Reply to: Not-renewing tulipe gigs

[edison]

I budget to work around 8 months a year so my warchest is around 9-12 months worth of all my regular expenses. Contracting for me is about flexibility, choosing when/where to work and having more time off rather than the income per se. It has come in handy recently whilst being on the bench in that I haven't felt compelled to take on boring gigs.

[TheFaQQer]

Anyone else the same opinion?

Generally, my projects are pretty good. I've only knocked back one extension in the past.

I hated the client, the people, the location and the work (suckered into it). Turned down the extension just as the market crashed and had seven months without work.

Ho hum, I got to spend some quality time with the family before heading back to London the following year.

[quackhandle]

What's a tulip gig?

A gig involving the Netherlands bulb markets.

qh

[psychocandy]

Warchest was up to 9/10 months this time last year. 4 months on JSA, then 3 months on crap rate and its down to 3/4 now.

If I had 24 months then I'd be happy to leave any gig to be honest.

[psychocandy]

I think in many cases clients know it is going to be a tulip gig, hence they get a contractor in, as they know a permie will just up and leave.

Et ego relictus sum ego invoiced.

qh

Pretty much the gig Im in. Permies dont want to do so get contractor in. Doesnt bother me too much to be fair its just a bit boring and they're a bit of a miserable lot.

[psychocandy]

Not a good idea, I believe that PC and NLUK are like matter and anti-matter, if they met then mutual annihilation is assured (probably not a bad thing were it not for the small matter of them taking most of the UK with them)

LOL. Always said reckon hes a nice guy really. Its all just a front I reckon.

Me on the other hand. Probably a nobhead in real life too. :-)

[psychocandy]

Jesus wept. Are you even capable of taking a tulip without asking every man and his dog for advice? What a tedious, orally flatulent idiot you really are.

Impressive word selection. I think your just a bell-end though.

[PerfectStorm]

What's a tulip gig?

The forum software replaces a particularly pooey swearword with the word "tulip". Don't know why, I mean we're all adults...

[kal]

What's a tulip gig?

Much to learn you have my young padawan...

[heyya99]

What's a tulip gig?

[ChimpMaster]

Exactly what QH said. Contractors are often hired to take on the crap that permies don't want to touch. Or that permies don't have the experience/expertise to touch.

I'll throw another argument in there:
What if the rate is too good? What if you are being paid highly for your expertise/ability/experience that the current client values, but another client might not value or recognize?

Would you leave a crap contract then?

[quackhandle]

I think in many cases clients know it is going to be a tulip gig, hence they get a contractor in, as they know a permie will just up and leave.

Et ego relictus sum ego invoiced.

qh

[Old Greg]

if i worked with a miserable twat like nluk id be out the door in minutes

Please try to remember the high standards expected in the professional forums:

http://forums.contractoruk.com/busin...al-forums.html

[northernladuk]

I like this calculation, I think we can throw "Relationship with client" in there as well. I am at renewal time now and there are better offers on the table, but I will drop my client in the Tulip if I leave.

But Kenders can't resist the pull of their wanderlust!!!

Plus 2 years Warchest? Really. Wow.

This is will vary from person to person. For some it is the absolute basics to stay afloat which could be as little as £1500 a month or keep them in the luxury they currently enjoy so two years could be anything from £36k upwards. Also depends on where people store their warchest. Not everyone leaves it in the company so this could be personal savings and empty company rather than all in the company.

6 months is my aim. I think if I can't find a gig after 6 months I am in the wrong game.

Seems reasonable, again, with your own level of what you need per month...

[Tasslehoff]

You have a tipping point - Shirley?

There must be some point where a tulip gig is so tulip that you won't just keep plodding along.

It is a complex calculation obviously:
1) Pretty tulip, great rate, decent people, decent location, no warchest ==> Keep invoicing
2) Deep steaming tulip, crap rate, winkers, miles from anywhere, healthy warchest ==> on your bike

I like this calculation, I think we can throw "Relationship with client" in there as well. I am at renewal time now and there are better offers on the table, but I will drop my client in the Tulip if I leave.

Plus 2 years Warchest? Really. Wow.

6 months is my aim. I think if I can't find a gig after 6 months I am in the wrong game.