I'm not sure if you're interested, but I have connections with a hacker space called NYC Resistor...

(Reply) (Thread)

Oh?? Tell me moar. What's the story, what do they do?

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

This is them. My friend Bre works with them, and Bre rocks. They've gotten some press. If you organized an event there, I would do my best to haul up from DC to attend. (I keep telling Bre that I'll come see their new digs, and I haven't yet. Bad hacker friend!)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

There's a lot of good to be had with eLance (or Guru, or Rent-a-coder), but it is hard sometimes to score gigs (especially as it can be so focused on production work, and quick turn-around).


I think there's more programmer's then you think up here (Portland area), who might be interested in a Build Something or a BarCamp.

You might give some folks over at TechMaine a shout, particularly the PHP user's group.

Cheers,
S

(Reply) (Thread)

Oh, interesting, thanks!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I have some experience from the other side and the more fieldish kind of work. I hire techs from a site called OnForce, and they all seem happy with it, although they also say it isn't enough to replace a "real" job, and also you have to be able to just drop everything for it.

(Reply) (Thread)

Cool, thanks!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

If you're looking for a neat project that would help a non-programmer, think arts and other non-profits. May I suggest, however, that you not go with a charity that works primarily with kids? Those mothers get all the money/free shit because they can paint a sympathetic, adorable picture. Worthy, sure, but not the only worthy groups out there.
Cancer-related stuff is similarly well-funded. Smaller, local orgs are more likely to be on shoestring and living in a place of desperation and stress.

For example, though, my own arts org needed a great website that was easy to update like woah, and a nice local guy took pity on us and got us up and running on DruPal for practically no money. It rocked, and we look waaay more awesome than other festivals, even ones with skads more money, and that has helped us with community support, getting taken seriously by the larger national arts community, and looking good to funders.

Some places need a program to handle donors, and can't afford the crazy-massive ones, or need scheduling programs, or whatever. Some just need to be pointed to free software, but lots are so niche that they need something specific. Ask the person who answers the phones; he/she usually knows what the org needs most desperately.

(Reply) (Thread)

I second this advice. I got started as a Web dev consultant by doing freelance work for colleges and not-for-profits. Some places will try to convince you to do everything for free. Point out that you have to put a roof over your own head, too, or else you'll be looking for charity, but that you can do excellent work at a price they can afford.

I don't know how much you lean towards open source, but using open source software (like Drupal) as a base for whatever an org needs and then customizing it with your codery skillz can make a massive difference both in price and in the level of quality they get in the end.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I don't know if you read slashdot, but there was an article a few weeks back about being a freelance coder, there might be some tidbits to glean from it if you haven't already http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/12/07/1822235

(Reply) (Thread)

Oh, thank you! I missed that one!

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

As for the coder for hire thing, I do have some wisdom to pass on. You will find that there a lot of people bidding insanely low prices on sites like elance. You cannot compete with them on price. DON'T TRY!

Figure out what you need to charge so that the project will not only pay your bills but also not be hateful to work on, and bid that price. In your proposal make it clear what a kick butt all around person you are. You are in the US. You are reliable. You have excellent customer service skills. You have coded awesome things in the past and there are people who will vouch for your awesomeness. All that jazz.

Also, create a LinkedIn if you haven't already, and ask past coworkers, bosses and customers to write glowing reviews of you. Also, also, add me as a contact. Also, also, also, email me for more discussion about techniques for building a consultancy both on and off of sites like that. (lishevita at always sababa dot com)

(Reply) (Thread)

Avoid RentACoder like the plague.

(Reply) (Thread)

Ahh, why's that?

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

The funniest thing to me about this "introvert party" is that it's exactly what we do all the time. It's what Castle Bradaki is all about during non-party and social open times (a lot of the time, it seems).

(Reply) (Thread)

Why's that funny? :) Could be just great minds think alike & all that.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

It's just funny that what we did all summer long, almost every day, was called something.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

I like the idea of Build Something Cool in 24 hours. I'm not a coder, but I'm good with user stories, interface design, and testing. I'm in Philly, but could make it to NYC with relative ease.

(Reply) (Thread)

I am sloooowly learning to program. I'd be interested.

(Reply) (Thread)