “apply” to work with you will position yourself as an expert Easy tips and tricks to reduce the amount of time you spend on sales calls Finding the right niche to make your services easier to market and sell Productizing your services to add predictability to your business and allow you to finally take a vacation How to stay true to your creativity while still growing and scaling your business   Quotes: “Ultimately you have to look at what your business model is. As motion designers, or any business, what are you selling and how do you deliver it? Whatever the answer is to those questions, at some point you’re probably doing some sort of marketing that could be streamlined.” [5:59] “How many times do you get on the phone and say the same thing over and over and over again? If that’s the case, make a video; make it a requirement to watch that video before they get on the phone, and that call can now be twenty minutes or whatever. You’ve saved yourself some time.” [23:23] “If you want to build a more scalable business that is leveraged, you need to start to leverage these systems to remove yourself from the delivery.” [28:36] “As service providers we start as technicians and we have a technical business. But that doesn’t mean that you, the owner, need to be the one doing all of the technical work.” [29:48] “I think the biggest challenge for creatives is you’re doing this because you also love the creative element. So custom is important and that’s totally fine. You just have to make the decision of what’s more important.” [40:56]   Links: Find Greg Hickman online at System.ly Join the Scalable Service Provider Facebook group Infusionsoft Calendly Wufoo E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber Built to Sell by John Warrillow Splasheo Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!    

As freelancers we often feel like we’re all on our own, that we have to come up with everything ourselves. But there are communities of us, both online and offline, that we can lean on and use to learn from each other. Whether you’re just starting out or have been running your own freelance business for years, the power of community and networking can be a major benefit. Few know this better than today’s guest. Donna McAvoy is an amazing freelance animator and a member of our recent Mograph Mastermind Program. She studied computer arts at Abertay University and worked on mobile games before moving into animation for television. Now she’s freelancing as a 2D animator based in Glasgow where she creates some truly awesome work. In this bonus episode, Donna shares the story of her journey into freelance motion design. She has found a way to make a career in her home in Scotland where it may not seem like there are as many opportunities as elsewhere. Donna talks about the realities of looking for and finding jobs as a freelance animator and how she makes it work. Donna credits much of her success to proper networking. It’s helped her discover how others in her situation are making a living and has connected her to some of her best jobs. By connecting with other freelancers, Donna has been able to learn valuable tips from others like her, including that she could significantly raise the rates she was charging her clients.   In this episode: Finding work as a freelancer while living in a place without many big studios The power of motion design communities for helping you find direction as a freelancer The importance of networking for finding jobs when it may seem like none are available Why you should think about significantly raising your rates and the challenges and payoffs of doing so Why freelancers should be charging more than employees of a company How a mastermind can help build confidence, keep you accountable, and come up with great ideas for your business   Quotes: “Networking is just the biggest thing to be doing. And it’s also good to just get out from your desk. I guess a lot of people are working from home and you get a bit crazy there.” [10:43] “Although what you can charge varies from media to media, I think if you’re working remotely, it shouldn’t have such a big impact where you are based.” [12:23] “The networking part is probably most important I feel. Basically just getting your work out as soon as you can because maybe if you do feel like it’s not good enough, it’s good to get someone to give you perspective and feedback on what you could be doing to make it better.” [24:35]   Links: Find Donna McAvoy online Follow Donna on Instagram | Twitter | Vimeo | Linkedin Sign up for the Mograph Mastermind School of Motion   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!  

This is part six of the mini-series Making Money in Mograph where we talk about some unconventional ways to earn an income in animation. Did you know that as an animator you also have the skills to make money as an illustrator? There are people like my guest today who are using these two sets of skills to showcase their creativity and earn more than they would in just a single field. Hannah Jacobs is an animator and illustrator with a wonderful and unique style all her own. She has an MA in animation from the Royal College of Art and her work has been featured at international film festivals like SXSW and Tribeca. Some of her clients include The New York Times, VICE, and the BBC. We sit down to chat about how to make money as both an illustrator and animator. These two fields complement each other as well as open up different revenue streams for you. By approaching animation with an illustrator’s background, Hannah faces some unique challenges but it pays off by setting her apart from the pack. Hannah also discusses what it’s like being represented by a big production company and its advantages. She shares some great tips on what to do if you’re thinking about finding representation. Hannah talks about all the ways she is branching out to make money from her work, from selling prints to making kids’ books, she is exploring so many ways to earn an income. In this episode: The challenges that approaching animation as an illustrator presents How having a unique style can attract clients The advantages of being represented by a production company and the support it gives you Tips for finding the right production company for you so that you can do what you want to do with the right support Selling your personal work as a way to generate passive income How the amount of creative control you might have varies depending on whether you’re illustrating or animating Valuing the work that you do for yourself and finding the time to work on your own projects   Quotes: “For me, the first stage of any animation is the design -- it’s the driver for me.“ [4:18] “I know as creatives we often question absolutely everything we do all the time, so I think it’s so nice just to have a producer or another animator or someone to turn to.” [8:13] “I think so many animators now are working in an illustrative way. I feel like you can press pause in a lot of films and take a frame out and be like this would be such a nice print for the wall … I feel like a lot of animators should think about potentially selling prints of frames from their films.” [18:10] “Something that might seem like a bit of a random thing that you find yourself doing can often lead to something else. I love that opportunities sort of spring up in random unexpected places.” [29:26]   Links: Find Hannah Jacobs online Follow Hannah on Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Vimeo Strange Beast Barbican The Association of Illustrators The Ajoto Pen HiFest Illustration Festival     Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!    

In Part 5 of the mini-series, Making Money in Mograph, we’re looking at more of the non-conventional ways to earn an income as a motion designer. We spoke to someone who definitely plays a big part in the motion design industry but she doesn’t have a role many people are familiar with. Victoria Nece is the senior product manager for Adobe After Effects. Motion design is truly a life calling for Victoria. In fact, she’s been involved with it since she was a teenager. Before getting involved with Adobe, Victoria oversaw graphics, animation, and design for dozens of productions across broadcast, theatrical and educational markets as Director of Animation at the Documentary Group. Today you’re getting an inside look at what the Adobe After Effects team does. Victoria talks about how her job takes her all over the world to work with some great talent. She also shares what it’s like to speak in front of large audiences and how to do so in a natural and comfortable way. Victoria also shares some ideas about how you can make some passive income as a motion designer. This is particularly the case when it comes to making templates and Victoria gives some advice on what to keep in mind when making these. She also shares where she thinks the future of this industry is heading and how you can position yourself to take advantage of these changes. In this episode: How proper networking and connections can help you get involved in films and documentaries Tips for those who are afraid of public speaking and why it’s an important part of this industry The future of making motion graphic templates and their potential to make you more passive income What Adobe looks for in the designers they want to hire How teaching tutorials will make you more competitive How you can get more involved with shaping the tools of this industry Quotes: “Just keep doing it [public speaking] and you’ll be more comfortable every time. It’s also helpful to remind yourself that the audience isn’t hostile; they don’t want you to fail. They’re not sitting there waiting for you to mess up.” [14:45] “If you’ve made three options for something and the client goes for Option C, why not turn Options A and B into stock templates and sell them? It’s a way to reuse work that might not otherwise see the light of day.” [19:28] “With a motion graphics template you don’t just design your design, you’re actually designing the experience of using it as well.” [20:54] “Everything we do is based on user feedback.I don’t think we’ve built a single feature in the last several years that I couldn’t put specific people’s names on.” [36:32]   Links:  Follow Victoria Nece on Twitter | Linkedin | Facebook Motion Design on Slack Get Adobe’s free guide to motion graphics templates Look for a job with After Effects here World Time Buddy Adobe Prerelease Program Episode 31: Adam Plouff - Making Money in Mograph Part 1 Episode 32: Zack Lovatt - Making Money in Mograph Part 2 Episode 33: Jake Bartlett - Making Money in Mograph Part 3 Episode 34: Matthew Encina - Making Money in Mograph Part 4     Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Do you hate networking? Maybe you imagine that it's just sucking up and brown-nosing. Maybe you’re just feeling shy. These are common concerns, but they shouldn’t stop you. Today’s guest will tell how to set these worries aside and start making important connections that will help your business grow! This week, I speak with Marsha Shandur, a Networking Mentor and Storytelling Coach. In short, she helps people tell personal stories so that they can use them to help promote their business. Marsha also helps people overcome the barriers that they perceive are stopping them from properly networking and making connections. In this episode Marsha and I talk all about the power of networking. Marsha shares some great tips as well as her own personal experience on how to get over fears and jitters surrounding building professional relationships. We also discuss how to make connections with big shots without letting our own fears get in the way. We continue the conversation with a chat about Marsha’s approach to storytelling and how we can use that in our businesses as motion designers. Marsha breaks down the way we want to tell these stories and the types of stories to tell to get the attention that you want. How has networking helped your business grow? What worries did you have to overcome to make those connections? Tell me about it in the comments! In this episode: Top tips for networking that will have you fearlessly making connections at your next big industry event Not letting your “dork goblin” get in the way of networking How to approach the big shots without fear in a way that will make a good lasting impression Making and leveraging personal connections when you need a favor How to use your own stories to attract the clients that you want to work with Quotes: “I don’t like to call it networking. I like calling it making industry friends.” [2:44]“You think that these people who you think are big heroes get a giant mailbox full of fanmail everyday and they just don’t because people are lazy and also because we don’t tend to thank people in our culture.” [20:32] “I really believe that all anybody wants in life is, one, to feel truly seen and heard and understood and feel like they belong; and two, to feel like they’ve been of service, to feel like they left the world better off than they found it.” [21:58] “Having emotion does so many amazing things in your stories. I feel like the biggest mistake people make is that they leave out emotion.” [42:29] Links: Find Marsha Shandur online Follow Marsha on Facebook | YouTube | Linkedin | Twitter | Instagram Check out Marsha’s secret special page of resources just for Motion Hatch listeners! Jeff Goins Portfolio Life podcast Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi     Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!  

For part four of the mini-series, Making Money in Mograph, we’re going to talk about how you can earn an income in a few non-conventional ways as a motion designer, using content creation. As a content creator, you can put your skills to use to attract clients and even earn passive income. Matthew Encina is the chief content officer at The Futur and creative director for Blind. He started off his creative career fifteen years ago as a print designer before transitioning into motion design. Since then he’s been heading up some amazing projects helping clients with their branding strategy through motion design and creating courses and content to help other people in the industry grow their profession. In this interview, we discuss how we as motion designers can make content for our businesses and how that can help us stand out as an expert in this industry. Maybe it will even help you generate passive income one day. The key is identifying what makes you unique and relevant to a specific audience, then sharing what you can do in a way that appeals to them. We also talk about building an audience through Instagram and how you can get started right away with Instagram Stories. Furthermore, we chat a bit about how and why to offer a presale and the importance of having a diversified income. In this episode: What content marketing is and why we should care about it as motion designers How teaching what you do will help you become a master of your craft Identifying what makes you unique so that you can find the audience that’s perfect for you Using Instagram Stories to connect with an audience and show them the face behind your work How content creation can turn into passive income for freelance motion designers The advantages of offering a presale of a product in order to test out your ideas and make money right away A diversified income as an essential part of having financial security as a freelancer Quotes: “The reason why I feel that content is important is to establish yourself as an expert in the industry.” [7:05] “So I don’t think that you should try to filter out ahead of time who the audience is and what exactly they want. What I would do is just focus on yourself - what makes you unique? What are things that you spent time and money to learn? Look at those things. Can you teach that to somebody else? Part of that teaching process is where you master your craft.” [13:26] “It’s really important to embrace who you are, not trying to become vanilla and trying to find something new to say, because everything has already been said. Just share it the way that you  want to say it or that you see it because your POV is the thing that’s really important.” [19:52] “There’s so many cool people out there. I think if people were just more vulnerable and open about who they are, they might develop a stronger connection to the community around them and the people who resonate with them.” [25:58] “I think it’s very important to diversify where you might be getting income from. So some of it could be passive; some of it could be opportunity based; some of it could be consulting.” [34:50] Links:  Find Matthew Encina online Follow Matthew on Instagram | Twitter | Linkedin | YouTube The Futur Follow The Futur on YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Blind The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns DotCom Secrets by Russell Brunson Handel Eugene BROGRAPH Episode 31: Adam Plouff – Battleaxe – Making Money in Mograph Part 1 Episode 32: Zack Lovatt - Technical Director - Making Money in Mograph Part 2     Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

For part three of Making Money in Mograph, we’re talking about how you can earn extra money or even replace all your income by sharing what you know with other motion designers as an online instructor. Even if you’ve never taught anyone anything about your work before, today’s guest will tell you how and why you can teach starting right now. Jake Bartlett teaches motion design on Skillshare as well as a couple of School of Motion courses. Although he started out working for a production company, Jake found that he can actually make enough to support himself by creating online courses. Today, these courses make up nearly all of Jake’s income and he continues to make new courses all the time. This episode is all about how you can put your knowledge and skills to work by teaching others just like Jake does. There are a number of different platforms that you can use to host your lessons and we talk about the structures and advantages of several of them. We also go over how to cultivate your teacher persona and create your videos so as to reach your students in an engaging and fun way.   In this episode: How online teaching platforms can pay you for sharing your skills Advice for designing and creating your first class Honing your persona as an instructor so your students will always be engaged with your content Building a course from scratch even when you’re new to the material you are teaching The advantages of using another company’s platform to host your courses instead of doing it independently How motion designers can make extra money with stock websites Quotes: “Anyone can teach as long as you know something. If you have knowledge to share, you can teach it.” [8:51] “If you have a topic that you want to teach, but you feel like other people have already taught it, that shouldn’t be a hindrance, because if other people have taught something and it’s done well, that means that students are interested in that type of content.” [11:48] “The policy that I have taught by is to just have 100% content. Don’t have any fluff, don’t put anything in there that is boring that people are going to want to skip around or wait hoping the section will start. As long as what you’re putting into the video or tutorial is stuff that is actionable and things that they’re going to be learning from, and it’s engaging, then I don’t think length is an issue.” [14:27] “This is how it works as a teacher - I have to learn how to do what I want to teach and then I can teach it. It doesn’t matter how recently I learned it.” [26:32] Links: Find Jake online Follow Jake on Twitter | Instagram | Dribbble | Tumblr | Vimeo | YouTube Jake’s classes on Skillshare Get 2 months premium for free on Skillshare! School of Motion Udemy Adobe Stock Creative Market Videohive Episode 31: Adam Plouff – Battleaxe – Making Money in Mograph Part 1 Episode 32: Zack Lovatt - Technical Director - Making Money in Mograph Part 2     Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

For part two of our new mini-series, Making Money in MoGraph, I’m talking with someone who does something that not to many of us in this industry do - 2d technical directing. It’s just one of the many different and less than conventional ways that people who work in motion design can make a living. Zack Lovatt is a technical director with a truly diversified income stream. He writes and sells scripts in After Effects as well as working directly with studios to help streamline their process and improve their efficiency. Having started out as an artist before transitioning into his current role, Zack knows quite a few ins and outs of this industry. In this interview, Zack and I talk about what it’s like being a 2d technical director in motion design and how he diversifies his income through various types of work. We also discuss our predictions for the future of writing scripts for after effects. Furthermore, Zack is really upfront about his profits and losses which he shares publicly on his website and we dive into that too. In this episode: What it means to work as a 2d technical director in this industry The future of creating and using After Effects scripts The role that creating passive income streams can play in supplementing your income as a freelancer How and why you should keep close track of your bookkeeping and why you may want to share it publicly Quotes: “It’s the idea that anything that you don’t want to spend an hour doing manual finicky work, you can probably write a script to do that. I see a lot of value there and that is something I see growing; just everyday accessibility to these more technical approaches.” [10:13] “Having multiple sources of income is very important. I think passive income, or as passive as you can get, is also very important, especially in the freelance gig economy where you might not have work for three months. So even a trickle coming in on the side is more than nothing. The issue there is telling people to start writing scripts or learning plug-ins with the assumption that you’re going to retire is unrealistic.” [21:59] “A lot of people are like, ‘choose your rate and stick to it.’ But, in practicality, I never found that to be true. It's choosing your rate, stick to it unless you can’t, in which case be flexible because having some work is nicer than no work.” [31:25] Links: Find Zack Online Aenhancers After Effects Forum Cubic-bezier FXPHD Location Indie Pancake Invoicing Invoice Ninja FreshBooks FreeAgent Episode 31: Adam Plouff - Battleaxe - Making Money in Mograph Part 1 Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

This is part one of a new mini-series we’re doing here at Motion Hatch called Making Money in MoGraph. We’ll be hearing from people who are making money as motion designers in a number of different and less than conventional ways. Today, I sit down to talk with one of the most well known After Effects tool designers in the industry. Adam Plouff has created some of the most amazing After Effects tools, including RubberHose and Overlord. Before becoming an awesome tool creator, Adam worked in TV broadcast. It was there that he serendipitously fell into his current career. Since then he’s become one of the most prolific After Effects tool creators out there. He’s even been working with Google to make some of their tools. Adam and I talk about what it’s like to sell tools in this industry. It’s difficult to make this a fulltime job, but Adam has found ways to make it his. We also discuss how you can find the part of the motion design industry that’s best for you as a freelancer. We end by talking about how to strike a good work-life balance and creating work that still feeds your desire to create without getting bogged down in the business side of things.   In this episode: How Adam transitioned from working with broadcast television to becoming one of the leading animation tool developers in the industry Why we need to appreciate all the aspects of the motion design business that may not be that obvious Reflecting on the work you’ve done to pinpoint the part of the industry that you’d like to work in the most Doing something different and unique so that you’ll get noticed (perhaps even by Google) Dealing with struggles and successes that come with working in this industry and its impact on our mental health Setting limits and guidelines in your business to make sure that the job doesn’t destroy your love of the craft   Quotes: “There’s a definite downside of the quick sharing that we live in today. You don’t see all of the hard work and the years of practice that go into some stuff, and you don’t see how long it takes a team to come to a really cool solution. You just think everyone should be able to sit down and just generate content.” [8:25] “A lot of the confusion that can come from people who are in and around motion design is that they see just the cool parts of it. They see really pretty videos that go on the internet somewhere and it can be easy to miss the fact that there are so many other things that go into a good piece. Motion design is just a really small part of it.” [10:42] “I think it’s really easy as a freelancer to be reactive to what comes at you and to think that you only have the option to say yes or no to a project. But if you are treating your work like a business then you have a lot of opportunities.” [15:27] “As a commercial artist, developer, designer, whatever you do creatively for money, there are a lot of struggles and there are a lot of really good things in that if you take the time to curate your own life experience and find ways to enjoy what you do.” [38:35]   Links: See what Adam is working on at Battle Axe Check out Adam’s older work Follow Adam on Twitter | Instagram | Dribbble | Vimeo | YouTube | Facebook   2018 Tried Really Hard to Destroy Me Figma The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber Zendesk   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Today we're joined by Hayley Akins from the Motion Hatch podcast. Hayley's podcast focuses more on the business side of freelance, and has some really amazing guests on her show. Hayley recently created a fantastic resource for freelancers called "The Freelance Contract Bundle". On this episode we talk to Hayley about this helpful resource for freelancers, and also talk about her background in the field. She talks about what brought her to create this tool, and also what she values in her own career.  You can find more information about The Freelance Contract Bundle at this link: http://motionhatch.com/monocle -------- Links to topics mentioned in this episode -  Motion Hatch Podcast with US lawyer   Motion Hatch Podcast with UK Solicitor Part 1   Motion Hatch Podcast with UK Solicitor Part 2   Location Indie   The Freelance Manifesto   The Futur   Bingomation   Keyframes ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *Music provided by Wesley Slover - www.sonosanctus.com

Happy New Year Hatchlings! It’s a new year and time to reflect on 2018, what’s happened to Motion Hatch and this podcast, and go over my goals for next year. There’s a power to reflecting on the goals the goals we set, and I’m so glad you can be here with me as I do it. I hope this will help you reflect on your 2018 and set your own goals for next year. Today, I’m going over the goals I set for the last year. Some of my goals went better than I could have hoped for, such as doing more speaking engagements. Other goals went in a completely different direction than I thought they would. That’s just fine though because they led to new and wonderful opportunities. I also share my goals for 2019. From getting into mastermind groups to keeping my goals organized in a planner while I continue making this podcast, there is a lot in store for the year. The truth is, I couldn't have done it without you. I am so grateful to all you listeners for helping make this all possible!. So it’s time to nurse your New Year’s hangover and set some goals of your own for 2019! I’d love it if you could share a goal or two of yours in the comments below! Don’t forget to enter to win some sweet giveaways by tagging @motionhatch on Instagram or Twitter and use  #newyeargivaway. Tell me an episode you liked, what you learned, and a goal you have for 2019! In this episode:    Reflecting on my goals that I set for 2018 The way that setting goals makes clear what our values are What listeners like you are saying about the Freelance Contract Bundle Being part of a mastermind group and the amazing things it can do for your business Planning well so that you can find your purpose and then live it Quotes: “It was really awesome to look back and think oh, that’s what I was thinking about doing, and then some of it has actually happened. It was super incredible. It just shows you the power of putting stuff out there and thinking about what you want to do in your life and going for it.” [1:35] “If I didn’t have a mastermind I wouldn’t have Motion Hatch. I wouldn’t have my podcast. They just help me so much. It’s a great way to keep accountable and have accountability for your goals.” [14:57] “Finding your purpose means finding the way to use your unique skills or passions to live a fulfilled life.” [20:11]   Links: Episode 8 - Austin Saylor Episode 29 - Mair Perkins Episode 20 - 6 Tips to Avoid Burnout and Achieve Your Goals   Keyframes Conference Freelance Contract Bundle Join the Motion Hatch Community Sweet Ass Journal by Heath Armstrong MiGoals Planner   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!  

One of my favorite parts of being a motion designer is that it is possible to work from almost anywhere. However, finding clients when you’re not attached to a studio or location is a challenge. Don’t despair! There are strategies to use to allow you to get clients directly and make it all possible. Mair Perkins is an independent creative freelance business owner. As a motion designer that works remotely and direct to client, she knows a thing or two about staying gainfully employed while bucking the trend of being tied down to a studio. Most of Mair’s work is direct to clients. In today’s conversation, she shares how she finds these clients, or rather how she ensures that they find her. She really enjoys not working at a studio and talks about what it’s like to have the freedom to work from home. We also discuss how a properly run social media presence, particularly on Linkedin can be a huge resource for helping the right clients find you directly. There are tons of little and big things you can do to make this work for you. I’m so happy that Mair came on to share them with us all! Have you landed clients through Linkedin or other social media? Leave a comment! In this episode:    Finding clients when you’re based far away from traditional animation hubs The advantages of not working in a studio Meeting other animators when you work from home Leveraging your website and social media presence to land more clients Getting testimonials and references to build your credibility Why not to ignore the altruism that can be part of your work Quotes: “I find if I post stuff, like a finished video or an animation I made recently for an organization, then I’m more likely to get an inquiry from someone who works in a similar organization.” [22:25] “I try to take as much responsibility for the project [as possible]. A lot of the people that hire me are often employees in a marketing department, so they already have tons of things to do. They don’t want to be micromanaging something else.” [34:02] “Try to empathize or think like the clients you’d like to work with. Try to imagine why they might need an animation, what kind of search terms they’d use when looking online for one and what sort of worries they’d have and how you could alleviate those worries.” [41:16] Links: Find Mair Online Follow Mair on Linkedin | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube   Animorsels Meetups School of Motion Freelance Manifesto Freelance Contract Bundle Episode 21: How to Shape the Life You Want Through Your Freelance Business aNEmates   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!  

Do you ever find yourself so busy with work for clients that you never create or do something just for your own enjoyment or personal fulfillment? It’s a tricky balance to have a career that pays the bills but that still leaves you time and energy to do what fulfills you as a person and a creator. Joe Donaldson knows this struggle as well as anyone. In addition to being the founder of Holdframe, editor of Motionographer, and an instructor at the Ringling College of Art and Design, he’s a father of two and avid runner. Joe’s ten years working in motion design have taught him countless lessons on finding that right balance between work and healthy living that so many of us struggle with. In today’s interview, we discuss building a healthy work-life balance that starts with your education. From there it’s all about navigating the outside pressures and demands that take up our time and energy. Through his own successes and setbacks, Joe has learned a lot about this and shares his wisdom in this episode. What has been your biggest struggle with maintaining a healthy work-life balance? Share it with us in the comments! In this episode: The outside influences that pressure us to be workaholics The experience of motion design students today and how it prepares them to enter the workforce How motion designers can learn from each other’s work and benefit from that exchange Finding the sweet spot between working for money and working for art’s sake How your priorities will change throughout your life and career Setting boundaries and regularly checking in with yourself so that you only take the right jobs Why it might be a good idea to go for a run!   Quotes:   “I think there is a pressure that is imposed on us from the industry at large to keep going and stay in fifth gear and that becomes difficult.” [4:09] “It’s always about that balance. You don’t want to be too artsy without marketable skills and you don’t want to be too industry and have everything just look like an advertisement or a logo. It’s about finding that balance.” [13:29] “You have to look at is the effort as working in the direction that you want to go, or is it working in the direction that inversely favors somebody else over yourself.” [43:24] “I have a constant dialogue of assessing why am I doing this and is it right for me. As long as you have that dialogue with yourself there might be times when you’re working too much, but if it’s for the right reason or it’s a stepping-stone to a goal you have, then, by all means, keep doing it.” [46:36]     Links The Freelance Contract Bundle Is LIVE! Get all the info on it here! Find Joe Online Motionographer Holdframe Ringling College of Art and Design The Collective Podcast, Danny Yount     Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Making career decisions that are based on your heart and not your wallet is tough. It’s also important if you plan on having a fulfilling career. Don’t be scared, others have made the difficult transition and my guest today might just inspire you to follow your passions too! Laura Peña is a motion designer who transitioned to working remotely from all parts of the world as a digital nomad. Recently though she put her career on hold to pursue a truly inspiring and meaningful passion project. It all has its challenges for sure, but as you’ll hear Laura tell you in this interview, it’s been worth every bit of it. When it comes to working as a digital nomad, Laura has had to deal with some unique difficulties. We discuss how to keep old clients and find new ones when you’re working in distant countries. Networking while traveling and working is difficult, but Laura has figured it out and it has been totally worth it. Laura has also been working steadily on a passion project film series “She is the Universe” in which she interviews teenage girls around the world about their dreams, passions, and obstacles. This is such an amazing and important project and we discuss what it means to be driven to create and pursue your dream job. Have you been working on a passion project? What sacrifices have you made to do so? How has it fulfilled you as a person? Leave a comment below! In this episode: How to transition into working as a digital nomad full time Some of the common pitfalls of working remotely and how you can cope with them Dedicating yourself to a passion project of your own design Using meditation to unplug and center and ground yourself Getting outside the motion designer box and meeting and getting inspired by people in other fields   Quotes: “I realized that my freelance clients and also my clients, the ones that I’ll do everything for, they really didn’t care where I was as long as I was delivering the work.” [6:41] “That’s the hardest part of traveling, the networking. It’s hard to network because usually for someone to like you and recommend you, usually you meet in person. So even when I’m traveling I try to keep in touch with the people that I know because you never know who's going to connect you with whom.” [12:14] “We think that to do something we have to have it all figured out and have all the answers, but we really don’t.” [20:26] “If you can have fun and be inspired and from that create something else, I think then why not do it. So explore, be curious, experiment, and try to figure out what it is that lights you up.” [25:49] “We spend so much time on the computer because this is what we do, this is our work and we love it. Sometimes it’s really hard to unplug and to even think about something else when you’ve been staring at your computer for so long that you can become really disconnected from yourself.”  [35:00]   Links The Freelance Contract Bundle Is LIVE! Get all the info on it here! She is the Universe Follow Laura on Instagram | Facebook | Youtube Insight timer app The Good Life Project Ted Radio Hour Big Magic   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Constructing good habits and sticking with them can be hard. With all the different parts of being a motion designer, let alone just being a functioning human, there’s so much to do all the time. Having good and productive habits is the key, and that’s what I want to talk with you about today. This solo episode is inspired by a book I just read called Atomic Habits by James Clear. Essentially, it speaks to how making tiny changes in our lives can lead to amazing results. James writes about four ways to build a good habit and I’m going to discuss those with you on this episode. I’ve started to implement these habit building strategies into my life and I’m already seeing incredible results! How do you build and maintain good habits? Let me know in the comment on the episode page!   In this episode: How making small and incremental changes on a regular basis adds up to big changes over time Making good habits obvious so that you can’t ignore or forget about them How surrounding yourself with people who are doing similar things as you can support attractive habits Constructing systems and environments that will make your good habits easy to do Making your habits satisfying so they feel good when you complete them   Quotes: “Habits appear to make no difference in the first days, weeks, or months. It takes a little time but then breakthroughs happen.” [5:03] “If you’re surrounding yourself with people who are doing similar things then you’re more likely to do it.” [13:33] “You can have a week or a day off whenever you’re doing your habit. But as soon as you start  missing it over and over again, you’re just going to lose momentum.” [22:24]   Links The Freelance Contract Bundle Is LIVE! Get all the info on it here! Episode 20: 6 Tips to Avoid Burnout and Achieve Your Goals Atomic Habits by James Clear Location Indie Insight Timer Meditation App   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Sharing your work and asking for feedback is nerve-wracking. It’s a vulnerable place to put yourself, but as today’s guest emphasizes, it may be the most important way to furthering your career and growing your craft. If you want your career to take off, you have to take chances. Today, Sabrina Curry tells us how she did it! Sabrina is a motion designer at Facebook and former animator at College Humor. Her road to landing a coveted position at this giant company is truly fascinating and illuminating and full of actionable tips. We talk about exactly how Sabrina became a motion designer at Facebook, and how she’s still not sure exactly how they heard about her to begin with. Sabrina has a feeling it happened because she was willing to put her creations out in the world and listen openly to the feedback she received. Sabrina and I go on to discuss what it’s like working at a huge company and how they foster a supportive work-culture so that everyone feels comfortable sharing their creative ideas. There’s so much valuable advice in this interview. I’m so glad that Sabrina could come on and share it with us all! Have you learned any important lessons by sharing your work with others? Tell us about it in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode: The process behind landing a job at a major company like Facebook The importance of asking for constant feedback on your work Advice for interviewing at a large creative or tech company How sharing your work and getting feedback is absolutely crucial Sabrina’s strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome   Quotes: “Sharing your work is the best thing you can do, whether it’s good or bad. Sharing my work over the years has been the reason I’ve been able to get anywhere. You can’t get opportunities if you're hiding from them.” [12:25] “What is good and what isn’t can be completely different to someone viewing your work. So I think it’s best to get comfortable with sharing your worst sometimes. You might be surprised with how it resonates with some people.” [14:28] “Understanding that you’re always going to be in this constant cycle of learning and growth helps you get more comfortable with knowing that you’re not an imposter. You’re just in one of those fields where you’re always going to be a student, and that’s okay.” [26:47]   Links The Freelance Contract Bundle Is LIVE! Get all the info on it here!   Sabrina’s Website Follow Sabrina on Instagram Punanimation Watch Sabrina in a College Humor sketch!   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

On today's podcast episode we sit down with Hayley Akins. Hayley is the founder of Motion Hatch, a very cool online community that focuses solely on the business side of things. She's the host of the wonderful Motion Hatch podcast, and has recently released a Freelance Contract Bundle. https://www.schoolofmotion.com/podcast/hayley-akins-interview

Hayley Akins is a motion designer, animator and the founder of Motion Hatch, an online learning hub for motion designers and animators, helping them do better business through training materials, resources, a community and podcast. Hayley collaborated with clients such as Google, YouTube, UNICEF, The United Nations, The School of Life, BBC AND The Gates Foundation. Website: www.MotionHatch.com Freelance Contract Bundle: www.motionhatch.com/freelance-motion-design-contract

Let’s face it, we’re motion designers, not legal experts. But in this business, there are myriad legal concerns from understanding contracts to protecting intellectual property. This all may seem scary, but as my guest will tell you, they are nothing to be afraid of. Jamie Lieberman is a founder and partner in the US-based law firm Hashtag-Legal. She specializes in working with creatives, content providers, and service professionals, many of whom work online. Jamie is an expert in copyright and trademark law and helps make sure her clients are informed and protected in these important areas. As motion designers, there is a ton to consider when it comes to protecting intellectual property. We discuss how a lawyer can be essential in making sure everything is in order in regards to protecting your work. It’s important that we have good contracts that are very specific when it comes to who owns what is being created. Jamie speaks to the importance of creating a business, such as an LLC, to protect yourself as a professional and its importance for anyone in the creative fields. How comfortable are you that your work and business is protected legally? Let me know if the comments on the episode page!   In this episode How lawyers can help motion designers with their businesses Forming an entity, such as an LLC, to protect yourself and your business What you need to consider if you’re starting your own studio or have employees The role of contracts in protecting yourself and lending your business legitimacy How to use your network to find the lawyer who is right for you What intellectual property is and how to think about it from a legal and business point of view What should be included in every contract you enter into   Quotes “If you’re generating income it’s important to form a business in order to protect your personal assets.” [9:45] “Your lawyer should be a partner in your business, and that I cannot stress enough. So if you approach a lawyer and they feel scary to you, walk away, look for somebody new.” [18:28] “Saying no to deals is not bad. It has to be the right deal. You can’t just take deals just because you’re getting deals, because you’ll end up resenting that client and it won’t make sense for you.” [29:09]   Links The Freelance Contract Bundle Is LIVE! Get all the info on it here! Hashtag-Legal Motion Hatch Interview with Silvia Baumgart Part 1 and Part 2 Shutterstock music library   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

As freelancers, we often miss out on the team building and community that people in companies and studios have. There’s so much we can learn from each other, but miss out on because we are off on our own. I know this is something I’ve experienced. Today, we’re diving into the topic of how to build those connections and how it will support you in your work. Jorge Canedo AKA Jr.canest is a freelance animator and creative director in Vancouver, Canada. Also the Founder of Wine After Coffee and Blend Festival, which I’m sure you have heard of! Before setting out on his own, Jorge worked for some big studios like Giant Ant and Buck. He has a lot of insight to share on making the transition from working for a company to doing it in your own and building his own studio. He also shares with us how and why he started Blend and Wine After Coffee. In this episode, we discuss how to work well with other people, a skill that is often overlooked in this industry. Jorge reminds us of why teamwork is an indispensable skill to practice, even if you spend most of your time working on your own. How do you build your professional relationships as a freelancer? Leave a comment on the episode page and let us know!   In this episode The advantages of working with others Why you need to be an effective communicator as an animator How Jorge started a Festival and why it’s important to build communities Tips and tricks on managing your time when it comes to side-projects How to manage your work/life balance.   Quotes “It helps you grow immensely. When you’re freelancing, a lot of the times you’re on your own. I’ve found that the best way to grow is by having someone next to you, even if just to quickly glance at what you’re doing.”  [8:44] “Communication is so big because you can be an incredible animator and have all the ideas in your head and be able to do it all, but that only goes so far if you can’t communicate that properly.”  [13:52] “We need to be mindful that there’s a certain amount of good pressure to do good work and there’s a fine line between that and focussing more on work than on life.” [35:38] Links Keep up to date with the upcoming Freelance Contract Bundle Find Jorge Online Follow Jorge on Twitter | Vimeo Wine After Coffee Blend Festival Giant Ant Buck   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

So you want to be a motion designer. To go to art school or not? There is a healthy debate over whether or not a formal education is worth your time and money. Especially now with the proliferation of online courses, many aspiring designers are wondering if art school is still worthwhile, and today we’re diving into the topic with Dorca Musseb and Ryan Summers. Dorca and Ryan have been in the field for many years and offer a wealth of experience and advice on the topic of arts education, and we get deep into the pros and cons of different arts educations. Dorca is a designer and animator based in New York and Ryan is a creative director at Digital Kitchen. In this episode, we discuss the importance of going to art school to learn design principles and make important connections, but also the limits and the false expectations that these schools leave their graduates with. We go on to discuss how the proliferation of online classes has changed the game, but also its limitations. If you’re thinking about going to art school or taking a course, this episode is a must listen! Did you go to art school or decide against it? Was that the right decision for you? Let us know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode Where art schools fall short in providing a thorough education for motion designers and where they provide the best value How education has changed now that there are more online courses available The consequences of the homogeneity that art schools foster and the advantages of diversity Why personal and professional connections are perhaps the most important part of having a thriving career   Quotes “The thing that I see the biggest dearth of is schools not teaching people how to be a working professional artist. They’re not teaching people how to become a freelancer. I think it goes even a step beyond that, just how to work well with others. These are the soft skills that I don’t see a lot of people coming out with.” [12:46] “I’m excited about where the online classes are going because now people are starting to realize that this is something that they can actually do and more voices are coming in and more voices are being heard.” [34:54] “If you don’t have people in a creative industry I don’t think any amount of education, any amount of software knowledge, any amount of raw talent will really get you through your career and get you where you want to go.”  [46:45]   Related Links Find Dorca Online Follow Dorca on Instagram   Find Ryan Online Follow Ryan on Twitter Book a chat with Ryan   “Don’t become another unhireable designer” article School of Motion Design Bootcamp Mo-Graph Mentor   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

As a freelancer, it can be tricky finding the right balance between pleasing your clients and building the work-life balance that is best for you. Tom Davis joins us today to discuss how he has built a business that is fulfilling on both a personal and professional level. Tom is a freelance motion designer and creator of Loop, an online store full of his own creative resources for other motion designers and an outlet for his passion projects. He’s recently transitioned into working remotely and we talk about that transition, its challenges and advantages.   We also talk about how you can build your business to be truly satisfying on a personal level. Tom offers insights into how to keep your clients happy while staying true to your values and lifestyle. Do you work remotely? If so, how do you manage your clients’ concerns? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode How having more than one income stream can keep you busy during the lulls of freelance work Why donating a percentage of your profits to charity is a great thing to do both personally and professionally The ways in which working while traveling and can feed your productivity while offering a great break from the routine How you can adjust your rates to encourage clients to allow you to work remotely The importance of being part of a community while working remotely How to build client trust and assuage their fears about hiring remote workers   Quotes “I think ultimately, being freelance when a business takes you on, they are making an investment in you, so if you are donating a percentage [to charity], that is saying this is who I am, and if that adds a plus point on my side, then power to it. Ultimately, as long as we do that good work, that’s the best thing possible.” [13:51] “It’s definitely tricky [to work remotely] if you haven't worked with an agency before because they’ll usually want you onsite. But as soon as they trust you and know how you work then they are more receptive to remote work.”  [28:35] “You’ve got to try to build the work life that is the best possible one for you. We spend a lot of our time working, so why not try to make that really good.”  [39:14]   Related Links Tom’s website Made by Loop Follow Tom on Instagram | Twitter   Nomad House WifiTribe Trusted Housesitters Location Indie     Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

I don’t know about you, but it often feels to me like there’s a pressure in our industry to always be doing absolutely everything at once. Client work, personal projects, posting daily to Instagram, reaching out to potential clients, updating websites, and oh, don’t forget about family, friends and actually living your life! With all there is to do to move our careers forward, it’s easy to burn out and end up moving backward, so this episode I want to share 6 tips to avoid burnout and achieve your goals. In this solo episode, I’m going to dive into some techniques and strategies I use to help me move my business and career forward, that you can apply to your own career. I share some of my favourite tools, both online and physical, how to use your environment to de-stress and focus on long-term goals, plus one of the most useful time management strategies I’ve ever come across. I’d love to hear which of these strategies you’re already using, what jumped out at you, or any other tips you have for avoiding burnout and moving forward in your career! Leave me a comment on the episode page!   In this episode: How to avoid the pressure to always be doing everything at once which can lead to burnout How to set up your physical space to help you disconnect, reflect, and strategize The importance of establishing an accountability partner or group Why you need to be writing your goals down and sharing them   Quotes: “Take a week off and sit down and focus on your goals, where you’re going with your career and in your business, and think about what you want to focus on next. I think it’s really important to focus on the bigger picture and try to figure out what we want to do with our lives.” (2:50) “Have a space that you associate in your mind with relaxing, so you don’t have tv there, maybe it’s just a certain chair in the corner of the room and you have some nice plants there.” (5:32) “What’s the one thing you can do today in your career so that everything else will become easier or unnecessary. It kind of works like a domino effect, so what’s going to create that effect where if you knock down that first domino, it’s going to make all those other dominos go down easier?” (6:32)? “People with written goals are 42% more likely to achieve them than people without written goals, and if you tell a friend that goes up to 78%” (8:09)   Links: Keep up to date with the upcoming Freelance Contract Bundle   Episode 8 w/ Austin Saylor Episode 18 w/ Michelle Higa Fox The One Thing MiGoals Goal Digger Planner Asana Trello The Sweet Ass Journal To Develop Your Happiness Muscle in 100 days   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

How much networking do you do in the motion community? Have you ever done a speaking gig? Even though these might not be first things that come to mind when it comes to advancing your career, they’re the kinds of practices that can make a huge difference, especially if you don’t live in a location with a lot of motion designers. Caitlin Cadieux is currently an animator for The Atlantic. She grew up in Oklahoma and currently lives in upstate New York, both locations which are lacking in much of a motion design community. Today she tells us about how she integrated herself into the motion community online instead, and how that’s helped her move forward in her career. She also talks to us about convincing a more traditional company to let her work remotely, as well as where the motion community is currently hanging out online. We also discuss her recent appearance as a speaker at the NAB Conference, and how speaking can open up doors for you! How has the online motion community added to your life or career? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode: The changing perception of remote working in a traditional company How she broke into the motion design industry living somewhere with no motion community Where the motion community hangs out online The power speaking gigs can have on your role in the community   Quotes: “I’ve done stuff with physical media [while working remotely] that would be a lot harder to do in the office.” 5:34 “I’m pretty introverted… but cultivating an extroverted side is really beneficial in a lot of ways.” 24:16 “I don’t have a cool Nike campaign to show, but there’s an audience out there that’s similar to how I was not too long ago, and that’s who I want to talk to.” 33:47   Links: Caitlin’s website  Follow Caitlin on Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram | Dribbble  The interview with Jeff VanderMeer NAB Conference   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Over the course of an entire career, spanning different jobs, companies and goals, a lot of people find that their priorities shift, and so do their personal definitions of success. Michelle Higa Fox joins us today to talk about how those concepts have shifted for her throughout her career working as a freelancer, collaborator, agency owner, and now parent. Michelle is the founder and Executive Creative Director for Slanted Studios, which creates mixed-media animation for emerging technology. She was also a co-founder of the animation group Mixtape Club, with whom she co-directed music videos, produced commercials for clients like Google and Showtime, and whom she helped win several awards. Today, we talk about having representation as a director versus going it alone, the balance of doing personal projects while working full time, and what it’s like to collaborate with people over several years. She also goes into her thoughts on being a parent and an entrepreneur or team member, the mindset shift of being a business owner versus being a freelancer, and the shifting idea of success and what it is. How do you define success? Has your idea of success changed over time? Let us know in the comments!   In this episode: Working with collaborators on a single brand Getting representation as a director How to justify time for personal projects while working full time Being a business owner vs being a freelancer Being a parent and an entrepreneur or a parent in the workplace Evolution of your personal concept of success   Quotes: “It was more about finally getting the opportunity to make the thing that was in our heads as opposed to just realizing the storyboards we were getting handed at work every day.” 9:28 “Every time you learn a new angle, you draw on all the experiences you had previously.” 23:11 “The way I used to solve problems was always with time... Now that I’m a parent, that’s just not an option.” 33:19   Links: Slanted Studios Follow Slanted Studios on Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter | Vimeo | Behance | Instagram  Michelle’s Personal Site  Mixtape Club What Is My Day Rate?   Find the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, would you mind leaving us a rating and review? It really helps!

Because so many of us work online and across borders, sometimes laws in one country might affect you whether or not you live there. A lot of people who do business or promotion internationally are panicking about the new GDPR law that’s coming into effect in the UK & EU at the end of May and how best to make sure their businesses comply. Today Silvia Baumgart returns to walk us through how this new law might affect your freelance business regardless of where you live. Silvia is a lawyer practicing at James Ware Stephenson, a boutique firm specializing in the creative and entertainment sectors. She has been General Manager of The Association of Illustrators, and has led initiatives, workshops, and created resources on intellectual property for The University of the Arts London, the World Intellectual Property Organisation, and the Academy of the European Patent Office. Today she guides us through the new General Data Protection Regulation Act, how to assess its impact on your business, and how to make sure we are compliant with it and the already existing Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR). She talks to us about email lists, opt-in forms, and privacy policies and how best to protect our businesses. Are you confused about the GDPR? Do you worry that it will disrupt your marketing or are you confident in your current system? Let us know in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode: The basic principles included in the Act How the GDPR relates to PECR and the differences between the two When either is likely to come into play for motion designers Why this new regulation might affect you, even if you live outside of the EU How to consider them for an email list versus a client list. How to update your privacy policy on your website What to add to your opt-in forms on your site   Quotes: “Either they have subscribed to your newsletter and therefore given you explicit consent, or they might have used your services… and then you have some sort of implied consent.” 12:46 “[Asking people to re-opt in to your mailing list] is not necessary, especially when you’re dealing with clients who are companies” 25:30 “You can only do things to the best of your ability.” 44:17   Links: Find Silvia on LinkedIn  Information Commissioner’s Office  James Ware Stephenson The Association Of Illustrators    Find the full show notes here  Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram

As freelance designers, many of us remain generalists, afraid we’ll lose project opportunities and income if we specialize too much. Unfortunately, that also means we’re competing against the countless other general designers out there, not sure how to set ourselves apart. Jess Peterson has found a different way to do things. Jess is the Founder, CEO and Creative Producer at Mighty Oak, a boutique animation studio specializing in handmade animation. They’ve worked with clients like Netflix, HBO, Nick Jr., Airbnb, NBC, Conde Nast, Giphy, and The New York Times, all with the creative goal to bring the human touch to media. Today we talk about the power of niching yourself down to strengthen your unique selling point, different ways to find clients, including social media like Instagram, and the importance of recognizing your own natural talents. We also discuss the power of collaboration, with partners but also with agencies. Are you a generalist or do you niche down to a speciality? How have you collaborated with peers to focus on your unique strengths? We’d love to hear from you. Let us know in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode: The 3 different approaches you can take with branding How Mighty Oak has used word of mouth and their specific approach to social media to get clients The benefits of working with business partners rather than trying to do all the things Balancing client work and original work and how Mighty Oak makes that happen How they approach clients to invest in stop-motion animation   Quotes: “There’s plenty of negative stories out there in media, so we try to bring the positive voice and bright colors into every project.” 5:01 “It’s very hard to grow and do all the things at once. You can’t be good at all the things at once and your brain can’t possibly tackle all that information” 20:36 “It’s a real reminder to be good and fair to all your clients, because you never know where people end up.” 25:54 “I’ve always been really creative, and I thought in order to be creative I also had to make all the things. I realized that’s not true. By surrounding myself with talented makers, we were able to make better work in general, but I was also able to be a better creative.” 40:01 “Sometimes we forget because we spend so much time trying to improve things that what we’re not good at. We go “Oh that thing that I do easily is because it’s easy, everyone does it that well.” But that’s not true, it’s because you’re actually good at it.” 45:59   Links: Mighty Oak  Follow Mighty Oak on Instagram | Giphy | Facebook | Vimeo Mighty Oak’s original projects  GirlStories    Find the full show notes here  Keep up with everything Motion Hatch   Follow Motion Hatch on Twitter | Instagram

Have you ever felt freaked out and overwhelmed at the idea of creating a contract? If you already have standard terms and conditions, do you feel confident in them, or could they be tighter? Are you even aware of all the legal ramifications that can come from your creative works if not protected properly? Silvia Baumgart breaks down all of these issues and more in this second part of our series on copyright and contracts. Silvia Baumgart, a trainee solicitor with an extensive background in protecting creatives and their work, joins us again to explain how to make the legal sign of freelancing work for us and not against us. We talk about resources for finding legal templates, when you should seek professional advice and assistance, and what are moral rights and why you need them in your contracts. We dive into tips on how to handle when a client asks you to create something similar to another artist’s work, and the legal issues that could arise from doing so without proper steps being taken prior, and the legal rules of using others music or work within your showreels and how to prevent thorny legal issues when doing so. We also go through the biggest takeaways from both episodes so that you can walk away with a better understanding of how to protect yourself and your work. Do you use a template created by someone else for your contracts? Does it cover everything? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In this episode: Resources for finding legal templates When you should seek professional legal advice and assistance What are moral rights and why should you have them in your contract? Your rights when a piece of your work goes viral, either with and without your being credited The legalities behind using music in your showreels How to properly source work created by others in projects you’re working on Tips for how to handle when a company asks you to create something similar to another artist's work Biggest takeaways from part one and part two   Links: Looking for help with your contract and terms & conditions? Check out the Motion Hatch Freelance Contract Bundle!   Association of Illustrators UK Copyrights Office - Intellectual Property Information The Intellectual Property Office: Exceptions to copyright - guidance for creators and copyright owners   Find the full show notes here  Keep up with everything Motion Hatch  

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general guidance only and discusses the legal position in the UK at the time of publication unless stated otherwise. You must take legal advice and not rely on the information provided in this podcast before taking action. We do not update our podcasts and therefore, past podcasts may not reflect the current legal position. Are you a whiz at all things legal when it comes to your businesses? Are you a maverick when it comes to intellectual property and copyrights? Most of us as animators, illustrators and creatives aren’t, and that’s why we brought on our guest today, who breaks down the sometimes (ok, always) overwhelming world of law into small, easy to understand definitions and steps, specifically as they apply to the world of animation and illustration. Silvia Baumgart is a trainee solicitor with James Ware Stephenson, and has a background as an art historian, general manager for the Association of Illustrators (and is now a board member), and was the manager of the Own-It programme at the University of Arts in London. Needless to say, she knows the ins and outs of property law plus understands the minds and businesses of creatives. We dove right into the definitions of intellectual property, patents, copyrights, design rights, and trademarks, what to make sure you have in your contracts to best suit your wants and needs, and broke down the details on the sometimes vague area of accepting contracts versus counter offers and what actually sticks at the end of the day according to UK law. Silvia also spoke on the three different types of licenses that exist that dictates who can use the work you created and in what form which was very insightful and an absolute must listen for anyone in the creative fields.   In this episode: The differences between patents, copyrights, design rights, and trademarks How do differentiate between working in house with an agency or working from home in terms of who owns the copyrights of the resulting work What to include in your contracts to avoid any issues with your client in the future Details on the when and how of agreeing to terms within a contract or offering a counter offer The biggest legal mistake creatives make when starting new projects The three different types of licenses that dictate who can use the work you created Original project files - should they be given or kept and how you can monetize them Why everyone should have their own terms and conditions that are standard for them   Links:   Looking for help with your contract and terms & conditions? Check out the Motion Hatch Freelance Contract Bundle! Association of Illustrators The Intellectual Property Office: Exceptions to copyright - guidance for creators and copyright owners   Find the full show notes here  Keep up with everything Motion Hatch  

As designers, a lot of us love to think that we are in complete control over the outcome and success of our projects. But how many times have you been blown away after the sound designer worked their magic on it? As I share in the episode, I experience this on pretty much every project I work on. Today we’re diving into the audio side of the animation world with one of the most popular sound designers in the animation world, Wesley Slover. Wesley Slover is the founder and owner of Sono Sanctus where the tagline reads “Don’t let audio be an afterthought,” which is exactly where a lot of big projects go wrong. He shares with us how to plan and budget for sound design and music, as well as diving into getting started as a freelancer and growing a team. He spoke to us about how having a team with all different strengths can lead to not only bigger projects but projects with way more diversity and excitement, how your multiple skill bases will help your project costs and time management. Wes also gave us some insights into using social media to grow your network and ultimately your clientele, and how simply making friends and learning from others will help you grow your community and lead to collaborations and projects you’ll love. How do you budget for and plan around sound design in your projects? Leave us a comment below and let us know!   In this episode: How to use social media to grow your clientele How to diversify your projects by building a team The pros and cons of branding yourself as a freelancer vs a studio or company How to grow your business without losing the personal touch with clients Music licensing and libraries: What you can expect   Links: Sono Sanctus Sono Sanctus Sound Library Follow Sono Sanctus on Vimeo | Twitter | Tumblr   Support Motion Hatch On Patreon! Find the full show notes at https://motionhatch.com/13 Keep up with everything Motion Hatch  

Hayley Akins, Motion Hatch Podcast and online communities. Host Blair Walker discusses with Hayley the point of difference Motion Hatch offers the industry by focusing on the business of creativity specifically for freelancers.   Show Notes: Compiled by Matt Lloyd 01.00 - About MotionHatch 01.40 - Hayley's background, including working at Across The Pond 02.40 - Joey and Chris episodes of Motionhatch 03.40 - Discussion of the Freelance Manifesto's applicability across the creative industries, not just motion. 04.48 - "There are no rules [as a freelancer]" Joey Korenman 05.00 - The options and opportunities afforded by freelancing 05.50 - "The business side can be fun" because it can enable you to "build your [own] life more" 07.43 - "Lifestyle design" Magoz is able to work for major clients whilst travelling the world. 09.00 - Why Hayley is aiming to win more remote clients. Locationindie 09.54 - "Think about what you want to do with your life rather than... feeling lucky just to be in the industry" 12.30 - Hayley's background 13.50 - Her motivation to do the podcast 14.40 - MotionHatch Facebook group 15.45 - Global minimum rate for motion design, discussion of how/what to charge. See Lillian Darmono on this topic. 18.30 - The importance for your professional image of not undercharging. See Chris Do on the topic. 21.00 - It's up to us as motion designers to be firm when negotiating rates, and to educate clients about what to expect to pay motion designers. 22.30 - Include discounts on invoices if you are doing a job for less than you would normally charge. 24.00 - Joey Korenman's "Pain and Rainbows" job scale. 25.00 - Further discussion of "lifestyle design" afforded by freelancing. 27.00 - Work on your own projects rather than working for low pay for the potential "exposure" a highly creative job might bring. 28.40 - Motion designers creating products for themselves, see Ryan Summers episode. 29.40 - Diversity of ways of making a living within motion design. 32.00 - Deathbed thought experiment as a means of getting clarity on what's important to you. 34.35 - The One Thing book 37.10 - Potential advantage of "niche-ing down" into your aspect of motion design, rather than being a generalist 38.00 - Opportunities outside of the mainstream of motion design 40.00 - The need/opportunity for motion designers to create products for the wider market, rather than just for the motion design industry itself. 42.50 - The emerging VR/AR market and the wealth of opportunities for 3d/animation professionals to build businesses in that field 43.10 - Breaking the studio movie model: why don't VFX artists make their own films? 46.00 - David Farrier and Dylan Reeve and their Tickled Kickstarter, which was used effectively for the movie’s development phase 48.20 - Origin of the name Motion Hatch   53.50 - Pro Video Picks: Hayley: Asana project management software Blair: TWIP Podcast with Frederick Van Johnson   56.20 - Reasons to get into podcasts 57.11 - Inspirational Video: Haley: WWF High Conservation Values by Nice and Serious Blair: Vikings from the History Channel   59.40 - Following online: Haley: Art of Charm Podcast Blair: Redshark News   1.01.19 - Panasonic GH5S   1.01.50 - Follow Haley Online: @HayleyAkins @motionhatch   Pro Video Podcast Online: Blair Walker - Twitter Pro Video Podcast - Slack Pro Video Podcast - Facebook Group Pro Video Podcast - Twitter Pro Video Podcast - Website Pro Video Podcast - Spotify

Many of us struggle to make the transition and shift from agency or studio work to independent freelancer. In today’s conversation, we go in-depth on that first year of freelancing and all the mindset shifts that it requires. Mitch Myers is a freelance motion designer who specializes in 3D. He talks to us about his transition from agency designer to freelancer, including the fears he had when making the decision to switch, how he researched and decided his pricing, and the mindset changes he had to make going from employee to entrepreneur. Mitch offers insight into how he’s navigated the first year of freelancing, and how he plans to move forward with years two and three. We also discuss how he found his first clients starting out, as well as the details of a major project he was offered his first month freelancing. He also offers advice to designers considering making the leap into freelancing. Are you thinking about taking the leap? Have you already done it? Let us know how Mitch’s interview resonated with you in the comments below!   In this episode: Factors that can ultimately push you to decided to make the leap into freelancing How Mitch found his first clients at the beginning, and how he uses what he calls the “Cool Project Discount” The importance of niching yourself down versus being a “jack of all trades” His unique pricing structure and how he researched and established his pricing in the beginning   Related links: Mitch’s website Mitch’s Behance profile Connect with Mitch on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter   Support Motion Hatch On Patreon! Find the full show notes at https://motionhatch.com/12 Keep up with everything Motion Hatch  

Creative Director and partner of Ranger & Fox has been producing outstanding motion design work competing with the top studios globally. Blair dives into Brett’s creative process specifically for the Pause 2016 motion response. The conversation also looks into the many benefits of presenting at festivals and conventions.   Show Notes: Compiled by Matt Lloyd 01.20 - Node presentation 03.10 - Fatherhood and running a studio 03.20 - School Of Motion interview with Brett 03.40 - Flexible lifestyle: Brett's decision to set up his own studio was driven by his desire to have more freedom to spend time with his new-born. 04.40 - The burden of running a studio. The bigger the studio, the bigger the burden: Brett and Stephen are currently keeping Ranger and Fox small, so they can best balance it with family life. 05.50 - Freelance vs small studio comparison 06.40 - The downside of freelancing 06.55 - How owning a studio can help you build a brand and deepen your relationships with your clients (see Chris Do on this subject on the Motion Hatch podcast) 07.30 - How does a studio get work? How one big client enabled them to build the "foundation" of Ranger and Fox 08.30 - The business foundations of Ranger and Fox: business structure, lawyer, bookkeeper are now in place, in 2018 the focus will be on winning new clients. 09.00 - The necessity of creating internal projects (eg the Pausefest piece they made) in order to push themselves technically and creatively. 10.15 - Blair: "A big part of being a motion designer is understanding, looking for work, connecting, knowing what great work is out there, but you [also] need to [learn how to] connect with clients" 10.45 - Pausefest: Ranger & Fox "always aspired to be better designers than we were. The way you do that is to throw yourself into a project that scares the living s##t out of you. (For a broader take on this topic see K. Anders Ericsson’s book) 11.20 - Confidential Awards show package 12.55 - The problem with open briefs 13.25 - Mysticism book by a group called "Movement" 14.05 - Ranger & Fox’s creative process for the Pausefest piece 16.00 - Colour script 16.37 - Brett's sources of inspiration: from outside the world of motion design. 18.20 - Music videos as sources of inspiration 20.30 - Personal projects as an "almost essential" means of taking big steps forward in finding your style/voice 21.08 - “It takes a long time for you to understand the syntax of the art/medium.” First learn the skills, then express yourself. 23.10 - Blair: "Creativity is an exploration of mistakes to find what you like and what you're going to pull together" 23.40 - Blair on advising young students: "You don't know what you don't know yet" ..."You've just got to dive in" 24.20 - "If you stay hungry [as a motion designer], you've got lifelong creative challenges ahead of you, that not many industries offer" 27.30 - Maxon Cineversity Ident piece by Ranger & Fox. 27.50 - "Restraints are liberating" 28.40 - Node ident competition 30.00 - Node entry by Jeremy Mansford 30.45 - On presenting 31.40 - Maxon presentations for NAB and Siggraph 34.10 - "Presenting helps develop communication skills massively" 35.00 - How to plan a presentation 37.15 - Node has a more narrative approach to presentations than NAB or Siggraph 40.00 - Brograph episode with Brett 40.15 - The benefits of "putting yourself out there" 42.09 - Brett only began sharing his work online when he was six or seven years into his career 43.56 - Sharing vs "trade secrets" mind-set   44.57 - Pro Video Picks: Brett: LastPass Blair: Shift-semicolon keyboard shortcut in After Effects (zoom timeline)   48.33 - Inspirational Videos: Brett: Watchtower Over Turkey by Leonardo Delassandri This piece inspired Brett's Pausefest project, particularly the camera moves and frenetic editing. Blair: Fishy Minds branding video   50.33 Following Online: Brett: Rich Nosworthy (who was on episode one of the Pro Video Podcast)   52.10 Find Brett Online: @bma_morris on twitter @bmamorris on Instagram @RangerandFox   33:50 - Pro Video Podcast Online: Blair Walker - Twitter Pro Video Podcast - Slack Pro Video Podcast - Facebook Group Pro Video Podcast - Twitter Pro Video Podcast - Website Pro Video Podcast - Spotify  

We’ve all wanted something more from of our work at one time or another, but how many of us actually take it upon ourselves to create what we’re looking for? TJ Kearney did just that with the help of four friends when they founded Oddfellows and purposely changed their lives and constructed the careers they wanted. TJ Kearney was a founding member of Oddfellows Studio and is now the EP at Instrument. In this episode, he breaks down how the roles you started with will change as you grow your business, and how growth and talent acquisition can be best accomplished using remote workers. You will often need to put aside your fears and preconceived notions to best serve your clients, your employees, and your business as a whole. He also gave some amazing tips on how to properly reach out to studios you want to work with, how to budget a project that gives you the wiggle room you will need to negotiate and make a profit as a studio, and how having a producer partner that you know, trust and have worked with before can make or break a new studio. Do you have the work/life balance you want? If so, what do you do to make sure it stays that way? If not, where do you think you struggle most with it?   In this episode: Factors you should consider when choosing which projects to take on The trifecta of people to have in place to run a successful business from the start The importance of community involvement and how it can help you hire the best, network effortlessly, and give back in ways you didn’t think were possible. Steps to properly reaching out to studios you want to work with What to look for in a great producer How to utilize social media to grow your business Top tips on budgeting for a project Links: Oddfellows  Instrument  Follow TJ Kearney on Twitter | Instagram  The One Thing on Amazon & Audible  Find the full show notes at https://motionhatch.com/11 Keep up with everything Motion Hatch at https://motionhatch.com 

One of the things so many of us creatives struggle with is how to charge what we’re worth. Many of us are in the habit of thinking of ourselves as freelancers, but Chris Do joins us today to talk us through how to change our mindset to think of ourselves as independent business owners instead, and why we should be viewing our careers through that lens. Find the full show notes at https://motionhatch.com/10  Keep up with everything Motion Hatch at https://motionhatch.com 

What's the one thing that many of us artists and creatives dread more than all else every year? That’s right, it’s tax time! As creatives we would rather put all our energy towards our work instead of stressing out about our accounting (or lack thereof). Luckily for us, today’s guest cuts right through the jargon and gives us some accounting tips in plain English.* *That’s kind of an awesome (if unintentional) pun, as this week we’re focussing on the accounting specifics for UK based freelancers. If you’re from the US or anywhere else, most of the general practices cross over, and we’re going to be having a US accountant of the show coming up soon! Emily Coltman works with online accounting company, FreeAgent and she generously takes us through a variety of topics including what the differences are between a sole trader and a limited company in the UK, what receipts you need to keep and how to best do that, and the ins and outs of V.A.T. It is a jammed pack episode so make sure you have some paper and a pen ready because the information will be coming at you fast. She also gave a ton of tips and tricks for the freelancers who are just starting out and have no clue as to how to set up their business for legal and tax purposes, plus gave us some great guides and tools to use to make this time of year a little bit less scary. Do you use an accountant for your business or do you do it all yourself? Have you ever tried an online accounting company? What did you find to be the pros and cons? Leave us a comment below! In this episode The differences between operating as a sole trader or a limited company including some specifics regarding tax time The importance of separating your banking between personal and business Top three expenses you can claim The ins and outs of V.A.T. Some clarification on the legalities of working with overseas clients in terms of your accounting Related links Free Agent  VAT Calculator (FRS)  Guide to Claiming Expenses  TransferWise Check out the full show notes here Keep up with everything Motion Hatch and join the community here!

How are you approaching growing your client base? Are you focusing only on what your needs are? Often when world searching for our ideal clients we tend to focus solely on what we need, and not what we can do for others. This is a big mistake. Today we’re talking about the power of community, and how there are more important skills than simply being good at your craft that will keep your pipeline full. Haley Akins is a motion designer with 9+ years of experience which includes 4 years at Google’s internal production company in the UK as Senior Motion Designer. She’s worked with clients from the BBC to the United Nations, and has made the shift to a thriving freelance business, most recently launching the podcast and community Motion Hatch. We get into why choosing clients who match your values can lead to amazing (and lucrative) relationships, how putting yourself and your work out there will help you build a community, and why we should never be afraid to get paid what we are worth. It can be scary to raise your rates but the more open and honest we are within our communities about pay scale, the more power there is in doing just that. When was the last time you raised your rates? If you haven’t recently, what is the biggest thing standing in your way from raising them? Leave a comment below!   In this episode: The power in peer and community referrals, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to recommend a “competitor” How to reach out to the clients you want to work with to start a relationship How to stand out from the crowd in whatever you do Hayley’s “Occupy Inbox” strategy for getting in front of big potential clients   Quotes: “I think it is really important to get the message out there that you should build your client base up so that you can say no, so that you have opportunities to do projects that you really want to work on.” (18:36) “Building your business up isn’t just about making money, it’s definitely about improving yourself and then if you have more freedom to choose your clients, then maybe you can choose clients whose values align with your own and hopefully have a more positive impact on the world.” (19:10) “The most important things that I think about in freelance and business is to not just go out there and do things for yourself, try and think about other people because you will find that people will want to help you and they will want to work with you. Just be a nice, cool person.” (37:29)   Links: Motion Hatch Follow Motion Hatch on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Email Hayley at Hello@MotionHatch.com Hayley Akins  Follow Hayley on Facebook | Twitter   Bingomation http://www.bingomation.com/ Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas

This week on Motion Hatch we’re getting festive and reflective with Austin Saylor, as we reflect on our top 3 lessons learned in 2017 and our top 3 things we want to achieve in our motion design careers in 2018. We also have a bit of fun with a motion design gift exchange! Austin Saylor is a freelance motion designer, and creator of The Lettering Animation Course which will be launching in 2018. He’s also an active member of the Motion Hatch Community and a good friend, meaning this is a super fun episode with a lot of laughs and some great insight. While listing off our selections, we dove into the importance of community, not being scared to put yourself out there, and how accountability can make one of the most significant differences in your career. We had a lot of fun recording today’s episode and even made each other holiday short animations which you will find a link to below. What lessons did you learn in 2017? What are your goals for 2018? Share with us by leaving a comment on the episode page!   In this episode: Tips and tricks on experimenting with different ways of finding clients Why community matters and where to find the perfect fit for you Why you shouldn’t be afraid to raise your prices The importance of increasing your skill set with courses or classes and the concept of striving to become someone’s  #1 student Why having accountability can make or break your goals   Links: Austin Saylor  Austin’s Podcast Follow Austin on Instagram | Vimeo | Twitter | Dribble   Austin’s Lettering Animation Course Bingomation  The Podcast Dude The Sweet Ass Journal The Freelance Manifesto  Follow Motion Hatch on Facebook | Twitter Find the full episode page and all the links here             

Motion Hatch is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by veteran motion designer Hayley Akins, discussing the business side of animation and motion design that so many creatives struggle with. Offering quality practical advice and insight for freelance, full-time or aspiring animators, illustrators and motion designers, hear from a wide range of voices within the industry, including how leading animators started out, tips on managing your business and career advice. For more info on how to take control of your motion graphics career and to join our community of amazing, talented designers, head over to motionhatch.com.