A lot of people I know here do freelance work, either all the time as their primary source of income, or little jobs every once in a while. Personally, I've been doing almost 100% freelance since January, but I normally average about 30% a year.

It has a lot of benefits and freedom, but the major downside that everyone complains about is the Chase the Check Syndrome. Very rarely do you ever get paid on time. By on time I mean when they said they'd pay you. As in, "thanks for this invoice! We will cut the check on Thursday and drop in in the mail. You should have it Saturday or Monday at the latest!" This is code for you won't see the check for two weeks if you're lucky, and you'll still have to call twice.

I don't get angry about it anymore, I just expect to shake down every employer as part of the routine. When the check actually shows up in a timely matter, I appreciate it even more. This happens maybe 5% of the time.

I have recently broken the code on one of the techniques employers use. Putting the Wrong Zip Code. Perhaps on purpose, perhaps not. Not on the check itself, but on the outside envelope that doesn't have a window. I just had this happen with the studio that has a sassy talking rabbit. How many contracts and forms and invoices have I filled out for you? But I am already in shakedown mode. When I didn't get said paperwork in four days, I had them email it. It took the original envelope over two weeks to wander here on its own.

Now I know that Barb in accounting works very, very hard. She is juggling a lot of stuff, and could really use an assistant to get it all done. She can't possibly want to delay things, as it will just end up making more work for her when she has to do it twice. But it happens all the time. How many times can it just be a coincidence? Is it just a percentage game? My percentage is higher because I do so much of it? But Steve has done exactly one freelance job this year, and is still waiting. I think he needs to go to Shakedown School!

Lesson #1 is always go pick up the check, if possible. I have "happened to be in the neighborhood" as far south as San Juan Capistrano and a far north as Oxnard. It's much harder to not pay you when you are sitting in the lobby, staring at the receptionist.

lesson #2 is just call. If you don't get whatever you are expecting in the mail in a timely matter, talk to someone. More often than not, it didn't actually get mailed like they said it would and then you can go pick it up. Mistakes happen, but better to get the fire under someone's butt after 5 days instead of two weeks.