How many contracts have you had ?

[AtW]

Not shrewd businessman!

Just curious. You still stock those expensive "authentic" Ming vases?

[thunderlizard]

Ming the Merciless

Oi. I'll have you know that unlike the second-hand junk you get at Sotheby's, the Ming vases MF sells are brand spanking new.

[MarillionFan]

Re: Ming the Merciless

Oi. There at least ten years old I'll have you know!

[Not So Wise]

Hmm depends on way i present it
If i treat all my freelance web development over the last three years as two contracts (as only subcontracted for two studios) i would currently stand at 8 contracts over the last 11 years (I normally start to feel like a permie and get sick to death of a place at 18 months tops)

But if i treat each web design job as a seperate contract (which they in essence were as each time was a new job/contract) i am at about...hmm ...aprox 23 contracts?

For obvious reasons on my non web development focused version of my CV i present it as 8. And on my web development focused CV it kind looks more like 23 contracts.

[Mordac]

Just done a quick count, and shocked to find my current contract is number 21!!

Mind you that's probably about right for 14 years contracting.
Or maybe I'm getting old...

[SupremeSpod]

Re: Not shrewd businessman!

Just curious. You still stock those expensive "authentic" Ming vases?

Ah, the "Mad Russian running wild in a China Shop" Gambit, like it, like it lots!

[MarillionFan]

Re: Not shrewd businessman!

Just done a quick count, and shocked to find my current contract is number 21!!"

Is that all!?!:rollin . With your reputation I thought you had been escorted off many a contract! :rollin

[Mordac]

Re: Not shrewd businessman!

With your reputation I thought you had been escorted off many a contract!

Says the one who once changed his mind in the car park on the first day. Being terminated a week early (the one and only time it has ever happened to me) because the client company is a bunch of cowboys hardly points to a 'reputation'. I seem to remember the same client fired you for insubordination following an incident at the Xmas party. What was it you called the Development Director again?
He was one though.

[EternalOptimist]

Re: Not shrewd businessman!

Its not about what rate you get, its about what profit you take

[hattra]

Re: Not shrewd businessman!

Ten contracts since 1989, though I took nearly five years out as a permie (two of them in the States), and haven't had a real contract in the last two & a half (just PC repair work). So if you exclude that time, it's 10 in eight years - shortest was 1 month, longest 2 years 8 months (though it was really two separate contracts, I suppose, for different departments, on totally different projects). I also had a few one-two day contracts doing disaster recovery tests and installing kit some years ago, but I haven't included them (only time I've used "substitution" - handed the business over to a former permie colleague when I got the offer in the States).