[Charlug] Guru.com, eLance.com, SoloGig.com?

[Mike Harrison]

> Guru seems geared towards "send it in" type remote work--typing, programming, 
> web-design. Not sure how well a server admin guy can do there but I'll test

I've got a set of advice I give to people looking for work:
It applies wether you are looking for a job or a client.

    Have some basic plain, professionally printed business cards.
    Not much more than name and contact info. Carry them always.
    Don't worry about logo's and marketing BS. These are "contact cards"
    or "social cards" - Nice paper and printing counts.
    The should not be expensive, vistaprint, etc..

    Get out.. go to places and meet people that you would not
    ordinarily go and meet, Dress nicely, business casual as a minimum.
    Firm handshake, a 10-15 second "what do you do" answer.. and a smile.
    Fake it, practice it.. pretend you are in a LART and this is how
    you kill vampires or something. Speak english, not geek.

    Join the local: Tech Council, Civitan Club, BNI Networking.. Church..
    Library Action Committee.. Contra Dancing.. Save the ____ Group.
    Except for the Tech Council. AITP or Charlug type of group,  what you
    are looking to do is meet people that aren't in your normal technically
    competent world, people who have problems and don't know someone like
    you... admit you love Linux, but will do paying work for the dark side.

    You are never "unemployed". You are available, just as soon as you
    finish up project X.  In the next week or two.

Worst case scenerio for quick cash, I have two "scams":

    Hang out at the local Best Buy (or other big box computer place) a bit..
    during weekdays, business hours. be more helpful then their sales people
    to the biz types.

    Got those cards? If they say something generic about technology...
    Walk around multiple tenant office buildings and drop them off
    at receptionist desks, with wrapped halloween candy like this.
    "I was working in the building and just wanted to drop off a card
    in case you ever need anything..." give her/him your card,
    a chocolate,,. smile.. and leave. When I was doing this a lot
    many years ago, I found chocolates kept the building security
    guy from escorting me out. I once kept a 8+ tech company busy
    this way.

I took an underemployed friend around to some office buildings
last year using the above technique and kept some stats.
We dropped off about 4 bags of candy and cards.. There were a few
multiple candies given in some offices. About 100 total.
His phone got four calls that afternoon, and he scheduled
one service call for the next day. He now has 4 clients
he found that way that keep him quite happy. He spends
a day a week at each place (25-50+ PC's each)
doing backups, fixing issues, updating software.. etc..