The Freelancer, Coworking and Digital Nomad Phenomenon

There is a huge phenomenon of coworking and ‘digital nomads’ recently, but what is working in these new locations really like? As a freelance producer I have tried various types of coworking. Anything to get out of the house, meet new people and actually get some work done! (I tend to procrastinate/clean/Netflix/anything BUT complete my task list when at home)

With locations such as Soho House and WeWork becoming ever more popular, it shows that people are rejecting the 9-5, or the clinical office environment. However, with popularity comes status, and also a fair whack to the purse. As a one-woman band, how do you get the best of the coworking environments without spending a pretty penny?

The answer is that you don’t actually have to go to just one environment. There are lots of places, especially in cities like Barcelona where I spend a lot of time, where there are many people who are in the same position. Depending on what you want to do, there are many different options depending on what you feel like doing that day. From networking with fellow freelancers, to having some head space away from your own apartment, to just having a different perspective on your daily tasks. If you travel a lot, like me, there are always options in large cities.

Here are some examples of great co-working locations without sign-up fees I have experienced so far:

Image from www.pexels.com/@rawpixel

CoCo Coffice This is a coffee shop/come office – hence the name ‘Coffice’. The rules are simple. Pay 4 Euros for the first hour, 3 Euros per hour after that, pay no more than 15 Euros a day. They also have weekly and monthly rates. No strings, no sign up fees. Great internet. Great coffee. You pop in, set up and get work done. It’s a very quiet atmosphere which is fantastic for getting work done. Not a place to necessarily meet new people, although super helpful and welcoming, but for me it really helps me invest that money in sitting down and completing tasks.

Coco Coffice

Meetup – Cafe co-working & lunch in Bar Lexington, Barcelona Many bars and restaurants off the beaten track in the daytime tend to be quiet – far from maximum capacity, and yet the owners are having to pay high rents. Why not do what this team of people have done and couple up with a restaurant or bar to offer a space to come together and work in those quiet times? The space and wifi is offered for free – all that is required is that you buy a few coffees or you join everyone for lunch. The team at Bar Lexington offer a ‘Menu Del Dia’ for about 12-13 Euros which is always superb, and at about 1pm, everyone stops what they are doing and gets together to chat, meet and discuss. It’s a fantastic mix of cultures, people in transit, people who have lived there for years and also people who have just arrived. It’s polite to keep it quiet when everyone is working, take calls outside etc, but also I have met some really interesting people over lunch. It really breaks the ice when you are breaking bread together, and also allows you to share your freelance experiences. Plus did I mention the food is delicious!

Lexington

It’s not just about Coworking locations when you are a freelancer but also about being part of a community. Recently I have been welcomed into a fantastic community called ‘Flylancers’.

Here’s a description from the lovely CEO Emily Elwes herself:

‘We’re the largest offline community for remote workers, freelancers and digital nomads in the world. We meet up every month in cities all over the globe to share stories, advice and have fun together offline. Some call us a cult, others call us a support group – we’re probably somewhere in between. We believe strongly in creating meaningful connections with others and supporting one another on our location independent journeys. Find us in: Barcelona, London, Buenos Aires, Berlin, New York, Milan, Bali, Lyon, Chicago, Manchester, Sofia, Tokyo, Budapest.’

Emily goes on to mention that the members are limited and curated so you actually have to be a true freelancer, not just someone taking a long holiday and working. It really helps to build that community.

So far I have been to a fantastic event hosted by Norn ‘a collection of intimate homes around the world that hosts conversations in real life,’ where we networked, played ice-breakers and I found a fantastic Spanish teacher who I am having a session with next week!

I think the main challenge that one has when going to these co-working/networking events is actually getting up – and getting out the house. I love to network and meet people, but it isn’t always to get up and get out on a daily basis, especially when you have your own free coffee, a desk and wifi at home. Having said that – I always find that I get so much more done when I am around other like-minded people and I definitely recommend it.

Top tips for coworking:

1. Read the room; if everyone else is quietly tapping away, don’t strike up a loud conversation. If everyone is chatting away don’t be that mouse in a corner. Chat to people then say ‘Have to work on this project but I will be back in a short while.’

2. Having said that, bring yourself to the party, say ‘Good morning’ or ‘hello’ when you arrive to your nearest people! Just because people are concentrating, doesn’t mean they are being rude.

3. Don’t just go in an pitch about yourself or your company – EVERYONE can see through that. Listen, ask questions, chat! Be a human, not a sales machine. You MAY meet people who are interested in your work, but this is not a sales pitch.

4. Schedule time in your diary every week to make yourself get to a Co-Working spot. It’s so easy not to go, but you won’t regret it!

5. Keep in touch with people! You never know who they know or who they can put you in touch with!

6. Pat yourself on the back once you have been to a co-working site. As a freelancer, you constantly feel that you have to be working and it’s a challenge to relax. Going to a co-working site, I guarantee you will be proactive in one way and surprise yourself.

Who else finds it a challenge to get out as a freelancer? Do you have any tips and tricks? Where do you like to cowork? What’s your favourite format?